..■#^ 


»Km 


\e^- 


^   * 


.^A 


■FP.OM -THE- LIBRARY- OF - 
A.   n'.    Ryder 


Minna  on  tlw  Cliff 

Drawn  and  Etched  bv  Herbert  Dicksee 


lUuetrated  Sterling  Gditioii 


THE  PIRATE 


The  Fortunes  of  Nigel 


BY 
SIR   WALTER   SCOTT,    BART. 


BOSTON 
DANA    ESTES    ».^-    COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 


1^ 


LIST   OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


THE   PIRATE 

PAGK 

Minna  on  the  Cliff Frontispiece 

The  Udaller's  Home  —  Magnus  Troil  and  His  Family  x 
The  Storm,  with  Mordaunt  Rescuing  Cleveland  .  75 
XoRMA    Performing    Her    Curative    Spell    on    Minna 

Troil 293 

The    Altercation    between    the    Pedlar    and    Cleve- 
land at  the  Fair  of  Kirkwall         ....     337 
Sir    Walter    Scott    in    His    Study    (Castle    Street, 

Edinburgh) 376 

Minna    Taking    the    Pistol    from    Bunce    to    Defend 

Herself  and  Her  Sister 386 


FORTUNES   OF   NIGEL 

««I    SEE    BRAVE    LINES    HERE,*    SAID    UrSULA  "         ...  92 

'•  The    whole    train    were    uncovered    excepting    the 

Prince  of  Wales" 175 

"'Stand  off,  old  Pilory,  let  me  make  Scotch  collops 


OF  him 


265 


mS9o'90 


INTRODUCTIOX   TO    THE   PIRATE. 

Quoth  he,  there  was  a  ship. 

This  brief  preface  may  begin  like  the  tale  of  the  "  An- 
cient Mariner/'  since  it  was  on  shipboard  that  the  Author 
acquired  the  very  moderate  degree  of  local  knowledge  and 
information,  both  of  people  and  scenery,  which  he  has  en- 
deavored to  embody  in  the  romance  of  the  "  Pirate." 

In  the  summer  and  autumn  of  ISli,  the  Author  was  in- 
vited to  Join  a  party  of  Commissioners  for  the  Northern 
Lighthouse  Service,  who  proposed  making  a  voyage  round 
the  coast  of  Scotland,  and  through  its  various  groups  of 
islands,  chiefly  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  the  condition  of  the 
many  lighthouses  under  their  direction — edifices  so  important 
whether  regarding  them  as  benevolent  or  political  institu- 
tions. Among  the  commissioners  who  manage  this  important 
public  concern,  the  sheriff  of  each  county  of  Scotland  which 
borders  on  the  sea  holds  "  ex  officio  "  a  place  at  the  Board. 
These  gentlemen  act  in  every  respect  gratuitously,  but  have 
the  use  of  an  armed  3'acht,  well  found  and  fitted  up,  when 
they  choose  to  visit  the  lighthouses.  x'Vn  excellent  engineer, 
Mr.  Robert  Stevenson,  is  attached  to  the  Board,  to  afford  the 
benefit  of  his  professional  advice.  The  Author  accompanied 
this  expedition  as  a  guest;  for  Selkirkshire,  though  it  calls 
him  sheriff,  has  not,  like  the  kingdom  of  Bohemia  in  Cor- 
poral Trim's  story,  a  seaport  in  its  circuit,  nor  its  magistrate, 
of  course,  any  place  at  the  Board  of  Commissioners — a  cir- 
cumstance of  little  consequence  where  all  were  old  and  inti- 
mate friends,  bred  to  the  same  profession,  and  disposed  to 
accommodate  each  other  in  everv'  possible  manner. 

The  nature  of  the  important  business  which  was  the  prin- 
cipal purpose  of  the  voyage  was  connected  with  the  amuse- 
ment of  visiting  the  leading  objects  of  a  traveler's  curiosity; 
for  the  wild  cape  or  formidable  shelve  which  requires  to  be 
marked  out  by  a  lighthouse  is  generally  at  no  great  dis- 
tance from  the  most  magnificent  scenery  of  rocks,  caves,  and 
billows.  Our  time,  too,  was  at  our  own  disposal,  and,  as  most 
of  us  were  fresh-water  sailors,  we  could  at  any  time  make  a 


iv  INTRODUCTION  TO   THE  PIRATE. 

fair  wind  out  of  a  foul  one,  and  run  before  the  gale  in  quest 
of  some  object  of  curiosity  which  lay  under  our  lee. 

With  these  purposes  of  public  utility,  and  some  personal 
amusement,  in  view,  we  left  the  port  of  Leith  on  the  26th 
July,  1814,  ran  along  the  east  coast  of  Scotland,  viewing  its 
different  curiosities,  stood  over  to  Zetland  and  Orkney,  where 
we  were  some  time  detained  by  the  wonders  of  a  country 
which  displayed  so  much  that  was  new  to  us;  and  having 
seen  what  was  curious  in  the  Ultima  Thule  of  the  ancients, 
where  the  sun  hardly  thought  it  worth  while  to  go  to  bed, 
since  his  rising  was  at  this  season  so  early,  we  doubled  the 
extreme  northern  termination  of  Scotland,  and  took  a  rapid 
survey  of  the  Hebrides,  where  we  found  many  kind  friends. 
There,  that  our  little  expedition  might  not  want  the  dignity 
of  danger,  we  were  favored  with  a  distant  glimpse  of  what 
was  said  to  be  an  American  cruiser,  and  had  opportunity  to 
consider  what  a  pretty  figure  we  should  have  made  had  the 
voyage  ended  in  our  being  carried  captive  to  the  United 
States.  After  visiting  the  romantic  shores  of  Morven  and 
the  vicinity  of  Oban,  we  made  a  run  to  the  coast  of  Irelajid 
and  visited  the  Giant's  Causeway,  that  we  might  compare  it 
with  Staffa,  which  we  had  surveyed  in  our  course.  At  length, 
about  the  middle  of  September,  we  ended  our  voyage  in  the 
Clyde,  at  the  port  of  Greenock.* 

And  thus  terminated  our  pleasant  tour,  to  which  our  equip- 
ment gave  unusual  facilities,  as  the  ship's  company  could 
form  a  strong  boat's  crew,  independent  of  those  who  might 
be  left  on  board  the  vessel,  which  permitted  us  the  freedom 
to  land  wherever  our  curiosity  carried  us.  Let  me  add, 
while  reviewing  for  a  moment  a  sunny  portion  of  my  life,  that 
among  the  six  or  seven  friends  who  performed  this  voyage 
together,  some  of  them  doubtless  of  different  tastes  and  pur- 
suits, and  remaining  for  several  weeks  on  board  a  small  ves- 
sel, there  never  occurred  the  slightest  dispute  or  disagree- 
ment, each  seeming  anxious  to  submit  his  own  particular 
wishes  to  those  of  his  friends.  By  this  mutual  accommoda- 
tion all  the  purposes  of  our  little  expedition  were  attained, 
while  for  a  time  we  might  have  adopted  the  lines  of  Allan 
Cunningham's  fine  sea-song: 

The  world  of  waters  was  our  home, 
And  merry  men  were  we  ! 

*  See  Lockbart'8  "  Life,"  vol.  iv.  pp.  ISO-aWX 


INTRODUCTION  TO  TBt;  PIRATE.  ^ 

But  sorrow  mixes  her  memorials  with  tlie  purest  remem- 
brances of  pleasure.  On  returning  from  the  voyage  which 
had  proved  so  satisfactory,  I  found  that  fate  had  deprived 
her  country  most  unexpectedly  of  a  lady  qualified  to  adorn 
the  high  rank  which  she  held,  and  who  had  long  admitted 
me  to  a  share  of  her  friendship.*  The  subsequent  loss  of  one 
of  those  comrades  who  made  up  the  party,  and  he  the  most 
intimate  friend  I  had  in  the  world,t  casts  also  its  shade  on 
recollections  which,  but  for  these  embitterments,  would  be 
othennse  so  pleasing. 

I  may  here  briefly  observe,  that  my  business  in  this  voyage, 
so  far  as  I  could  be  said  to  have  any,  was  to  endeavor  to  dis- 
cover some  localities  which  might  be  useful  in  the  "  Lord  of 
the  Isles,"  a  poem  with  which  1  was  then  threatening  the  pub- 
lic, and  [which]  was  afterward  printed  without  attaining  re- 
markable success.  But  as  at  the  same  time  the  anonymous 
novel  of  "  Waverley  "  was  making  its  way  to  popularity,  I 
already  augured  the  possibility  of  a  second  effort,  in  this  de- 
partment of  literature,  and  I  saw  much  in  the  wild  islands  of 
the  Orkneys  and  Zetland  which  I  judged  might  be  made  in 
the  highest  degree  interesting,  should  these  isles  ever  be- 
come the  scene  of  a  narrative  of  fictitious  events.  I  learned 
the  history  of  Gow  the  pirate  from  an  old  sibyl  (see  Note  14, 
p.  454),  whose  principal  subsistence  was  by  a  trade  in  favor- 
able winds,  which  she  sold  to  mariners  at  Stromness.  Noth- 
ing could  be  more  interesting  than  the  kindness  and  hos- 
pitalitv  of  the  gentlemen  of  Zetland,  which  was  to  me  the 
more  affecting  as  several  of  them  had  been  friends  and  cor- 
respondents of  my  father. 

T  was  induced  to  go  a  generation  or  two  farther  back  to 
find  materials  from  which  I  might  trace  the  features  of  the 
old  Norwegian  udaller.  the  Scottish  gentry  having  in  general 
occupied  the  place  of  that  primitive  race,  and  their  language 
and   peculiarities   of   manner   having   entirely   disappeared. 

*  Harriet  Katherine,  Duchess  of  Bucclench,  died  24th  Anciist,  19.14.  — Laliif;. 

+  William  Erskine  of  Kinedder,  -on  of  an  Episci'pal  minister  in  Pertli-liire.  wap  edu- 
cated for  the  lesal  profession,  and  passed  advocate  3d  July,  1790.  Fie  was  apyioinfed 
Sheriff-Depute  of  Orkney  6th  June,  1809,  and  in  that  capacity  was  accompanied  hy 
Scott  in  the  Lishthousr  vovace  round  the  coast.  He  was  raised  to  the  bench,  and  took 
his  seat  as  Lord  Kinedder '29th  January,  1822.  Unfortuiia'ely  he  did  not  lon<:  enj'vv 
this  honor,  as  he  d'ed  nnexpectedly  on  tlie  14th  of  .^iiirust  following,  to  the  great  ifrief 
of  sir  Walter,  who  at  this  verv  time  was  wholly  occnijicd  with  the  arrantremenls  con- 
nertcd  with  George  IV.'s  visit  to  KilinlHirirh.  T.ord  Kinedder,  to  whom  Scott  had  from 
bovhood  been  deeply  attached,  was  a  mo-t  amiaMeand  accomplished  man. 

In  1788.  when  the  "  Ode  on  the  Popular  Superstitions  of  the  HiEhlands''  wa<  first 
published  ("which  the  Wartons  thought  superior  to  the  other  works  of  Collins,  but  wnirh 
Dr.  Johnson  savs,  "no  search  has  yet  found  "\  Mr.  Krskine  wrote  several  siipplem<;nt- 
nrv  st;in7,as,  intended  to  commemorate  some  ScMtti-b  snp.erstitions  omilti'd  hy  Collins, 
The.-e  verses  first  appeared  in  the  Edinburgh  Magazine  for  April,  17SS.  — Z.ai/iS'. 


Ti  INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  PIRATE. 

The  only  difference  now  to  be  observed  betwixt  the  gentry  oi 
these  islands  and  those  of  Scotland  in  general  is,  that  the 
wealth  and  property  is  more  equally  divided  among  our  more 
northern  countrymen,  and  that  there  exists  among  the  resi- 
dent proprietors  no  men  of  very  gi'eat  wealth,  whose  display 
of  its  luxuries  might  render  the  others  discontented  with 
their  own  lot.  From  the  same  cause  of  general  equality  of 
fortunes,  and  the  cheapness  of  living  which  is  its  natural  con- 
sequence, I  found  tlie  officers  of  a  veteran  regiment  who  had 
maintained  the  garrison  at  Fort  Charlotte,  in  Lerwick,  dis- 
composed at  the  idea  of  being  recalled  from  a  country  where 
their  pay,  however  inadequate  to  the  expenses  of  a  capital, 
was  fully  adequate  to  their  wants,  and  it  was  singular  to  hear 
natives  of  merry  England  herself  regretting  their  approaching 
departure  from  the  melancholy  isles  of  the  Ultima  Thule. 

Such  are  the  trivial  particulars  attending  the  origin  of  that 
publication,  which  took  place  several  years  later  than  the 
agreeable  journey  from  which  it  took  its  rise. 

The  state  of  manners  which  I  have  introduced  in  the  ro- 
mance was  necessarily  in  a  great  degree  imaginary,  though 
founded  in  some  measure  on  flight  hints,  which,  showing 
what  was,  seemed  to  give  reasonable  indication  of  what  must 
once  have  been,  the  tone  of  the  society  in  these  sequestered 
but  interesting  islands. 

In  one  respect  I  was  judged  somewhat  hastily,  perhaps, 
when  the  character  of  Noma  was  pronounced  by  the  critics  a 
mere  copy  of  Meg  Merrilies.  That  I  had  fallen  short  of  what 
I  wished  and  desired  to  express  is  unquestionable,  otherwise 
my  object  could  not  have  been  so  widely  mistaken;  nor  can  I 
yet  think  that  any  person  who  will  take  "the  trouble  of  reading 
the  "  Pirate  "  with  some  attention  can  fail  to  trace  in  Noma 
— the  victim  of  remorse  and  insanity,  and  the  dupe  of  her 
own  imposture,  her  mind,  too,  flooded  with  all  the  wild  liter- 
ature and  extravagant  superstitions  of  the  North — something 
distinct  from  the  Dumfriesshire  gypsy,  whose  pretensions  to 
supernatural  powers  are  not  beyond  those  of  a  Norwood 
prophetess.  The  foundations  of  such  a  character  may  be 
perhaps  traced,  though  it  be  too  true  that  the  necessary  super- 
structure cannot  have  been  raised  upon  them,  otherwise  these 
remarks  would  have  been  unnecessary.  There  is  also  great 
improbabilitv  in  the  statement  of  Noma's  possessing  power 
and  opportunity  to  impress  on  others  that  belief  in  her  super- 
natural gifts  which  distracted  her  own  mind.  Yet,  amid  a 
very   credulous   and   ignorant    population,   it   is    astonishing 


INTRODUCTION  TO   THE  PIRATE.  vu 

what  success  may  be  attained  by  an  impostor  who  is,  at  the 
same  time,  an  enthusiast.  It  is  such  as  to  remind  us  of  the 
couplet  which  assures  us  that 

The  pleasnra  is  as  great 

In  being  cheated  as  to  cheat. 

Indeed,  as  I  have  observed  elsewhere,  the  professed  expla- 
nation of  a  tale,  where  appearances  or  incidents  of  a  super- 
natural character  are  referred  to  natural  causes,  has  often,  in 
the  winding  up  of  the  story,  a  degree  of  improbability  almost 
equal  to  an  absolute  goblin  narrative.  Even  the  genius  of 
Mrs.  Eadcliffe  could  not  always  surmount  this  difficulty. 

Abbotsfokd,  1st  May,  1831. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 

The  purpose  of  the  following  narrative  is  to  give  a  detailed 
and  accurate  account  of  certain  remarkable  incidents  which 
took  place  in  the  Orkney  Islands,  concerning  which  the  more 
imperfect  traditions  and  mutilated  records  of  the  country 
only  tell  us  the  following  erroneous  particulars: 

In  the  month  of  January  172-i~25,  a  vessel,  called  the 
"  Eevenge,"  bearing  twenty  large  guns  and  six  smaller,  com- 
manded by  John  Gow,  or  Goiie,  or  Smith,  came  to  the 
Orkney  Islands,  and  was  discovered  to  be  a  pirate  by  various 
acts  of  insolence  and  villainy  committed  by  the  crew.  These 
were  for  some  time  submitted  to,  the  inhabitants  of  these  re- 
mote islands  not  possessing  arms  nor  means  of  resistance;  and 
so  bold  was  the  captain  of  these  banditti,  that  he  not  only 
came  ashore  and  gave  dancing-parties  in  the  village  of  Strom- 
ness,  but,  before  his  real  character  was  discovered,  engaged 
the  affections,  and  received  the  troth-plight,  of  a  young  lady 
possessed  of  some  property.  A  patriotic  individual,  James 
Fea,  younger  of  Clestron,  formed  the  plan  of  securing  the 
buccanier,  which  he  effected  by  a  mixture  of  courage  and  ad- 
dress, in  consequence  chiefly  of  Gow's  vessel  having  gone  on 
shore  near  the  harbor  of  Calfsound,  on  the  Island  of  Eda,  no' 
far  distant  from  a  house  then  inhabited  by  Mr.  Fea.  In  the 
various  stratagems  by  which  Mr.  Fea  contrived  finally,  at  tht 
peril  of  his  life  (they  being  well  armed  and  desperate),  t« 
make  the  whole  pirates  his  prisoners,  he  was  much  aided  b- 
Mr.  James  Laing,  the  grandfather  of  the  late  Malcolm  Laing 


VUi  INTRODUCTION  TO   THE  PIRATJiJ. 

Esq.,*  the  acute  and  ingenious  historian  of  Scotland  during 
the  seventeenth  century, 

Gow  and  others  of  his  crew  suffered,  by  sentence  of  the 
High  Court  of  Admiralty,  the  punishment  their  crimes  had 
long  deserved.  He  conducted  himself  with  great  audacity 
when  before  the  court;  and,  from  an  account  of  the  matter 
by  an  eye-watness,  seems  to  have  been  subjected  to  some  un- 
usual severities  in  order  to  compel  him  to  plead.  The  words 
are  these:  "John  Gow  would  not  plead,  for  which  he  was 
brought  to  the  bar,  and  the  Judge  ordered  that  his  thumbs 
should  be  squeezed  by  two  men,  with  a  wdiip-cord,  till  it  did 
break;  and  then  it  should  be  doubled,  till  it  did  again  break, 
and  then  laid  threefold,  and  that  the  executioners  should  pull 
with  their  whole  strength;  which  sentence  Gow  endured  with 
a  great  deal  of  boldness."  The  next  morning  (2Tth  May, 
1725),  when  he  had  seen  the  terrible  preparations  for  pressing 
him  to  death,  his  courage  gave  way,  and  he  told  the  marshal 
of  court  that  he  would  not  have  given  so  much  trouble  had 
he  been  assured  of  not  being  hanged  in  chains.  He  was  then 
tried,  condemned,  and  executed,  with  others  of  his  crew. 

It  is  said  that  the  lady  whose  affections  Gow  had  engaged 
went  up  to  London  to  see  him  before  his  death,  and  that, 
arriving  too  late,  she  had  the  courage  to  request  a  sight  of 
his  dead  body;  and  then,  touching  the  hand  of  the  corpse,  she 
formally  resumed  the  troth-plight  which  she  had  bestowed. 
Without  going  through  this  ceremony,  she  could  not,  ac- 
cording to  the  superstition  of  the  country,  have  escaped  a  visit 
from  the  ghost  of  her  departed  lover,  in  the  event  of  her  be- 
stowing upon  any  living  suitor  the  faith  which  she  had 
plighted  to  the  dead.  This  part  of  the  legend  may  serve  as  a 
curious  commentary  on  the  fine  Scottish  ballad  f  which 
begins: 

There  came  a  ghost  to  Margaret's  door,  etc. 

The  common  account  of  this  incident  farther  bears,  that 
Mr.  Fea,  the  spirited  individual  by  whose  exertions  Gow's 
career  of  iniquity  was  cut  short,  was  so  far  from  receiving  any 
reward  from  Government,  that  he  could  not  obtain  even 
countenance  enough  to  protect  him  against  a  variety  of  sham 

*  This  gentleman  was  calleci  to  the  Scotch  Bar  in  the  year  1784  but  the  infirm  state 
of  hie  health  indured  him,  in  1810,  to  leave  the  profession,  and  to  reside  on  his  paiernal 

Eropertv  near  Kirkwall,  devotin?  himself  to  agricultural  pursuits.     He  died  in  Novem- 
er,  1818,  aged  fif  ly-five,  and  was  interred  in  the  nave  of  St,  Magnus's  Cathedral  — Laincf. 
tTliis  ballad  of  "Willie's  Ghost"  is  printed  in  Herd's  "Collection,"  vol.  i.  p.  76, 
It  is  not  so  well  known  as  Mallet's  version,  "  Willie  and  Margaret,"  which  begins, 
"  'Twas  at  the  fearful  midnight  hour."— Zai/iff. 


INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  PIRATE.  ix 

suits,  raised  against  hira  by  N'ewgate  solicitors,  who  acted  in 
the  name  of  Gow  and  others  of  the  pirate's  crew;  and  the 
various  expenses,  vexatious  prosecutions,  and  other  legal  con- 
sequences, in  which  his  gallant  exploit  involved  him,  utterly 
ruined  his  fortune  and  his  family;  making  his  memory  a 
notable  example  to  all  who  shall  in  future  take  pirates  on 
their  own  authority. 

It  is  to  be  supposed,  for  the  honor  of  George  the  First's 
Government,  that  the  last  circumstance,  as  well  as  the  dates, 
and  other  particulars  of  the  commonly  received  story,  are  in- 
accurate, since  they  will  be  found  totally  irreconcilable  with 
the  following  veracious  narrative,  compiled  from  materials  to 
which  he  himself  alone  has  had  access,  by 

The  Author  of  "  Waverley.'' 


Tiie    Udaller's   home — Magnus  Troil   and   his   tamily. 


2  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

almost  buried  the  ruins  of  the  buildings;  but  in  the  end  of 
the  seventeenth  century  a  part  of  the  earl's  mansion  was  still 
entire  and  habitable.  It  was  a  rude  building  of  rough  stone, 
with  nothing  about  it  to  gratify  the  eye  or  to  excite  the  imagi- 
nation; a  large  old-fashioned  narrow  house,  with  a  very  steep 
roof,  covered  with  flags  composed  of  gray  sandstone,  would 
perhaps  convey  the  best  idea  of  the  place  to  a  modern  reader. 
The  windows  were  few,  very  small  in  size,  and  distributed 
up  and  down  the  building  with  utter  contempt  of  regularity. 
Against  the  main  structure  had  rested,  in  foi-mer  times,  cer- 
tain smaller  copartments  of  the  mansion-house,  containing 
offices,  or  subordinate  apartments,  necessary  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  earl's  retainers  and  menials.  But  these  had  be- 
come ruinous;  and  the  rafters  had  been  taken  down  for  fire- 
wood or  for  other  purposes;  the  walls  had  given  way  in  many 
places;  and,  to  complete  the  devastation,  the  sand  had  already 
drifted  amongst  the  ruins,  and  filled  up  what  had  been  once 
the  chambers  they  contained,  to  the  depth  of  two  or  three 
feet. 

Amid  this  desolation,  the  inhabitants  of  Jarlshof  had  con- 
trived, by  constant  labor  and  attention,  to  keep  in  order  a  few 
roods  of  land,  which  had  been  inclosed  as  a  garden,  and 
which,  sheltered  by  the  walls  of  the  house  itself  from  the  re- 
lentless sea-blast,  produced  such  vegetables  as  the  climate 
could  bring  forth,  or  rather  as  the  sea-gale  would  permit  to 
grow;  for  these  islands  experience  even  less  of  the  rigor  of 
cold  than  is  encountered  on  the  mainland  of  Scotland;  but, 
unsheltered  by  a  wall  of  some  sort  or  other,  it  is  scarce  pos- 
sible to  raise  even  the  most  ordinary  culinary  vegetables;  and 
as  for  shrubs  or  trees,  they  are  entirely  out  of  the  question, 
such  is  the  force  of  the  sweeping  sea-blast. 

At  a  short  distance  from  the  mansion,  and  near  to  the  sea- 
beach,  just  where  the  creek  forms  a  sort  of  imperfect  harbor, 
in  which  lay  three  or  four  fishing-boats,  there  were  a  few  most 
wretched  cottages  for  the  inhabitants  and  tenants  of  the 
township  of  Jarlshof,  who  held  the  whole  dist^ct  of  the  land- 
lord upon  such  terms  as  were  in  those  days  usually  granted  to 
persons  of  this  description,  and  which,  of  course,  were  hard 
enough.  The  landlord  himself  resided  upon  an  estate  which 
he  possessed  in  a  more  eligible  situation  in  a  different  part  of 
the  island,  and  seldom  visited  his  possessions  at  Sumburgh 
Head.  He  was  an  honest,  plain  Zetland  gentleman,  some- 
what passionate,  the  nece8S.ary  result  of  being  surrounded  by 
dependents;  and  somewhat  over-convivial  in  his  habits,  the 


THE  PIUATK  3 

consequence,  perhaps,  of  having  too  much  time  at  his  dis- 
posal; but  frank-tempered  and  generous  to  his  people,  and 
kind  and  hospitable  to  strangers.  He  was  descended  also 
of  an  old  and  noble  Norwegian  family — a  circumstance  which 
rendered  him  dearer  to  the  lower  orders,  most  of  whom  are 
of  the  same  race;  while  the  lairds,  or  proprietors,  are  gener- 
ally of  Scottish  extraction,  who,  at  that  early  period,  were 
still  considered  as  strangers  and  intruders.  Magnus  Troil, 
who  deduced  his  descent  from  the  \qtj  earl  who  was  supposed 
to  have  founded  Jarlshof,  was  peculiarly  of  this  opinion. 

The  present  inhabitants  of  Jarlshof  had  experienced,  on 
several  occasions,  the  kindness  and  good-^dll  of  the  proprie- 
tor of  the  territory.  When  Mr.  Mertoun — such  was  the  name 
of  the  present  inhabitant  of  the  old  mansion — ^first  arrived  in 
Zetland,  some  years  before  the  story  commences,  he  had  been 
received  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Troil  ^nth  that  warm  and  cordial 
hospitality  for  which  the  islands  are  distinguished.  No  one 
asked  him  whence  he  came,  where  he  was  going,  what  was 
his  purpose  in  visiting  so  remote  a  corner  of  the  empire,  or 
what  was  likely  to  be  the  term  of  his  stay.  He  arrived  a 
perfect  stranger,  yet  was  instantly  overpowered  by  a  succes- 
sion of  invitations;  and  in  each  house  which  he  visited  he 
found  a  home  as  long  as  he  chose  to  accept  it,  and  lived  as 
one  of  the  family,  unnoticed  and  unnoticing,  until  he  thought 
proper  to  remove  to  some  other  dwelling.  This  apparent  in- 
difference to  the  rank,  character,  and  qualities  of  their  guest 
did  not  arise  from  apathy  on  the  part  of  his  kind  hosts,  for 
the  islanders  had  their  full  share  of  natural  curiosity;  but 
their  delicacy  deemed  it  would  be  an  infringement  upon  the 
laws  of  hospitality  to  ask  questions  which  their  guest  might 
have  found  it  difficult  or  unpleasing  to  answer;  and  instead 
of  endeavoring,  as  is  usual  in  other  countries,  to  wring  out  of 
Mr.  Mertoun  such  communications  as  he  might  find  it  agree- 
able to  ^vithhold,  the  considerate  Zetlanders  contented  them- 
selves with  eagerly  gathering  up  such  scraps  of  information 
as  could  be  collected  in  the  course  of  conversation. 

But  the  rock  in  an  Arabian  desert  is  not  more  reluctant  to 
afford  water  than  Mr.  Basil  Mertoun  was  niggard  in  impart- 
ing his  confidence,  even  incidentally;  and  certainly  the 
politeness  of  the  gentry  of  Thule  was  never  put  to  a  more 
severe  test  than  when  they  felt  that  good-breeding  enjoined 
them  to  abstain  from  inquiring  into  the  situation  of  so  mys- 
terious a  personage. 

All  that  was  actually  known  of  him  was  eafcily  summed  up. 


4  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

Mr.  Mertoun  had  come  to  Lerwick,  then  rising  into  some  im- 
portance, but  not  yet  acknowledged  as  the  principal  town  of 
the  island,  in  a  Dutch  vessel,  accompanied  only  by  his  son, 
a  handsome  boy  of  about  fouri;een  years  old.  His  own  age 
might  exceed  forty.  The  Dutch  skipper  introduced  him  to 
some  of  the  very  good  friends  with  whom  he  used  to  barter 
gin  and  gingerbread  for  little  Zetland  bullocks,  smoked  geese, 
and  stockings  of  lambs'  wool;  and  although  Meinherr  could 
only  say  that,  "  Meinherr  Mertoun  hab  bay  his  bassage  like 
one  gentlemans,  and  hab  given  a  kreitz-dollar  beside  to  the 
crew,"  this  introduction  served  to  establish  the  Dutchman's 
passenger  in  a  respectable  circle  of  acquaintances,  which 
gradually  enlarged,  as  it  appeared  that  the  stranger  was  a  man 
of  considerable  acquirements. 

This  discovery  was  made  almost  "  per  force  ";  for  Mertoun 
was  as  unwilling  to  speak  upon  general  subjects  as  upon  his 
own  affairs.  But  he  was  sometimes  led  into  discussions, 
which  showed,  as  it  were  in  spite  of  himself,  the  scholar  and 
the  man  of  the  world;  and  at  other  times,  as  if  in  requital  of 
the  hospitality  which  he  experienced,  he  seemed  to  compel 
himself,  against  his  fixed  nature,  to  enter  into  the  society  of 
those  around  him,  especially  when  it  assumed  the  grave,  mel- 
ancholy, or  satirical  cast  which  best  suited  the  temper  of  his 
own  mind.  Upon  such  occasions,  the  Zetlanders  were  uni- 
versally of  opinion  that  he  must  have  had  an  excellent  edu- 
cation, neglected  only  in  one  striking  particular,  namely, 
that  Mr.  Mertoun  scarce  knew  the  stem  of  a  ship  from  the 
stern;  and  in  the  management  of  a  boat  a  cow  could  not  be 
more  ignorant.  It  seemed  astonishing,  such  gross  ignorance 
of  the  most  necessary  art  of  life,  in  the  Zetland  Isles  at  least, 
should  subsist  along  with  his  accomplishments  in  other  re- 
spects; but  so  it  was. 

Unless  called  forth  in  the  manner  we  have  mentioned,  the 
habits  of  Basil  Mertoun  Avere  retired  and  gloomy.  From 
loud  mirth  he  instantly  fled;  and  even  moderated  cheerfulness 
of  a  friendly  party  had  the  invariable  effect  of  throwing  him 
into  deeper  dejection  than  even  his  usual  demeanor  indicated. 

AVomen  are  always  particularly  desirous  of  investigating 
mystery  and  of  alleviating  melancholy,  especially  when  these 
circumstances  are  united  in  a  handsome  man  about  the  prime 
of  life.  It  is  possible,  therefore,  that  amongst  the  fair- 
haired  and  blue-eyed  daughters  of  Thule  this  mysterious  and 
pensive  stranger  might  have  found  someone  to  take  upon 
herself  the  task  of  consolation,  had  he  shown  any  willingness 


THE  PIRATE.  6 

to  accept  such  kindly  ofRces;  but,  far  from  doing  so,  he 
seemed  even  to  shun  the  presence  of  the  sex  to  which  in  our 
distresses,  whether  of  mind  or  body,  we  generally  apply  for 
pity  and  comfort. 

To  these  peculiarities  ]\Ir.  Mertoun  added  another,  wliich 
was  particularly  disagreeable  to  his  host  and  principal  patron, 
Magnus  Troil.  This  magnate  of  Zetland,  descended  by  the 
father's  side,  as  we  have  already  said,  from  an  ancient  Nor- 
wegian family,  by  the  marriage  of  its  representative  with  a 
Danish  lady,  held  the  devout  opinion  that  a  cup  of  Geneva 
or  Nantz  was  specific  against  all  cares  and  afflictions  what- 
ever. These  were  remedies  to  which  Mr.  Mertoun  never  ap- 
plied: his  drink  was  water,  and  water  alone,  and  no  persua- 
sion or  entreaties  could  induce  him  to  taste  any  stronger 
beverage  than  was  afforded  by  the  pure  spring.  Now  this 
Magnus  Troil  could  not  tolerate;  it  was  a  defiance  to  the  an- 
cient Northern  laws  of  conviviality,  which,  for  his  own  part, 
he  had  so  rigidly  observed  that,  although  he  was  wont  to 
assert  that  he  had  never  in  his  life  gone  to  bed  dmnk  (that  is, 
m  his  own  sense  of  the  word),  it  would  have  been  impossible 
to  prove  that  he  had  ever  resigned  himself  to  slumber  in  a 
state  of  actual  and  absolute  sobriety.  It  may  be  therefore 
asked.  What  did  this  stranger  bring  into  society  to  compen- 
sate the  displeasure  given  by  his  austere  and  abstemious 
habits?  He  had,  in  the  first  place,  that  manner  and  self- 
importance  which  mark  a  person  of  some  consequence;  and 
although  it  was  conjectured  that  he  could  not  be  rich,  yet  it 
was  certainly  known  by  his  expenditure  that  neither  was  he 
absolutely  poor.  He  had,  besides,  some  powers  of  conversa- 
tion, when,  as  we  have  already  hinted,  he  chose  to  exert  them, 
and  his  misanthropy  or  aversion  to  the  business  and  inter- 
course of  ordinary  life  was  often  expressed  in  an  antithetical 
manner,  which  passed  for  wit,  when  better  was  not  to  be  had. 
Above  all,  Mr.  Mertoun's  secret  seemed  impenetrable,  and 
his  presence  had  all  the  interest  of  a  riddle,  which  men  love 
to  read  over  and  over,  because  they  cannot  find  out  the  mean- 
ing of  it. 

Notwithstanding  these  recommendations,  Mertoun  differed 
in  so  many  material  points  from  his  host,  that,  after  he  had 
been  for  some  time  a  guest  at  his  principal  residence,  Magnus 
Troil  was  agreeably  surprised  when,  one  evening,  after  they 
had  sat  two  hours  in  absolute  silence,  drinking  brandy  and 
water — that  is,  Magnus  drinking  the  alcohol  and  Mertoun 
the  element — the  guest  asked  his  host's  permission  to  occupy. 


6  WAVERLET  AOVELS. 

as  his  tenant,  this  deserted  mansion  of  Jarlshof,  at  the  ex- 
tremity of  the  territory  called  Dunrossness,  and  situated  just 
beneath  Sumburgh  Head.  "I  shall  be  handsomely  rid  of 
him,"  quoth  Magnus  to  himself,  "  and  his  kill-joy  visage  will 
never  again  stop  the  bottle  in  its  round.  His  departure  will 
ruin  me  in  lemons,  however,  for  his  mere  look  was  quite  suiii- 
cient  to  sour  a  whole  ocean  of  punch." 

Yet  the  kind-hearted  Zetlander  generously  and  disinter- 
estedly remonstrated  with  Mr.  Mertoun  on  the  solitude  and 
inconveniences  to  which  he  was  about  to  subject  himself. 
"  There  were  scarcely,"  he  said,  "  even  the  most  necessary 
articles  of  furniture  in  the  old  house;  there  was  no  society 
within  many  miles;  for  provisions,  the  principal  article  of 
food  would  be  sour  sillocks,  and  his  only  company  gnlls  and 
gannets." 

"  ]\Iy  good  friend,"  replied  Mertoun,  "  if  you  could  have 
named  a  circumstance  which  would  render  the  residence  more 
eligible  to  me  than  any  other,  it  is  that  there  would  be  neither 
human  luxury  nor  human  society  near  the  place  of  my  re- 
treat: a  shelter  from  the  weather  for  my  own  head  and  for 
the  boy's  is  all  I  seek  for.  So  name  your  rent,  Mr.  Troil,  and 
let  me  be  your  tenant  at  Jarlshof." 

"  Eent!  "  answered  the  Zetlander;  "  why,  no  great  rent  for 
an  old  house  which  no  one  has  lived  in  since  my  mother's 
time — God  rest  her! — and  as  for  shelter,  the  old  walls  are 
thick  enough,  and  will  bear  many  a  bang  yet.  But,  Heaven 
love  you,  Mr.  Mertoun,  think  what  you  "are  purposing.  For 
one  of  us  to  live  at  Jarlshof  were  a  ^ald  scheme  enough;  but 
you,  who  are  from  another  country,  whether  English,  Scotch, 
or  Irish,  no  one  can  tell " 

"  Nor  does  it  greatly  matter,"  said  Mertoun,  somewhat 
abruptly. 

"  Not  a  herring's  scale,"  answered  the  laird;  "  only,  that  I 
like  you  the  better  for  being  no  Scot,  as  I  trust  you  are  not 
one.  Hither  they  have  come  like  the  clack-geese:  every 
chamberlain  has  brought  over  a  flock  of  his  own  name,  and 
his  own  hatching,  for  what  I  know,  and  here  they  roost  for- 
ever; catch  them  returning  to  their  o^vn  barren  Highlands  or 
Lowlands,  when  once  they  have  tasted  our  Zetland  beef  and 
seen  our  bonny  voes  and  lochs.  No,  sir  " — here  Magnus  pro- 
ceeded with  great  animation,  sipping  from  time  to  time  the 
half-diluted  spirit,  which  at  the  same  time  animated  liis  re- 
sentment against  the  intruders  and  enabled  him  to  endure 
the  mortifying  reflection  which  it  suggested — "no,  sITj  the 


THE  PIRATE.  * 

ancient  days  and  the  genuine  manners  of  these  islands  are  no 
more;  for  our  ancient  possessors — our  Patersons,  our  Feas, 
our  Schlagbrennei-s,  our  Thorbiorns— have  given  place  to 
Giffords,  Seotts,  Mouats,  men  whose  names  bespeak  them  or 
their  ancestors  strangers  to  the  soil  which  we  the  Troils  have 
inhabited  long  before  the  days  of  Turf-Einar,  who  first  taught 
these  isles  the  mvstery  of  burning  peat  for  fuel,  and  who  has 
been  handed  down  to  a  grateful  posterity  by  a  name  which 
records  the  discovery." 

This  was  a  subject  upon  which  the  potentate  of  Jarlshof 
was  usually  very  diffuse,  and  Mertoun  saw  him  enter  upon  it 
^nth  pleasure,  because  he  knew  he  should  not  be  called  upon 
to  contribute  any  aid  to  the  conversation,  and  might  therefore 
indulge  his  own  saturnine  humor  while  the  Xorwegian  Zet- 
lander  declaimed  on  the  change  of  times  and  inhabitants. 
But  Just  as  Magnus  had  arrived  at  the  melancholy  conclusion, 
"How  probable  it  was  that,  in  another  century,  scarce  a 
'merk,'  scarce  even  an  '  ure,'  of  land  would  be  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  Norse  inhabitants,  the  true  Udallers*  of  Zet- 
land," he  recollected  the  circumstances  of  his  guest,  and 
stopped  suddenly  short.  "  I  do  not  say  all  this,"  he  added, 
interrupting  hiniself,  "  as  if  I  were  unwilling  that  you  should 
settle  on  my  estate,  Mr.  Mertoun.  But  for  Jarlshof— the 
place  is  a  wdld  one.  Come  from  where  you  will,  I  warrant 
you  will  say,  like  other  travelers,  you  came  from  a  better 
climate  than  ours,  for  so  say  you  all.  And  yet  you  think  of 
a  retreat  which  the  very  natives  run  away  from.  Will  you 
not  take  your  glass? — (This  was  to  be  considered  as  inter- 
jectional.)" — Then  here's  to  you." 

"  My  good  sir,"  answered  Mertoun,  "  I  am  indifferent  to 
chmate:  if  there  is  but  air  enough  to  fill  my  lungs,  I  care  not 
if  it  be  the  breath  of  x4rabia  or  of  Lapland." 

"  Air  enough  you  may  have,"  answered  Magnus,  "  no  lack 
of  that;  somewhat  damp,  strangers  allege  it  to  be,  but  we 
know  a  corrective  for  that.  Here's  to  you,  Mr.  Mertoun. 
You  must  learn  to  do  so,  and  to  smoke  a  pipe;  and  then,  as  you 
say,  you  will  find  the  air  of  Zetland  equal  to  that  of  Arabia. 
But  have  you  seen  Jarlshof?" 

The  stranger  intimated  that  he  had  not. 

"  Then,"   replied   Magnus,    "  you   have   no   idea   of   your 

undert<iking.     If  you  think  it  a  comfortable  roadstead  like 

this,  ^nth  the  house  situated  on  the  side  of  an  inland  voe, 

that  brings  the  herrings  up  to  your  door,  you  are  mistaken, 

*  See  Note  1. 


8.  WAVEELEY  NOVELS. 

my  heart.  At  Jarlshof  you  will  see  naught  but  the  wild 
waves  tumbling  on  the  bare  rocks,  and  the  Koost  of  Sum- 
burgh  running  at  the  rate  of  fifteen  knots  an  hour." 

"  I  shall  see  nothing  at  least  of  the  current  of  human  pas- 
sions," replied  Mertoun. 

"  You  will  hear  nothing  but  the  clanging  and  screaming 
of  scaxts,  sheerwaters,  and  sea-gulls  from  daybreak  till  sun- 
set." 

"  I  will  compound,  my  friend,"  replied  the  stranger,  "  so 
that  I  do  not  hear  the  chattering  of  women's  tongues." 

"  Ah,"  said  the  Norman,  "  that  is  because  you  hear  just 
now  my  little  Minna  and  Brenda  singing  in  the  garden  with 
your  Mordaunt.  Now,  I  would  rather  listen  to  their  little 
voices  than  the  skylark  which  I  once  heard  in  Caithness,  or 
the  nightingale  that  I  have  read  of.  What  will  the  girls  do 
for  want  of  their  playmate  Mordaunt?  " 

"  They  will  shift  for  themselves,"  answered  Mertoun: 
"  younger  or  elder,  they  will  find  playmates  or  dupes.  But 
the  question  is,  Mr.  Troil,  will  you  let  to  me,  as  your  tenant, 
this  old  mansion  of  Jarlshof?  " 

"  Gladly,  since  you  make  it  your  option  to  live  in  a  spot  so 
desolate." 

"  And  as  for  the  rent?  "  continued  Mertoun. 

"  The  rent!  "  replied  Magnus;  "  hum — why,  you  must  have 
the  bit  of  '  plantie  cruive,'  *  which  they  once  called  a  garden, 
and  a  right  in  the  '  scathold,'  and  a  sixpenny  merk  of  land, 
that  the  tenants  may  fish  for  you;  eight  '  lispunds '  of  butter 
and  eight  shillings  sterling  yearly  is  not  too  much?  " 

Mr.  Mertoun  agreed  to  terms  so  moderate,  and  from 
thenceforward  resided  chiefly  at  the  solitary  mansion  which 
we  have  described  in  the  beginning  of  this  chapter,  conform- 
ing not  only  without  complaint,  but,  as  it  seemed,  with  a 
sullen  pleasure,  to  all  the  privations  which  so  wild  and  deso- 
late a  situation  necessarily  imposed  on  its  inhabitant. 

*  See  Note  2. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Tis  not  alone  the  scene  :  the  man,  Anselmo, 
The  man  finds  sympathies  in  these  wild  wastes 
And  roughly  tumbling  seas,  which  fairer  views 
And  smoother  waves  deny  him. 

— Ancient  Brama. 

The  few  inhabitants  of  the  township  of  Jarlshof  had  at 
first  heard  with  alarm  that  a  person  of  rank  superior  to  their 
own  was  come  to  reside  in  the  minons  tenement  which  they 
still  called  the  castle.  In  those  days  (for  the  present  times 
are  greatly  altered  for  the  better)  the  presence  of  a  superior, 
in  such  a  situation,  was  almost  certain  to  be  attended  with 
additional  burdens  and  exactions,  for  which,  under  one  pre- 
text or  another,  feudal  customs  furnished  a  thousand  apolo- 
gies. By  each  of  these,  a  part  of  the  tenants'  hard-won  and 
precarious  prolits  was  diverted  for  the  use  of  their  powerful 
neighbor  and  superior,  the  tacksman,  as  he  was  called.  But 
the  sub-tenants  speedily  found  that  no  oppression  of  this 
kind  was  to  be  apprehended  at  the  hands  of  Basil  Mertoun. 
His  own  means,  whether  large  or  small,  were  at  least  fully 
adequate  to  his  expenses,  which,  so  far  as  regarded  his  habits 
of  life,  were  of  the  most  fiiigal  description.  The  luxuries  of 
a  few  books,  and  some  philosophical  instruments,  with  which 
he  was  supplied  from  London  as  occasion  offered,  seemed  to 
indicate  a  degree  of  wealth  unusual  in  those  islands;  but,  on 
the  other  hand,  the  table  and  the  accommodations  at  Jarlshof 
did  not  exceed  what  was  maintained  by  a  Zetland  proprietor 
of  the  most  inferior  description. 

The  tenants  of  the  hamlet  troubled  themselves  very  little 
about  the  quality  of  their  superior,  as  soon  as  they  found 
that  their  situation  was  rather  to  be  mended  than  rendered 
worse  by  his  presence;  and,  once  relieved  from  the  appre- 
hension of  his  tyrannizing  over  them,  they  laid  their  heads 
together  to  make  the  most  of  him  by  various  petty  tricks  of 
overcharge  and  extortion,  which  for  a  while  the  stranger  sub- 
mitted to  with  the  most  philosophic  indifference.  An  inci- 
dent, however,  occurred  which  put  his  character  in  a  new 
light,  and  effectually  checked  all  future  efforts  at  extravagant 
imposition. 

A  dispute  arose  in  the  kitchen  of  the  castle  bet^nxt  an  old 

9 


10  WAVEELEY  NOVELS. 

gavemante,  who  acted  as  housekeeper  to  Mr.  Mertoun,  and 
Swe}'n  Erickson,  as  good  a  Zetlander  as  ever  rowed  a  boat  to 
the  "'  haaf  fishing  ";  which  dispute,  as  is  usual  in  such  cases, 
was  maintained  with  such  increasing  heat  and  vociferation  as 
to  reach  the  ears  of  the  master  (as  he  was  called),  who, 
secluded  in  a  solitary  turret,  was  deeply  employed  in  examin- 
ing the  contents  of  a  new  package  of  books  from  London, 
which,  after  long  expectation,  had  found  its  way  to  Hull, 
from  thence  by  a  whaling  vessel  to  Lerwick,  and  so  to  Jarls- 
hof.  With  more  than  the  usual  thriJl  of  indignation  which 
indolent  people  always  feel  when  roused  into  action  on  some 
unpleasant  occasion,  Mertoun  descended  to  the  scene  of  con- 
test, and  so  suddenly,  peremptorily,  and  strictly  inquired  into 
the  cause  of  dispute,  that  the  parties,  notwithstanding  every 
evasion  which  they  attempted,  became  unable  to  disguise 
from  him  that  their  difference  respected  the  several  interests 
to  which  the  honest  govemante  and  no  less  honest  fisherman 
were  respectively  entitled  in  an  overcharge  of  about  one  hun- 
dred per  cent,  on  a  bargain  of  rock-cod,  purchased  by  the 
former  from  the  latter,  for  the  use  of  the  family  at  Jarlshof. 

When  this  was  fairly  ascertained  and  confessed,  ]\Ir.  Mer- 
toun stood  looking  upon  the  culprits  with  eyes  in  which  the 
utmost  scorn  seemed  to  contend  with  awakening  passion. 
"  Hark  you,  ye  old  hag,"  said  he  at  length  to  the  housekeeper, 
"avoid  my  house  this  instant!  and  know  that  I  dismiss  you, 
not  for  being  a  liar,  a  thief,  and  an  ungrateful  quean— for 
these  are  qualities  as  proper  to  you  as  your  name  of  woman — 
but  for  daring,  in  my  house,  to  scold  above  your  breath.  And 
for  you,  you  rascal,  who  suppose  you  may  cheat  a  stranger  as 
you  would  flinch  a  whale,  know  that  I  am  well  acquainted 
with  the  rights  which,  by  delegation  from  your  master,  Mag- 
nus Troil,  I  can  exercise  over  you,  if  I  will.  Provoke  me  to 
a  certain  pitch,  and  you  shall  learn,  to  your  cost,  I  can  break 
your  rest  as  easily  as  you  can  interrupt  my  leisure.  I  knov. 
the  meaning  of  '  scat,'  and  '  wattle,'  and  '  hawkhen,'  and 
'  hagalef ,'  and  every  other  exaction  by  which  your  lords,  in 
ancient  and  modern  days,  have  wrung  your  withers;  nor  is 
there  one  of  you  that  shall  not  rue  the  day  that  you  could  not 
be  content  with  robbing  me  of  my  money,  but  must  also  break 
in  on  my  leisure  with  your  atrocious  Northern  clamor,  that 
rivals  in  discord  the  screaming  of  a  flight  of  Arctic  gulls." 

Nothing  better  occurred  to  Sweyn.  in  answer  to  this  objur- 
gation, than  the  preferring  a  humble  request  that  his  honor 
would  be  pleased  to  keep  the  cod-fish  without  payment,  and 


THE  PIRATE.  11 

say  no  more  about  the  matter;  but  by  this  time  ]\Ir.  Mertoun 
had  worked  up  his  passions  into  an  ungovernable  rage,  and 
with  one  hand  he  threw  the  money  at  the  fisherman's  head, 
while  with  the  other  he  pelted  Mm  out  of  the  apartment  with 
his  own  fish,  wliich  he  finally  flung  out  of  doors  after  him. 

There  was  so  much  of  appalling  and  tyrannic  fury  in  the 
stranger's  manner  on  this  occasion,  that  Sweyn  neither 
stopped  to  collect  the  money  nor  take  back  his  commodity, 
but  fled  at  a  precipitate  rate  to  the  small  hamlet,  to  tell  his 
comrades  that,  if  they  provoked  Master  ]\Iertoun  any  farther, 
he  would  tiu-n  an  absolute  Pate  Stewart  *  on  their  hand,  and 
head  and  hang  without  either  judgment  or  mercy. 

Hither  also  came  the  discarded  housekeeper,  to  consult 
with  her  neighbors  and  kindred  (for  she  too  was  a  native  of 
the  village)  what  she  should  do  to  regain  the  desirable  situa- 
tion from  which  she  had  been  so  suddenly  expelled.  The  old 
Ranzellaar  of  the  village,  who  had  the  voice  most  potential  in 
the  deliberations  of  tlie  township,  after  hearing  what  had 
happened,  pronounced  that  Sweyn  Erickson  had  gone  too  far 
in  raising  the  market  upon  ]\Ir.  Mertoun;  and  that,  whatever 
pretext  the  tacksman  might  assume  for  thus  gi^^ng  way  to 
his  anger,  the  real  grievance  must  have  been  the  charging 
the  rock  cod-fish  at  a  penny  instead  of  a  half-penny  a  pound; 
he  therefore  exhorted  all  the  community  never  to  raise  their 
exactions  in  future  beyond  the  proportion  of  threepence  upon 
the  shilling,  at  which  rate  their  master  at  the  castle  could  not 
reasonably  be  expected  to  grumble,  since,  as  he  was  disposed 
to  do  them  no  harm,  it  was  reasonable  to  think  that,  in  a 
moderate  way,  he  had  no  objection  to  do  them  good.  "  And 
three  upon  twelve,"  said  the  experienced  Ranzellaar,  "is  a 
decent  and  moderate  profit,  and  will  bring  with  it  God's 
blessing  and  St.  Ronald's." 

Proceeding  upon  the  tariff  thus  judiciously  recommended 
to  them,  the  inhabitants  of  Jarlshof  cheated  Mertoun  in 
future  only  to  the  moderate  extent  of  twenty-five  per  cent.— 
a  rate  to  which  all  nabobs,  army-contractors,  speculators  in 
the  funds,  and  others,  whom  recent  and  rapid  success  has 
enabled  to  settle  in  the  country  upon  a  great  scale,  dught  to 
submit  as  very  reasonable  treatment  at  the  hand  of  their 
rustic  neighbors.     Mertoun  at  least  seemed  of  that  opinion, 

*  Meaning,  probably,  Patrick  Stewart,  Earl  of  Orkney,  executed  for  tyranny  and 
oppresFion.  practiced  on  the  inhabitants  of  those  remote  islands,  in  the  beginning  of  the 
seventeenth  century.— His  father,  Lord  Robert  Stua't,  was  a  natural  eon  of  James  V 
•-Laing. 


12  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

for  he  gave  himself  no  farther  trouble  upon  the  subject  of  his 
household  expenses. 

The  conscript  fathers  of  Jarlshof,  having  settled  their  own 
matters,  took  next  under  their  consideration  the  case  of 
Swertha,  the  banished  matron  who  had  been  expelled  from 
the  castle,  whom,  as  an  experienced  and  useful  ally,  they  were 
highly  desirous  to  restore  to  her  ofRce  of  housekeeper,  should 
that  be  found  possible.  But  as  their  wisdom  here  failed 
them,  Swertha,  in  despair,  had  recourse  to  the  good  offices  of 
Mordaunt  Mertoun,  with  whom  she  had  acquired  some  favor 
by  her  knowledge  in  old  Norwegian  ballads,  and  dismal  tales 
concerning  the  Trows,  or  Drows  (the  dwarfs  of  the  Scalds), 
with  whom  superstitious  eld  had  peopled  many  a  lonely 
cavern  a:^'d  brown  dale  in  Dunrossness,  as  in  every  other  dis- 
trict of  Zetland.  "  Swertha,"  said  the  youth,  "  I  can  do  but 
little  for  you,  but  you  may  do  something  for  yourself.  My 
father's  passion  resembles  the  fury  of  those  ancient  champions 
— those  Berserkars,*  you  sing  songs  about." 

"  Aye— aye,  fish  of  my  heart,"  replied  the  old  woman,  with 
a  pathetic  whine;  "  the  Berserkars  were  champions  who  lived 
before  the  blessed  days  of  St.  Olave,  and  who  used  to  run  like 
madmen  on  swords,  and  spears,  and  harpoons,  and  muskets, 
and  snap  them  all  into  pieces,  as  a  finner  would  go  through  a 
herring-net,  and  then,  when  the  fury  went  off,  they  were  as 
weak  and  unstable  as  water." 

"  That's  the  very  thing,  Swertha,"  said  Mordaunt.  "  Now, 
my  father  never  likes  to  think  of  his  passion  after  it  is  over, 
and  is  so  much  of  a  Berserkar  that,  let  him  be  desperate  as  he 
will  to-day,  he  will  not  care  about  it  to-morrow.  Therefore, 
he  has  not  filled  up  your  place  in  the  household  at  the  castle, 
and  not  a  mouthful  of  warm  food  has  been  dressed  there  since 
you  went  away,  and  not  a  morsel  of  bread  baked,  but  we  have 
lived  just  upon  whatever  cold  thing  came  to  hand.  Now, 
Swertha,  I  will  be  your  warrant  that,  if  you  go  boldly  up  to 
the  castle,  and  enter  upon  the  discharge  of  your  duties  as 
usual,  you  will  never  hear  a  single  word  from  him." 

Swertha  hesitated  at  first  to  obey  this  bold  counsel.  She 
said,  "To  her  thinking,  Mr.  Mertoun,  when  he  was  angry, 
looked  more  like  a  fiend  than  any  Berserkar  of  them  all:  that 
the  fire  flashed  from  his  eyes,  and  the  foam  flew  from  his  lips; 
and  that  it  would  be  a  plain  tempting  of  Providence  to  put 
herself  again  in  such  a  venture." 

But,  on  the  encouragement  which  she  received  from  the 

*  See  Note  3. 


THE  PIRATE.  13 

son,  she  determined  at  length  once  more  to  face  the  parent; 
and,  dressing  herself  in  her  ordinary  household  attire,  for  so 
Mordaunt  particularly  recommended,  she  slipped  into  the 
castle,  and  presently  resuming  the  various  and  numerous 
occupations  which  devolved  on  her,  seemed  as  deeply  engaged 
in  household  cares  as  if  she  had  never  been  out  of  office. 

The  first  day  of  her  return  to  her  duty,  Swertha  made  no 
appeai-ance  in  presence  of  her  master,  but  trusted  that  after 
his  three  days'  diet  on  cold  meat,  a  hot  dish,  dressed  with  the 
best  of  her  simple  skill,  might  introduce  her  favorably  to  his 
recollection.  AVhen  ^lordaunt  had  reported  that  his  father 
had  taken  no  notice  of  this  change  of  diet,  and  when  she  her- 
self observed  that,  in  passing  and  repassing  him  occasionally, 
her  appearance  produced  no  effect  upon  her  singular  master, 
she  began  to  imagine  that  the  whole  affair  had  escaped  Mr. 
Mertoun's  memor}',  and  was  active  in  her  duty  as  usual. 
Neither  was  she  con\nnced  of  the  contrary  until  one  day 
when,  happening  somewhat  to  elevate  her  tone  in  a  dispute 
with  the  other  maid-servant,  her  master,  who  at  that  time 
passed  the  place  of  contest,  eyed  her  with  a  strong  glance,  and 
pronounced  the  single  word,  "  Remember!  "  in  a  tone  which 
taught  Swertha  the  government  of  her  tongue  for  many 
weeks  after. 

If  Mertoun  was  whimsical  in  his  mode  of  governing  his 
household,  he  seemed  no  less  so  in  his  plan  of  educating  his 
son.  He  showed  the  youth  but  few  symptoms  of  parental 
affection:  yet,  in  his  ordinary  state  of  mind,  the  improvement 
of  Mordaunt's  education  seemed  to  be  the  utmost  object  of 
his  life.  He  had  both  books  and  information  sufficient  to 
discharge  the  task  of  tutor  in  the  ordinary  branches  of  knowl- 
edge; and  in  this  capacity  was  regular,  calm,  and  strict,  not 
to  say  severe,  in  exacting  from  his  pupil  the  attention  neces- 
sary for  his  profiting.  But  in  the  perusal  of  histor}%  to  which 
their  attention  was  frequently  turned,  as  well  as  in  the  study 
of  classic  authors,  there  often  occurred  facts  or  sentiments 
which  produced  an  instant  effect  upon  Mertoun's  mind,  and 
brought  on  him  suddenly  what  Swertha,  Sweyn,  and  even 
Mordaunt.  came  to  distinguish  by  the  name  of  his  dark  hour. 
He  was  aware,  in  the  usual  case,  of  its  approach,  and  retreated 
to  an  inner  apartment,  into  which  he  never  permitted  even 
^Mordaunt  to  enter.  Here  he  would  abide  in  seclusion  for 
days,  and  even  weeks,  only  coming  out  at  uncertain  times,  to 
take  ?urh  food  as  thoy  had  taken  care  to  leave  within  his 
reach,  which  he  used  in  wonderfully  omall  quantities.     At 


14  WAVBBLSr  NOVELS. 

other  times,  and  especially  during  the  winter  solstice,  when 
almost  every  person  spends  the  gloomy  time  within  doors  in 
feasting  and  merriment,  this  unhappy  man  would  wrap  liim- 
self  in  a  dark-colored  sea-cloalc,  and  wander  out  along  the 
stormy  beach,  or  upon  the  desolate  heath,  indulging  his  own 
gloomy  and  wayward  reveries  under  the  inclement  sky,  the 
rather  that  he  was  then  most  sure  to  wander  unencountered 
and  unobserved. 

As  Mordaunt  grew  older,  he  learned  to  note  the  particular 
signs  which  preceded  these  fits  of  gloomy  despondency,  and 
to  direct  such  precautions  as  might  insure  his  unfortunate 
parent  from  ill-timed  interruption  (which  had  always  the 
effect  of  driving  him  to  fury),  while,  at  the  same  time,  full 
provision  was  made  for  his  subsistence.  Mordaunt  perceived 
that  at  such  periods  the  melancholy  fit  of  Ms  father  was 
greatly  prolonged  if  he  chanced  to  present  himself  to  his  eyes 
while  the  dark  hour  was  upon  him.  Out  of  respect,  there- 
fore, to  his  parent,  as  well  as  to  indulge  the  love  of  active 
exercise  and  of  amusement  natural  to  his  period  of  life,  Mor- 
daunt used  often  to  absent  himself  altogether  from  the  man- 
sion of  Jarlshof,  and  even  from  the  district,  secure  that  his 
father,  if  the  dark  hour  passed  away  in  his  absence,  would  be 
little  inclined  to  inquire  how  liis  son  had  disposed  of  his  lei- 
sure, so  that  he  was  sure  he  had  not  watx^hed  his  own  weak 
moments,  that  being  the  subject  on  which  he  entertained  the 
utmost  jealousy. 

At  such  times,  therefore,  all  the  sources  of  amusement 
which  the  country  afforded  were  open  to  the  younger  Mer- 
toun,  who,  in  these  intervals  of  his  education,  had  an  oppor- 
tunity to  give  full  scope  to  the  energies  of  a  bold,  active,  and 
daring  character.  He  was  often  engaged  with  the  youth  of 
the  hamlet  in  those  desperate  sports  to  which  the  "  dreadful 
trade  of  the  samphire-gatherer "  is  like  a  walk  upon  level 
ground — often  joined  those  midnight  excursions  upon  the 
face  of  the  giddy  cliffs,  to  secure  the  eggs  or  the  young  of  the 
sea-fowl;  and  in  these  daring  adventures  displayed  an  ad- 
dress, presence  of  mind,  and  acti^dty  which,  in  one  so  young 
and  not  a  native  of  the  country,  astonished  the  oldest 
fowlers.* 

At  other  times,  Mordaunt  accompanied  Sweyn  and  other 
fishermen  in  their  long  and  perilous  expeditions  to  the  dis- 
tant and  deep  sea,  learning  under  their  direction  the  manage- 
ment of  the  boat,  in  which  they  equal,  or  exceed,  perhaps, 

*  See  Accidents  to  Fowlers.    Note  4. 


THE  PIRATE.  16 

any  natives  of  the  British  empire.     This  exercise  had  charms 
for  Mordaunt  independently  of  the  fisliing  alone. 

At  this  time,  the  old  Norwegian  sagas  were  much  remem- 
bered, and  often  rehearsed,  by  the  fishermen,  who  still  pre- 
served among  themselves  the  ancient  Norse  tongue,  which 
was  the  speech  of  their  forefathers.  In  the  dark  romance  of 
those  Scandinavian  tales  lay  much  that  was  captivating  to  a 
youthful  ear;  and  the  classic  fables  of  antiquity  were  rivaled 
at  least,  if  not  excelled,  in  Mordaunt's  opinion  by  the  strange 
legends  of  Berserkars,  of  sea-kings,  of  dwarfs,  giants,  and 
sorcerers,  which  he  heard  from  the  native  Zetlanders.  Often 
the  scenes  around  him  were  assigned  as  the  localities  of  the 
wild  poems,  which,  half-recited,  half-chanted  by  voices  as 
hoarse,  if  not  so  loud,  as  the  waves  over  which  they  floated, 
pointed  out  the  very  bay  on  which  they  sailed  as  the  scene  of 
a  bloody  sea-fight;  the  scarce-seen  heap  of  stones  that  bristled 
over  the  projecting  cape  as  the  dun,  or  castle,  of  some  potent 
earl  or  noted  pirate;  the  distant  and  solitary  gray  stone  on 
the  lonely  moor  as  marking  the  grave  of  a  hero;  the  wild 
cavern,  up  wliich  the  sea  rolled  in  heavy,  broad,  and  un- 
broken billows,  as  the  dwelling  of  some  noted  sorceress.* 

The  ocean  also  had  its  mysteries,  the  effect  of  which  was 
aided  bv  the  dim  twilight,  through  which  it  was  imperfectly 
seen  for  more  than  half  the  year.  Its  bottomless  depths 
and  secret  caves  contained,  according  to  the  account  of 
Sweyn  and  others  skilled  in  legendary  lore,  such  wonders  as 
modem  navigators  reject  with  disdain.  In  the  quiet  moon- 
hght  bay,  where  the  waves  came  rippling  to  the  shore,  upon  a 
bed  of  smooth  sand  intermingled  with  shells,  the  mermaid 
was  still  seen  to  glide  along  the  waters,  and  mingling  her 
voice  with  the  sighing  breeze,  was  often  heard  to  sing  of  sub- 
terranean wonders,  or  to  chant  prophecies  of  future  events. 
The  Kraken,  that  hugest  of  living  things,  was  still  supposed 
to  cumber  the  recesses  of  the  Northern  Ocean;  and  often, 
when  some  fog-bank  covered  the  sea  at  a  distance,  the  eye  of 
the  experienced  boatman  saw  the  horns  of  the  monstrous 
leviathan  welkingiand  waving  amidst  the  wreaths  of  mist,  and 
bore  away  with  all  press  of  oar  and  sail,  lest  the  sudden  suc- 
tion, occasioned  bv  the  sinking  of  the  monstrous  mass  to  the 
bottom,  should  drag  within  the  grasp  of  its  multifarious 
feelers  his  own  frail  skiff.  The  sea-snake  was  also  known, 
which,  arising  out  of  the  depths  of  ocean,  stretches  to  the 
skies  his  enormous  neck,  covered  with  a  mane  like  that  of  a 

*  See  Norse  Fragments.    Not*  5. 


16  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS. 

war-horse,  and  with  its  broad,  ghttering  e3^es  raised  mast- 
head high,  looks  out,  as  it  seems,  for  plunder  or  for  victims. 

Many  prodigious  stories  of  these  marine  monsters,  and  of 
many  others  less  known,  were  then  universally  received 
among  the  Zetlanders,  whose  descendants  have  not  as  yet  by 
any  means  abandoned  faith  in  them.* 

Such  legends  are,  indeed,  everywhere  current  amongst  the 
vulgar;  but  the  imagination  is  far  more  powerfully  affected 
by  them  on  the  deep  and  dangerous  seas  of  the  North,  amidst 
precipices  and  headlands,  many  hundred  feet  in  height;  amid 
perilous  straits,  and  currents,  and  eddies;  long  sunken  reefs 
of  rock,  over  which  the  vivid  ocean  foams  and  boils;  dark 
caverns,  to  whose  extremities  neither  man  nor  skiff  has  ever 
ventured;  lonely,  and  often  uninhabited,  isles;  and  occasion- 
ally the  ruins  of  ancient  Northern  fastnesses,  dimly  seen  by 
the  feeble  light  of  the  Arctic  winter.  To  Mordaunt,  who  had 
much  of  romance  in  his  disposition,  these  superstitions 
formed  a  pleasing  and  interesting  exercise  of  the  imagination, 
while,  half-doubting,  half-inclined  to  believe,  he  listened  to 
the  tales  chanted  concerning  these  wonders  of  nature  and 
creatures  of  credulous  belief,  told  in  the  rude  but  energetic 
language  of  the  ancient  Scalds. 

But  there  wanted  not  softer  and  lighter  amusement,  that 
might  seem  better  suited  to  Mordaunt's  age  than  the  wild 
tales  and  rude  exercises  which  we  have  already  mentioned. 
The  season  of  winter,  when,  from  the  shortness  of  the  day- 
light, labor  becomes  impossible,  is  in  Zetland  the  time  of 
revel;  feasting,  and  merriment.  Whatever  the  fisherman  has 
been  able  to  acquire  during  summer  was  expended,  and  often 
wasted,  in  maintaining  the  mirth  and  hospitality  of  his  hearth 
during  this  period;  while  the  landholders  and  gentlemen  of 
the  island  gave  double  loose  to  their  convivial  and  hospitable 
dispositions,  thronged  their  houses  with  guests,  and  drove 
away  the  rigor  of  the  season  with  jest,  glee,  and  song,  the 
dance,  and  the  wine-cup. 

Amid  the  revels  of  this  merry,  though  rigorous,  season 
no  youth  added  more  spirit  to  the  dance  or  glee  to  the  revel 
than  the  young  stranger,  Mordaunt  Mertoun.  When  his 
father's  state  of  mind  permitted,  or  indeed  required,  his  ab- 
sence, he  wandered  from  house  to  house,  a  welcome  guest 
wherever  he  came,  and  lent  his  ^\^lling  voice  to  the  song  and 
his  foot  to  the  dance.  A  boat,  or,  if  the  weather,  as  was  often 
the  case,  permitted  not  that  convenience,  one  of  the  numer- 

*  See  Sea  Monsters.    Note  6. 


TEE  PIRATE.  17 

ous  ponies,  which,  straying  in  hordes  about  the  extensive 
moors,  ma}'  be  said  to  be  at  any  man's  command  who  can 
catch  them,  conveyed  him  from  the  mansion  of  one  hospitable 
Zetlander  to  that  of  another.  Xone  excelled  him  in  per- 
forming the  warlike  sword-dance,  a  species  of  amusement 
which  had  been  derived  from  the  habits  of  the  ancient  Norse- 
men. He  could  play  upon  the  "  gue,"  and  upon  the  com- 
mon violin,  the  melancholy  and  pathetic  tunes  peculiar  to  the 
country;  and  with  great  spirit  and  execution  could  relieve 
their  monotony  with  the  livelier  airs  of  the  North  of  Scot- 
land. When  a  party  set  forth  as  maskers,  or,  as  they  are 
called  in  Scotland,  "  guizards,"  to  visit  some  neighboring 
laird  or  rich  Udaller,  it  augured  well  of  the  expedition  if  Mor- 
daunt  Mertoun  could  be  prevailed  upon  to  undertake  the 
office  of  "  skudler/'  or  leader  of  the  band.  Upon  these  occa- 
sions, full  of  fun  and  frolic,  he  led  his  retinue  from  house  to 
house,  bringing  mirth  where  he  went,  and  leaving  regret 
when  he  departed.  Mordaunt  became  thus  generally  known, 
and  beloved  as  generally,  through  most  of  the  houses  com- 
posing the  patriarchal  community  of  the  Main  Isle;  but  his 
visits  were  most  frequently  and  most  willingly  paid  at  the 
mansion  of  his  father's  landlord  and  protector,  Magnus 
Troil. 

It  was  not  entirely  the  hearty  and  sincere  welcome  of  the 
worthy  old  magnate,  nor  the  sense  that  he  was  in  effect  his 
father's  patron,  which  occasioned  these  frequent  visits.  The 
hand  of  welcome  was  indeed  received  as  eagerly  as  it  was  sin- 
cerely given,  while  the  ancient  Udaller,  raising  himself  in  his 
huge  chair,  whereof  the  inside  was  lined  with  well-dressed 
sealskins,  and  the  outside  composed  of  massive  oak,  carved  by 
the  rude  graving-tool  of  some  Hamburgh  carpenter,  shouted 
forth  his  welcome  in  a  tone  which  might,  in  ancient  times, 
have  hailed  the  return  of  Toul,  the  highest  festival  of  the 
Goths.  There  was  metal  yet  more  attractive,  and  younger 
hearts,  whose  welcome,  if  less  loud,  was  as  sincere  as  that  of 
the  jolly  Udaller.  But  this  is  matter  which  ought  not  to  !>*». 
discussed  at  the  conclusion  of  a  chapter. 


CHAPTER  III. 

O,  Bessy  Bell  and  Mary  Gray, 

They  were  twa  bouuie  lasses  ; 
They  biggit  a  house  on  yon  Luru-brft«, 

And  theekit  it  ower  \vi'  rashes. 

Fair  Bessy  Bell  I  looed  yestreen, 

And  thought  I  ne'er  could  alter  ; 
But  Mar}'  Gray's  twa  pawky  een 

Have  garr'd  ray  fancy  falter. 

— Scots  Song. 

We  have  already  mentioned  Minna  and  Brenda,  the  daugh- 
ters of  Magnus  Troil.  Their  mother  had  been  dead  for  many 
years,  and  they  were  now  two  beautiful  girls,  the  eldest  only 
eighteen,  which  might  be  a  year  or  two  younger  than  Mor- 
daunt  Mertoun,  the  second  about  seventeen.  They  were  the 
joy  of  their  father's  heart  and  the  light  of  his  old  eyes;  and 
although  indulged  to  a  degree  which  might  have  endangered 
his  comfort  and  their  own,  they  repaid  his  affection  with  a 
love  into  wliich  even  blind  indulgence  had  not  introduced 
slight  regard  or  feminine  caprice.  The  difference  of  their 
tempers  and  of  their  complexions  was  singularly  striking, 
although  combined,  as  is  usual,  with  a  certain  degree  of 
family  resemblance. 

The  mother  of  these  maidens  had  been  a  Scottish  lady 
from  the  Highlands  of  Sutherland,  the  orphan  of  a  noble 
chief,  who,  driven  from  his  own  country  during  the  feuds  of 
the  seventeenth  century,  had  found  shelter  in  those  peaceful 
islands,  which,  amidst  poverty  and  seclusion,  were  thus  far 
happy,  that  they  remained  unvexed  by  discord  and  unstained 
by  civil  broil.  The  father  (his  name  "was  St.  Clair)  pined  for 
his  native  glen,  his  feudal  tower,  his  clansmen,  and  his  fallen 
authority,  and  died  not  long  after  his  arrival  in  Zetland. 
The  beauty  of  his  orphan  daughter,  despite  her  Scottish 
lineage,  melted  the  stout  heart  of  Magnus  Troil.  He  sued 
and  was  listened  to,  and  she  became  his  bride;  but  dying  in 
the  fifth  year  of  their  union,  left  him  to  mourn  his  brief 
period  of  domestic  happiness. 

From  her  mother,  Minna  inherited  the  stately  fonn  and 
dark  eyes,  the  raven  locks  and  finely-penciled  brows,  which 

IS 


THE  PIRATE.  1^ 

showed  she  was,  on  one  side  at  least,  a  stranger  to  the  blood 
of  Thule.     Her  cheek — 

0  call  it  fair,  uot  pale! 

was  so  slightly  and  delicately  tinged  \nth  the  rose  that  many 
thought  the  lily  had  an  undue  proportion  in  her  complexion. 
But  in  that  predominance  of  tlie  pder  flower  there  was  noth- 
ing sickly  or  languid:  it  was  the  true,  natural  color  of  health, 
and  corresponded  in  a  peculiar  degree  with  features  which 
seemed  calculated  to  express  a  contemplative  and  high- 
minded  character.  When  Minna  Troil  heard  a  tale  of  woe  or 
of  injustice,  it  was  then  her  blood  rushed  to  her  cheeks,  and 
showed  plainly  how  warm  it  beat,  notwithstanding  the  gen- 
erally serious,  composed,  and  retiring  disposition  which  her 
coiintenance  and  demeanor  seemed  to  exhibit.  If  strangers 
sometimes  conceived  that  these  fine  features  were  clouded  by 
melancholy,  for  which  her  age  and  situation  could  scarce 
have  given  occasion,  they  were  soon  satisfied,  upon  further 
acquaintance,  that  the  placid,  mild  quietude  of  her  disposi- 
tion, and  the  mental  energy  of  a  character  which  was  but 
little  interested  in  ordinary  and  trivial  occurrences,  were  the 
real  cause  of  her  gravity;  and  most  men,  when  they  knew  that 
her  melancholy  had  no  ground  in  real  sorrow,  and  was  only 
the  aspiration  of  a  soul  bent  on  more  important  objects  than 
those  by  wliich  she  was  surrounded,  might  have  wished  her 
whatever  could  add  to  her  happiness,  but  could  scarce  have 
desired  that,  graceful  as  she  was  in  her  natural  and  unaffected 
seriousness,  she  should  change  that  deportment  for  one  more 
gay.  In  short,  notwithstanding  our  wish  to  have  avoided 
that  hackneyed  simile  of  an  angel,  we  cannot  avoid  saying 
there  was  something  in  the  serious  beauty  of  her  aspect,  in 
the  measured  yet  graceful  ease  of  her  motions,  in  the  music  of 
her  voice,  and  the  serene  purity  of  her  eye,  that  seemed  as  if 
Minna  Troil  belonged  naturally  to  some  higher  and  better 
sphere,  and  was  only  the  chance  visitant  of  a  world  that  was 
not  worthy  of  her. 

The  scarcely  less  beautiful,  equally  lovely,  and  equally 
innocent  Brenda  was  of  a  complexion  as  differing  from  her 
sister  as  they  differed  in  character,  taste,  and  expression. 
Her  profuse  locks  were  of  that  paly  brown  which  receives 
from  the  passing  sunbeam  a  tinge  of  gold,  but  darkens  again 
when  the  ray  has  passed  from  it.  Her  eye,  her  mouth,  the 
beautiful  row  of  teeth,  which  in  her  innocent  vivacity  were 
frequently  disclosed;  the  fresh,  yet  not  too  bright,  glow  of  a 


20  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

healthy  complexion,  tinging  a  skin  like  the  drifted  snow, 
spoke  her  genuine  Scandinavian  descent.  A  fairy  form,  less 
tall  than  that  of  Minna,  but  still  more  finely  molded  into 
symmetry;  a  careless,  and  almost  childish,  lightness  of  step; 
an  eye  that  seemed  to  look  on  every  object  with  pleasure,  from 
a  natural  and  serene  cheerfulness  of  disposition,  attracted 
even  more  general  admiration  than  the  charms  of  her  sister, 
though  perhaps  that  which  Minna  did  excite  might  be  of  a 
more  intense  as  well  as  more  reverential  character. 

The  dispositions  of  these  lovely  sisters  were  not  less  differ- 
ent than  their  complexions.  In  the  kindly  affections,  neither 
could  be  said  to  excel  the  other,  so  much  were  they  attached 
to  their  father  and  to  each  other.  But  the  cheerfulness  of 
Brenda  mixed  itself  with  the  everyday  business  of  life,  and 
seemed  inexhaustible  in  its  profusion.  The  less  buoyant 
spirit  of  her  sister  appeared  to  bring  to  society  a  contented 
wish  to  be  interested  and  pleased  with  what  was  going  for- 
ward, but  was  rather  placidly  carried  along  with  the  stream 
of  mirth  and  pleasure  than  disposed  to  aid  its  progress  by  any 
efforts  of  her  own.  She  endured  mirth  rather  than  enjoyed 
it;  and  the  pleasures  in  which  she  most  delighted  were  those 
of  a  graver  and  more  solitary  cast.  The  knowledge  which  is 
derived  from  books  was  beyond  her  reach.  Zetland  afforded 
few  opportunities  in  those  days  of  studying  the  lessons  be- 
queathed 

By  dead  men  to  their  kind  ; 

and  Magnus  Troil,  such  as  we  have  described  him,  was  not  a 
person  within  whose  mansion  the  means  of  such  knowledge 
were  to  be  acquired.  But  the  book  of  nature  was  before 
Minna,  that  noblest  of  volumes,  where  we  are  ever  called  to 
wonder  and  to  admire,  even  when  we  cannot  understand. 
The  plants  of  those  wild  regions,  the  shells  on  the  shores,  and 
the  long  list  of  feathered  clans  which  haunt  their  cliffs  and 
eyries,  were  as  well  known  to  Minna  Troil  as  to  the  most  ex- 
perienced fowlers.  Her  powers  of  observation  were  wonder- 
ful, and  little  interrupted  by  other  tones  of  feeling.  The  in- 
formation which  she  acquired  by  habits  of  patient  attention 
was  indelibly  riveted  in  a  naturally  powerful  memory.  She 
had  also  a  high  feeling  for  the  solitary  and  melancholy 
grandeur  of  the  scenes  in  which  she  was  placed.  The  ocean, 
in  all  its  varied  forms  of  sublimity  and  terror;  the  tremen- 
dous cliffs,  that  resound  to  the  ceaseless  roar  of  the  billows 
and  t?ie  clang  of  the  sea,-fawl,  had  for  Minna  a  charm  in 


THE  PIRATE.  21 

almost  every  state  in  which  the  changing  seasons  exhibited 
them.  With  tlie  enthusiastic  feelings  proper  to  the  romantic 
race  from  which  her  mother  descended,  the  love  of  natural 
objects  was  to  her  a  passion  capable  not  only  of  occupying, 
but  at  times  of  agitating,  her  mind.  Scenes  upon  which  her 
sister  looked  with  a  sense  of  transient  awe  or  emotion,  which 
vanished  on  her  return  from  witnessing  them,  continued  long 
to  fill  Minna's  imagination,  not  only  in  solitude  and  in  the 
silence  of  the  night,  but  in  the  hours  of  society.  So  that  some- 
times when  she  sat  like  a  beautiful  statue,  a  present  member 
of  the  domestic  circle,  her  thoughts  were  far  absent,  wander- 
ing on  the  wild  sea-shore,  and  among  the  yet  wilder  moun- 
tains of  her  native  isles.  And  yet,  when  recalled  to  conversa- 
tion, and  mingling  in  it  with  interest,  there  were  few  to  whom 
her  friends  were  more  indebted  for  enhancing  its  enjoyments; 
and  although  something  in  her  manners  claimed  deference 
(notwithstanding  her  early  youth)  as  well  as  affection,  even 
her  gay,  lovely,  and  amiable  sister  was  not  more  generally  be- 
loved than  the  more  retired  and  pensive  Minna. 

Indeed,  the  two  lovely  sisters  were  not  only  the  delight  of 
their  friends,  but  the  pride  of  those  islands,  where  the  in- 
habit-ants  of  a  certain  rank  were  blended,  by  the  remoteness 
of  their  situation  and  the  general  hospitality  of  their  habits, 
into  one  friendly  community.  A  wandering  poet  and  parcel- 
musician,  who,  after  going  through  various  fortunes,  had  re- 
turned to  end  his  days  as  he  could  in  his  native  islands,  had 
celebrated  the  daughters  of  Magnus  in  a  poem,  which  he  en- 
titled "  Xight  and  Day";  and  in  his  description  of  Minna 
might  almost  be  thought  to  have  anticipated,  though  only  in 
a  rude  outline,  the  exquisite  lines  of  Lord  Byron: 

She  walks  in  beauty,  like  the  night 

Of  cloudless  climes  and  starry  skies  ; 
And  all  that's  best  of  dark  and  bright 

Meet  in  her  aspect  and  her  eyes  : 
Thus  mellow'd  to  that  tender  light 

Which  heaven  to  gaudy  day  denies. 

Their  father  loved  the  maidens  both  so  well  that  it  might 
be  difficult  to  say  which  he  loved  best;  saving  that,  perchance, 
he  liked  his  graver  damsel  better  in  the  walk  without  doors, 
and  his  merrv'  maiden  better  by  the  fireside;  that  he  more 
desired  the  society  of  Minna  when  he  was  sad,  and  that  of 
Brenda  when  he  was  mirthful;  and,  what  was  nearly  the  same 
thing,  preferred  ^finna  before  noon,  and  Brenda  after  the 
glass  had  circulated  in  the  evening. 


22  WA  VERLET  NO  VELS. 

But  it  was  still  more  extraordinary  that  the  affections  of 
Mordau2it  Mertoun  seemed  to  hover  with  the  same  impar- 
tiality as  those  of  their  father  betwixt  the  two  lovely  sisters. 
From  his  boyhood,  as  we  have  noticed,  he  had  been  a  frequent 
inmate  of  the  residence  of  Magnus  at  Burgh-Westra,  although 
it  lay  nearly  twenty  miles  distant  from  Jarlshof.  The  im- 
passable character  of  the  country  betwixt  these  places,  ex- 
tending over  liills  covered  with  loose  and  quaking  bog,  and 
frequently  intersected  by  the  creeks  or  arms  of  the  sea,  which 
indent  the  island  on  either  side,  as  well  as  by  fresh-water 
streams  and  lakes,  rendered  the  journey  difficult,  and  even 
dangerous,  in  the  dark  season;  yet,  as  soon  as  the  state  of  his 
father's  mind  warned  him  to  absent  himself,  Mordaunt,  at 
every  risk  and  under  every  difficulty,  was  pretty  sure  to  be 
found  the  next  day  at  Burgh-Westra,  having  achieved  his 
journey  in  less  time  than  would  have  been  employed  perhaps 
by  the  most  active  native. 

He  was,  of  course,  set  down  as  a  wooer  of  one  of  the  daugh- 
ters of  Magnus  by  the  public  of  Zetland;  and  when  the  old 
Udaller's  great  partiality  to  the  youth  was  considered,  nobody 
doubted  that  he  might  aspire  to  the  hand  of  either  of  those 
distinguished  beauties,  with  as  large  a  share  of  islets,  rocky 
moorland,  and  shore  fishings  as  might  be  the  fitting  portion 
of  a  favored  child,  and  with  the  presumptive  prospect  of  pos- 
sessing half  the  domains  of  the  ancient  house  of  Troil,  when 
their  present  owner  should  be  no  more.  This  seemed  all  a 
reasonable  speculation,  and^  in  theory  at  least,  better  con- 
structed than  many  that  are  current  through  the  world  as 
unquestionable  facts.  But,  alas!  all  that  sharpness  of  obser- 
vation which  could  be  applied  to  the  conduct  of  the  parties 
failed  to  determine  the  main  point,  to  which  of  the  young 
persons,  namely,  the  attentions  of  Mordaunt  were  peculiarly 
devoted.  He  seemed,  in  general,  to  treat  them  as  an  affec- 
tionate and  attached  brother  might  have  treated  two  sisters, 
so  equally  dear  to  him  that  a  breath  would  have  turned  the 
scale  of  affection.  Or  if  at  any  time,  which  often  happened, 
the  one  maiden  appeared  the  more  especial  object  of  his  at- 
tention, it  seemed  only  to  be  because  circumstances  called  her 
peculiar  talents  and  disposition  into  more  particular  and 
immediate  exercise. 

Both  the  sisters  were  accomplished  in  the  simple  music  of 
the  North,  and  Mordaunt.  who  was  their  assistant,  and  some- 
times their  preceptor,  when  they  were  practicing  this  delight- 
ful art,  might  be  now  seen  assisting  Minna  in  the  acquisition 


THE  PIRATE.  23 

of  those  wild,  solemn,  and  simple  airs  to  which  Scalds  and 
harpers  sung  of  old  the  deeds  of  heroes,  and  presently  found 
equally  active  in  teaching  Brenda  the  more  lively  and  com- 
pUcated  music  which  her  fathers  affection  caused  to  be 
brought  from  the  English  or  Scottish  capital  for  the  use  of 
his  daughters.  x\nd  wliile  conversing  with  them,  Mordaunt, 
who  mingled  a  strain  of  deep  and  ardent  enthusiasm  with 
the  gay  and  ungovernable  spirits  of  youth,  was  equally  ready 
to  enter  into  the  wild  and  poetical  visions  of  ]^Iinna  or  into 
the  lively  and  often  humorous  chat  of  her  gayer  sister.  In 
short,  so  httle  did  he  seem  to  attach  himself  to  either  damsel 
exclusiveh',  that  he  was  sometimes  heard  to  say  that  Minna 
never  looked  so  lovely  as  when  her  light-hearted  sister  had 
induced  her,  for  the  time,  to  forget  her  habitual  gra\aty;  or 
Brenda  so  interesting  as  when  she  sat  listening,  a  subdued  and 
affected  partaker  of  the  deep  pathos  of  her  sister  Minna. 

The  pubhc  of  the  Mainland  were,  therefore,  to  use  the 
hunter's  phrase,  at  fault  in  their  farther  conclusions,  and 
could  but  determine,  after  long  vacillating  betwixt  the 
maidens,  that  the  young  man  was  positively  to  marry  one  of 
them,  but  which  of  the  two  could  only  be  determined  when 
his  approaching  manhood,  or  the  interference  of  stout  old 
Magnus,  the  father,  should  teach  Master  Mordaunt  Mertoun 
to  know  his  own  mind.  "  It  was  a  pretty  thing  indeed,"  they 
usually  concluded,  "  that  he,  no  native  born,  and  possessed 
of  no  visible  means  of  subsistence  that  is  known  to  anyone, 
should  presume  to  hesitate,  or  affect  to  have  the  power  of 
selection  and  choice,  betwixt  the  two  most  distinguished 
beauties  of  Zetland.  If  they  were  Magnus  Troil,  they  would 
soon  be  at  the  bottom  of  the  matter,"  and  so  forth;  all  which 
remarks  were  only  whispered,  for  the  hasty  disposition  of  the 
TJdaller  had  too  much  of  the  old  Norse  fire  about  it  to  render 
it  safe  for  anyone  to  become  an  unauthorized  intermeddler 
with  his  family  affairs.  And  thus  stood  the  relation  of  Mor- 
daunt Mertoun  to  the  family  of  Mr.  Troil  of  Buxgh-Westra 
when  the  following  incidents  took  place. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

This  is  no  pilgrim's  morning  :  yon  gray  mist 
Lies  upon  hill,  and  dale,  and  field,  and  foreat, 
Like  the  dun  wimple  of  a  new-made  widow  ; 
And,  by  my  faith,  although  my  heart  be  soft, 
I'd  rather  hear  that  widow  weep  and  sigh, 
And  tell  the  virtues  of  the  dear  departed, 
Than,  when  the  tempest  sends  his  voice  abroad, 
Be  subject  to  its  fury. 

—  The  Double  Nuptials. 

The  spring  was  far  advanced  when,  after  a  week  spent  in 
sport  and  festivity  at  Burgh-Westra,  Mordaunt  Mertoun  bade 
adieu  to  the  family,  pleading  the  necessity  of  his  return  to  Jarls- 
hof.  The  proposal  was  combated  by  the  maidens,  and  more 
decidedly  by  Magnus  himself:  he  saw  no  occasion  whatever  for 
Mordaunt  returning  to  Jarlshof.  If  his  father  desired  to  see 
him,  which,  by  the  way,  Magnus  did  not  believe,  Mr.  Mertoun 
had  only  to  throw  himself  into  the  stem  of  Sweyn's  boat,  or 
betake  himself  to  a  pony,  if  he  liked  a  land  journey  better, 
and  he  would  see  not  only  his  son,  but  twenty  folk  besides, 
who  would  be  most  happy  to  find  that  he  had  not  lost  the 
use  of  his  tongue  entirely  during  his  long  solitude,  "  Al- 
though I  must  own,"  added  the  worthy  Udaller,  "  that,  when 
he  lived  among  us,  nobody  ever  made  less  use  of  it." 

Mordaunt  acquiesced  both  in  what  respected  his  father's 
taciturnity  and  his  dislike  to  general  society;  but  suggested, 
at  the  same  time,  that  the  first  circumstance  rendered  his  own 
immediate  return  more  necessary,  as  he  was  the  usual  channel 
of  comrnunication  betwixt  his  father  and  others;  and  that  the 
second  corroborated  the  same  necessity,  since  Mr.  Mertoun's 
having  no  other  society  whatever  seemed  a  weighty  reason 
why  his  son's  should  be  restored  to  him  without  loss  of  time. 
As  to  his  father's  coming  to  Burgh-Westra,  "  They  might  as 
well,"  he  said,  "  expect  to  see  Sumburgh  Cape  come  thither." 

"  And  that  would  be  a  cumbrous  guest,"  said  Magnus. 
"  But  you  will  stop  for  our  dinner  to-day?  There  are  the 
families  of  Muness,  Quendale,  Thorslivoe,  and  I  know  not 
who  else,  are  expected;  and,  besides  the  thirty  that  were  in  the 
house  this  blessed  night,  we  shall  have  as  many  more  as  cham- 
ber and  bower,  and  bam  and  boat-house,  can  furnish  with 


THE  PIRATE.  25 

beds  or  with  barley-straw;  and  you  will  leave  all  this  behind 
you!  " 

'•  And  the  blithe  dance  at  night,"  added  Brenda,  in  a  tone 
betwixt  reproach  and  vexation;  "  and  the  young  men  from 
the  Isle  of  Paba  that  are  to  dance  the  sword-dance,  whom 
shall  we  find  to  match  them,  for  the  honor  of  the  Main?  " 

"  There  is  many  a  merry  dancer  on  the  Mainland,  Brenda," 
replied  Mordaunt,  "  even  if  I  should  never  rise  on  tiptoe 
again.  And  where  good  dancers  are  found,  Brenda  Troil 
will  always  find  the  best  partner.  I  must  trip  it  to-night 
through  the  wastes  of  Dunrossness." 

"  Do  not  say  so,  Mordaunt,"  said  Minna,  who,  during  this 
conversation,  had  been  looking  from  the  window  something 
anxiously;  "  go  not,  to-day  at  least,  through  the  wastes  of 
Dunrossness." 

"  And  why  not  to-day,  Minna,"  said  Mordaunt,  laughing, 
"any  more  than  to-morrow?" 

"  Oh,  the  morning  mist  lies  heavy  upon  yonder  chain  of 
isles,  nor  has  it  permitted  us  since  daybreak  even  a  single 
ghmpse  of  Fitful  Head,  the  lofty  cape  that  concludes  yon 
splendid  range  of  mountains.  The  fowl  are  winging  their 
way  to  the  shore,  and  the  shelldrake  seems,  through  the  mist, 
as  large  as  the  scart.*  See,  the  very  sheerwaters  and  bonxies 
are  making  to  the  cliifs  for  shelter." 

"  And  they  will  ride  out  a  gale  against  a  king's  frigate," 
said  her  father:  "  there  is  foul  weather  when  they  cut  and 
run." 

"  Stay,  then,  with  us,"  said  Minna  to  her  friend;  "  the 
storm  will  be  dreadful,  yet  it  will  be  grand  to  see  it  from 
Burgh- Westra,  if  we  have  no  friend  exposed  to  its  fury.  See, 
the  air  is  close  and  sultry,  though  the  season  is  yet  so  early, 
and  the  day  so  calm  that  not  a  windlestraw  moves  on  the 
heath.  Stay  with  us,  Mordaunt;  the  storm  which  these  signs 
announce  will  be  a  dreadful  one." 

"  I  must  be  gone  the  sooner,"  was  the  conclusion  of  Mor- 
daunt, who  could  not  deny  the  signs,  which  had  not  escaped 
his  own  quick  observation.  "  If  the  storm  be  too  fierce,  I 
will  abide  for  the  night  at  Stourburgh." 

"What!"  said  Magnus;  "will  you  leave  us  for  the  new 
chamberlain's  new  Scotch  tacksman,  who  is  to  teach  all  us 
Zetland  savages  new  ways?  Take  your  own  gate,  my  lad,  if 
that  is  the  song  you  sing." 

*Se«Note?. 


26  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS. 

"  Nay,"  said  Mordaunt;  "  I  had  onl}^  some  curiosity  to  see 
fhe  new  implements  he  has  brought." 

"  Aye — aye,  ferlies  make  fools  fain.  I  would  like  to  know 
if  his  new  plow  will  bear  against  a  Zetland  rock?  "  answered 
Magnus. 

"  I  must  not  pass  Stourburgh  on  the  journey,"  said  the 
youth,  deferring  to  his  patron's  prejudice  against  innovation, 
"  if  this  boding  weather  bring  on  tempest;  but  if  it  only  break 
in  rain,  as  is  most  probable,  I  am  not  likely  to  be  melted  in 
the  wetting." 

"  It  will  not  soften  into  rain  alone,"  said  Minna;  "  see  how 
much  heavier  the  clouds  fall  every  moment,  and  see  these 
weather-gaws  that  streak  the  lead-colored  mass  with  partial 
gleams  of  faded  red  and  purple." 

"  I  see  them  all,"  said  Mordaunt;  ''  but  they  only  tell  me  I 
have  no  time  to  taiTy  here.  Adieu,  Minna;  I  will  send  you 
the  eagle's  feathers,  if  an  eagle  can  be  found  on  Fair  Isle  or 
Foulah.  And  fare  thee  well,  my  pretty  Brenda,  and  keep  a 
thought  for  me,  should  the  Paba  men  dance  ever  so  well." 

"  Take  care  of  yourself,  since  go  you  will,"  said  both  sisters 
together. 

Old  Magnus  scolded  them  formally  for  supposing  there  was 
any  danger  to  an  active  young  fellow  from  a  spring  gale, 
whether  by  sea  or  land;  yet  ended  by  giving  his  own  caution 
also  to  Mordaunt,  advising  him  seriously  to  delay  his  journey, 
or  at  least  to  stop  at  Stourburgh.  "  For,"  said  he,  "  second 
thoughts  are  best;  and  as  this  Scottishman's  howf  lies  right 
under  your  lee,  why,  take  any  port  in  a  storm.  But  do  not 
be  assured  to  find  the  door  on  latch,  let  the  stonn  blow  ever 
so  hard;  there  are  such  matters  as  bolts  and  bars  in  Scotland, 
though,  thanks  to  St.  Ronald,  they  are  unknown  here,  save 
that  great  lock  on  the  old  Castle  of  Scalloway,  that  all  men 
run  to  see;  maybe  they  make  part  of  this  man's  improve- 
ments. But  go,  Mordaunt,  since  go  you  will.  You  should 
drink  a  stirrup-cup  now,  were  you  three  years  older;  but  boys 
should  never  drink,  excepting  after  dinner.  I  will  drink  it 
for  you,  that  good  customs  may  not  be  broken,  or  bad  luck 
come  of  it.  Here  is  your  bonally,  my  lad."  And  so  saying, 
he  quaffed  a  rummer  glass  of  brandy  with  as  much  impunity 
as  if  it  had  been  spring-water. 

Thus  regretted  and  cautioned  on  all  hands,  Mordaunt  took 
leave  of  the  hospitable  household,  and  looking  back  at  the 
comforts  with  which  it  was  surrounded,  and  the  dense  smoke 
that  rolled  upward  from  its  chimneys,  he  first  recollected  the 


THE  PIE  ATE.  27 

guestless  and  solitary  desolation  of  Jarlshof,  then  compared 
with  tlie  sullen  and  moody  melancholy  of  his  father's  temper 
the  warm  kindness  of  those  whom  he  was  leaving,  and  could 
not  refrain  from  a  sigh  at  the  thoughts  which  forced  them- 
selves on  his  imagination. 

The  signs  of  the  tempest  did  not  dishonor  the  predictions 
of  Minna.  Mordaunt  had  not  advanced  three  hours  on  his 
journey  before  the  wind,  which  had  been  so  deadly  still  in 
the  morning,  began  at  first  to  wail  and  sigh,  as  if  bemoaning 
beforehand  the  evils  which  it  might  perpetrate  in  its  fury, 
like  a  madman  in  the  gloomy  state  of  dejection  which  pre- 
cedes his  fit  of  violence;  then  gradually  increasing,  the  gale 
howled,  raged,  and  roared  with  the  full  fury  of  a  northern 
storm.  It  was  accompanied  by  showers  of  rain  mixed  with 
hail,  that  dashed  with  the  most  unrelenting  rage  against  the 
hills  and  rocks  with  wliich  the  traveler  was  surrounded,  dis- 
tracting liis  attention,  in  spite  of  his  utmost  exertions,  and 
rendering  it  ver}^  difficult  for  him  to  keep  the  direction  of 
his  journey  in  a  country  where  there  is  neither  road  nor  even 
the  slightest  track  to  direct  the  steps  of  the  wanderer,  and 
where  he  is  often  interrupted  by  brooks  as  well  as  large  pools 
of  water,  lakes,  and  lagoons.  All  these  inland  waters  were 
now  lashed  into  sheets  of  tumbling  foam,  much  of  which, 
caxried  off  by  the  fury  of  the  whirlwind,  was  mingled  \ai\i  the 
gale,  and  transported  far  from  the  waves  of  which  it  had 
lately  made  a  part;  while  the  salt  relish  of  the  drift  which 
was  pelted  against  his  face  showed  j\Iordaunt  that  the  spray 
of  the  more  distant  ocean,  disturbed  to  frenzy  by  the  storm, 
was  mingled  with  that  of  the  inland  lakes  and  streams. 

Amidst  this  hideous  combustion  of  the  elements,  Mordaunt 
Mertoun  struggled  forward  as  one  to  whom  such  elemental 
war  was  familiar,  and  who  regarded  the  exertions  which  it 
required  to  withstand  its  fury  but  as  a  mark  of  resolution  and 
manliood.  He  felt  even,  as  happens  usually  to  those  who 
endure  great  hardships,  that  the  exertion  necessary'  to  sub- 
due them  is  in  itself  a  kind  of  elevating  triumph.  To  see 
and  distinguish  his  path  when  the  cattle  were  driven  from 
the  hill,  and  the  very  fowls  from  the  firmament,  was  but  the 
stronger  proof  of  his  own  superiority.  "  They  shall  not  hear 
of  me  at  Burgh- Westra,"  said  he  to  himself,  "  as  they  heard 
of  old  doited  Ringan  Ewenson's  boat,  that  foundered  betwixt 
roadstead  and  key.  I  am  more  of  a  cragsman  than  to  mind 
fire  or  water,  wave  by  sea,  or  quagmire  by  land."  Thus  he 
struggled  on,  buffeting  with  the  storm,  supplying  the  want 


28  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

of  the  usual  signs  by  which  travelers  directed  their  progress 
(for  rock,  mountain,  and  headland  were  shrouded  in  mist  and 
darkness)  by  the  instinctive  sagacity  with  which  long  ac- 
quaintance with  these  wilds  had  taught  him  to  mark  every 
minute  object  which  could  serve  in  such  circumstances  to 
regulate  his  course.  Thus,  we  repeat,  he  struggled  onward, 
occasionally  standing  still,  or  even  lying  down,  when  the 
gust  was  most  impetuous;  making  way  against  it  when  it  was 
somewhat  lulled,  by  a  rapid  and  bold  advance  even  in  its  very 
current;  or,  when  this  was  impossible,  by  a  movement  resem- 
bling that  of  a  vessel  working  to  windward  by  short  tacks, 
but  never  yielding  one  inch  of  the  way  which  he  had  fought 
so  hard  to  gain. 

Yet,  notwithstanding  Mordaunt's  experience  and  resolu- 
tion, his  situation  was  sufficiently  uncomfortable,  and  even 
precarious;  not  because  his  sailor's  jacket  and  trousers,  the 
common  dress  of  young  men  through  these  isles  when  on  a 
journey,  were  thoroughly  wet,  for  that  might  have  taken 
place  within  the  same  brief  time  in  any  ordinary  day  in  this 
watery  climate;  but  the  real  danger  was  that,  notwdthstanding 
his  utmost  exertions,  he  made  very  slow  way  through  brooks 
that  were  sending  their  waters  all  abroad,  through  morasses 
drowned  in  double  deluges  of  moisture,  which  rendered  all 
the  ordinary  passes  more  than  usually  dangerous,  and  re- 
peatedly obliged  the  traveler  to  perfonn  a  considerable  cir- 
cuit, which  in  the  usual  case  was  unnecessary.  Thus  repeat- 
edly baffled,  notwithstanding  his  youth  and  strength,  Mor- 
daunt,  after  maintaining  a  dogged  conflict  with  wind,  rain, 
and  the  fatigue  of  a  prolonged  journey,  was  truly  happy 
when,  not  without  having  been  more  than  once  mistaken  in 
his  road,  he  at  length  found  himself  within  sight  of  the  house 
of  Stourburgh,  or  Harfra;  for  the  naxiies  were  indifferently 
given  to  the  residence  of  Mr.  Triptolemus  Yellowley,  who 
was  the  chosen  missionary  of  the  chamberlain  of  Orkney  and 
Zetland,  a  speculative  person,  who  designed,  through  the 
medium  of  Triptolemus,  to  introduce  into  the  Ultima  Thule 
of  the  Eomans  a  spirit  of  improvement  which  at  that  early 
period  was  scarce  known  to  exist  in  Scotland  itself. 

At  length,  and  with  much  difficulty,  Mordaunt  reached  the 
house  of  this  worthy  agriculturist,  the  only  refuge  from  the 
relentless  storm  which  he  could  hope  to  meet  with  for  several 
miles;  aud  going  straight  to  the  door,  with  the  most  undoubt- 
ing  confidence  of  instant  admission,  he  was  not  a  little  sur- 
prised to  find  it  not  merely  latched,  which  the  weather  might 


THE  PIE  ATE.  29 

excuse,  but  even  bolted,  a  thing  which,  as  Magnus  Troil  has 
already  intimated,  was  almost  unknown  in  the  archipelago. 
To  knock,  to  call,  and  finalh'  to  batter  the  door  with  staff 
and  stones,  were  the  natural  resources  of  the  youth,  who  was 
rendered  alike  impatient  by  the  pelting  of  the  storm  and  by 
encountering  such  most  unexpected  and  unusual  obstacles  to 
instant  admission.  As  he  was  suffered,  however,  for  many 
minutes  to  exhaust  his  impatience  in  noise  and  clamor,  with- 
out receiving  any  reply,  we  will  employ  them  in  informing 
the  reader  who  Triptolemus  Yellowley  was,  and  how  he  came 
by  a  name  so  singular. 

Old  Jasper  Yellowley,  the  father  of  Triptolemus,  though 
born  at  the  foot  of  Eoseberr}'  Topping,  had  been  "  come 
over,"  by  a  certain  noble  Scottish  earl,  who,  proving  too  far 
north  for  canny  Yorkshire,  had  persuaded  him  to  accept  of 
a  farm  in  the  ]\Iearns.  where,  it  is  unnecessary'  to  add,  he 
found  matters  verv-  different  from  what  he  had  expected.  It 
was  in  vain  that  the  stout  farmer  set  manfully  to  work  to 
counterbalance,  by  superior  skill,  the  inconveniences  arising 
from  a  cold  soil  and  a  weeping  climate.  These  might  have 
been  probably  overcome;  but  his  neighborhood  to  the  Gram- 
pians exposed  him  eternally  to  that  species  of  xasitation  from 
the  plaided  gentry  who  dwelt  within  their  skirts  which  made 
young  Xorval  a  warrior  and  a  hero,  but  only  converted  Jasper 
Yellowley  into  a  poor  man.  This  was,  indeed,  balanced  in 
some  sort  by  tlie  impression  which  his  ruddy  cheek  and  robust 
form  had  the  fortune  to  make  upon  Miss  Barbara  Clinkscale, 
daughter  to  the  umquhile,  and  sister  to  the  then  existing, 
Clinkscale  of  that  ilk. 

This  was  thought  a  horrid  and  unnatural  union  in  the 
neighborhood,  considering  that  the  house  of  Clinkscale  had 
at  least  as  great  a  share  of  Scottish  pride  as  of  Scottish  parsi- 
mony, and  was  amply  endowed  with  both.  But  Miss  Baby 
had  her  handsome  fortune  of  two  thousand  merks  at  her  own 
disposal,  was  a  Avoman  of  spirit,  who  had  been  "  major  "  and 
"  sui  juris  "  (as  the  writer  who  drew  the  contract  assured  her) 
for  full  twenty  years:  so  she  set  consequences  and  commen- 
taries alike  at  defiance,  and  wedded  the  hearty  Yorkshire  yeo- 
man. Her  brother  and  Iier  more  wealthy  kinsmen  drew  off  in 
disgust,  and  almost  disowned  their  degraded  relative.  But  the 
house  of  Clinkscale  was  allied,  like  every  other  family  in 
Scotland  at  the  time,  to  a  set  of  relations  who  were  not  so  nice 
— tenth  and  sixteenth  cousins,  who  not  only  acknowledged 
their  kinswoman  Baby  after  her  marriage  with  Yellowley,  but 


3C  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS. 

even  condescended  to  eat  beans  and  bacon  * — though  the  lat- 
ter was  then  the  abomination  of  tlie  Scotch  as  niucli  as  of  the 
Jews — with  her  husband,  and  would  willingly  have  cemented 
the  friendship  by  borrowing  a  little  cash  from  him,  had  not 
his  good  lady,  who  understood  trap  as  well  as  any  woman  in 
the  Mearns,  put  a  negative  on  this  advance  to  intimacy.  In- 
deed, she  knew  how  to  make  young  Deilbelicket,  old  Dougald 
JBaresword,  the  Laird  of  Bandybrawl,  and  others  pay  for  the 
hospitality  which  she  did  not  think  proper  to  deny  them,  by 
rendering  them  useful  in  her  negotiations  with  the  light- 
handed  lads  beyond  the  Cairn,  who,  finding  their  late  object 
of  plunder  was  now  allied  to  "  kenn'd  folks,  and  owned  by 
them  at  kirk  and  market,"  became  satisfied,  on  a  moderate 
yearly  composition,  to  desist  from  their  depredations. 

This  eminent  success  reconciled  Jasper  to  the  dominion 
which  his  wife  began  to  assume  over  him;  and  which  was 
much  confiraied  by  her  proving  to  be — let  me  see,  what  is 
the  prettiest  mode  of  expressing  it? — in  the  family  way.  On 
this  occasion,  Mrs.  Yellowley  had  a  remarkable  dream,  as  is 
the  usual  practice  of  teeming  mothers  previous  to  the  birth 
of  an  illustrious  offspring.  She  "  was  a-dreamed,"  as  her 
husband  expressed  it,  tliat  she  was  safely  delivered  of  a  plow, 
drawn  by  three  yoke  of  Angus-shire  oxen;  and  being  a  mighty 
investigator  into  such  portents,  she  sat  herself  down  with  her 
gossips  to  consider  what  the  thing  might  mean.  Honest 
Jasper  ventured,  with  much  hesitation,  to  intimate  his  own 
opinion  that  the  vision  had  reference  rather  to  things  past 
than  things  future,  and  might  have  been  occasioned  by  his 
wife's  nerves  having  been  a  little  startled  by  meeting  in  the 
loan  above  the  house  his  own  great  plow  with  the  six  oxen, 
which  were  the  pride  of  his  heart.  But  the  good  cummers 
raised  such  a  hue  and  cry  against  this  exposition,  that  Jasper 
was  fain  to  put  his  fingers  in  his  ears  and  to  run  out  of  the 
apartment. 

"  Hear  to  him,"  said  an  old  Whigamore  carline — "  hear  to 
him,  wi'  his  owsen,  that  are  as  an  idol  to  him,  even  as  the  calf 
of  Bethel!  Na — na,  it's  nae  pleugh  of  the  flesh  that  the 
bonny  lad-bairn — for  a  lad  it  sail  be — sail  e'er  striddle  be- 
tween the  stilts  o';  it's  the  pleugh  of  the  Spirit;  and  I  trust 
mysell  to  see  him  wag  the  head  o'  him  in  a  pu'pit;  or,  what's 
better,  on  a  hillside." 

"  Now,  the  deil's  in  your  Whiggery,"  said  the  old  Lady 
Glenprosing;  "  wad  ye  hae  our  cummer's  bonny  lad-bairn  wag 

*  See  "  Waverley,"  Note  22,  p.  459. 


THE  PIRATE.  31 

the  head  aff  his  shouthers  like  your  godly  Mess  James 
Guthrie,*  that  ye  hald  such  a  clavering  about?  Na — na,  he 
sail  walk  a  mair  siccai-  path,  and  be  a  dainty  curate;  and  say 
he  should  Hve  to  be  a  bishop,  what  the  waur  wad  he  be?  " 

The  gauntlet  thus  fairly  flung  down  by  one  sibyl  was 
caught  up  by  another,  and  the  controversy  between  Presby- 
tery and  Episcopacy  raged,  roared,  or  rather  screamed,  a 
round  of  cinnamon-water  serving  only  like  oil  to  the  flame, 
till  Jasper  entered  with  the  plow-staff;  and  by  the  awe  of  his 
presence,  and  the  shame  of  misbehaving  "  before  the  stran- 
ger man,"  imposed  some  conditions  of  silence  upon  the  dis- 
putants. 

I  do  not  know  whether  it  was  impatience  to  give  to  the 
light  a  being  destined  to  such  high  and  doubtful  fat-es,  or 
whether  poor  Dame  Yellowley  was  rather  frightened  at  the 
hurly-burly  which  had  t-aken  place  in  her  presence,  but  she 
was  taken  suddenly  ill;  and,  contrary  to  the  formula  in  such 
cases  used  and  provided,  was  soon  reported  to  be  "  a  good 
deal  worse  than  was  to  be  expected."  She  took  the  oppor- 
tunity, having  still  all  her  wits  about  her,  to  extract  from  her 
s3TQpathetic  husband  two  promises — first,  that  he  would 
christen  the  child,  whose  birth  was  like  to  cost  her  so  dear, 
by  a  name  indicative  of  the  vision  with  which  she  had  been 
favored;  and  next,  that  he  would  educate  him  for  the  min- 
istr}^  The  canny  Yorkshireman,  thinking  she  had  a  good 
title  at  present  to  dictate  in  such  matters,  subscribed  to  all 
she  required.  A  man-child  was  accordingly  bom  under  these 
conditions,  but  the  state  of  the  mother  did  not  permit  her 
for  many  days  to  inquire  how  far  they  had  been  complied 
with.  When  she  was  in  some  degree  convalescent,  she  was 
informed  that,  as  it  was  thought  fit  the  child  should  be  imme- 
diately christened,  it  had  received  the  name  of  Triptolemus; 
the  curate,  who  was  a  man  of  some  classical  skill,  conceiving 
that  this  epithet  contained  a  handsome  and  classical  allusion 
to  the  visionar}'  plow,  wdth  its  triple  yoke  of  oxen.  Mrs. 
Yellowley  was  not  much  delighted  with  the  manner  in  which 
her  request  had  been  complied  with;  but  grumbling  being  to 
as  little  purpose  as  in  the  celebrated  case  of  Tristram  Shandy, 
she  e'en  sat  down  contented  with  the  heathenish  name,  and 
endeavored  to  counteract  the  effects  it  might  produce  upon 
the  taste  and  feelings  of  the  nominee  by  such  an  education 

*  Mr.  James  Guthrie,  minister  of  Stirling;,  and  anthor  of  the  "  Caiiseg  of  the  Lord's 
Wrath."  165.3,  was  executed  at  Edinburgh  in  1661,  and  his  head  affixed  on  the  Nether- 
bow  Port  or  iiBXt.—Laing. 


32  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

as  might  put  liim  above  the  slightest  thought  of  socks,  coul- 
ters, stilts,  mold-boards,  or  anything  connected  with  the 
servile  drudgery  of  the  plow. 

Jasper,  sage  Vorkshireman,  smiled  slyly  in  his  sleeve,  con- 
ceiving that  young  Trippie  was  likely  to  prove  a  chip  of  the 
old  block,  and  would  rather  take  after  the  jolly  Yorkshire 
yeoman  than  the  gentle  but  somewhat  "  aigre  "  blood  of  the 
house  of  Clinkscale.  He  remarked,  with  suppressed  glee,  that 
the  tune  which  best  answered  the  purpose  of  a  lullaby  was 
the  "  Plowman's  Whistle,"  and  the  first  words  the  infant 
learned  to  stammer  were  the  names  of  the  oxen;  moreover, 
that  the  "  bem  "  preferred  home-brewed  ale  to  Scotch  two- 
penny, and  never  quitted  hold  of  the  tankard  with  so  much 
reluctance  as  when  there  had  been,  by  some  maneuver  of  Jas- 
per's own  device,  a  double  "  straik  "  of  malt  allowed  to  the 
brewing,  above  that  which  was  sanctioned  by  the  most  liberal 
recipe  of  which  his  dame's  household  thrift  admitted.  Be- 
sides this,  when  no  other  means  could  be  fallen  upon  to  divert 
an  occasional  fit  of  squalling,  his  father  observed  that  Trip 
could  be  always  silenced  by  jingling  a  bridle  at  his  ear. 
From  all  which  symptoms  he  used  to  swear  in  private  that  the 
boy  would  prove  true  Yorkshire,  and  mother  and  mother's 
kin  would  have  small  share  of  him. 

Meanwhile,  and  within  a  year  after  the  birth  of  Triptol- 
emus,  Mrs.  Yellowley  bore  a  daughter,  named  after  herself, 
Barbara,  who  even  in  earliest  infancy  exhibited  the  pinched 
nose  and  thin  lips  by  which  the  Clinkscale  family  were  dis- 
tinguished amongst  the  inhabitants  of  the  Mearns;  and  as  her 
childhood  advanced,  the  readiness  with  which  she  seized,  and 
the  tenacity  wherewith  she  detained,  the  playthings  of  Trip- 
tolemus,  besides  a  desire  to  bite,  pinch,  and  scratch,  on  slight 
or  no  provocation,  were  all  considered  by  attentive  observers 
as  proofs  that  Miss  Baby  would  prove  "  her  mother  over 
again."  Malicious  people  did  not  stick  to  say,  that  the  acri- 
mony of  the  Clinkscale  blood  had  not  on  this  occasion  been 
cooled  and  sweetened  by  that  of  Old  England;  that  young 
Deilbelicket  was  much  about  the  house,  and  they  could  not 
but  think  it  odd  that  Mrs.  Yellowley,  who,  as  the  whole  world 
knew,  gave  nothing  for  nothing,  should  be  so  uncommonly 
attentive  to  heap  the  trencher  and  to  fill  the  eaup  of  an  idle 
blackguard  ne'er-do-weel.  But  when  folk  had  once  looked 
upon  the  austere  and  awfully  virtuous  countenance  of  Mrs. 
Yellowley,  they  did  full  justice  to  her  propriety  of  conduct 
and  DeillDelicket's  delicacy  of  taste. 


THE  PIRATE.  38 

Meantime,  young  Triptolemiis,  having  received  such  in- 
etructions  as  the  curate  could  give  him  (for,  though  Dame 
Yellowley  adhered  to  the  persecuted  remnant,  her  jolly  hus- 
band, edified  by  the  black  gown  and  prayer-book,  still  con- 
formed to  the  church  as  by  law  established),  was,  in  due 
process  of  time,  sent  to  St.  Andrews  to  prosecute  his  studies. 
He  went,  it  is  true,  but  with  an  eye  turned  back  wdth  sad  re- 
membrances on  his  father's  plow,  his  father's  pancakes,  and 
his  father's  ale,  for  which  the  sraalbbeer  of  the  college,  com- 
monly there  termed  "  thorough-go-nimble,"  furnished  a  poor 
substitute.  Yet  he  advanced  in  his  learning,  being  found, 
however,  to  show  a  particular  favor  to  such  authors  of  an- 
tiquitj'  as  had  made  the  improvement  of  the  soil  the  object 
of  their  researches.  He  endured  the  "Bucolics"  of  Virgil; 
the  "  Georgic^  "  he  had  by  heart;  but  the  "^neid  "  he  could 
not  away  with;  and  he  was  particularly  severe  upon  the  cele- 
brated line  expressing  a  charge  of  cavalry,  because,  as  he 
understand  the  word  "  putrem,"*  he  opined  that  the  combat- 
ants in  their  inconsiderate  ardor,  galloped  over  a  new-manured 
plowed  field.  Cato,  the  Eoman  Censor,  was  his  favorite  among 
classical  heroes  and  philosophers,  not  on  account  of  the  strict- 
ness of  his  morals,  but  because  of  his  treatise,  "  De  Re  Rus- 
tica."  He  had  ever  in  his  mouth  the  phrase  of  Cicero, 
"  Jam  neminem  antepones  Catoni."  He  thought  well  of 
Palladius  and  of  Terentius  Yarro;  but  Columella  was  his 
pocket-companion.  To  these  ancient  worthies  he  added 
the  more  modern  Tusser,  Hartlib,  and  other  writers  on  rural 
economics,  not  forgetting  the  lucubrations  of  the  "  Shepherd 
of  Salisbury  Plain,"  and  such  of  the  better-informed  philo- 
maths who,  instead  of  loading  their  almanacs  with  vain  pre- 
dictions of  political  events,  pretended  to  see  what  seeds  would 
grow  and  what  would  not,  and  direct  the  attention  of  their 
readers  to  that  course  of  cultivation  from  which  the  produc- 
tion of  good  crops  may  be  safely  predicted;  modest  sages,  in 
fine,  who,  careless  of  the  rise  and  downfall  of  empires,  con- 
tent themselves  with  pointing  out  the  fit  seasons  to  reap  and 
sow,  with  a  fair  guess  at  the  weather  which  each  month  will 
be  likely  to  present;  as,  for  example,  that,  if  Heaven  pleases, 
M-e  shall  have  snow  in  January,  and  the  author  will  stake  his 
reputation  that  July  proves,  on  the  whole,  a  month  of  sun- 
shine. jSTow,  although  the  rector  of  St.  Jjeonard's  was  greatly 
pleased  in  general  with  the  quiet,  laborious,  and  studious  bent 
of  Triptplemus  Yellowley,  and  deemed  him,  in  so  far,  worthy 

*  Qnadrftpedumque  potrera  eonitu  qiiatit  nugula  campnm. 


34  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

of  a  name  of  four  syllables  having  a  Latin  termination,  yet 
he  relished  not,  by  any  means,  his  exclusive  attention  to  his 
favorite  authors.  It  savored  of  the  earth,  he  said,  if  not  of 
something  worse,  to  have  a  man's  mind  always  groveling  in 
mold,  stercorated  or  unstercorated;  and  he  pointed  out,  but 
m  vain,  history,  and  poetry,  and  divinity  as  more  elevating 
subjects  of  occupation.  Triptolemus  Yellowley  was  obsti- 
nate in  his  own  course.  Of  the  battle  of  Pharsalia,  he 
thought  not  as  it  affected  the  freedom  of  the  world,  but  dwelt 
on  the  rich  crop  which  the  Emathian  fields  were  likely  to 
produce  the  next  season.  In  vernacular  poetry,  Triptolemus 
could  scarce  be  prevailed  upon  to  read  a  single  couplet,  ex- 
cepting old  Tusser,  as  aforesaid,  whose  "  Hundred  Points  of 
Good  Husbandry  "  he  had  got  by  heart;  and  excepting  also 
"  Piers  Plowman's  Vision,"  which,  charmed  with  the  title,  he 
bought  with  avidity  from  a  packman,  but,  after  reading  the 
two  first  pages,  flung  it  into  the  fire  as  an  impudent  and  mis- 
named political  libel.  As  to  divinity,  he  summed  that  matter 
up  by  reminding  his  instructors  that  to  labor  the  earth  and 
win  his  bread  with  the  toil  of  his  body  and  sweat  of  his  brow 
was  the  lot  imposed  upon  fallen  man;  and,  for  his  part,  he 
was  resolved  to  discharge,  to  the  best  of  his  abilities,  a  task 
so  obviously  necessary  to  existence,  leaving  others  to  specu- 
late as  much  as  they  would  upon  the  more  recondite  mys- 
teries of  theology. 

With  a  spirit  so  much  narrowed  and  limited  to  the  concerns 
of  rural  life,  it  may  be  doubted  whether  the  proficiency  of 
Triptolemus  in  learning,  or  the  use  he  was  like  to  make  of  his 
acquisitions,  would  have  much  gratified  the  ambitious  hope 
of  his  affectionate  mother.  It  is  true,  he  expressed  no  re- 
luctance to  embrace  the  profession  of  a  clergyman,  which 
suited  well  enough  with  the  habitual  personal  indolence 
which  sometimes  attaches  to  speculative  dispositions.  He 
had  views,  to  speak  plainly  (I  wish  they  were  peculiar  to 
himself),  of  cultivating  the  glebe  six  days  in  the  Aveek,  preach- 
ing on  the  seventh  with  due  regularity,  and  dining  with  some 
fat  franklin  or  country  laird,  with  whom  he  could  smoke  a 
pipe  and  drink  a  tankard  after  dinner,  and  mix  in  secret  con- 
ference on  the  exhaustless  subject: 

Quid  faciat  laetas  segetes. 

Now  this  plan,  besides  that  it  indicated  nothing  of  what  was 
then  called  the  root  of  the  matter,  implied  necessarily  the 
possession  of  a  manse;  and  the  possession,  of  a  manse  inferred 


TEE  PIBATE.  85 

compliance  with  the  doctrines  of  prelacy  and  other  enormities 
of  the  time.  Tliere  was  some  quesdou  how  far  manse  and 
glebe,  stipend,  both  victual  and  money,  might  have  out- 
balanced the  good  lady's  predisposition  toward  Presbytery; 
but  her  zeal  was  not  put  to  so  severe  a  trial.  She  died  before 
her  son  had  completed  his  studies,  leaving  her  afflicted  spouse 
just  as  disconsolate  as  was  to  be  expected.  The  first  act  of 
old  Jaspers  undivided  administration  was  to  recall  his  son 
from  St.  Andrew's,  in  order  to  obtain  his  assistance  in  his 
domestic  labors.  And  here  it  might  have  been  supposed  that 
our  Triptolemus.  summoned  to  carry  into  practice  what  he 
had  so  fondly  studied  in  theory,  must  have  been,  to  use  a 
simile  which  he  would  have  thought  lively,  like  a  cow  entering 
upon  a  clover  park.  Alas,  mistaken  thoughts  and  deceitful 
hopes  of  mankind! 

A  laughing  philosopher,  the  Democritus  of  our  day,  once,  in 
a  moral  lecture,  compared  human  life  to  a  table  pierced  with 
a  number  of  holes,  each  of  which  has  a  pin  made  exactly  to  fit 
it,  but  which  pins  being  stuck  in  hastily,  and  without  selec- 
tion, chance  leads  inevitably  to  the  most  awkward  mistakes. 
"  For  how  often  do  we  see,"  the  orator  pathetically  concluded 
— "  how  often,  I  say,  do  we  see  the  roimd  man  stuck  into  the 
three-cornered  hole!  "  This  new  illustration  of  the  vagaries 
of  fortune  set  everyone  present  into  convulsions  of  laughter, 
excepting  one  fat  alderman,  who  seemed  to  make  the  case  his 
own,  and  insisted  that  it  was  no  jesting  matter.  To  take  up 
the  simile,  however,  which  is  an  excellent  one,  it  is  plain  that 
Triptolemus  Yellowley  had  been  shaken  out  of  the  bag  at 
least  a  hundred  years  too  soon.  If  he  had  come  on  the  stage 
in  our  own  time,  that  is,  if  he  had  flourished  at  any  time 
within  these  thirty  or  forty  years,  he  could  not  have  missed 
to  have  held  the  office  of  vice-president  of  some  eminent 
agriculttiral  society,  and  to  have  transacted  all  the  business 
thereof  under  the  auspices  of  some  noble  duke  or  lord,  who, 
as  the  matter  might  happen,  either  knew,  or  did  not  know, 
the  difference  betwixt  a  horse  and  a  cart  and  a  cart-horse. 
He  could  not  have  missed  such  preferment,  for  he  was  ex- 
ceedingly learned  in  all  those  particulars  which,  being  of  no 
consequence  in  actual  practice,  go,  of  course,  a  great  way  to 
constitute  the  character  of  a  connoisseur  in  any  art,  and 
especially  in  agriculture.  But,  alas!  Triptolemus  Yellowley 
had,  as  we  already  have  hinted,  come  into  the  world  at  least 
a  century  too  soon:  for,  instead  of  sitting  in  an  arm-chair, 
with  a  hammer  in  his  hand  and  a  bumper  of  port  before  liim. 


36  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

giving  forth  the  toast — "To  breeding,  in  all  its  branchee," 
his  father  planted  him  betwixt  the  stilts  of  a  plow,  and  in- 
vited him  to  guide  the  oxen,  on  whose  beauties  he  would,  in 
our  day,  have  descanted,  and  whose  rumps  he  would  not  have 
goaded,  but  have  carved.  Old  Jasper  complained  that  al- 
though no  one  talked  so  well  of  common  and  several,  wheat 
and  rape,  fallow  and  lea,  as  his  learned  son  (whom  he  always 
called  Tolimus),  yet,  "  dang  it,"  added  the  Seneca,  "  naught 
thrives  wi'  un — naught  thrives  wi'  un!  "  It  was  still  worse 
when  Jasper,  becoming  frail  and  ancient,  was  obliged,  as 
happened  in  the  course  of  a  few  years,  gradually  to  yield  up 
the  reins  of  government  to  the  academical  neopliyte. 

As  if  nature  had  meant  him  a  spite,  he  had  got  one  of  the 
dourest  and  most  intractable  farms  in  the  Meams  to  try  con- 
clusions withal,  a  place  which  seemed  to  yield  everytliing  but 
what  the  agriculturist  wanted;  for  there  were  plenty  of 
thistles,  which  indicates  dry  land;  and  store  of  fern,  which  is 
said  to  intimate  deep  land;  and  nettles,  which  show  where 
lime  hath  been  applied;  and  deep  furrows  in  the  most  un- 
likely spots,  which  intimated  that  it  had  been  cultivated  in 
former  days  by  the  Peghts,  as  popular  tradition  bore.  There 
was  also  enough  of  stones  to  keep  the  ground  warm,  according 
to  the  creed  of  some  farmers,  and  great  abundance  of  springs 
to  render  it  cool  and  sappy,  according  to  the  theory  of  others. 
It  was  in  vain  that,  acting  alternately  on  these  opinions,  poor 
Triptolemus  endeavored  to  avail  himself  of  the  supposed 
capabilities  of  the  soil.  No  kind  of  butter  that  might  be 
churned  could  be  made  to  stick  upon  his  own  bread,  any 
more  than  on  that  of  poor  Tusser,  whose  "  Hundred  Points 
of  Good  Husbandry,"  so  useful  to  others  of  his  day,  were 
never  to  himself  worth  as  m-any  pennies.* 

In  fact,  excepting  an  hundred  acres  of  iniield,  to  which  old 
Jasper  had  early  seen  the  necessity  of  limiting  his  labors, 
there  was  not  a  comer  of  the  farm  fit  for  an}'*thing  but  to 
break  plow-graith  and  kill  cattle.  And  then,  as  for  the  part 
which  was  really  tilled  with  some  profit,  the  expense  of  the 
farming  establishment  of  Triptolemus,  and  his  disposition 
to  experiment,  soon  got  rid  of  any  good  arising  from  the  culti- 
vation of  it.  "  The  carles  and  the  cart-avers,"  he  confessed, 
with  a  sigh,  speaking  of  his  farm-servants  and  horses,  "  make 
it  all,  and  the  carles  and  cart-avers  eat  it  all " — a  conclusion 
which  might  sum  up  the  year-book  of  many  a  gentleman 
farmer. 

y  ♦  See  Tusser's  Poverty.    Note  is. 


THE  PIBATE.  37 

Matters  would  have  soon  been  brought  to  a  close  with 
Triptolemus  in  the  present  day.  He  would  have  got  a  bank- 
credit,  maneuvered  \nth  wind-bills,  dashed  out  upon  a  large 
scale,  and  soon  have  seen  his  crop  and  stock  sequestered  by 
the  sheriff;  but  in  those  days  a  man  could  not  ruin  himself 
so  easily.  The  whole  Scottish  tenantry  stood  upon  the  same 
level  flat  of  poverty,  so  that  it  was  extremely  difficult  to  find 
any  vantage  ground  by  climbing  up  to  which  a  man  might 
have  an  opportunity  of  actually  breaking  his  neck  wdth  some 
"  eclat."  They  were  pretty  much  in  the  situation  of  people 
who,  being  totally  without  credit,  may  indeed  suffer  from  in- 
digence, but  cannot  possibly  become  bankrupt.  Besides,  not- 
withstanding the  failure  of  Triptolemus'  projects,  there  was 
to  be  balanced  against  the  expenditure  which  they  occasioned 
all  the  savings  which  the  extreme  economy  of  his  sister  Bar- 
bara could  effect;  and  in  truth  her  exertions  were  wonderful. 
She  might  have  realized,  if  anyone  could,  the  idea  of  the 
learned  philosopher,  who  pronounced  that  sleeping  was  a 
fancy,  and  eating  but  a  habit,  and  who  appeared  to  the  world 
to  have  renounced  both,  until  it  was  unhappily  discovered 
that  he  had  an  intrigue  with  the  cook-maid  of  the  family, 
who  indemnified  him  for  his  privations  by  giving  him  private 
entree  to  the  pantry  and  to  a  share  of  her  own  couch.  But 
no  such  deceptions  were  practiced  by  Barbara  Yellowley. 
She  was  up  early  and  down  late,  and  seemed,  to  her  over- 
watched and  over-tasked  maidens,  to  be  as  "  wakerife  "  as  the 
cat  herself.  Then,  for  eating,  it  appeared  that  the  air  was  a 
banquet  to  her,  and  she  would  fain  have  made  it  so  to  her 
retinue.  Her  brother,  who,  besides  being  lazy  in  his  person, 
was  somewhat  luxurious  in  his  appetite,  would  willingly  now 
and  then  have  tasted  a  mouthful  of  animal  food,  were  it  but 
to  know  how  his  sheep  were  fed  oif.  But  a  proposal  to  eat 
a  child  could  not  have  startled  Mistress  Barbara  more;  and, 
being  of  a  compliant  and  easy  disposition,  Triptolemus  recon- 
ciled himself  to  the  necessity  of  a  perpetual  Lent,  too  happy 
when  he  could  get  a  scrap  of  butter  to  his  oaten  cake,  or  (as 
they  lived  on  the  banks  of  the  Esk)  escape  the  daily  necessity 
of  eating  salmon,  whether  in  or  out  of  season,  six  days  out  of 
the  seven. 

But  although  Mrs.  Barbara  brought  faithfully  to  the  Joint 
stock  all  savings  which  her  awful  powers  of  economy  accom- 
plished to  scrape  together,  and  although  the  dower  of  their 
mother  was  by  degrees  expended,  or  nearly  so,  in  aiding  them 
upon  extreme  occasions,  the  term  at  length  approached  when 


38  WAVERLKY  ^-OVELS. 

it  seemed  impossible  that  they  could  sustain  the  conflict  any 
longer  against  the  evil  star  of  Triptolenius,  as  he  called  it 
himself,  or  the  natural  result  of  his  absurd  speculations,  as  it 
was  termed  by  others.  Luckily,  at  this  sad  crisis,  a  god 
jumped  down  to  their  relief  out  of  a  machine.  In  plain 
English,  the  noble  lord  who  owned  their  fami  arrived  at  his 
mansion-house  in  their  neighborhood,  with  his  coach  and  six 
and  his  running  footmen,*  in  the  full  splendor  of  the  seven- 
teenth century. 

This  person  of  quality  was  the  son  of  the  nobleman  who 
had  brought  the  ancient  Jasper  into  the  country  from  York- 
shire, and  he  was,  like  his  father,  a  fanciful  and  scheming 
man.  He  had  schemed  well  for  himself,  however,  amid  the 
mutations  of  the  time,  having  obtained,  for  a  certain  period 
of  years,  the  administration  of  the  remote  islands  of  Orkney 
and  Zetland,!  for  payment  of  a  certain  rent,  with  the  right  of 
making  the  most  of  whatever  was  the  property  or  revenue  of 
the  crown  in  these  districts,  under  the  title  of  Lord  Chamber- 
lain. Now,  his  lordship  had  become  possessed  with  a  notion, 
in  itself  a  very  true  one,  that  much  might  be  done  to  render 
this  grant  available,  by  improving  the  culture  of  the  crown 
lands,  both  in  Orkney  and  Zetland;  and  then  having  some 
acquaintance  with  our  friend  Triptolemus,  he  thought  (rather 
less  happily)  that  he  might  prove  a  person  capable  of  further- 
ing his  schemes.  He  sent  for  him  to  the  great  hall-house, 
and  was  so  much  edified  by  the  way  in  which  our  friend  laid 
down  the  law  upon  every  given  subject  relating  to  rural 
economy  that  he  lost  no  time  in  securing  the  co-operation  of 
so  valuable  an  assistant,  the  first  step  being  to  release  him 
from  his  present  unprofitable  farm. 

The  terms  were  arranged  much  to  the  mind  of  Triptol- 
emus, who  had  already  been  taught,  by  many  years'  experi- 
ence, a  dark  sort  of  notion  that,  without  undervaluing  or 
doubting  for  a  moment  his  own  skill,  it  would  be  quite  as  well 
that  almost  all  the  trouble  and  risk  should  be  at  the  expense 
of  his  employer.  Indeed,  the  hopes  of  advantage  which  he 
held  out  to  his  patron  were  so  considerable,  that  the  Lord 
Chamberlain  dropped  eveiy  idea  of  admitting  his  dependent 
into  any  share  of  the  expected  profits;  for,  rude  as  the  arts 
of  agriculture  were  in  Scotland,  they  were  far  superior  to 
those  known  and  practiced  in  the  regions  of  Thule,  and  Trip- 
tolemus Yellowley  conceived  himself  to  be  possessed  of  a 

*  See  "  Brifle  of  Lammermoor,"  Noto  9,  p.  318. 
t  See  Administration  of  Zetland.     Note  9. 


THE  PIRATE.  39 

degree  of  insight  into  these  mysteries  far  superior  to  what 
was  possessed  or  practiced  even  in  the  Mearns.  The  im- 
provement, therefore,  which  was  to  be  expected  would  bear 
a  double  proportion,  and  the  Lord  Chamberlain  was  to  reap 
all  the  profit,  deducting  a  handsome  salary  for  his  steward 
Yellowley,  together  with  the  accommodation  of  a  house  and 
domestic' farm,  for  the  support  of  his  family.  Joy  seized  the 
heart  of  Mistress  Barbara  at  hearing  this  happy  "termination 
of  what  threatened  to  be  so  ver}-  bad  an  affair  as  the  lease  of 
Cauldacres. 

•'  If  we  cannot,"  she  said,  '''  provide  for  our  own  house 
when  all  is  coming  in  and  nothing  going  out,  surely  we  must 
be  worse  than  infidels!  " 

Triptolemus  was  a  busy  man  for  some  time,  huffing  and 
puffing,  and  eating  and  drinking  in  ever}'  change-house,  while 
he  ordered  and  collected  together  proper  implements  of  agri- 
culture, to  be  used  by  the  natives  of  these  devoted  islands 
whose  destinies  were  menaced  with  this  formidable  change. 
Singular  tools  these  would  seem  if  presented  before  a  modern 
agricultural  society;  but  everything  is  relative,  nor  could  the 
heavy  cart-load  of  timber,  called  the  old  Scots  plow,  seem 
less  strange  to  a  Scottish  farmer  of  this  present  day  than  the 
corslets  and  casques  of  the  soldiers  of  Cortes  might  seem  to  a 
regiment  of  our  own  army.  Yet  the  latter  conquered  Mexico, 
and  undoubtedly  the  former  would  have  been  a  splendid  im- 
provement on  the  state  of  agriculture  in  Thule. 

We  have  never  been  able  to  learn  why  Triptolemus  pre- 
ferred fixing  his  residence  in  Zetland  to  becoming  an  inhabit- 
ant of  the  Orkneys.  Perhaps  he  thought  the  inhabitants  of 
the  latter  archipelago  the  more  simple  and  docile  of  the  two 
kindred  tribes;  or  perhaps  he  considered  the  situation  of  the 
house  and  farm  he  himself  was  to  occupy  (which  was  indeed 
a  tolerable  one)  as  preferable  to  that  which  he  had  it  in  his 
power  to  have  obtained  upon  Pomona  (so  the  main  island  of 
the  Orkneys  is  entitled).  At  Harfra,  or,  as  it  was  sometimes 
called,  Stourburgh,  from  the  remains  of  a  Pictish  fort  which 
was  almost  close  to  the  mansion-house,  the  factor  settled  him- 
self in  the  plenitude  of  his  authority,  determined  to  honor 
the  name  he  bore  by  his  exertions,  in  precept  and  example,  to 
civilize  the  Zetlaiiders,  and  improve  their  very  confined 
knowledge  in  the  primary  arts  of  human  life. 


CHAPTEK   y. 

The  wind  blew  keen  frae  north  and  east ; 

It  blew  npon  the  floor. 
Quo'  our  goodman  to  our  goodwife, 

"  Get  up  and  bar  the  door." 

"  My  hand  is  in  my  housewifeskep, 

Goodman,  as  ye  may  see  ; 
If  it  shouldna  be  barr'd  this  hundred  years, 

It's  no  be  barr'd  for  me  !  " 

— Old  Song. 

We  can  only  hope  that  the  gentle  reader  has  not  found  the 
latter  part  of  the  last  chapter  extremely  tedious;  hut,  at  any 
rate,  his  impatience  will  scarce  equal  that  of  young  Mordaunt 
Mertoun,  who,  while  the  lightning  came  flash  after  flash, 
while  the  wind,  veering  and  shifting  from  point  to  point, 
hlew  with  all  the  fury  of  a  hurricane,  and  while  the  rain  was 
dashed  against  him  in  deluges,  stood  hammering,  calling,  and 
roaring  at  the  door  of  the  old  Place  of  Harfra,  impatient  for 
admittance,  and  at  a  loss  to  conceive  any  position  of  existing 
circumstances  which  could  occasion  the  exclusion  of  a  stran- 
ger, especially  during  such  horrible  weather.  At  length, 
finding  his  noise  and  vociferation  were  equally  in  vain,  he 
fell  back  so  far  from  the  front  of  the  house  as  was  necessary 
to  enable  him  to  reconnoiter  the  chimneys;  and,  amidst 
"  storm  and  shade,"  could  discover,  to  the  increase  of  his  dis- 
may, that  though  noon,  then  the  dinner-hour  of  these  islands, 
was  now  nearly  arrived,  there  was  no  smoke  proceeding  from 
the  tunnels  of  the  vents  to  give  any  note  of  preparation 
within. 

Mordaunt's  wrathful  impatience  was  now  changed  into 
sympathy  and  alarm;  for,  so  long  accustomed  to  the  exuber- 
ant hospitality  of  the  Zetland  Islands,  he  was  immediately 
induced  to  suppose  some  strange  and  unaccountable  disaster 
had  befallen  the  family;  and  forthwith  set  himself  to  discover 
some  place  at  which  he  could  make  forcible  entry,  in  order 
to  ascertain  the  situation  of  the  inmates,  as  much  as  to  obtain 
shelter  from  the  still  increasing  storm.  His  present  anxiety 
was,  however,  as  much  thrown  away  as  his  late  clamorous 
importunities  for  admittance  had  been.  Triptolemus  and 
his  sister  had  heard  the  whole  alarm  without,  and  had  already 
had  a  sharp  dispute  on  the  propriety  of  opening  the  door. 

40 


THE  PIRATE.  41 

Mrs.  Baby,  as  we  have  described  her,  was  no  willing  Ten- 
derer of  the  rites  of  hospitality.  In  their  farm  of  Cauldaeres, 
in  the  Mearns,  she  had  been  the  dread  and  abhorrence  of  all 
gaberlunzie  men,  and  traveling  packmen,  gypsies,  long  re- 
membered beggars,  and  so  forth;  nor  was  there  one  of  them 
so  wily,  as  she  used  to  boast,  as  could  ever  say  they  had  heard 
the  clink  of  her  sneck.  In  Zetland,  where  the  new  settlers 
wxre  yet  strangers  to  the  extreme  honesty  and  simplicity  of 
all  classes,  suspicion  and  fear  joined  with  frugality  in  her 
desire  to  exclude  all  wandering  guests  of  uncertain  character; 
and  the  second  of  these  motives  had  its  effect  on  Triptolemus 
himself,  who,  though  neither  suspicious  nor  penurious,  knew 
good  people  were  scarce,  good  farmers  scarcer,  and  had  a 
reasonable  share  of  that  wisdom  which  looks  toward  self- 
preservation  as  the  first  law  of  nature.  These  hints  may 
serve  as  a  commentary  on  the  following  dialogue  which  took 
place  betwixt  the  brother  and  sister. 

"  Now,  good  be  gracious  to  us,"  said  Triptolemus,  as  he  sat 
thumbing  his  old  school-copy  of  Yirgil,  "  here  is  a  pure  day 
for  the  bear  seed!  Well  spoke  the  wise  Mantuan — '  ventis 
surgentibus  ' — and  then  the  groans  of  the  mountains,  and 
the  long-resounding  shores;  but  where's  the  woods.  Baby? — 
tell  me,  I  say,  where  we  shall  find  the  '  nemorum  murmur,' 
sister  Baby,  in  these  new  seats  of  ours  ?  " 

"  What's  your  foolish  will?  "  said  Baby,  popping  her  head 
from  out  of  a  dark  recess  in  the  kitchen,  where  she  was  busy 
about  some  nameless  deed  of  housewifery. 

Her  brother,  who  had  addressed  himself  to  her  more  from 
habit  than  intention,  no  sooner  saw  her  bleak  red  nose,  keen 
gray  eyes,  with  the  sharp  features  thereunto  conforming, 
shaded'  by  the  flaps  of  the  loose  "  toy  "  which  depended  on 
each  side  of  her  eager  face,  than  he  bethought  himself  that 
his  query  was  likely  to  find  little  acceptation  from  her,  and 
therefore  stood  another  volley  before  he  would  resume  the 
topic. 

"  I  say,  Mr,  Yellowley,"  said  sister  Baby,  coming  into  the 
middle  of  the  room,  "  what  for  are  ye  crying  on  me,  and  me 
in  the  midst  of  my  housewifeskep?  " 

"  Nay,  for  nothing  at  all.  Baby,"  answered  Triptolemus, 
"  saving  that  I  was  saying  to  myself,  that  here  we  had  the  sea, 
and  the  wind,  and  the  rain,  sufficient  enough,  but  where's  the 
wood? — where's  the  wood.  Baby,  answer  me  that?" 

"The  wood!"  replied  Baby.  "Were  I  no  to  take  better 
care  of  the  wood  than  you,  brother,  there  would  soon  be  no 


48  WAVBRLET  NOVELS. 

more  wood  about  the  town  than  the  barber's  block  that's  on 
your  own  shoulders,  Triptolemus.  If  ye  be  thinking  of  the 
wreck-wood  that  the  callants  brought  in  yesterday,  tliere  was 
six  ounces  of  it  gaed  to  boil  your  parritch  this  morning; 
though,  I  trow,  a  carefu'  man  wad  have  ta'en  drammoek.  if 
breakfast  he  behoved  to  have,  rather  than  waste  baith  meltitli 
and  fuel  in  the  same  morning." 

"  That  is  to  say,  Baby,"  replied  Triptolemus,  who  was 
somewhat  of  a  dry  joker  in  his  way,  "  that  when  we  have  fire 
we  are  not  to  have  food,  and  when  we  have  food  we  are  not  to 
have  fire,  these  being  too  great  blessings  to  enjoy  both  in  the 
same  day!  Good  luck,  you  do  not  propose  we  should  starve 
with  cold  and  starve  with  hunger  '  unico  contextu '?  But,  to 
tell  you  the  truth,  I  could  never  away  with  raw  oatmeJ, 
sleekened  with  water,  in  all  my  life.  Call  it  drammoek,  or 
crowd  ie,  or  just  what  ye  list,  my  vivers  must  thole  fire  and 
water." 

"  The  mair  gowk  you,"  said  Baby;  "  can  ye  not  make  your 
brose  on  the  Sunday,  and  sup  them  cauld  on  the  Monday, 
since  ye're  sae  dainty?  Mony  is  the  fairer  face  than  yours 
that  has  licked  the  lip  after  such  a  cogfu'." 

"  Mercy  on  us,  sister!  "  said  Triptolemus;  "  at  this  rate,  it's 
a  finished  field  with  me:  I  must  unyoke  the  pleugh  and  lie 
down  to  wait  for  the  dead-thraw.  Here  is  that  in  this  house 
wad  hold  all  Zetland  in  meal  for  a  twelvemonth,  and  ye 
grudge  a  cogfu'  of  warm  parritch  to  me,  that  has  sic  a 
charge!  " 

"Whisht!  baud  your  silly  clavering  tongue!"  said  Baby, 
looking  round  with  apprehension;  "  ye  are  a  wise  man  to 
epeak  of  what  is  in  the  house,  and  a  fitting  man  to  have  the 
charge  of  it!  Hark,  as  I  live  by  bread,  I  hear  a  tapping  at 
the  outer  yett!  " 

"  Go  and  open  it  then,  Baby,"  said  her  brother,  glad  at 
anything  that  promised  to  interrupt  the  dispute. 

"  Go  and  open  it,  said  he !  "  echoed  Baby,  half-angry,  half- 
frightened,  and  half-triumphant  at  the  superiority  of  her 
understanding  over  that  of  her  brother.  "  Go  and  open  it, 
said  he,  indeed!  is  it  to  lend  robbers  a  chance  to  take  all  that 
is  in  the  house?  " 

"Eobbers!"  echoed  Triptolemus,  in  his  turn;  "there  are 
no  more  robbers  in  this  country  than  there  are  lambs  at  Yule. 
I  tell  you,  as  I  have  told  you  an  hundred  times,  there  are  no 
Highlandmen  to  harry  us  here.  This  is  a  land  of  quiet  and 
honesty.     '  0  fortunati  nimium! '  " 


THE  PIRATE.  43 

"And  what  good  is  St.  Ninian  to  do  ye,  Tolimus?  "  said 
his  sister,  mistaking  the  quotation  for  a  Catholic  invocation. 
"  Besides,  if  there  be  no  Highlandmen,  there  may  be  as  bad. 
I  saw  sax  or  seven  as  ill-looking  chields  gang  past  the  Place 
yesterday  as  ever  came  frae  beyont  Clochna-ben;  ill-faur'd 
tools  they  had  in  their  hands,  whaaling-knives  they  ca'ed 
them,  but  they  looked  as  like  dirks  and  whingers  as  ae  bit  airn 
can  look  like  anither.  There  is  nae  honest  men  carry  siccan 
tools." 

Here  the  knocking  and  shouts  of  Mordaunt  were  very 
audible  betwixt  every  swell  of  the  horrible  blast  which  was 
careering  without.  The  brother  and  sister  looked  at  each 
other  in  real  perplexity  and  fear.  "  If  they  have  heard  of  the 
siller,"  said  Baby,  her  very  nose  changing  with  terror  from 
red  to  blue,  "  we  are  but  gane  folk!  " 

"  Who  speaks  now,  when  they  should  hold  their  tongue?  " 
said  Triptolemus.  "  Go  to  the  shot-window  instantly,  and 
see  how  many  there  are  of  them,  while  I  load  the  old  Spanish- 
barreled  duck-gun;  go  as  if  you  were  stepping  on  new-laid 

eggs-" 

Baby  crept  to  the  window,  and  reported  that  she  saw  only 
"  one  young  chield,  clattering  and  roaring  as  gin  he  were  daft. 
How  many'  there  might  be  out  of  sight,  she  could  not  say." 

"  Out  of  sight!  nonsense,"  said  Triptolemus,  laying  aside 
the  ramrod  with  which  he  was  loading  the  piece  with  a  trem- 
bling hand.  "  I  will  warrant  them  out  of  sight  and  hearing 
both;  this  is  some  poor  fellow  catched  in  the  tempest,  wants 
the  shelter  of  our  roof,  and  a  little  refreshment.  Open  the 
door,  Baby,  it's  a  Christian  deed." 

"  But  is  it  a  Christian  deed  of  him  to  come  in  at  the  win- 
dow, then?"  said  Baby,  setting  up  a  most  doleful  shriek,  as 
Mordaunt  Mertoun,  who  had  forced  open  one  of  the  windows, 
leaped  down  into  the  apartment,  dripping  with  water  like  a 
river  god.  Triptolemus,  in  great  tribulation,  presented  the 
gun  which  he  had  not  yet  loaded,  while  the  intruder  ex- 
claimed, "  Hold — hold;  what  the  devil  mean  you  by  keeping 
your  doors  bolted  in  weather  like  this,  and  leveling  your  gun 
at  folks'  heads  as  you  would  at  a  sealgh's?  " 

"And  who  are  you,  friend,  and  what  want  you?"  said 
Triptolemus,  lowering  the  butt  of  his  gun  to  the  floor  as  he 
spoke,  and  so  recovering  his  arms. 

"What  do  I  want?"  said  Mordaunt;  "I  want  everything. 
I  want  meat,  drink,  and  fire,  a  bed  for  the  night,  and  a  sheltie 
for  to-morrow  morning  to  C9,rry  me  to  Jarlshof." 


44  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

"And  ye  said  there  were  nae  caterans  or  sorners  here?" 
said  Baby  to  the  agriculturist  reproachfully.  "  Heard  ye 
ever  a  breekless  loon  frae  Lochaber  tell  his  mind  and  his 
errand  mair  deftly?  Come — come,  friend,"  she  added,  ad- 
dressing herself  to  Mordaunt,  "  put  up  your  pipes  and  gang 
your  gate;  this  is  the  house  of  his  lordship's  factor,  and  no 
place  of  reset  for  thiggers  or  somers." 

Mordaunt  laughed  in  her  face  at  the  simplicity  of  the 
request.  "  Leave  built  walls,"  he  said,  "  and  in  such  a 
tempest  as  this?  What  take  you  me  for? — a  gannet  or  a 
scart  do  you  think  I  am,  that  your  clapping  your  hands  and 
skirling  at  me  like  a  madwoman  should  drive  me  from  the 
shelter  into  the  storm?" 

"  And  so  you  propose,  young  man,"  said  Triptolemus 
gravely,  "  to  stay  in  my  house,  '  volens  nolens ' — that  is, 
whether  we  will  or  no?" 

"  Will!  "  said  Mordaunt;  "  what  right  have  you  to  will  any- 
thing about  it?  Do  you  not  hear  the  thunder?  Do  you  not 
hear  the  rain?  Do  you  not  see  the  lightning?  And  do  you 
not  know  this  is  the  only  house  within  I  wot  not  how  many 
miles?  Come,  my  good  master  and  dame,  this  may  be  Scot- 
tish Jesting,  but  it  sounds  strange  in  Zetland  ears.  You  have 
let  out  the  fire,  too,  and  my  teeth  are  dancing  a  jig  in  my 
head  with  cold;  but  I'll  soon  put  that  to  rights." 

He  seized  the  fire-tongs,  raked  together  the  embers  upon 
the  heartli,  broke  up  into  life  the  gathering-peat,  which  the 
hostess  had  calculated  should  have  preserved  the  seeds  of  fire, 
without  giving  them  forth,  for  many  hours;  then  casting  his 
eye  round,  saw  in  a  comer  the  stock  of  drift-wood,  which 
Mistress  Baby  had  served  forth  by  ounces,  and  transferred 
two  or  three  logs  of  it  at  once  to  the  hearth,  which,  conscious 
of  such  unwonted  supply,  began  to  transmit  to  the  chimney 
such  a  smoke  as  had  not  issued  from  the  Place  of  Harfra  for 
many  a  day. 

While  their  uninvited  guest  was  thus  making  himself  at 
home.  Baby  kept  edging  and  jogging  the  factor  to  turn  out 
the  intruder.  But  for  this  undertaking  Triptolemus  Yel- 
lowley  felt  neither  courage  nor  zeal,  nOr  did  circumstances 
seem  at  all  to  warrant  the  favorable  conclusion  of  any  fray 
into  which  he  might  enter  with  the  young  stranger.  The 
sinewy  limbs  and  graceful  form  of  Mordaunt  Mertoun  were 
seen  to  great  advantage  in  his  simple  sea-dress;  and  with  his 
dark  sparkling  eye,  finely  formed  head,  animated  features, 
close  curled  dark  hair,  and  bold,   free  looks,  the  stranger 


THE  PIRATE.  45 

formed  a  very  strong  contrast  with  the  host  on  whom  he  had 
intruded  himself.  Triptolemus  was  a  short,  clumsy,  duck- 
legged  disciple  of  Ceres,  whose  bottle-nose,  turned  up  and 
hajidsomely  coppered  at  the  extremity,  seemed  to  intimate 
something  of  an  occasional  treaty  with  Bacchus.  It  was  like 
to  be  no  ecjuaJ  mellay  betwixt  persons  of  such  unequal  form 
and  strength;  and  the  difference  betwixt  twenty  and  fifty 
years  was  nothing  in  favor  of  the  weaker  party.  Besides,  the 
factor  was  an  honest,  good-natured  fellow  at  bottom,  and 
being  soon  satisfied  that  his  guest  had  no  other  views  than 
those  of  obtaining  refuge  from  the  storm,  it  would,  despite 
his  sister's  instigations,  have  been  his  last  act  to  deny  a  boon 
so  reasonable  and  necessary  to  a  youth  whose  exterior  was  so 
prepossessing.  He  stood,  therefore,  considering  how  he 
could  most  gracefully  glide  into  the  character  of  the  hos- 
pitable landlord  out  of  that  of  the  ehurhsh  defender  of  his 
domestic  castle  against  an  unauthorized  intrusion,  when 
Baby,  who  had  stood  appalled  at  the  extreme  familiarity  of 
the  stranger's  address  and  demeanor,  now  spoke  up  for  herself. 

"  My  troth,  lad,"  said  she  to  Mordaunt,  "  ye  are  no  blate,  to 
light  on  at  that  rate,  and  the  best  of  wood,  too:  nane  of  your 
sharney  peats,  but  good  aik  timber,  nae  less  maun  serve  ye!  " 

"  You  come  lightly  by  it,  dame,"  said  Mordaunt  carelessly; 
"  and  you  should  not  grudge  to  the  fire  what  the  sea  gives  you 
for  nothing.  These  good  ribs  of  oak  did  their  last  duty  upon 
earth  and  ocean  when  they  could  hold  no  longer  together 
under  the  brave  hearts  that  manned  the  bark." 

"  And  that's  true,  too,"  said  the  old  woman,  softening; 
"  this  maun  be  awesome  weather  by  sea.  Sit  down  and  warm 
ye,  since  the  sticks  are  alow." 

"  Aye — aye,"  said  Triptolemus,  "  it  is  a  pleasure  to  see 
sicean  a  bonny  bleeze.  I  havena  seen  the  like  o't  since  I 
left  Cauldacres." 

"  And  shallna  see  the  like  o't  again  in  a  hurr)-,"  said  Baby, 
"  unless  the  house  take  fire,  or  there  suld  be  a  coal-heugh 
found  out." 

"  And  wherefore  should  not  there  be  a  coal-heugh  found 
out? "  said  the  factor  triumphantly — "  I  say,  wherefore 
should  not  a  coal-heugh  be  found  out  in  Zetland  as  well  as  in 
Fife,  now  that  the  chamberlain  has  a  far-sighted  and  de- 
creet man  upon  the  spot  to  make  the  necessarv  perquisitions? 
They  are  baith  fishing-stations,  I  trow!  " 

"I  tell  you  what  it  is,  Tolimus  Yellowley."  answered  his 
sister,  who  had  practical  reasons  to  fear  her  brother's  opening 


46  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

upon  any  false  scent,  "  if  you  promise  my  lord  sae  mony  of 
these  bonnie-wallies,  we'll  no  be  wecl  hafted  here  before  we 
are  found  out  and  set  a-trotting  again.  If  ane  was  to  speak 
to  ye  about  a  gold  mine,  I  ken  weel  wha  would  promise  he 
suld  have  Portugal  pieces  clinking  in  his  pouch  before  the 
year  gaed  by." 

"  And  why  suld  I  not?  "  said  Triptolemus.  "  Maybe  your 
head  docs  not  know  there  is  a  land  in  Orkney  called  Ophir, 
or  something  very  like  it;  and  wherefore  might  not  Solomon, 
the  wise  king  of  the  Jews,  have  sent  thither  his  ships  and  his 
servants  for  four  hundred  and  fifty  talents?  I  trow  he 
knew  best  where  to  go  or  send,  and  I  hope  you  believe  in  your 
Bible,  Baby?" 

Baby  was  silenced  by  an  appeal  to  Scripture,  howevei:  "  mal 
a  propos,"  and  only  answered  by  an  inarticulate  "  humph  "  of 
incredulity  or  scorn,  while  her  brother  went  on  addressing 
Mordaunt.  "  Yes,  you  shall  all  of  you  see  what  a  change 
shall  coin  introduce  even  into  such  an  unpropitious  country 
as  yours.  Ye  have  not  heard  of  copper,  I  warrant,  nor  of 
ironstone,  in  these  islands,  neither?  "  Mordaunt  said  he  had 
heard  that  there  was  copper  near  the  Cliffs  of  Konigsburgh. 
"  Aye,  and  a  copper  scum  is  found  on  the  Loch  of  Swana.  too, 
young  man.  But  the  youngest  of  you,  doubtless,  thinks  him- 
self a  match  for  such  as  I  am!  " 

Baby,  who  during  all  this  while  had  been  closely  and  accu- 
rately reconnoitering  the  youth's  person,  now  interposed  in  a 
manner  by  her  brother  totally  unexpected.  "  Ye  had  mair 
need,  Mr.  Yellowley,  to  give  the  young  man  some  dr}'  clothes, 
and  to  see  about  getting  something  for  him  to  eat,  than  to 
sit  there  bleezing  away  with  your  lang  tales,  as  if  the  weather 
were  not  windy  >  enow  without  your  help ;  and  maybe  the  lad 
would  drink  some  '  bland,'  or  sic-like,  if  ye  had  the  grace  to 
ask  him." 

While  Triptolemus  looked  astonished  at  such  a  proposal, 
considering  the  quarter  it  came  from,  Mordaunt  answered,  he 
"  should  be  very  glad  to  have  dry  clothes,  but  begged  to  be 
excused  from  drinking  until  he  had  eaten  somewhat." 

Triptolemus  accordingly  conducted  him  into  another  apart- 
ment, and  accommodating  him  with  a  change  of  dress,  left 
him  to  his  arrangements,  while  he  himself  returned  to  the 
kitchen,  much  puzzled  to  account  for  his  sister's  unusual  fit 
of  hospitality.  "  She  must  be  fey,"*  he  said,  "  and  in  that 
case  has  not  long  to  live,  and  though  I  fall  heir  to  her  tocher- 

•  See  Note  10. 


THE  PIRATE.  47 

good,  I  am  sorry  for  it;  for  she  has  held  the  house-gear  well 
together:  drawn  the  girth  over  tight  it  may  be  now  and  then, 
but  the  saddle  sits  the  better." 

When  Triptolemus  returned  to  the  kitchen,  he  found  his 
suspicions  confirmed;  for  his  sister  was  in  the  desperate  act  of 
consigning  to  the  pot  a  smoked  goose,  which,  with  others  of 
the  same  tribe,  had  long  hung  in  the  large  chimney,  mutter- 
ing to  herself  at  the  same  time,  "  It  maun  be  eaten  sune  or 
syne,  and  what  for  no  by  the  puir  callant?  " 

''What  is  this  of  it,  sister?"  said  Triptolemus.  "You 
have  on  the  girdle  and  the  pot  at  ance.  What  day  is  this 
wi'you?" 

"  E'en  such  a  day  as  the  Israelites  had  beside  the  flesh-pots 
of  Egypt,  billie  Triptolemus;  but  ye  little  ken  wha  ye  have 
in  your  house  this  blessed  day." 

"  Troth  and  little  do  I  ken,"  said  Triptolemus,  "  as  little 
as  I  would  ken  the  naig  I  never  saw  before.  I  would  take 
the  lad  for  a  jagger,  but  he  has  rather  ower  good  havings,  and 
he  has  no  pack." 

"  Ye  ken  as  little  as  ane  of  your  ain  bits  o'  nowt,  man," 
retorted  sister  Baby;  "  if  ye  ken  na  him,  do  ye  ken  Tronda 
Dronsdaughter?  " 

"■'  Tronda  Dronsdaughter!"  echoed  Triptolemus;  "  how 
should  I  but  ken  her,  when  I  pay  her  twal  pennies  Scots  by 
the  day  for  working  in  the  house  here?  I  trow  she  works  as 
if  the  things  burned  her  fingers.  I  had  better  give  a  Scots 
lass  a  groat  of  English  siller." 

"  And  that's  the  maist  sensible  word  ye  have  said  this 
blessed  morning.  Weel,  but  Tronda  kens  this  lad  week  and 
she  has  often  spoke  to  me  about  him.  They  call  his  father 
the  Silent  ]\[an  of  Sumburgh,  and  they  say  he's  uncanny." 

"  Hout,  hout — nonsense,  nonsense;  they  are  aye  at  sic  trash 
as  that,"  said  the  brother,  "  when  you  want  a  day's  wark  out 
of  them:  they  have  stepped  ower  the  tangs,  or  they  have  met 
an  uncanny  body,  or  they  have  turned  about  the  boat  against 
the  sun,  and  then  there's  naught  to  be  done  that  day." 

"  Weel — weel,  brother,  ye  are  so  wise,"  said  Baby,  "  because 
ye  knapped  Latin  at  St.  xVndrews;  and  can  your  lair  tell  me, 
then,  what  the  lad  has  round  his  halse?" 

"  A  Barcelona  napkin,  as  wet  as  a  dishclout.  and  I  have 
just  lent  him  one  of  my  own  overlays,"  said  Triptolemus. 

"A  Barcelona  napkin!"  said  Baby,  elevating  her  voice, 
and  then  suddenly  lowering  it.  as  from  apprehension  of  being 
overheard.     "  I  say  a  gold  chain!  " 


48  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS. 

"A  gold  chain! ''  said  Triptolemiis. 

"In  troth  is  it,  hinny;  and  how  lilce  yon  that?  The  folk 
say  here,  as  Tronda  tells  me,  that  tlie  king  of  the  Drows  gave 
it  "to  his  father,  the  Silent  Man  of  Sumburgh." 

"  I  wish  you  would  speak  sense,  or  be  the  silent  woman," 
said  Triptolemus.  "  The  upshot  of  it  all  is,  then,  that  this 
lad  is  the  rich  stranger's  son,  and  that  you  are  giving  him  the 
goose  you  were  to  keep  till  Michaelmas!  " 

"  Troth,  brother,  we  maun  do  something  for  God's  sake, 
and  to  make  friends;  and  the  lad,"  added  Baby,  for  even  she 
was  not  altogether  above  the  prejudices  of  her  sex  in  favor 
of  outward  form — "  the  lad  has  a  fair  face  of  his  ain." 

"  Ye  would  have  let  mony  a  fair  face,"  said  Triptolemus, 
"  pass  the  door  pining,  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  gold  chain." 

"  Nae  doubt — nae  doubt,"  replied  Barbara;  "  ye  wadna 
have  me  waste  our  substance  on  every  thigger  or  sorner  that 
has  the  luck  to  come  by  the  door  in  a  wet  day?  But  this  lad 
has  a  fair  and  a  wide  name  in  the  country,  and  Tronda  says 
he  is  to  be  married  to  a  daughter  of  the  rich  Udaller,  Magnus 
Troil,  and  the  marriage-day  is  to  be  fixed  whenever  he  makes 
choice,  set  him  up!  between  the  twa  lasses;  and  so  it  wad  be 
as  much  as  our  good  name  is  worth,  and  our  quiet  forbye,  to 
let  him  sit  unserved,  although  he  does  come  unsent  for." 

"  The  best  reason  in  life,"  said  Triptolemus,  "  for  letting 
a  man  into  a  house  is,  that  you  dare  not  bid  him  go  by. 
However,  since  there  is  a  man  of  quality  amongst  them,  I 
will  let  him  know  whom  he  has  to  do  with,  in  my  person." 
Then  advancing  to  the  door,  he  exclaimed,  " '  Heus  tibi, 
Dave! ' " 

"  '  Adsum,'  "  answered  the  youth,  entering  the  apartment. 

"Hem!"  said  the  erudite  Triptolemus,  "not  altogether 
deficient  in  his  humanities,  I  see.  I  will  try  him  further. 
Canst  thou  aught  of  husbandry,  young  gentleman?  " 

"Troth,  sir,  not  I,"  answered  Mordaunt;  "I  have  been 
trained  to  plow  upon  the  sea  and  to  reap  upon  the  crag." 

"Plow  the  sea!"  said  Triptolemus;  "that's  a  furrow  re- 
quires small  harrowing;  and  for  your  harvest  on  the  crag,  I 
suppose  you  mean  these  '  scowries,'  or  whatever  you  call 
them.  It  is  a  sort  of  ingathering  which  the  Eanzelman 
should  stop  by  the  law;  nothing  more  likely  to  break  an 
honest  man's  bones.  I  profess  I  cannot  see  the  pleasure  men 
propose  by  dangling  in  a  rope's  end  betwixt  earth  and  heaven. 
In  my  case,  I  had  as  lief  the  other  end  of  the  rope  were  fas- 
tened to  the  gibbet;  I  should  be  sure  of  not  falling,  at  least." 


THE  PIRATE.  49 

"  Now,  I  would  only  advise  you  to  ivy  it,"  replied  Mor- 
daunt.  "  Trust  me,  the  world  has  few  grander  sensations 
than  when  one  is  perched  in  mid-air  between  a  high-browed 
cliff  and  a  roaring  ocean,  the  rope  by  which  you  are  sustained 
seeming  scarce  stronger  than  a  silken  thread,  and  the  stone 
on  which  you  have  one  foot  steadied  affording  such  a  breadth 
as  the  kittiwake  might  rest  upon — to  feel  and  know  all  this, 
with  the  full  confidence  that  your  own  agility  of  limb  and 
strength  of  head  can  bring  you  as  safe  off  as  if  you  had  the 
wing  of  the  gosshawk — this  is  indeed  being  almost  independ- 
ent  of  the  earth  you  tread  on!  " 

Triptolemus  stared  at  this  enthusiastic  description  of  an 
amusement  which  had  so  few  charms  for  him;  and  his  sister, 
looking  at  the  glancing  eye  and  elevated  bearing  of  the  young 
adventurer,  answered  by  ejaculating,  ''  My  certie,  lad,  but  yc 
are  a  brave  chield!  " 

"A  brave  chield!"  returned  Yellowley;  "I  say  a  brave 
goose,  to  be  fiichtering  and  fleeing  in  the  wind  when  he 
might  abide  upon  '  terra  firma  I '  But  come,  here's  a  goose 
that  is  more  to  the  purpose,  when  once  it  is  well  boiled.  Get 
us  trenchers  and  salt.  Baby;  but  in  truth  it  will  prove  salt 
enough — a  tasty  morsel  it  is.  But  I  think  the  Zetlanders  be 
the  only  folk  in  the  world  that  think  of  running  such  risks 
to  catch  geese,  and  then  boiling  them  when  they  have 
done." 

"  To  be  sure,"  replied  his  sister  (it  was  the  only  word  they 
had  agreed  in  that  day),  "  it  would  be  an  unco  tiling  to  bid 
ony  gudewife  in  Angus  or  a'  the  Mearns  boil  a  goose,  while 
there  was  sic  things  as  spits  in  the  warld.  But  wha's  this 
neist?"  she  added,  looking  toward  the  entrance  with  great 
indignation.  "  My  certie.  open  doors  and  dogs  come  in;  and 
wha  opened  the  door  to  him?  " 

"  I  did,  to  be  sure,"  replied  Mordaunt;  "  you  would  not 
have  a  poor  devil  stand  beating  your  deaf  door-cheeks  in 
weather  like  this?  Here  goes  something,  though,  to  help 
the  fire,"  he  added,  drawing  out  the  sliding  bar  of  oak  with 
which  the  door  had  been  secured,  and  throwing  it  on  the 
hearth,  whence  it  was  snatched  by  Dame  Baby  in  great  wrath, 
she  exclaiming  at  the  same  time: 

"It's  sea-borne  timber,  as  there's  little  else  here,  and  he 
dings  it  about  as  if  it  were  a  fir-clog!  And  who  be  you,  an  it 
please  you?"  she  added,  turning  to  the  stranger — "a  very 
hallansiiaker  loon,  as  ever  crossed  my  twa  een!  " 

"  I  am  a  jagger,  if  it  like  your  ladyship,"  replied  the  unin- 


50  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

vited  guest,  a  stout,  vulgar,  little  man,  who  had  indeed  the 
humble  appearance  of  a  peddler,  called  "  jagger "  in  these 
islands;  "  never  traveled  in  a  waur  day,  or  was  more  willing 
to  get  to  harborage.  Heaven  be  praised  for  fire  and  house- 
room!  " 

So  saying,  he  drew  a  stool  to  the  fire,  and  sat  down  without 
further  ceremony.  Dame  Baby  stared  "  wild  as  gray  goss- 
hawk,"  aud  was  meditating  how  to  express  her  indignation 
in  something  warmer  than  words,  for  which  the  boiling  pot 
seemed  to  offer  a  convenient  hint,  when  an  old  half-starved 
serving-woman — the  Tronda  already  mentioned — the  sharer 
of  Barbara's  domestic  cares,  who  had  been  as  yet  in  some 
remote  corner  of  the  mansion,  now  hobbled  into  the  room, 
and  broke  out  into  exclamations  which  indicated  some  new 
cause  of  alarm. 

"  Oh,  master!  "  and  "  Oh,  mistress!  "  were  the  only  sounds 
she  could  for  some  time  articulate,  and  then  followed  them 
up  with,  "  The  best  in  the  house — the  best  in  the  house;  set 
a'  on  the  board,  and  a'  will  be  little  aneugh.  There  is  auld 
Noma  of  Fitful  Head,  the  most  fearful  woman  in  all  the 
isles!  " 

"Where  can  she  have  been  wandering?"  said  Mordaunt^ 
not  without  some  apparent  sympathy  with  the  surprise,  if  not 
with  the  alarm,  of  the  old  domestic;  "  but  it  is  needless  to 
ask — the  worse  the  weather,  the  more  likely  is  she  to  be  a 
traveler." 

"  What  new  tramper  is  this?  "  echoed  the  distracted  Baby, 
whom  the  quick  succession  of  guests  had  driven  well-nigh 
crazy  with  vexation.  "  I'll  soon  settle  her  wandering,  I  sail 
warrant,  if  my  brother  has  but  the  saul  of  a  man  in  him,  or  if 
there  be  a  pair  of  jougs  at  Scalloway!  " 

"  The  iron  was  never  forged  on  stithy  that  would  hauld 
her,"  said  the  old  maidservant.  "  She  comes — she  comes. 
God's  sake,  speak  her  fair  and  canny,  or  we  will  have  a  raveled 
hasp  on  the  yarn-windles!  " 

As  she  spoke,  a  woman,  tall  enough  almost  to  touch  the 
top  of  the  door  with  her  cap,  stepped  into  the  room,  signing 
the  cross  as  she  entered,  and  pronouncing,  with  a  solemn 
voice,  "  The  blessing  of  God  and  St.  Eonald  on  the  open  door, 
and  their  broad  malison  and  mine  upon  close-handed  chiirls!" 

"  And  wha  are  ye.  that  are  sae  bauld  wi'  your  blessing  and 
banning  in  other  folks'  houses?  Wliat  kind  of  country  is 
this,  that  folk  cannot  sit  quiet  for  an  hour,  and  serve  Heaven, 
and  keep  their  bit  gear  thegither,  without  gangrel  men  and 


THE  PIRATE.  51 

women  coming  thigging  and  sorning  ane  after  another,  like 
a  string  of  wild  geese?  " 

This  speech  the  understanding  reader  will  easily  saddle  on 
Mistress  Baby;  and  what  effects  it  might  have  produced  on 
the  last  stranger  can  only  be  matter  of  conjecture,  for  the  old 
servant  and  Mordauut  applied  themselves  at  once  to  the  party 
addressed,  in  order  to  deprecate  her  resentment;  the  former 
speaking  to  her  some  words  of  Norse,  in  a  tone  of  interces- 
sion, and  Mordaunt  saying  in  English,  "  They  are  strangers, 
Noma,  and  know  not  your  name  or  qualities;  they  are  unac- 
quainted, too,  with  the  ways  of  this  countr}^,  and  therefore 
we  must  hold  them  excused  for  their  lack  of  hospitality." 

"  I  lack  no  hospitality,  young  man,"  said  Triptolemus, 
" '  miseris  suecurrere  disco ' :  the  goose  that  was  destined  to 
roost  in  the  chimney  till  Michaelmas  is  boiling  in  the  pot  for 
you;  but  if  we  had  twenty  geese,  I  see  we  are  like  to  find 
mouths  to  eat  them  e\Qvy  feather.     This  must  be  amended." 

"  What  must  be  amended,  sordid  slave?  "  said  the  stranger 
Worna,  turning  at  once  upon  him  with  an  emphasis  that  made 
him  start — "  tvhnt  must  be  amended?  Bring  hither,  if  thou 
wilt,  thy  new-fangled  coulters,  spades,  and  harrows,  alter  the 
implements  of  our  fathers  from  the  plowshare  to  the  mouse- 
trap; but  know  thou  art  in  the  land  that  was  won  of  old  by 
the  flaxen-haired  '  kempions '  of  the  North,  and  leave  us  their 
hospitality  at  least,  to  show  we  come  of  what  was  once  noble 
and  generous.  I  say  to  you,  beware;  while  Noma  looks  forth 
at  the  measureless  waters  from  the  crest  of  Fitful  Head,  some- 
thing is  yet  left  that  resembles  power  of  defense.  If  the  men 
of  Thule  have  ceased  to  be  champions,  and  to  spread  the  ban- 
quet for  the  raven,  the  women  have  not  forgotten  the  arts  that 
lifted  them  of  yore  into  queens  and  prophetesses." 

The  woman  who  pronounced  this  singular  tirade  was  as 
striking  in  appearance  as  extravagantly  lofty  in  her  preten- 
sions and  in  her  language.  She  might  well  have  represented 
on  the  stage,  so  far  as  features,  voice,  and  stature  were  con- 
cerned, the  Bonduca  or  Boadicea  of  the  Britons,  or  the  sage 
Velleda,  Aurinia,  or  any  other  fated  pythooiess  who  ever  led 
to  battle  a  tribe  of  the  ancient  Goths.  Her  features  were 
high  and  well  formed,  and  would  have  been  handsome  but  for 
the  ravages  of  time  and  the  effects  of  exposure  to  the  severe 
weather  of  her  country.  Age,  and  perhaps  sorrow,  had 
quenched,  in  some  degree,  the  fire  of  a  dark  blue  eye,  whose 
hue  almost  approached  to  black,  and  had  sprinkled  snow 
on  such  parts  of  her  tresses  as  had  escaped  from  under 


62  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

her  cap,  and  were  disheveled  by  the  rigor  of  the  storm.  Her 
upper  garment,  which  dropped  with  water,  was  of  a  coarse, 
dark-colored  stuff,  called  wadmaal,  then  much  used  in  the 
Zetland  Islands,  as  also  in  Iceland  and  Norway.  But  as  she 
threw  this  cloak  back  from  her  shoulders,  a  short  jacket,  of 
dark-blue  velvet,  stamped  with  figures,  became  visible,  and 
the  vest,  which  corresponded  to  it,  was  of  crimson  color,  and 
embroidered  with  tarnished  silver.  Her  girdle  was  plated 
with  silver  ornaments,  cut  into  the  shape  of  planetary  signs; 
her  blue  apron  was  embroidered  with  similar  devices,  and 
covered  a  petticoat  of  crimson  cloth.  Strong,  thick,  endur- 
ing shoes,  of  the  half-dressed  leather  of  the  country,  were 
tied  with  straps,  like  those  of  the  Roman  buskins,  over  her 
scarlet  stockings.  She  wore  in  her  belt  an  ambiguous-look- 
ing weapon,  which  might  pass  for  a  sacrificing  knife  or  dag- 
ger, as  the  imagination  of  the  spectator  chose  to  assign  to  the 
wearer  the  character  of  a  priestess  or  of  a  sorceress.  In  her 
hand  she  held  a  staff,  squared  on  all  sides,  and  engraved  with 
Eunic  characters  and  figures,  forming  one  of  those  portable 
and  perpetual  calendars  which  were  used  among  the  ancient 
natives  of  Scandinavia,  and  which,  to  a  superstitious  eye, 
might  have  passed  for  a  divining-rod. 

Such  were  the  appearance,  features,  and  attire  of  Noma  of 
the  Fitful  Head,  upon  whom  many  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
island  looked  with  observance,  many  with  fear,  and  almost 
all  with  a  sort  of  veneration.  Less  pregnant  circumstances 
of  suspicion  would,  in  any  other  part  of  Scotland,  have  ex- 
posed her  to  the  investigation  of  those  cruel  inquisitors  who 
were  then  often  invested  with  the  delegated  authority  of  the 
privy  council,  for  the  purpose  of  persecuting,  torturing,  and 
finally  consigning  to  the  flames,  those  who  were  accused  of 
witchcraft  or  sorcery.  But  superstitions  of  this  nature  pass 
through  two  stages  ere  they  become  entirely  obsolete.  Those 
supposed  to  be  possessed  of  supernatural  powers  are  venerated 
in  the  earlier  stages  of  society.  As  religion  and  knowledge 
increase,  they  are  first  held  in  hatred  and  horror,  and  are 
finally  regarded  as  impostors.  Scotland  was  in  the  second 
state:*  the  fear  of  witchcraft  was  great,  and  the  hatred  against 
those  suspected  of  it  intense.  Zetland  was  as  yet  a  little 
world  by  itself,  where,  among  the  lower  and  ruder  classes,  so 
much  of  the  ancient  Northern  superstition  remained  as 
cherished  the  original  veneration  for  those  affecting  niper- 
natural  knowledge  and  power  over  the  elements,  which  made 
a  constituent  part  of  the  ancient  Scandinavian  creed.     At 


THE  PIRATE.  53 

least,  if  the  natives  of  Thule  admitted  that  one  class  of 
magicians  performed  their  teats  by  their  alliance  with  Satan, 
they  devoutly  believed  that  others  dealt  with  spirits  of  a 
different  and  less  odious  class — the  ancient  dwarfs,  called  in 
Zetland  Trows,  or  Drows,  the  modern  fairies,  and  so  forth. 

Among  those  who  were  supposed  to  be  in  league  with 
disembodied  spirits,  this  Noma,  descended  from,  and  repre- 
sentative of,  a  family  which  had  long  pretended  to  such  gifts, 
was  so  eminent,  that  the  name  assigned  to  her,  which  signi- 
fies one  of  those  fatal  sisters  who  weave  the  web  of  human 
fate,  had  been  conferred  in  honor  of  her  supernatural  powers. 
The  name  by  which  she  had  been  actually  christened  was 
carefully  concealed  by  herself  and  her  parents;  for  to  its  dis- 
covery they  superstitiously  annexed  some  fatal  consequences. 
In  those  times,  the  doubt  only  occurred,  whether  her  sup- 
posed powers  were  acquired  by  lawful  means.  In  our  days, 
it  would  have  been  questioned  whether  she  was  an  impostor, 
or  whether  her  imagination  was  so  deeply  impressed  with  the 
mysteries  of  her  supposed  art  that  she  might  be  in  some  de- 
gree a  believer  in  her  own  pretensions  to  supernatural  knowl- 
edge. Certain  it  is,  that  she  performed  her  part  \Wth  such 
undoubting  confidence,  and  such  striking  dignity  of  look  and 
action,  and  evinced,  at  the  same  time,  such  strength  of  lan- 
guage and  energy  of  purpose,  that  it  would  have  been  difficult 
for  the  greatest  skeptic  to  have  doubted  the  reality  of  her  en- 
thusiasm, though  he  might  smile  at  the  pretensions  to  which 
it  gave  rise. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

If,  by  your  art,  you  have 
Put  the  wild  waters  in  this  roar,  allay  them. 

—  Tempest. 

The  storm  had  somewhat  relaxed  its  rigor  just  before  the 
entrance  of  Noma,  otherwise  she  must  have  found  it  impos- 
sible to  travel  during  the  extremity  of  its  fury.  But  she  had 
hardly  added  herself  so  unexpectedly  to  the  party  whom 
chance  had  assembled  at  the  dwelling  of  Triptolemus  Yellow- 
ley,  when  the  tempest  suddenly  resumed  its  former  vehe- 
mence, and  raged  around  the  building  with  a  fury  which 
made  the  inmates  insensible  to  anything  except  the  risk  that 
the  old  mansion  was  about  to  fall  above  their  heads. 

Mistress  Baby  gave  vent  to  her  fears  in  loud  exclamations 
of  "  The  Lord  guide  us — this  is  surely  the  last  day;  what  kind 
of  a  country  of  guizards  and  gyre-carlines  is  this?  And  you, 
ye  fool  carle,"  she  added,  turning  on  her  brother,  for  all  her 
passions  had  a  touch  of  acidity  in  them,  "  to  quit  the  bonny 
Mearns  land  to  come  here,  where  there  is  naething  but  sturdy 
beggars  and  gaberlunzies  within  ane's  house,  and  Heaven's 
anger  on  the  outside  on't!  " 

"  I  tell  you,  sister  Baby,"  answered  the  insulted  agricul- 
turist, "  that  all  shall  be  reformed  and  amended — excepting," 
he  added,  betwixt  his  teeth,  "  the  scaulding  humors  of  an  ill- 
natured  jaud,  that  can  add  bitterness  to  the  very  storm!  " 

The  old  domestic  and  the  peddler  meanwhile  exhausted 
themselves  in  entreaties  to  Noma,  of  which,  as  they  were 
couched  in  the  Norse  language,  the  master  of  the  house 
understood  nothing. 

She  listened  to  them  with  a  haughty  and  unmoved  air,  and 
replied  at  length  aloud,  and  in  English — "  I  will  not.  What 
if  this  house  be  strewed  in  ruins  before  morning — where 
would  be  the  world's  want  in  the  crazed  projector  and  the 
niggardly  pinch-commons  by  which  it  is  inhabited?  They 
will  needs  come  to  reform  Zetland  customs,  let  them  try  how 
they  like  a  Zetland  storm.  You  that  would  not  perish,  quit 
this  house!  " 

The  peddler  seized  on  his  little  knapsack,  and  began 
hastily  to  brace  it  on  his  back,  the  old  maidservant  cast  her 


THE  PIRATE,  55 

cloak  about  her  shoulders,  and  both  seemed  to  be  in  the  act 
of  leaving  the  house  as  fast  as  they  could. 

Triptolemus  Yellowley,  somewhat  commoved  by  these  ap- 
pearances, asked  Mordaunt,  with  a  voice  which  faltered  with 
apprehension,  whether  he  thought  there  was  any,  that  is,  so 
very  much  danger. 

"  I  cannot  tell,"  answered  the  youth,  "  I  have  scarce  ever 
seen  such  a  storm.  Noma  can  tell  us  better  than  anyone 
when  it  will  abate;  for  no  one  in  these  islands  can  judge  of 
the  weather  like  her." 

"  And  is  that  all  thou  thinkest  Noma  can  do?  "  said  the 
sibyl;  "  thou  shalt  know  her  powers  are  not  bounded  within 
such  a  naiTow  space.  Hear  me,  Mordaunt,  youth  of  a  foreign 
land,  but  of  a  friendly  heart.  Dost  thou  quit  this  doomed 
mansion  with  those  who  now  prepare  to  leave  it?  " 

"  I  do  not — I  will  not,  Noma,"  replied  j\lordaunt;  "  I 
know  not  your  motive  for  desiring  me  to  remove,  and  I  will 
not  leave,  upon  these  dark  threats,  the  house  in  which  I  have 
been  kindly  received  in  such  a  tempest  as  this.  If  the  owners 
are  unaccustomed  to  our  practice  of  unlimited  hospitality,  I 
am  the  more  obliged  to  them  that  they  have  relaxed  their 
usages  and  opened  their  doors  in  my  behalf." 

"  He  is  a  brave  lad,"  said  Mistress  Baby,  whose  supersti- 
tious feelings  had  been  daunted  by  the  threats  of  the  sup- 
posed sorceress,  and  who,  amidst  her  eager,  narrow,  and  repin- 
ing disposition,  had,  like  all  who  possess  marked  character, 
some  sparks  of  higher  feeling,  which  made  her  sympathize 
with  generous  sentiments,  though  she  thought  it  too  expen- 
sive to  entertain  them  at  her  own  cost — "  he  is  a  brave  lad," 
she  again  repeated,  "  and  worthy  of  ten  geese,  if  I  had  them 
to  boil  for  him,  or  roast  either.  I'll  warrant  him  a  gentle-  ^ 
man's  son,  and  no  churl's  blood." 

"  Hear  me,  young  Mordaunt,"  said  Noma,  "  and  depart 
from  this  house.  Fate  has  high  views  on  you;  you  shall  not 
remain  in  this  hovel  to  be  crushed  amid  its  worthless  ruins, 
with  the  relics  of  its  more  worthless  inhabitants,  whose  life 
is  as  little  to  the  world  as  the  vegetation  of  the  house-leek 
which  now  grows  on  their  thatch,  and  which  shall  soon  be 
crushed  amongst  their  mangled  limbs." 

"  I — I — I  will  go  forth,"  said  Yellowley,  who,  despite  of 
his  bearing  himself  scholarly  and  wisely,  was  beginning  to  be 
terrified  for  the  issue  of  the  adventure;  for  the  house  was  old, 
and  the  walls  rocked  formidably  to  the  blast. 

"  To  what  purpose?  "  said  his  sister.     "  I  trust  the  Prince 


66  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

of  the  power  of  the  air  has  not  yet  such-like  power  over  those 
that  are  made  in  God's  image  that  a  good  house  should  fall 
about  our  heads  because  a  randy  quean  (here  she  darted  a 
fierce  glance  at  the  pythoness)  should  boast  us  with  her 
glamour,  as  if  we  were  sae  mony  dogs  to  crouch  at  her 
bidding!  " 

"  I  was  only  wanting,"  said  Triptolemus,  ashamed  of  his 
motion,  "  to  look  at  the  bear-braird,  which  must  be  sair  laid 
wi'  this  tempest;  but  if  this  honest  woman  like  to  bide  wi'  us, 
I  think  it  were  best  to  let  us  a'  sit  doun  canny  fhegither,  till 
it's  working  weather  again." 

"Honest  woman!"  echoed  Baby.  "Foul  warlock  thief! 
Aroint  ye,  ye  limmer!  "  she  added,  addressing  Noma  directly; 
"  out  of  an  honest  house,  or.  shame  fa'  me,  but  I'll  take  the 
bittle  *  to  you!  " 

Noma  cast  on  her  a  look  of  supreme  contempt;  then,  step- 
ping to  the  window,  seemed  engaged  in  deep  contemplation 
of  the  heavens,  while  the  old  maidservant,  Tronda,  drawing 
close  to  her  mistress,  implored,  for  the  sake  of  all  that  was 
dear  to  man  or  woman,  "  Do  not  provoke  Noma  of  Fitful 
Head!  You  have  no  sic  woman  on  the  mainland  of  Scotland: 
she  can  ride  on  one  of  these  clouds  as  easily  as  man  ever  rode 
on  a  sheltie." 

"  i  shall  live  to  see  her  ride  on  the  reek  of  a  fat  tar-barrel," 
said  Mistress  Baby;  "  and  that  will  be  a  fit  pacing  palfrey  for 
her." 

Again  Noma  regarded  the  enraged  Mrs.  Baby  Yellowley 
with  a  look  of  that  unutterable  scorn  which  her  haughty 
features  could  so  well  express,  and  moving  to  the  window 
which  looked  to  the  northwest,  from  which  quarter  the  gale 
seemed  at  present  to  blow,  she  stood  for  some  time  with  her 
arms  crossed,  looking  out  upon  the  leaden-colored  sky,  ob- 
scured as  it  was  by  the  thick  drift,  which,  coming  on  in  suc- 
cessive gusts  of  tempest,  left  ever  and  anon  sad  and  dreary 
intervals  of  expectation  betwixt  the  dying  and  the  reviving 
blast. 

Noma  regarded  this  war  of  the  elements  as  one  to  whom 
their  strife  was  familiar;  yet  the  stem  serenity  of  her  features 
had  in  it  a  cast  of  awe,  and  at  the  same  time  of  authority,  as 
the  cabalist  may  be  supposed  to  look  upon  the  spirit  he  has 
evoked,  and  which,  though  he  knows  how  to  subject  him  to 
his  spell,  bears  still  an  aspect  appalling  to  fiesh  and  blood. 
The  attendants  stood  by  in  difi'erent  attitudes,  expressive  of 

*  See  Note  11. 


THE  PIRATE.  SY 

their  various  feelings.  Mordaunt,  though  not  indifferent  to 
the  risk  in  which  they  stood,  was  more  curious  than  alarmed. 
He  had  lieard  of  I^orna's  alleged  power  over  the  elements,  and 
now  expected  an  opportunity  of  judging  for  liimself  of  its 
reality.  Triptolemus  Yellowley  was  confounded  at  what 
seemed  to  be  far  beyond  the  bounds  of  his  philosophy;  and, 
if  the  truth  must  be  spoken,  the  worthy  agriculturist  was 
greatly  more  frightened  than  inquisitive.  His  sister  was  not 
in  the  least  curious  on  the  subject;  but  it  was  difficult  to  say 
whether  anger  or  fear  predominated  in  her  shar}?  eyes  and 
thin,  compressed  lips.  The  peddler  and  old  Tronda,  confi- 
dent that  the  house  would  never  fall  while  the  redoubted 
iSTorna  was  beneath  its  roof,  held  themselves  ready  for  a  start 
the  instant  she  should  take  her  departure. 

Having  looked  on  the  sky  for  some  time  in  a  fixed  attitude, 
and  -oath  the  most  profound  silence.  Noma  at  once,  yet  with 
a  slow  and  elevated  gesture,  extended  her  staff  of  black  oak 
toward  that  part  of  the  heavens  from  which  the  blast  came 
hardest,  and  in  the  midst  of  its  fury  chanted  a  Norwegian 
invocation,  still  preserved  in  the  Island  of  Uist  [Unst?],  un- 
der the  name  of  the  "  Song  of  the  Eeim-kennar,"  though 
some  call  it  the  "  Song  of.  the  Tempest."  The  following  is  a 
'  free  translation,  it  being  impossible  to  render  literally  many 
of  the  elliptical  and  metaphorical  terms  of  expression,  peculiar 
to  the  ancient  Northern  poetry: 

Song  of  the  Eime-kennab. 

"Stern  eagle  of  the  far  north-west, 
Thou  that  bearest  in  thy  grasp  the  thnnderbolt, 
Thou  whose  rushing  pinions  stir  ocean  to  madness, 
Thou  the  destroyer  of  herds,  thou  the  scatterer  of  navies, 
Thou  the  breaker  down  of  towers, 
Amidst  the  scream  of  thy  rage, 
Amidst  the  rushing  of  thy  onward  wings, 
Though  tliy  scream  be  loud  as  the  cry  of  a  perishing  nation. 
Though  the  rnsliing  of  thy  wings  be  like  the  roar  of  ten  thousand  waves, 
Yet  hear,  in  thine  ire  and  thy  haste. 
Hear  thou  the  voice  of  the  lleim-kennar. 

"  Thou  hast  met  the  pine-trees  of  Drontheim, 
Their  dark-green  heads  lie  prostrate  beside  their  uprooted  stems; 
Thou  hast  met  the  rider  of  the  ocean. 
The  tall,  the  strong  bark  of  the  fearless  rover, 
And  she  has  struck  to  thee  the  topsail 
That  she  had  not  veiled  to  a  royal  armada; 
Thou  has  met  the  tower  that  bears  its  crest  among  the  clouds, 
The  battled  massive  tower  of  the  jarl  of  former  days, 
And  the  copestone  of  the  turret 
Is  lying  upon  its  hospitable  hearth; 
But  thou  too  shalt  stoop,  proud  conipeller  of  clouds, 
When  thou  bearest  the  voice  of  the  Reim-kennar. 


58  WAYERLEY  NOVELS. 

"  There  are  verses  that  can  stop  the  stag  in  the  forest, 
Aye,  and  when  the  dark  colorud  dog  iw  opening  on  his  track; 
There  are  verses  can  make  the  wild  hawk  pause  on  the  wing, 
Like  the  falcon  that  wears  the  hood  and  the  jesses, 
And  who  knows  the  slirill  whistle  of  the  fowk-r. 
Thou  who  canst  mock  at  the  scream  of  the  drowning  mariner, 
And  the  crash  of  the  ravaged  forest. 
And  the  groan  of  the  overwhelmed  crowds. 
When  the  churcli  hath  fallen  in  the  moment  of  prayer, 
There  are  sounds  which  thou  also  nmst  list, 
When  they  are  chanted  by  the  voice  of  the  Reim-kennar. 

"  Enough  of  woe  hast  thou  wrought  on  the  ocean: 
The  widows  wring  their  hands  on  the  beach. 
Enough  of  woe  hast  thou  wrought  on  the  land: 
The  husbandman  folds  his  arms  in  despair. 
Cease  thou  the  waving  of  thy  pinions. 
Let  the  ocean  r-^pose  in  her  dark  strength; 
Cease  thou  the  Hashing  of  thine  eye: 
Let  the  thunderbolt  sleep  in  the  armory  of  Odin. 

Be  thou  still  at  my  bidding,  viewless  racer  of  the  north-western  heaven, 
Sleep  thou  at  the  voice  of  Noma  the  Reim-kennar  !  " 

We  have  said  that  Mordaunt  was  naturally  fond  of  roman- 
tic poetry  and  romantic  situation;  it  is  not  therefore  surpris- 
ing that  he  listened  with  interest  to  the  wild  address  thus 
uttered  to  the  wildest  wind  of  the  compass,  in  a  tone  of  such 
dauntless  enthusiasm.  But  though  he  had  heard  so  much  of 
the  Eunic  rhyme  and  of  the  Northern  spell,  in  the  country 
where  he  had  so  long  dwelt,  he  was  not  on  this  occasion  so 
credulous  as  to  believe  that  the  tempest,  which  had  raged  so 
lately,  and  which  was  now  beginning  to  decline,  was  subdued 
before  the  charmed  verse  of  Noma.  Certain  it  was,  that  the 
blast  seemed  passing  away,  and  the  apprehended  danger  was 
already  over;  but  it  was  not  improbable  that  this  issue  had 
been  for  some  time  foreseen  by  the  pythoness,  through  signs 
of  the  weather  imperceptible  to  those  who  had  not  dwelt  long 
in  the  country,  or  had  not  bestowed  on  the  meteorological 
phenomena  the  attention  of  a  strict  and  close  observer.  Of 
Noma's  experience  he  had  no  doubt,  and  that  went  a  far  way 
to  explain  what  seemed  supernatural  in  her  demeanor.  Yet 
still  the  noble  countenance,  half-shaded  by  disheveled  tresses, 
the  air  of  majesty  with  which,  in  a  tone  of  menace  as  well  as 
of  command,  she  addressed  the  viewless  spirit  of  the  tempest, 
gave  him  a  strong  inclination  to  believe  in  the  ascendancy  of 
the  occult  arts  over  the  powers  of  nature;  for,  if  a  woman 
ever  moved  on  earth  to  whom  such  authority  over  the  ordi- 
nary laws  of  the  universe  could  belong.  Noma  of  Fitful  Head, 
judging  from  bearing,  figure,  and  face,  was  bom  to  that  high 
destiny. 


THE  PIRATE.  59 

The  rest  of  the  company  were  less  slow  in  receiving  con- 
fiction.  To  Tronda  and  the  jagger  none  was  necessary:  they 
had  long  believed  in  the  full  extent  of  Noma's  authority  over 
the  elements.  But  Triptolemus  and  his  sister  gazed  at  each 
other  with  wondering  and  alarmed  looks,  especially  when  the 
wind  began  perceptibly  to  decline,  as  was  remarkably  visible 
during  llie  pauses  which  Noma  made  betwixt  the  strophes  of 
her  incantation.  A  long  silence  followed  the  last  verse,  until 
Noma  resumed  her  chant,  but  with  a  changed  and  more 
soothing  modulation  of  voice  and  tune: 

"Eagle  of  the  far  north-western  waters, 
Thou  hast  lieaid  the  voice  of  the  Reim-kennar, 
Thou  hast  closed  thy  wide  sails  at  her  bidding, 
And  folded  them  in"peace  by  thy  side. 
My  blessing  be  on  thy  retiring  pathi 
"When  thou  stoopest  from  thy  place  on  high, 
Soft  be  thy  slumbers  in  the  caverns  of  the  unknown  ocean. 
Rest  till  destiny  shall  again  awaken  thee; 
Eagle  of  the  north-west,  thou  hast  heard  the  voice  of  the  Reim-kennar! " 

"  A  pretty  sang  that  would  be  to  keep  the  corn  from  shak- 
ing in  har'st,"  whispered  the  agriculturist  to  his  sister;  "  we 
must  speak  her  fair.  Baby:  she  will  maybe  part  with  the  secret 
for  a  hundred  pund  Scots." 

"An  hundred  fules'  heads! "  replied  Baby;  "  bid  her  five 
merks  of  ready  siller.  I  never  knew  a  witch  in  my  life  but 
she  was  as  poor  as  Job." 

Noma  turned  toward  them  as  if  she  had  guessed  their 
thoughts;  it  may  be  that  she  did  so.  She  passed  them  with  a 
look  of  the  most  sovereign  contempt,  and  walking  to  the  table 
on  which  the  preparations  for  Mrs.  Barbara's  frugal  meal 
were  already  disposed,  she  filled  a  small  wooden  quaigh  from 
an  earthen  pitcher  which  contained  bland,  a  subacid  liquor 
made  out  of  the  serous  part  of  the  milk;  she  broke  a  single 
morsel  from  a  barley-cake,  and  having  eaten  and  drunk,  re- 
turned toward  the  churlish  hosts.  "  I  give  you  no  thanks," 
she  said,  "  for  my  refreshment,  for  you  bid  me  not  welcome 
to  it;  and  thanks  bestowed  on  a  churl  are  Hke  the  dew  of 
heaven  on  the  clifi's  of  Foulah,  where  it  finds  naught  that  can 
be  refreshed  by  its  influences.  I  give  you  no  thanks,"  she 
said  again,  but  "drawing  from  her  pocket  a  leathern  purse  that 
seemed  large  and  heavy,  she  added,  "  I  pay  you  with  what  you 
will  value  more  than  the  gratitude  of  the  whole  inhabitants 
of  Hialtland.  Say  not  that  Norna  of  Fitful  Head  hath  eaten 
of  your  bread  and  drunk  of  your  cup,  and  left  you  sorrowing 


dO  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

for  the  charge  to  which  she  hath  put  your  house."  So  say- 
ing, she  laid  on  the  table  a  small  piece  of  antique  gold  coin, 
bearing  the  rude  and  half-defaced  effigies  of  some  ancient 
Northern  king. 

Triptolemus  and  his  sister  exclaimed  against  this  liberality 
with  vehemence;  the  first  protesting  that  he  kept  no  public, 
and  the  other  exclaiming,  "Is  the  carline  mad?  Heard  ye 
ever  of  ony  of  the  gentle  house  of  Clinkscale  that  gave  meat 
for  siller?  " 

"  Or  for  love  either?  "  muttered  her  brother;  "  baud  to 
that,  tittie." 

"What  are  ye  whittie-whattieing  about,  ye  gowk?"  said 
his  gentle  sister,  who  suspected  the  tenor  of  his  murmurs. 
"  Gie  the  lady  back  her  bonny  die  there,  and  be  blithe  to  be 
sae  rid  on't:  it  will  be  a  sclate-stane  the  morn,  if  not  some- 
thing worse." 

The  honest  factor  lifted  the  money  to  return  it,  yet  could 
not  help  being  struck  when  he  saw  the  impression,  and  his 
hand  trembled  as  he  handed  it  to  his  sister. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  pythoness  again,  as  if  she  read  the 
thoughts  of  the  astonished  pair,  "  you  have  seen  that  coin 
before;  beware  how  you  use  it!  It  thrives  not  with  the  sordid 
or  the  mean-souled;  it  was  won  with  honorable  danger,  and 
must  be  expended  with  honorable  liberality.  The  treasure 
which  lies  under  a  cold  hearth  will  one  day,  like  the  hidden 
talent,  bear  witness  against  its  avaricious  possessors." 

This  last  obscure  intimation  seemed  to  raise  the  alarm  and 
the  wonder  of  Mrs.  Baby  and  her  brother  to  the  uttermost. 
The  latter  tried  to  stammer  out  something  like  an  invitation 
to  Noma  to  tarry  with  them  all  night,  or  at  least  to  take  share 
of  the  "  dinner,"  so  he  at  first  called  it;  but  looking  at  the 
company,  and  remembering  the  limited  contents  of  the  pot, 
he  corrected  the  phrase,  and  hoped  she  would  take  some  part 
of  the  "  snack,  which  would  be  on  the  table  ere  a  man  could 
loose  a  pleugh." 

"  I  eat  not  here — I  sleep  not  here,"  replied  Noma;  "  nay,  I 
relieve  you  not  only  of  my  own  presence,  but  I  will  dismiss 
your  unwelcome  guests.  Mordaunt,"  she  added,  addressing 
young  Mertoun,  "  the  dark  fit  is  past,  and  your  father  looks 
for  you  this  evening." 

"Do  you  return  in  that  direction?"  said  Mordaunt.  "I 
will  but  eat  a  morsel,  and  give  you  my  aid,  good  mother,  on 
the  road.     The  brooks  must  be  out.  and  the  journey  perilous." 

"  Our  roads  lie  different,"  answered  the  sibyl,  "  and  Noma 


THE  PIRATE.  61 

needs  not  mortal  arm  to  aid  her  on  the  way.  I  am  summoned 
far  to  the  east,  by  those  who  know  well  how  to  smooth  my 
passage.  For  thee,  Bryxe  Snailsfoot,"  she  continued,  speak- 
ing to  the  peddler,  "speed  thee  on  to  Sumburgh:  the  Roost 
will  afford  thee  a  gallant  harvest,  and  worthy  the  gathering 
in.  Much  goodly  ware  wall  ere  now  be  seeking  a  new  owner, 
and  the  careful  skipper  will  sleep  still  enough  in  the  deep 
'  haaf ,'  and  care  not  that  bale  and  chest  are  dashing  against 
the  shores.'' 

"  K^a — na,  good  mother,"  answered  Snailsfoot,  "  I  desire 
no  man's  life  for  my  private  advantage,  and  am  just  grateful 
for  the  blessing  of  Providence  on  my  sma'  trade.  But 
doubtless,  one  man's  loss  is  another's  gain;  and  as  these 
storms  destroy  a'  thing  on  land,  it  is  but  fair  they  suld  send 
us  something  by  sea.  Sae,  taking  the  freedom,  like  j'oursell, 
mother,  to  borrow  a  lump  of  barley-bread  and  a  draught  of 
bland,  I  will  bid  good-day  and  thank  you  to  this  good  gentle- 
man and  lady,  and  e'en  go  on  my  way  to  Jarlshof,  as  you 
advise." 

"  Aye,"  replied  the  pythoness,  "  where  the  slaughter  is,  the 
eagles  will  be  gathered;  and  where  the  wreck  is  on  the  shore, 
the  jagger  is  as  busy  to  purchase  spoil  as  the  shark  to  gorge 
upon  the  dead." 

This  rebuke,  if  it  was  intended  for  such,  seemed  above  the 
comprehension  of  the  traveling-merchant,  who,  bent  upon 
gain,  assumed  the  knapsack  and  ell-wand,  and  asked  Mor- 
daunt,  with  the  familiarity  permitted  in  a  wild  country, 
whether  he  would  not  take  company  along  with  him? 

'^  I  wait  to  eat  some  dinner  with  Mr.  Yellowley  and  Mrs. 
Baby,"  answered  the  youth,  "  and  will  set  forward  in  half  an 
hour." 

"  Then  I'll  just  take  my  piece  in  my  hand,"  said  the  ped- 
dler. Accordingly,  he  muttered  a  benediction,  and,  without 
more  ceremony,  helped  himself  to  what,  in  Mrs.  Baby's  cov- 
etous eyes,  appeared  to  be  two-thirds  of  the  bread,  took  a  long 
pull  at  the  jug  of  bland,  seized  on  a  handful  of  the  small  fish 
called  sillocks.,  which  the  domestic  was  just  placing  on  the 
board,  and  left  the  room  without  farther  ceremony. 

"  ily  certie,"  said  the  despoiled  ^Mrs.  Baby,  "  there  is  the 
chapman's  drouth*  and  his  hunger  bnith,  as  folk  say!     If 

the  laws  against  vagrants  be  executed  this  gate It's  no 

that  I  wad  shut  the  door  against  decent  folk,"  she  said,  look- 

*See  Note  IS. 


62  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

ing  to  Mordaunt,  "  more  especially  in  such  judgment- 
weather.     But  1  se€  the  goose  is  dished,  poor  thing." 

This  she  spoke  in  a  tone  of  att'ection  for  the  smoked  goose, 
which,  though  it  had  long  been  an  inanimate  inhabitant  of 
her  chimney,  was  far  more  interesting  to  Mi's.  Baby  in  that 
state  than  when  it  screamed  amongst  the  clouds.  Mordaunt 
laughed  and  took  his  seat,  then  turned  to  look  for  Noma;  but 
she  had  glided  from  the  apartment  during  the  discussion  with 
the  peddler. 

"  I  am  glad  she  is  gane,  the  dour  carline,"  said  Mrs.  Baby, 
"  though  she  has  left  that  piece  of  gowd  to  be  an  everlasting 
shame  to  us." 

"  Whisht,  mistress,  for  the  love  of  Heaven!  "  said  Tronda 
Dronsdaughter;  "  wha  kens  where  she  may  be  this  moment? 
We  are  no  sure  but  she  may  hear  us,  though  we  cannot  see 
her." 

Mistress  Baby  cast  a  startled  eye  around,  and  instantly  re- 
covering herself,  for  she  was  naturally  courageous  as  well  as 
violent,  said,  "  I  bade  her  aroint  before,  and  I  bid  her  aroint 
again,  whether  she  sees  me  or  hears  me,  or  whether  she's  ower 
the  cairn  and  awa'.  And  you,  ye  silly  sumph,"  she  said  to 
poor  Yellowley,  "  what  do  ye  stand  glowering  there  for? 
You  a  Saunt  Andrews  student! — you  studied  lair  and  Latin 
humanities,  as  ye  ca'  them,  and  daunted  wi'  the  clavers  of  an 
auld  randy  wife!  Say  your  best  college  grace,  man,  and 
witch,  or  nae  witch,  we'll  eat  our  dinner,  and  defy  her.  And 
for  the  value  of  the  gowden  piece,  it  shall  never  be  said  I 
pouched  her  siller.  I  will  gie  it  to  some  poor  body — that  is, 
I  will  test  *  upon  it  at  my  death,  and  keep  it  for  a  purse-penny 
till  that  day  comes,  and  that's  no  using  it  in  the  way  of  spend- 
ing siller.  Say  your  best  college  grace,  man,  and  let  us  eat 
and  drink  in  the  meantime." 

"  Ye  had  muckle  better  say  an  '  oraamus '  to  St.  Eonald,t 
and  fling  a  saxpence  ower  your  left  shauther,  master,"  said 
Tronda. 

"  That  ye  may  pick  it  up,  ye  jaud,"  said  the  implacable 
Mistress  Baby;  "  it  will  be  lang  or  ye  win  the  wori;h  of  it  ony 
other  gate.  Sit  down,  Triptolemus,  and  mindna  the  words  of 
a  daft  wife." 

"  Daft  or  wise,"  replied  Yellowley,  very  much  discon- 
certed, "she  kens  more  than  I  would  wish  she  kenn'd.     It  was 

*  Test  upon  it,  i.  «.,  leave  it  in  my  will -a  mode  of  bestowing  charity  to  which  many 
are  partial  as  well  as  the  good  dame  in  the  text. 
t  See  Mote  13. 


THE  PIRATE.  63 

awfu'  to  see  sic  a  wind  fa'  at  the  voice  of  flesh  and  blood  like 
oursells;  and  then  yon  about  the  hearth-stane.  I  cannot  but 
think " 

"  If  ye  cannot  but  think,"  said  Mrs.  Baby,  very  sharply, 
"  at  least  ye  can  baud  your  tongue." 

The  agriculturist  made  no  reply,  but  sate  down  to  their 
scanty  meal,  and  did  the  honors  of  it  with  unusual  heartiness 
to  his  new  guest,  the  first  of  the  intruders  who  had  arrived, 
and  the  last  who  left  the^m.  The  sillocks  speedily  disap- 
peared, and  the  smoked  goose,  with  its  appendages,  took 
wing  so  effectually  that  Tronda,  to  whom  the  polishing  of  the 
bones  had  been  destined,  found  the  task  accomplished,  or 
nearly  so,  to  her  hand.  After  dinner,  the  host  produced  his 
bottle  of  brandy;  but  Mordaunt,  whose  general  habits  were  as 
abstinent  almost  as  those  of  his  father,  laid  a  very  light  tax 
upon  this  unusual  exertion  of  hospitality. 

During  the  meal,  they  learned  so  much  of  young  Mordaunt 
and  of  his  father  that  even  Baby  resisted  his  wish  to  reassume 
his  wet  garments,  and  pressed  him  (at  the  risk  of  an  expensive 
supper  being  added  to  the  charges  of  the  day)  to  tarr}^  with 
them  till  the  next  morning.  But  what  Noma  had  said  ex- 
cited the  youth's  wish  to  reach  home,  nor,  however  far  the 
hospitality  of  Stourburgh  was  extended  in  his  behalf,  did  the 
house  present  any  particular  temptations  to  induce  him  to 
remain  there  longer.  He  therefore  accepted  the  loan  of  the 
factor's  clothes,  promising  to  return  them  and  send  for  his 
own;  and  took  a  civil  leave  of  his  host  and  Mistress  Baby,  the 
latter  of  whom,  however  affected  by  the  loss  of  her  goo?€, 
could  not  but  think  the  cost  well  bestowed  (since  it  was  to  be 
expended  at  all)  upon  so  handsome  and  cheerful  a  youth. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

She  does  no  work  by  halves,  yon  raving  oceas 
Engulfing  those  she  strangleH,  lier  wild  womb 
Affords  the  mariners  whom  she  hath  dealt  ou, 
Their  death  at  once,  and  sepiilcher. 

—  Old  Play. 

There  were  ten  "  lang  Scots  miles  "  betwixt  Stourburgh 
and  Jarlshof;  and  though  the  pedestrian  did  not  number  all 
the  impediments  which  crossed  Tarn  o'  Shanter's  path — for  in 
a  country  where  there  are  neither  hedges  nor  stone  inclosures, 
there  can  be  neither  "  slaps  nor  stiles  " — yet  the  number  and 
nature  of  the  "  mosses  and  waters  "  which  he  had  to  cross  in 
his  peregrination  was  fully  sufficient  to  balance  the  account, 
and  to  render  his  journey  as  toilsome  and  dangerous  as  Tarn 
o'  Shanter's  celebrated  retreat  from  Ayr.  Neither  witch  nor 
warlock  crossed  Mordaunt's  path,  however.  The  length  of 
the  day  was  already  considerable,  and  he  arrived  safe  at  Jarls- 
hof by  eleven  o'clock  at  night.  All  was  still  and  dark  round 
the  mansion,  and  it  was  not  till  he  had  whistled  twice  or 
thrice  beneath  Swertha's  window  that  she  replied  to  the 
signal. 

At  the  first  sound,  Swertha  fell  into  an  agreeable  dream  of 
a  young  whale-fisher  who  some  forty  years  before  used  to 
make  such  a  signal  beneath  the  window  of  her  hut;  at  the 
second,  she  waked  to  remember  that  Johnnie  Fea  had  slept 
sound  among  the  frozen  waves  of  Greenland  for  this  many  a 
year,  and  that  she  was  Mr.  Mertoun's  governante  at  Jarlshof; 
at  the  third,  she  arose  and  opened  the  window. 

"  Whae  is  that,"  she  demanded,  "  at  sic  an  hour  of  the 
night?" 

"  It  is  I,"  said  the  youth. 

"And  what  for  comena  ye  in?  The  door's  on  the  latch, 
and  there  is  a  gathering-peat  on  the  kitchen  fire,  and  a  spunk 
beside  it;  ye  can  light  your  ain  candle." 

"  All  well,"  replied  Mordaunt;  "  but  I  want  to  know  how 
my  father  is." 

"  Just  in  his  ordinary,  gude  gentleman;  asking  for  you, 
Maister  Mordaunt;  ye  are  ower  far  and  ower  late  in  your 
walks,  young  gentleman." 


THE  PIRATE.  65 

"  Then  the  dark  hour  has  passed,  Swertha?  " 

"  In  troth  has  it,  Maister  Mordaunt,"  answered  the  govem- 
ante;  "  and  your  father  is  very  reasonably  good-natured  for 
him,  poor  gentleman.  I  spake  to  him  twice  yesterday  with- 
out his  speaking  first;  and  the  first  time  he  answered  me  as 
civil  as  you  could  do,  and  the  neist  time  he  bade  me  no  plague 
him;  and  then,  thought  I,  three  times  were  aye  canny,  so  I 
spake  to  him  again  for  luck's  sake,  and  he  called  me  a  chat- 
tering old  devil;  but  it  was  quite  and  clean  in  a  civil  sort  of 
way." 

"Enough — enough,  Swertha,"  answered  Mordaunt;  "and 
now  get  up  and  find  me  something  to  eat,  for  I  have  dined 
but  poorly." 

"  Then  you  have  been  at  the  new  folks'  at  Stourburgh ;  for 
there  is  no  another  house  in  a'  the  isles  but  they  wad  hae  gi'en 
ye  the  best  share  of  the  best  they  had.  Saw  ye  aught  of 
Noma  of  the  Fitful  Head?  She  went  to  Stourburgh  this 
morning,  and  returned  to  the  town  at  night." 

"Eeturned!  then  she  is  here?  How  could  she  travel  three 
leagues  and  better  in  so  short  a  time  ?  " 

"  Wha  kens  how  she  travels?"  replied  Swertha;  "but  I 
heard  her  tell  the  Eanzelman  wi'  my  ain  lugs  that  she  in- 
tended that  (lay  to  have  gone  on  to  Burgh-AVestra,  to  speak 
with  Minna  Troil,  but  she  had  seen  that  at  Stourburgh — in- 
deed, she  said  at  Harfra,  for  she  never  calls  it  by  the  other 
name  of  Stourburgh — that  sent  her  back  to  our  towm.  But 
gang  your  wa3's  round,  and  ye  shall  have  plenty  of  supper: 
ours  is  nae  toom  pantry',  and  still  less  a  locked  ane,  though  my 
master  be  a  stranger,  and  no  Just  that  tight  in  the  upper  rig- 
ging, as  the  Eanzelman  says." 

Mordaunt  walked  round  to  the  kitchen  accordingly,  where 
Swertha's  care  speedily  accommodated  him  with  a  plentiful 
though  coarse  meal,  which  indemnified  him  for  the  scanty 
hospitality  he  had  experienced  at  Stourburgh. 

In  the  morning,  some  feelings  of  fatigue  made  young  ^ler- 
toun  later  than  usual  in  leaving  his  bed;  so  that,  contrary-  to 
what  was  the  ordinary  case,  he  found  his  father  in  the  apart- 
ment where  they  eat,  and  which  served  them  indeed  for  every 
common  purpose,  save  that  of  a  bedchamber  or  of  a  kitchen. 
The  son  greeted  the  father  in  mute  reverence,  and  waited 
until  he  should  address  him. 

"You  were  absent  yesterday,  Mordaunt?"  said  his  father. 
Mordaunt's  absence  had  lasted  a  week  and  more;  but  he  had 
often  observed  that  bis  father  never  seemed  to  notice  how 


66  WA  VERLE T  NO  VEL8. 

time  passed  during  llie  period  when  he  was  affected  with  his 
sullen  vapors,  lie  assented  to  what  the  elder  Mr.  Mertoun 
had  said. 

"And  you  were  at  Burgh-Westra,  as  I  think?"  continued 
his  father. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  Mordaunt. 

The  elder  Mertoun  was  then  silent  for  some  time,  and 
paced  the  floor  in  deep  silence,  with  an  air  of  somber  reflec- 
tion, which  seemed  as  if  he  were  about  to  relapse  into  liis 
moody  fit.  Suddenly  turning  to  his  son,  however,  he  ob- 
served, in  the  tone  of  a  query,  "  Magnus  Troil  has  two  daugh- 
ters— they  must  be  now  young  women;  they  are  thought 
handsome,  of  course  ?  " 

"  Very  generally,  sir,"  answered  Mordaunt,  rather  sur- 
prised to  hear  his  father  making  any  inquiries  aloout  the  indi- 
viduals of  a  sex  which  he  usually  thought  so  light  of — a  sur- 
prise which  was  much  increased  by  the  next  question,  put  as 
abruptly  as  the  former. 

"  Which  think  you  the  handsomest  ?  " 

"  I,  sir?  "  replied  his  son  with  some  wonder,  but  without 
embarrassment,  "  I  really  am  no  Judge.  I  never  considered 
which  was  absolutely  the  handsomest.  They  are  both  very 
pretty  young  women." 

"You  evade  my  question,  Mordaunt;  perhaps  I  have  some 
very  particular  reason  for  my  ^Wsh  to  be  acquainted  with  your 
taste  in  this  matter.  I  am  not  used  to  waste  words  for  no 
purpose.  I  ask  you  again,  which  of  Magnus  Troll's  daugh- 
ters you  think  most  handsome?" 

"  Eeally,  sir,"  replied  Mordaunt — "  but  you  only  jest  in 
asking  me  such  a  question." 

"  Young  man,"  replied  Mertoun,  with  eyes  which  began  to 
roll  and  sparkle  with  impatience,  "  I  never  jest.  I  desire  an 
answer  to  my  question." 

"  Then,  upon  my  word,  sir,"  said  Mordaunt,  "  it  is  not  in 
my  power  to  form  a  judgment  betwixt  the  young  ladies;  they 
are  both  very  pretty,  but  by  no  means  like  each  other.  ]\Iinna 
is  dark-haired,  and  more  grave  than  her  sister — more  serious, 
but  by  no  means  either  dull  or  sullen." 

"  Um,"  replied  his  father;  "  you  have  been  gravely  brought 
up,  and  this  Minna,  I  suppose,  pleases  you  most?  " 

"  Ko,  sir,  really  I  can  give  her  no  preference  over  her  sister 
Brenda,  who  is  as  gay  as  a  lamb  in  a  spring  morning;  leSiS 
tall  than  her  sister,  but  so  well  formed  and  so  excellent  a 
dancer " 


THE  PIRATE.  67 

"  That  she  is  best  qualified  to  amuse  the  young  man  who 
has  a  dull  home  and  a  moody  father?  "  said  Mr.  Mertoun. 

Nothing  in  his  father's  conduct  had  ever  surprised  Mor- 
daunt  so  much  as  the  obstinacy  with  which  he  seemed  to  pur- 
sue a  theme  so  foreign  to  his  general  train  of  thought  and 
habits  of  conversation;  but  he  contented  himself  with  an- 
swering once  more,  "  That  both  the  young  ladies  were  highly 
admirable,  but  he  had  never  thought  of  them  with  the  wish 
to  do  either  injustice  by  ranking  her  lower  than  her  sister; 
that  others  would  probably  decide  between  them,  as  they  hap- 
pened to  be  partial  to  a  grave  or  a  gay  disposition,  or  to  a 
dark  or  fair  complexion;  but  that  he  could  see  no  excellent 
quality  in  the  one  that  was  not  balanced  by  something  equally 
captivating  in  the  other." 

It  is  possible  that  even  the  coolness  with  which  Mordaunt 
made  this  explanation  might  not  have  satisfied  his  father 
concerning  the  subject  of  investigation;  but  Swertha  at  this 
moment  entered  with  breakfast,  and  the  youth,  notwithstand- 
ing his  late  supper,  engaged  in  that  meal  with  an  air  which 
satisfied  Mertoun  that  he  held  it  matter  of  more  grave  im- 
portance than  the  conversation  which  they  had  just  had,  and 
that  he  had  nothing  more  to  say  upon  the  subject  explana- 
tory of  the  answers  he  had  already  given.  He  shaded  his 
brow  with  his  hand,  and  looked  long  fixedly  upon  the  young 
man  as  he  was  busied  ^\dth  his  morning  meal.  There  was 
neither  abstraction  nor  a  sense  of  being  observed  in  any  of  his 
motions:  all  was  frank,  natural,  and  open. 

"  He  is  fancy  free,"  muttered  Mertoun  to  himself,  "  so 
young,  so  lively,  and  so  imaginative,  so  handsome  and  so  at- 
tractive in  face  and  person,  strange  that  at  his  age,  and  in  his 
circumstances,  he  should  have  avoided  the  meshes  which 
catch  all  the  world  beside!  " 

When  the  breakfast  was  over,  the  elder  Mertoun,  instead 
of  proposing,  as  usual,  that  his  son,  who  awaited  his  com- 
mands, should  betake  himself  to  one  branch  or  other  of  his 
studies,  assumed  his  hat  and  staff,  and  desired  that  Mordaunt 
should  accompany  him  to  the  top  of  the  cliff,  called  Sum- 
burgh  Head,  and  from  thence  look  out  upon  the  state  of  the 
ocean,  agitated  as  it  must  still  be  by  the  tempest  of  the  pre- 
ceding day.  Mordaunt  was  at  the  age  when  young  men  will- 
ingly exchange  sedentary  pursuits  for  active  exercise,  and 
started  up  with  alacrity  to  comply  with  his  father's  desire; 
and  in  the  course  of  a  few  minutes  they  were  mounting  to- 
gether the  hill,  which,  ascending  from  the  land  side  in  a  long, 


68  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

steep,  and  grassy  slope,  sinks  at  once  from  the  summit  to  the 
sea  in  an  abrupt  and  tremendous  precipice. 

The  day  was  dcliohtful;  there  was  just  so  much  motion  in 
the  air  as  to  disturb  the  little  fleecy  clouds  which  were  scat- 
tered on  the  horizon,  and  by  Hoating  them  occasionally  over 
the  sun,  to  checker  the  landscape  with  that  variety  of  light 
and  shade  which  often  gives  to  a  bare  and  uninclosed  scene, 
for  the  time  at  least,  a  species  of  charm  approaching  to  the 
varieties  of  a  cultivated  and  planted  country.  A  thousand 
flitting  hues  of  light  and  shade  played  over  the  expanse  of 
wild  moor,  rocks,  and  inlets,  which,  as  they  climbed  higher 
and  higher,  spread  in  wide  and  wider  circuit  around  them. 

The  elder  ]\Iertoun  often  paused  and  looked  round  upon 
the  scene,  and  for  some  time  his  son  supposed  that  he  halted 
to  enjoy  its  beauties;  but  as  they  ascended  still  higher  up 
the  hill,  he  remarked  his  shortened  breath  and  his  uncertain 
and  toilsome  step,  and  became  assured,  with  some  feelings  of 
alarm,  that  his  father's  strength  was,  for  the  moment,  ex- 
hausted, and  that  he  found  the  ascent  more  toilsome  and 
fatiguing  than  usual.  To  draw  close  to  his  side,  and  offer 
him  m  silence  the  assistance  of  his  arm,  was  an  act  of  youth- 
ful deference  to  advanced  age,  as  well  as  of  filial  reverence; 
and  Mertoun  seemed  at  first  so  to  receive  it,  for  he  took  in 
silence  the  advantage  of  the  aid  thus  afforded  him. 

It  was  but  for  two  or  three  minutes,  however,  that  the 
father  availed  himself  of  his  son's  support.  They  had  not 
ascended  fifty  yards  farther  ere  he  pushed  ]\Iordaunt  sud- 
denly, if  not  rudely,  from  him;  and,  as  if  stung  into  exertion 
by  some  sudden  recollection,  began  to  mount  the  acclivity 
with  such  long  and  quick  steps  that  Mordaunt,  in  his  turn, 
was  obliged  to  exert  himself  to  keep  pace  with  him.  He 
knew  his  father's  peculiarity  of  disposition;  he  was  aware, 
from  many  slight  circumstances,  that  he  loved  him  not,  even 
while  he  took  much  pains  with  his  education,  and  while  he 
seemed  to  be  the  sole  object  of  his  care  upon  earth.  But  the 
conviction  had  never  been  more  strongly  or  more  powerfully 
forced  upon  him  than  by  the  hasty  churlishness  with  which 
Mertoun  rejected  from  a  son  that  assistance  which  most 
elderly  men  are  willing  to  receive  from  youths  with  whom 
they  are  but  slightly  connected,  as  a  tribute  which  it  is  alike 
graceful  to  yield  and  pleasing  to  receive.  Mertoun,  however, 
did  not  seem  to  perceive  the  effect  which  his  unkindness  had 
produced  upon  his  son's  feelings.  He  paused  upon  a  sort  of 
level  terrace  which  thev  had  now  attained,  and  addressed  his 


THE  PIRATE.  69 

son  with  an  indifferent  tone,  which  seemed  in  some  degree 
affected. 

"  Since  you  have  so  few  inducements,  Mordaunt,  to  remain 
in  these  wild  islands,  I  suppose  you  sometimes  wish  to  look 
a  little  more  abroad  into  the  world?  " 

"  By  my  word,  sir,"  replied  Mordaunt,  "  I  cannot  say  I 
ever  have  a  thought  on  such  a  subject." 

"And  why  not,  young  man?"  demanded  his  father;  "it 
were  but  natural,  I  think,  at  your  age.  At  your  age,  the 
fair  and  varied  breadth  of  Britain  could  not  gratify  me,  much 
less  the  comp<iss  of  a  sea-girdled  peat-moss." 

"  I  have  never  thought  of  leaving  Zetland,  sir,"  replied  the 
son.  "  I  am  happy  here,  and  have  friends.  You  yourself, 
sir,  would  miss  me,  unless  indeed " 

"  Why,  thou  wouldst  not  persuade  me,"  said  his  father, 
somewhat  hastily,  "  that  you  stay  here,  or  desire  to  stay  here, 
for  the  love  of  me?  " 

"  Why  should  I  not,  sir?  "  answered  Mordaunt  mildly;  "  it 
is  my  duty,  and  1  hope  I  have  hitherto  performed  it." 

"  Oh,  aye,"  repeated  Mertoun,  in  the  same  tone,  "  your 
duty — your  duty.  So  it  is  the  duty  of  the  dog  to  follow  the 
groom  that  feeds  him." 

"  And  does  he  not  do  so,  sir?  "  said  Mordaunt. 

"  Aye,"  said  his  father,  turning  his  head  aside;  "  but  he 
fawns  only  on  those  who  caress  him." 

"  I  hope,  sir,"  replied  Mordaunt,  "  I  have  not  been  found 
deficient  ?  " 

"  Say  no  more  on't — say  no  more  on't,"  said  Mertoun 
abruptly;  "  we  have  both  done  enough  by  each  other;  we 
must  soon  part.  Let  that  be  our  comfort,  if  our  separation 
should  require  comfort." 

"  I  shall  be  ready  to  obey  your  wishes,"  said  Mordaunt,  not 
altogether  displeased  at  what  promised  him  an  opportunity 
of  looking  farther  abroad  into  the  world.  "  I  presume  it  will 
be  your  pleasure  that  I  commence  my  travels  with  a  season  at 
the  whale-fishing." 

"  Whale-fishing!  "  replied  Mertoun;  "  that  were  a  mode  in- 
deed of  seeing  the  world;  but  thou  speakest  but  as  thou  hast 
learned.  Enough  of  this  for  the  present.  Tell  me  where 
you  had  shelter  from  the  storm  yesterday?  " 

"  At  Stourburgh,  the  house  of  the  new  factor  from  Scot- 
land." 

"  A  pedantic,  fantastic,  visionary  schemer,"  said  Mertoun; 
"  and  whom  saw  you  there?  " 


'i^  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

"  His  sister,  sir,"  replied  Mordaunt,  "  and  old  Noma  of  the 
Fitful  Head." 

"  What!  the  mistress  of  the  potent  spell,"'  answered  Mer- 
toun,  with  a  sneer — "  she  who  can  change  the  wind  by  pull- 
ing her  curch  on  one  side,  as  King  Erick  used  to  do  by  turn- 
ing his  cap?  The  dame  journeys  far  from  home;  how  fares 
she?  Does  she  get  rich  by  selling  favorable  winds*  to  those 
who  are  port-bound?  " 

"  I  really  do  not  know,  sir,"  said  Mordaunt,  whom  cer- 
tain recollections  prevented  from  freely  entering  into  his 
father's  humor. 

"  You  think  the  matter  too  serious  to  be  jested  with,  or 
prehaps  esteem  her  merchandise  too  light  to  be  cared  after?  " 
continued  Mertoun,  in  the  same  sarcastic  tone,  w^hich  was 
the  nearest  approach  he  ever  made  to  cheerfulness;  "  but  con- 
sider it  more  deeply.  Everything  in  the  universe  is  bought 
and  sold,  and  why  not  wind,  if  the  merchant  can  find  pur- 
chasers? The  earth  is  rented,  from  its  surface  down  to  its 
most  central  mines;  the  fire,  and  the  means  of  feeding  it,  are 
currently  bought  and  sold;  the  wretches  that  sw^eep  the  bois- 
terous ocean  with  their  nets  pay  ransom  for  the  privilege  of 
being  drowned  in  it.  What  title  has  the  air  to  be  exempted 
from  the  universal  course  of  tralhc?  All  above  the  earth, 
under  the  earth,  and  around  the  earth  has  its  price,  its  sellers, 
and  its  purchasers.  In  many  countries  the  priests  will  sell 
you  a  portion  of  Heaven;  in  all  countries  men  are  willing  to 
buy,  in  exchange  for  health,  wealth,  and  peace  of  conscience, 
a  full  allowance  of  Hell.  Why  should  not  Noma  pursue  her 
traffic?" 

"  Nay,  I  know  no  reason  against  it,"  replied  Mordaunt; 
"  only  I  wish  she  would  part  with  the  commodity  in  smaller 
quantities.  Yesterday  she  was  a  wholesale  dealer;  whoever 
treated  with  her  had  too  good  a  pennyworth." 

"  It  is  even  so,"  said  his  father,  pausing  on  the  verge  of  the 
wild  promontory  wdiich  they  had  attained,  where  the  huge 
precipice  sinks  abruptly  down  on  the  wide  and  tempestuous 
ocean,  "  and  the  effects  are  still  visible." 

The  face  of  that  lofty  cape  is  composed  of  the  soft  and 
crumbling  stone  called  sand-flag,  which  gradually  becomes 
decomposed,  and  yields  to  the  action  of  the  atmosphere,  and 
is  split  into  large  masses,  that  hang  loose  upon  the  verge  of 
the  precipice,  and,  detached  from  it  by  the  violence  of  the 
tempests,  often  descend  with  great  fury  into  the  vexed  abyss 

*  See  Note  14. 


THE  PIRATE.  11 

which  lashes  the  foot  of  the  rock.  Numbers  of  these  huge 
fragments  lie  strewed  beneath  the  rocks  from  which  they  have 
fallen,  and  amongst  these  the  tide  foams  and  rages  with  a  fury 
peculiar  to  those  latitudes. 

At  the  period  when  Mertoun  and  his  son  looked  from  the 
verge  of  the  precipice,  the  wide  sea  still  heaved  and  swelled 
with  the  agitation  of  yesterday's  storm,  which  had  been  far 
too  violent  in  its  effects  on  the  ocean  to  subside  speedily. 
The  tide  therefore  poured  on  the  headland  with  a  fury  deaf- 
ening to  the  ear  and  dizzying  to  the  eye,  threatening  instant 
destruction  to  whatever  might  be  at  the  time  involved  in  its 
current.  The  sight  of  nature,  in  her  magnificence,  or  in  her 
beauty,  or  in  her  terrors,  has  at  all  times  an  overpowering 
interest,  which  even  habit  cannot  greatly  weaken;  and  both 
father  and  son  sat  themselves  down  on  the  cliff  to  look  out 
upon  that  unbounded  war  of  waters  which  rolled  in  their 
wrath  to  the  foot  of  the  precipice. 

At  once  Mordaunt,  whose  eyes  were  sharper,  and  probably 
his  attention  more  alert,  than  that  of  his  father,  started  up 
and  exclaimed,  "  God  in  Heaven!  there  is  a  vessel  in  the 
Eoost!  " 

Mertoun  looked  to  the  northwestward,  and  an  object  was 
visible  amid  the  rolling  tide.  "  She  shows  no  sail,"  he  ob- 
served; and  immediately  added,  after  looking  at  the  object 
through  his  spy-glass,  "  She  is  dismasted,  and  lies  a  sheer 
hulk  upon  the  water." 

"  And  is  drifting  on  the  Sumburgh  Head,"  exclaimed  Mor- 
daunt, struck  with  horror,  "  without  the  slightest  means  of 
weathering  the  cape!" 

"  She  makes  no  effort,"  ansrwered  his  father;  "  she  is  prob- 
ably deserted  by  her  crew." 

"  And  in  such  a  day  as  yesterday,"  replied  Mordaunt, 
"  when  no  open  boat  could  live  were  she  manned  with  the 
best  men  ever  handled  an  oar:  all  must  have  perished." 

"  It  is  most  probable,"  said  his  father,  with  stem  com- 
posure; "  and  one  day,  soon.er  or  later,  all  must  have  perished. 
What  signifies  whether  the  fowler,  whom  nothing  escapes, 
caught  them  up  at  one  swoop  from  yonder  shattered  deck,  or 
whether  he  clutched  them  individually,  as  chance  gave  them 
to  his  grasp?  What  signifies  it?  The  deck,  the  battlefield 
are  scarce  more  fatal  to  us  than  our  table  and  our  bed;  and  we 
are  saved  from  the  one,  merely  to  drag  out  a  heartless  and 
wearisome  existence  till  we  perish  at  the  other.  Would  the 
hour  were  come — that  hour  which  reason  would  teach  us  to 


^2  WAVEELEY  NOVELS. 

wish  for,  were  it  not  that  nature  has  implanted  the  fear  of  it 
so  strongly  within  us!  You  wonder  at  such  a  reflection,  be- 
cause life  is  yet  new  to  you.  Ere  you  have  attained  my  age, 
it  will  be  the  familiar  companion  of  your  thoughts." 

"  Surely,  sir,"  replied  Mordaunt,  "  such  distaste  to  life  is 
not  the  necessary  consequence  of  advanced  age?" 

"  To  all  who  have  sense  to  estimate  that  which  it  is  really 
worth,"  said  Mertoun.  "  Those  who,  like  Magnus  Troil,  pos- 
sess so  much  of  the  animal  impulses  about  them  as  to  derive 
pleasure  from  sensual  gratification  may,  perhaps,  like  the 
animals,  feel  pleasure  in  mere  existence." 

Mordaunt  liked  neither  the  doctrine  nor  the  example.  He 
thought  a  man  who  discharged  his  duties  toward  others  as 
well  as  the  good  old  Udaller  had  a  better  right  to  have  the 
sun  shine  fair  on  his  setting  than  that  which  he  might  derive 
from  mere  insensibility.  But  he  let  the  subject  drop,  for  to 
dispute  with  his  father  had  always  the  effect  of  irritat- 
ing him,  and  again  he  adverted  to  the  condition  of  the 
wreck. 

The  hulk,  for  it  was  little  better,  was  now  in  the  very  midst 
of  the  current,  and  drifting  at  a  great  rate  toward  the  foot  of 
the  precipice,  upon  whose  verge  they  were  placed.  Yet  it 
was  a  long  while  ere  they  had  a  distinct  view  of  the  object 
which  they  had  at  first  seen  as  a  black  speck  amongst  the 
waters,  and  then,  at  a  nearer  distance,  like  a  whale,  which 
now  scarce  shows  its  back-fin  above  the  waves,  now  throws  to 
view  its  large  black  side.  'Now,  however,  they  could  more 
distinctly  observe  the  appearance  of  the  ship,  for  the  huge 
swelling  waves  which  bore  her  forward  to  the  shore  heaved 
her  alternately  high  upon  the  surface,  and  then  plunged  her 
into  the  trough  or  furrow  of  the  sea.  She  seemed  a  vessel  of 
two  or  three  hundred  tons,  fitted  up  for  defense,  for  they 
could  see  her  port-holes.  She  had  been  dismasted  probably 
in  the  gale  of  the  preceding  day,  and  lay  water-logged  on  the 
waves,  a  prey  to  their  violence.  It  appeared  certain  that  the 
crew,  finding  themselves  unable  either  to  direct  the  vessel's 
course  or  to  relieve  her  by  pumping,  had  taken  to  their  boats 
and  left  her  to  her  fate.  All  apprehensions  were  therefore 
unnecessary,  so  far  as  the  immediate  loss  of  human  lives  was 
concerned;  and  yet  it  was  not  without  a  feeling  of  breathless 
awe  that  Mordaunt  and  his  father  beheld  the  vessel — that 
rare  masterpiece  by  which  human  genius  aspires  to  surmount 
the  waves  and  contend  with  the  winds — upon  the  point  of 
falling  a  prey  to  them. 


THE  PIRATE.  IS 

Onward  she  came,  the  large  black  hulk  seeming  larger  at 
every  fathom's  length.  She  came  nearer,  until  she  bestrode 
the  summit  of  one  tremendous  billow,  which  rolled  on  with 
her  unbroken,  till  the  wave  and  its  burden  were  precipitated 
against  the  rock,  and  then  the  triumph  of  the  elements  over 
the  work  of  human  hands  was  at  once  completed.  One  wave, 
we  have  said,  made  the  wrecked  vessel  completely  manifest 
in  her  whole  bulk,  as  it  raised  her  and  bore  her  onward 
against  the  face  of  the  precipice.  But  when  that  wave  re- 
ceded from  the  foot  of  the  rock,  the  ship  had  ceased  to  exist; 
and  the  retiring  billow  only  bore  back  a  quantity  of  beams, 
planks,  casks,  and  similar  objects,  which  swept  out  to  the 
offing,  to  be  brought  in  again  by  the  next  wave,  and  again 
precipitated  upon  the  face  of  the  rock. 

It  was  at  this  moment  that  Mordaunt  conceived  he  saw  a 
man  floating  on  a  plank  or  water-cask,  which,  drifting  away 
from  the  main  current,  seemed  about  to  go  ashore  upon  a 
small  spot  of  sand,  where  the  water  was  shallow  and  the  waves 
broke  more  smoothly.  To  see  the  danger  and  to  exclaim, 
"  He  lives,  and  may  yet  be  saved! "  was  the  first  impulse  of 
the  fearless  Mordaunt.  The  next  was,  after  one  rapid  glance 
at  the  front  of  the  cliff,  to  precipitate  himself — such  seemed 
the  rapidity  of  his  movement — from  the  verge,  and  to  com- 
mence, by  means  of  slight  fissures,  projections,  and  crevices 
in  the  rock,  a  descent  which,  to  a  spectator,  appeared  little 
else  than  an  act  of  absolute  insanity. 

"  Stop,  I  command  you.  rash  boy!  "  said  his  father;  "  the 
attempt  is  death.  Stop,  and  take  the  safer  path  to  the  left." 
But  Mordaunt  was  already  completely  engaged  in  his  perilous 
enterprise. 

"Why  should  I  prevent  him?"  said  his  father,  checking 
his  anxiety  with  the  stern  and  unfeeling  philosophy  whose 
principles  he  had  adopted.  "  Should  he  die  now,  full  of 
generous  and  high  feeling,  eager  in  the  cause  of  humanity, 
happy  in  the  exertion  of  his  own  conscious  activity  and 
youthful  strength — should  he  die  now,  will  he  not  escape 
misanthropy,  and  remorse,  and  age,  and  the  consciousness  of 
decaying  powers,  both  of  body  and  mind?  I  will  not  look 
upon  it,  however.  I  will  not — I  cannot  behold  his  young 
light  so  suddenly  quenched." 

He  turned  from  the  precipice  accordingly,  and  hastening  to 
the  left  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  he  proceeded 
toward  a  "  riva,"  or  cleft  in  the  rock,  containing  a  path,  called 
Erick's  Steps,  neither  safe,  indeed,  nor  easy,  but  the  only  one 


U  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

by  which  the  inhabitants  of  Jarlshof  were  wont,  for  any  pur- 
pose, to  seek  access  to  the  foot  of  the  precipice. 

But,  long  ere  Mertoun  had  reached  even  the  upper  end  of 
the  pass,  his  adventurous  and  active  son  had  accomplished 
his  more  desperate  enterprise.  He  had  been  in  vain  turned 
aside  from  the  direct  line  of  descent  by  the  intervention  of 
difficulties  which  he  had  not  seen  from  above:  liis  route  be- 
came only  more  circuitous,  but  could  not  be  interrupted. 
More  than  once,  large  fragments  to  which  he  was  about  to 
intrust  his  weight  gave  way  before  him,  and  thundered  down 
into  the  tormented  ocean;  and  in  one  or  two  instances  such 
detached  pieces  of  rock  rushed  after  him,  as  if  to  bear  him 
headlong  in  their  course.  A  courageous  heart-,  a  steady  eye, 
a  tenacious  hand,  and  a  firm  foot  carried  him  through  his 
desperate  attempt;  and  in  the  space  of  seven  minutes  he 
stood  at  the  bottom  of  the  cliff  from  the  verge  of  wliich  he 
had  achieved  his  perilous  descent. 

The  place  which  he  now  occupied  was  the  small  projecting 
spot  of  stones,  sand,  and  gravel  that  extended  a  little  way 
into  the  sea,  which  on  the  right  hand  lashed  the  very  bottom 
of  the  precipice,  and  on  the  left  was  scarce  divided  from  it  by 
a  small  wave-worn  portion  of  beach  that  extended  as  far  as 
the  foot  of  the  rent  in  the  rocks  called  Erick's  Steps,  by  which 
Mordaunt's  father  proposed  to  descend. 

When  the  vessel  split  and  went  to  pieces,  all  was  swallowed 
up  in  the  ocean  which  had,  after  the  first  shock,  been  seen  to 
float  upon  the  waves,  excepting  only  a  few  pieces  of  wreck, 
casks,  chests,  and  the  like,  which  a  strong  eddy,  formed  by 
the  reflux  of  the  waves,  had  landed,  or  at  least  grounded,  upon 
the  shallow  where  Mordaunt  now  stood.  Amongst  these,  his 
eager  eye  discovered  the  object  that  had  at  first  engaged  his 
attention,  and  which  now,  seen  at  nigher  distance,  proved  to 
be  in  truth  a  man,  and  in  a  most  precarious  state.  His  arms 
were  still  wrapt  with  a  close  and  convulsive  grasp  round  the 
plank  to  which  he  had  clung  in  the  moment  of  the  shock, 
but  sense  and  the  power  of  motion  were  fled;  and,  from  the 
situation  in  which  the  plank  lay  partly  grounded  upon  the 
beach,  partly  floating  in  the  sea,  there  was  every  chance  that 
it  might  be  again  washed  off  shore,  in  which  case  death  was 
inevitable.  Just  as  he  had  made  himself  aware  of  these  cir- 
cumstances, Mordaunt  beheld  a  huge  wave  advancing,  and 
hastened  to  interpose  his  aid  ere  it  burst,  aware  that  the  reflux 
might  probably  sweep  away  the  sufferer. 

Bl€  rushed  into  the  surf,  and  fastened  on  the  body  with 


THE  PIRATE.  15 

the  same  tenacity,  though  under  a  different  impulse,  with 
that  wherewith  the  hound  seizes  his  prey.  The  strength  of 
the  retiring  wave  proved  even  greater  than  he  had  expected, 
and  it  was  not  witliout  a  struggle  for  his  own  life,  as  well  as 
for  that  of  the  stranger,  that  Mordaunt  resisted  being  swept 
off  with  the  receding  billow,  when,  though  an  adroit  swim- 
mer, the  strength  of  the  tide  must  either  have  dashed  him 
against  the  rocks  or  hurried  him  out  to  sea.  He  stood  his 
ground,  however,  and  ere  another  such  billow  had  returned, 
he  drew  up,  upon  the  small  slip  of  dry  sand,  both  the  body  of 
the  stranger  and  the  plank  to  which  he  continued  finnly  at- 
tached. But  how  to  save  and  to  recall  the  means  of  ebbing 
life  and  strength,  and  how  to  remove  into  a  place  of  greater 
safety  the  sufferer,  who  was  incapable  of  giving  any  assistance 
toward  his  own  prsservation,  were  questions  which  Mordaunt 
asked  himself  eagerly,  but  in  vain. 

He  looked  to  the  summit  of  the  cliff  on  which  he  had  left 
his  father,  and  shouted  to  him  for  his  assistance;  but  his  eye 
could  not  distinguish  his  form,  and  his  voice  was  only  an- 
swered by  the  scream  of  the  sea-birds.  He  gazed  again  on 
the  sufferer.  A  dress  richly  laced,  according  to  the  fashion 
of  the  times,  fine  linen,  and  rings  upon  his  fingers,  evinced  he 
was  a  man  of  superior  rank;  and  his  features  showed  youth 
and  comeliness,  notwithstanding  they  were  pallid  and  dis- 
figured. He  still  breathed,  but  so  feebly  that  his  respiration 
was  almost  imperceptible,  and  life  seemed  to  keep  such  slight 
hold  of  his  frame  that  there  was  every  reason  to  fear  it  would 
become  altogether  extinguished,  unless  it  were  speedily  re- 
enforced.  To  loosen  the  handkerchief  from  his  neck,  to  raise 
him  with  his  face  toward  the  breeze,  to  support  him  with  his 
arms,  was  all  that  Mordaunt  could  do  for  his  assistance,  whilst 
he  anxiously  looked  for  someone  who  might  lend  his  aid  in 
dragging  the  unfortunate  to  a  more  safe  situation. 

At  this  moment  he  beheld  a  man  advancing  slowly  and 
cautiously  along  the  beach.  He  was  in  hopes,  at  first,  it  was 
his  father,  but  instantly  recollected  that  he  had  not  had  time 
to  come  round  by  the  circuitous  descent  to  which  he  must 
necessarily  have  recourse,  and  besides,  he  saw  that  the  man 
who  approached  him  was  shorter  in  stature. 

As  he  came  nearer,  Mordaunt  was  at  no  loss  to  recognize 
the  peddler  whom  the  day  before  he  had  met  with  at  Harfra, 
and  who  was  known  to  him  before  upon  many  occasions.  He 
shouted  as  loud  as  he  could,  "  Bryce,  halloo! — Bryce,  come 
hither!  "     But  the  merchant,  intent  upon  picking  up  some  of 


76  WA  VERLEY  NO  VELS. 

the  spoils  of  the  wreck,  and  upon  dragging  them  out  of  reach 
of  the  tide,  paid  for  some  time  little  attention  to  his  shouts. 

When  he  did  at  length  approach  Mordaunt,  it  was  not  to 
lend  him  his  aid,  hut  to  remonstrate  with  him  on  his  rashness 
in  undertaking  the  charitable  office.  "Are  you  mad?"  said 
he;  "  you  that  have  lived  sae  lang  in  Zetland,  to  risk  the  sav- 
ing of  a  drowning  man?  Wot  ye  not,  if  you  bring  him 
to  life  again,  he  will  be  sure  to  do  you  some  capital  injury.* 
Come,  Master  Mordaunt,  bear  a  hand  to  what's  mair  to  the 
purpose.  Help  me  to  get  ane  or  twa  of  these  kists  ashore 
before  anybody  else  comes,  and  we  shall  share,  like  good 
Christians,  what  God  sends  us,  and  be  thankful." 

Mordaunt  was  indeed  no  stranger  to  this  inhuman  super- 
stition, current  at  a  former  period  among  the  lower  orders  of 
the  Zetlanders,  and  the  more  generally  adopted,  perhaps,  that 
it  served  as  an  apology  for  refusing  assistance  to  the  unfor- 
tunate victims  of  shipwreck,  while  they  made  plunder  of 
their  goods.  At  any  rate,  the  opinion,  that  to  save  a  drown- 
ing man  was  to  run  the  risk  of  future  injury  from  him, 
formed  a  strange  contradiction  in  the  character  of  these 
islanders,  who,  hospitable,  generous,  and  disinterested  on  all 
other  occasions,  were  sometimes,  nevertheless,  induced  by  this 
superstition  to  refuse  their  aid  in  those  mortal  emergencies 
which  were  so  common  upon  their  rocky  and  stormy  coasts. 
We  are  happy  to  add,  that  the  exhortation  and  example  of  the 
proprietors  have  eradicated  even  the  traces  of  this  inhuman 
belief,  of  which  there  might  be  some  observed  within  the 
memory  of  those  now  alive.  It  is  strange  that  the  minds  of 
men  should  have  ever  been  hardened  toward  those  involved 
in  a  distress  to  which  they  themselves  were  so  constantly  ex- 
posed; but  perhaps  the  frequent  sight  and  consciousness  of 
such  danger  tends  to  blunt  the  feelings  to  its  consequences, 
whether  affecting  ourselves  or  others. 

Bryce  was  remarkably  tenacious  of  this  ancient  belief;  the 
more  so,  perhaps,  that  the  mounting  of  his  pack  depended 
less  upon  the  warehouses  of  Lerwick  or  Kirkwall  than  on  the 
consequences  of  such  a  northwestern  gale  as  that  of  the  day 
preceding;  for  which  (being  a  man  who,  in  his  own  way,  pro- 
fessed great  devotion)  he  seldom  failed  to  express  his  grateful 
thanks  to  Heaven.  It  was  indeed  said  of  him,  that,  if  he 
had  spent  the  same  time  in  assisting  the  wrecked  seamen 
which  he  had  employed  in  rifling  their  bales  and  boxes,  he 
would  have  saved  many  lives,  and  lost  much  linen.     He  paid 

♦  See  Reluctance  to  save  Drowning  Men.    Note  15. 


THE  PIRATE.  11 

no  sort  of  attention  to  the  repeated  entreaties  of  Mordaunt, 
although  he  was  now  upon  the  same  slip  of  sand  with  him. 
It  was  well  known  to  Bryce  as  a  place  on  which  the  eddy  was 
likely  to  land  such  spoils  as  the  ocean  disgorged;  and,  to  im- 
prove the  favorable  moment,  he  occupied  himself  exclusively 
in  securing  and  appropriating  whatever  seemed  most  porta- 
ble and  of  greatest  value.  At  length,  Mordaunt  saw  the 
honest  peddler  fix  his  views  upon  a  strong  sea-chest,  framed 
of  some  Indian  wood,  well  secured  by  bravss  plates,  and  seem- 
ing to  be  of  a  foreign  construction.  The  stout  lock  resisted 
all  Br\'ce's  efforts  to  open  it,  until,  with  great  composure,  he 
plucked  from  his  pocket  a  very  neat  hammer  and  chisel,  and 
began  forcing  the  hinges. 

Incensed  beyond  patience  at  his  assurance,  Mordaunt 
caught  up  a  wooden  stretcher  which  lay  near  him,  and  lay- 
ing his  charge  softly  on  the  sand,  approached  Bryce  with  a 
menacing  gesture,  and  exclaimed,  "•'  You  cold-blooded,  in- 
human rascal!  either  get  up  instantly  and  lend  me  your  assist- 
ance to  recover  this  man,  and  bear  him  out  of  danger  from 
the  surf,  or  I  will  not  only  beat  you  to  a  mummy  on  the  spot, 
but  inform  Magnus  Troil  of  your  thievery,  that  he  may  have 
you  flogged  till  your  bones  are  bare,  and  then  banish  you 
from  the  Mainland! " 

The  lid  of  the  chest  had  just  sprung  open  as  this  rough 
address  saluted  Br^-ce's  ears,  and  the  inside  presented  a  tempt- 
ing view  of  wearing  apparel  for  sea  and  land,  shirts,  plain  and 
with  lace  ruffles,  a  silver  compass,  a  silver-hilted  sword,  and 
other  valuable  articles,  which  the  peddler  well  knew  to  be 
such  as  stir  in  the  trade.  He  was  half-disposed  to  start  up, 
draw  the  sword,  which  was  a  cut-and-thrust,  and  "  darraign 
battaile,"  as  Spenser  says,  rather  than  quit  his  prize  or  brook 
interruption.  Being,  though  short,  a  stout,  square-made 
personage,  and  not  much  past  the  prime  of  life,  having  be- 
sides the  better  weapon,  he  might  have  given  Mordaunt  more 
trouble  than  his  benevolent  knight-errantr}-  deserved. 

Already,  as  with  vehemence  he  repeated  his  injunctions 
that  Bryce  should  forbear  his  plunder  and  come  to  the  assist- 
ance of  the  dying  man,  the  peddler  retorted  with  a  voice  of 
defiance,  "  Dinna  swear,  sir — dinna  swear,  sir:  I  will  endure 
no  swearing  in  my  presence;  and  if  you  lay  a  finger  on  me, 
that  am  taking  the  lawful  sipoil  of  the  Egyptians,  I  will  give 
ye  a  lesson  ye  shall  remember  from  this  day  to  Yule!  " 

^rorrlniint  would  speedily  have  put  the  peddler's  courage 
to  the  test,  but  a  Toice  behind  him  suddenly  said,  "  For- 


78  WAVEELEY  NOVELS. 

bear!  "  It  was  the  voice  of  Noma  of  the  Fitful  Head,  who, 
during  the  heat  of  their  altercation,  had  approached  them 
unobserved.  "  Forbear!  "  she  repeated;  "  and,  Bryce,  do 
thou  render  Mordaunt  the  assistance  he  requires.  It  shall 
avail  thee  more,  and  it  is  I  who  say  the  word,  than  all  that 
you  could  earn  to-day  besides." 

"  It  is  se'enteen  hundred  linen,"  said  the  peddler,  giving  a 
tweak  to  one  of  the  shirts,  in  that  knowing  manner  with 
which  matrons  and  judges  ascertain  the  texture  of  the  loom 
— "  it's  se'enteen  hundred  linen,  and  as  strong  as  an  it  were 
dowlas.  Nevertheless,  mother,  your  bidding  is  to  be  done; 
and  I  would  have  done  Mr.  Mordaunt's  bidding  too,"  he 
added,  relaxing  from  his  note  of  defiance  into  the  deferential 
whining  tone  with  which  he  cajoled  his  customers,  "  if  he 
hadna  made  use  of  profane  oaths,  which  made  my  very  flesh 
grew,  and  caused  me,  in  some  sort,  to  forget  myself."  He 
then  took  a  flask  from  his  pocket,  and  approached  the  ship- 
wrecked man.  "It's  the  best  of  brandy,"  he  said;  "and  if 
that  doesna  cure  him,  I  ken  naught  that  will."  So  saying, 
he  took  a  preliminary  gulp  himself,  as  if  to  show  the  quality 
of  the  liquor,  and  was  about  to  put  it  to  the  man's  mouth, 
when,  suddenly  withholding  his  hand,  he  looked  at  Noma — 
"  You  insure  me  against  all  risk  of  evil  from  him,  if  I  am  to 
render  him  my  help?  Ye  ken  yourself  what  folk  say, 
mother." 

For  aJl  other  answer.  Noma  took  the  bottle  from  the  ped- 
dler's hand,  and  began  to  chafe  the  temples  and  throat  of  the 
shipwrecked  man;  directing  Mordaunt  how  to  hold  his  head, 
so  as  to  afl^ord  him  the  means  of  disgorging  the  sea- water 
which  he  had  swallowed  during  his  immersion. 

The  peddler  looked  on  inactive  for  a  moment,  and  then 
said,  "  To  be  sure,  there  is  not  the  same  risk  in  helping  him, 
now  he  is  out  of  the  water,  and  lying  high  and  dry  on  the 
beach;  and,  to  be  sure,  the  principal  danger  is  to  those  that 
first  touch  him;  and,  to  be  sure,  it  is  a  world's  pity  to  see  how 
these  rings  are  pinching  the  puir  creature's  swalled  fingers: 
they  make  his  hand  as  blue  as  a  partan's  back  before  boiling." 
So  saying,  he  seized  one  of  the  man's  cold  hands,  which  had 
just,  by  a  tremulous  motion,  indicated  the  return  of  life,  and 
began  his  charitable  work  of  removing  the  rings,  which 
seemed  to  be  of  some  value. 

"  As  you  love  your  life,  forbear,"  said  Noma  sternly,  "  or 
I  will  lay  that  on  you  which  shall  spoil  your  travels  through 
the  isles." 


TEE  PIRATE.  79 

"Now,  for  mercy's  sake,  mother,  say  nae  mair  about  it," 
said  the  peddler,  "  and  I'll  e'en  do  your  pleasure  in  your  ain 
way!  I  did  feel  a  rheumatise  in  my  back-spauld  yestreen; 
and  it  wad  be  a  sair  thing  for  the  like  of  me  to  be  debarred 
my  quiet  walk  round  the  country,  in  the  way  of  trade — mak- 
ing the  honest  penny,  and  helping  myself  with  what  Provi- 
dence sends  on  our  coasts." 

"  Peace,  then,"  said  the  woman — "  peace,  as  thou  wouldst 
not  rue  it;  and  take  this  man  on  thy  broad  shoulders.  His 
life  is  of  value,  and  you  will  be  rewarded." 

"  I  had  muckle  need,"  said  the  peddler,  pensively  looking 
at  the  lidless  chest  and  the  other  matters  which  strewed  the 
sand;  "  for  he  has  come  between  me  and  as  muckle  spreach- 
erie  as  wad  hae  made  a  man  of  me  for  the  rest  of  my  life;  and 
now  it  maun  lie  here  till  the  next  tide  sweep  it  a'  doun  the 
Roost,  after  them  that  aught  it  yesterday  morning." 

"  Fear  not,"  said  Noma,  "  it  \nll  come  to  man's  use.  See, 
there  come  carrion-crows  of  scent  as  keen  as  thine  own." 

She  spoke  truly;  for  several  of  the  people  from  the  hamlet 
of  Jarlshof  were  now  hastening  along  the  beach,  to  have  their 
share  in  the  spoil.  The  peddler  beheld  them  approach  with 
a  deep  groan.  "  Aye — aye,"  he  said,  "  the  folk  of  Jarlshof, 
they  will  make  clean  wark;  they  are  kenn'd  for  that  far  and 
wide;  they  \\-inna  leave  the  value  of  a  rotten  ratlin;  and  what's 
waur,  there  isna  ane  o'  them  has  mense  or  sense  eneugh  to 
give  thanks  for  the  mercies  when  they  have  gotten  them. 
There  is  the  auld  Eanzelman,  Neil  Ronaldson,  that  canna 
walk  a  mile  to  hear  the  minister,  but  he  will  hirple  ten  if  he 
hears  of  a  ship  embayed." 

Noma,  however,  seemed  to  possess  over  him  so  complete  an 
ascendency,  that  he  no  longer  hesitated  to  take  the  man,  who 
now  gave  strong  symptoms  of  reviving  existence,  upon  his 
shoulders:  and,  assisted  by  Mordaunt,  trudged  along  the  sea- 
beach  with  his  burden,  without  farther  remonstrance.  Ere 
he  was  borne  off,  the  stranger  pointed  to  the  chest,  and  at- 
tempted to  mutter  something,  to  which  Noma  replied, 
"  Enough.     It  shall  be  secured." 

Advancing  toward  the  passage  called  Erick's  Steps,  by 
which  they  were  to  ascend  the  cliffs,  they  met  the  peo})le  from 
Jarlshof  hastening  in  the  opposite  direction.  jMan  and 
woman,  as  they  passed,  reverently  made  room  for  Noma,  and 
saluted  her,  not  without  an  expression  of  fear  upon  some  of 
their  faces.  She  passed  them  a  few  paces,  and  then  turning 
back,  called  aloud  to  the  Eanzelman,  who  (though  the  prac- 


80  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

tice  was  more  common  than  legal)  was  attcndinfi:  the  rest  of 
the  hamlet  upon  this  plundering  expedition.  "  Neil  Eonald- 
son,"  she  said,  "  mark  my  words.  There  stands  yonder  a 
chest,  from  which  the  lid  has  been  just  prized  off.  Look  it 
be  brought  down  to  your  own  house  at  Jarlshof,  just  as  it 
now  is.  Beware  of  moving  or  touching  the  slightest  article. 
He  were  better  in  his  grave,  that  so  much  as  looks  at  the  con- 
tents. 1  speak  not  for  naught,  nor  in  aught  will  I  be  dis- 
obeyed." 

"  Your  pleasure  shall  be  done,  mother,"  said  Ronaldson. 
"  I  warrant  we  will  not  break  bulk,  since  sic  is  your  bidding." 

Far  behind  the  rest  of  the  villagers  followed  an  old  woman, 
talking  to  herself,  and  cursing  her  own  decrepitude,  which 
kept  her  the  last  of  the  party,  yet  pressing  forward  with  all 
her  might  to  get  her  share  of  the  spoil. 

When  they  met  her,  Mordaunt  was  astonished  to  recognize 
his  father's  old  housekeeper.  "How  now,"  he  said,  "Swertha, 
what  make  you  so  far  from  home?  " 

"  Just  e'en  daikering  out  to  look  after  my  auld  master  and 
your  honor,"  replied  Swertha,  who  felt  like  a  criminal  caught 
in  the  manner;  for,  on  more  occasions  than  one,  Mr.  Mertoun 
had  intimated  his  high  disapprobation  of  such  excursions  as 
she  was  at  present  engaged  in. 

But  Mordaunt  was  too  much  engaged  with  his  own 
thoughts  to  take  much  notice  of  her  delinquency.  "  Have 
you  seen  my  father?  "  he  said. 

"  And  that  I  have,"  replied  Swertha.  "  The  gude  gentle- 
man was  ganging  to  hirsel  himsell  doun  Brick's  Steps,  whilk 
would  have  been  the  ending  of  him,  that  is  in  no  way  a  crags- 
man. Sae  I  e'en  gat  him  wiled  away  hame;  and  I  was  just 
seeking  you  that  you  may  gang  after  him  to  the  hall-house, 
for  to  my  thought  he  is  far  frae  weel." 

"My  father  unwell?"  said  Mordaunt,  remembering  the 
faintness  he  had  exhibited  at  the  commencement  of  that 
morning's  walk. 

"  Fax  frae  weel — far  frae  weel,"  groaned  out  Swertha,  with 
a  piteous  shake  of  the  head;  "  white  o'  the  gills — white  o'  the 
gills;  and  him  to  think  of  coming  down  the  riva!  " 

"  Return  home,  Mordaunt,"  said  Noma,  who  was  listening 
to  what  had  passed.  "  I  will  see  all  that  is  necessary  done 
for  this  man's  relief,  and  you  will  find  him  at  the  Ranzel- 
man's  when  you  list  to  inquire.  You  cannot  help  him  more 
than  you  already  have  done." 

Mordaunt  felt  this  was  true,  and,  commanding  Swertha 


THE  PIBATE.  81 

to  follow  him  instantly,  betook  himself  to  the  path  home- 
ward. 

Swertha  hobbled  reluctantly  after  her  young  master  in  the 
same  direction,  until  she  lost  sight  of  him  on  his  entering  the 
cleft  of  the  rock;  then  instantly  turned  about,  muttering  to 
herself,  "Haste  home,  in  good  sooth! — haste  home,  and  lose 
the  best  chance  of  getting  a  new  rokelay  and  owerlay  that  I 
have  had  these  ten  years!  By  my  certie,  na.  It's  seldom  sic 
rich  godsends  come  on  our  shore;  no  since  the  '  Jenny  and 
James '  came  ashore  in  King  Chariie's  time." 

So  saying,  she  mended  her  pace  as  well  as  she  could,  and,  a 
willing  mind  making  amends  for  frail  limbs,  posted  on  with 
wonderful  dispatch  to  put  in  for  her  share  of  the  spoil.  She 
soon  reached  the  beach,  where  the  Ranzelman.  stuffing  his 
own  pouches  all  the  while,  was  exhorting  the  rest  "  to  part 
things  fair  and  be  neighborly,  and  to  give  to  the  auld  and 
helpless  a  share  of  what  was  going,  which,"  he  charitably  re- 
marked, "  would  bring  a  blessing  on  the  shore,  and  send 
them  '  mair  wrecks  ere  winter.'  "  * 

♦  See  Note  18. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

He  was  a  lovely  youth,  I  guess; 
The  pauthor  in  the  wildiruess 

Was  not  so  fair  as  he; 
And  wheu  he  chose  to  sport  and  play, 
No  dolphin  ever  was  so  gay 

Upon  the  tropic  sea. 

— Wordsworth. 

The  light  foot  of  Mordaunt  Mertoun  was  not  long  of  bear- 
ing him  to  Jarlshof.  He  entered  the  house  hastily,  for  what 
he  himself  had  observed  that  morning  coiTesponded  in  some 
degree  with  the  ideas  which  Swertha's  tale  was  calculated  to 
excite.  He  found  his  father,  however,  in  the  inner  apart- 
ment, reposing  himself  after  his  fatigue;  and  his  first  ques- 
tion satisfied  him  that  the  good  dame  had  practiced  a  little 
imposition  to  get  rid  of  them  both. 

"  Where  is  this  dying  man,  whom  you  have  so  wisely  ven- 
tured your  own  neck  to  relieve  ?  "  said  the  elder  Mertoun  to 
the  younger. 

"  Noma,  sir,"  replied  Mordaunt,  "  has  taken  him  under  her 
charge;  she  imderstands  such  matters." 

"  And  is  quack  as  well  as  witch?  "  said  the  elder  Mertoun. 
"  With  all  my  heart;  it  is  a  trouble  saved.  But  I  hasted 
home,  on  Swertha's  hint,  to  look  out  for  lint  and  bandages; 
for  her  speech  was  of  broken  bones." 

Mordaunt  kept  silence,  well  knowing  his  father  would  not 
persevere  in  his  inquiries  upon  such  a  matter,  and  not  willing 
either  to  prejudice  the  old  governante  or  to  excite  his  father 
to  one  of  those  excesses  of  passion  into  which  he  was  apt  to 
burst  when,  contrary  to  his  wont,  he  thought  proper  to  cor- 
rect the  conduct  of  his  domestic. 

It  was  late  in  the  day  ere  old  Swertha  returned  from  her 
expedition,  heartily  fatigued,  and  bearing  with  her  a  bundle 
of  some  bulk,  containing,  it  would  seem,  her  share  of  the 
spoil.  Mordaunt  instantly  sought  her  out,  to  charge  her  with 
the  deceits  she  had  practiced  on  both  his  father  and  himself; 
but  the  accused  matron  lacked  not  her  reply. 

"  By  her  troth,"  she  said,  "  she  thought  it  was  time  to  bid 
Mr.  Mertoun  gang  hame  and  get  bandages,  when  she  had 
seen,  with  her  ain  twa  een,  Mordaunt  ganging  down  the  cliff 
like  a  wild-cat;  it  was  to  be  tliought  broken  bones  would  be 

82 


TEE  PIRATE.  83 

the  end,  and  lucky  if  bandages  wad  do  any  good;  and,  by  her 
troth,  she  might  weel  tell  Mordaunt  his  father  was  puirly, 
and  liim  looking  sae  white  in  the  gills,  whilk,  she  wad  die 
upon  it,  was  the  very  word  she  used,  and  it  was  a  thing  that 
couldna  be  denied  by  man  at  this  very  moment." 

"  But,  Swertha,"  said  Mordaunt,  as  so^n  as  her  clamorous 
defense  gave  him  time  to  speak  in  reply,  "  how  came  you,  that 
should  have  been  busy  with  your  housewifery  and  your  spin- 
ning, to  be  out  this  morning  at  Erick's  Steps,  in  order  to  take 
all  this  unnecessary  care  of  my  father  and  me?  And  what 
is  in  that  bundle,  Swertha?  for  I  fear,  Swertha,  you  have 
been  transgressing  the  law,  and  have  been  out  upon  the 
wrecking  system." 

"  Fair  fa'  your  sonsy  face,  and  the  blessing  of  St.  Eonald 
upon  you!  "  said  Swertha,  in  a  tone  betwixt  coaxing  and  jest- 
ing; "  would  you  keep  a  puir  body  frae  mending  hersell,  and 
sae  muckle  gear  lying  on  the  loose  sand  for  the  lifting? 
Hout,  ]\Iaister  Mordaunt,  a  ship  ashore  is  a  sight  to  wile  the 
minister  out  of  his  very  pu'pit  in  the  middle  of  his  preaching, 
muckle  mair  a  puir  auld  ignorant  wife  frae  her  rock  and  her 
tow.  And  little  did  I  get  for  my  day's  wark:  just  some  rags 
o'  cambric  things,  and  a  bit  or  twa  of  coorse  claith,  and  sic- 
like;  the  strong  and  the  hearty  get  a'  thing  in  this  warld." 

"  Yes,  Swertha,"  replied  Mordaunt,  "  and  that  is  rather 
hard,  as  you  must  have  your  share  of  punishment  in  this 
world  and  the  next  for  robbing  the  poor  mariners." 

"  Hout,  callant,  wha  wad  punish  an  auld  wife  like  me  for  a 
w^heen  duds?  Folk  speak  muckle  black  ill  of  Earl  Patrick; 
but  he  was  a  freend  to  the  shore,  and  made  wise  laws  against 
onybody  helping  vessels  that  were  like  to  gang  on  the 
breakers.*  And  the  mariners,  I  have  heard  Bryce  Jagger 
say,  lose  their  right  frae  the  time  keel  toiiches  sand;  and, 
moreover,  they  are  dead  and  gane,  poor  souls — dead  and  gane, 
and  care  little  about  warld's  wealth  now.  Nay,  nae  mair  than 
the  great  jarls  and  sea-kings,  in  the  Norse  days,  did  about 
the  treasures  that  they  buried  in  the  tombs  and  sepulchers 
auld  langs3'ne.  Did  I  ever  tell  you  the  sang,  Maister  Mor- 
daunt, how  Olaf  Tr}'guarson  garr'd  hide  five  gold  cro\vTis  in 
the  same  grave  with  him?  " 

"  No,  Swertha,"  said  Mordaunt.  who  took  pleasure  in  tor- 
menting the  cunning  old  plunderer,  "  you  never  told  me 
that;  but  I  tell  you,  that  the  stranger  whom  Noma  has  taken 
down  to  the  town  will  be  well  enough  to-morrow  to  ask  where 

♦  This  was  literally  true. 


84  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

you  have  hidden  the  goods  that  you  have  stolen  from  t'Coe 
wreck." 

"But  wha  will  tell  him  a  word  about  it,  hinnie?"  said 
Swertha,  looking  slyly  up  in  her  young  mastei-'s  face.  "  The 
mair  by  token,  since  I  maun  tell  ye,  that  I  have  a  bonny  rem- 
nant of  silk  amang  the  lave,  that  will  make  a  dainty  waist- 
coat to  yoursell,  the  first  meiTy-making  ye  gang  to." 

Mordaunt  could  no  longer  forbear  laughing  at  the  cunning 
with  which  the  old  dame  proposed  to  bribe  off  his  eWdence  by 
imparting  a  portion  of  her  plunder;  and,  desiring  her  to  get 
ready  what  provision  she  had  made  for  dinner,  he  returned  to 
his  father,  whom  he  found  still  sitting  in  the  same  place,  and 
nearly  in  the  same  posture,  in  which  he  had  left  him. 

When  their  hasty  and  frugal  meal  was  finished,  Mordaunt 
announced  to  his  father  his  purpose  of  going  down  to  the 
town,  or  hamlet,  to  look  after  the  shipwrecked  sailor. 

The  elder  Mertoun  assented  with  a  nod. 

"  He  must  be  ill  accommodated  there,  sir,"  added  his  son — 
a  hint  which  only  produced  another  nod  of  assent.  "  He 
seemed,  from  his  appearance,"  pursued  Mordaunt,  "  to  be  of 
very  good  rank;  and  admitting  these  poor  people  do  their  best 
to  receive  him,  in  his  present  weak  state,  yet " 

"  I  know  what  you  would  say,"  said  his  father,  interrupting 
him;  "  we,  you  think,  ought  to  do  something  toward  assist- 
ing him.  Go  to  him,  then;  if  he  lacks  money,  let  him  name 
the  sum,  and  he  shall  have  it;  but,  for  lodging  the  stranger 
here,  and  holding  intercourse  with  him,  I  neither  can  nor 
will  do  so.  I  have  retired  to  this  farthest  extremity  of  the 
British  Isles  to  avoid  new  friends  and  new  faces,  and  none 
such  shall  intrude  on  me  either  their  happiness  or  their 
misery.  When  you  have  known  the  world  half  a  score  of 
years  longer,  your  early  friends  will  have  given  you  reason  to 
remember  them,  and  to  avoid  new  ones  for  the  rest  of  your 
life.  Go,  then — why  do  you  stop? — rid  the  country  of  the 
man:  let  me  see  no  one  about  me  but  those  vulgar  counte- 
nances, the  extent  and  character  of  whose  petty  knavery  I 
know,  and  can  submit  to,  as  to  an  evil  too  trifling  to  cause 
irritation."  He  then  threw  his  purse  to  his  son,  and  signed 
to  him  to  depart  with  all  speed. 

Mordaunt  was  not  long  before  he  reached  the  village.  In 
the  dark  abode  of  ISTeil  Ronaldson,  the  Ranzelman,  he  found 
the  stranger  seated  by  the  peat-fire,  upon  the  very  chest  which 
had  excited  the  cupidity  of  the  devout  Bryce  Snailsfoot,  the 
peddler.     The  Ranzelman  himself  was  absent,  dividing,  with 


THE  PIRATE.  85 

all  due  impartiality,  the  spoils  of  the  wrecked  vessel  amongst 
the  natives  of  the  community;  listening  to  and  redressing 
their  complaints  of  inequality,  and  (if  the  matter  in  hand  had 
not  been,  from  beginning  to  end,  utterly  unjust  and  indefen- 
sible) discharging  the  part  of  a  wise  and  prudent  magistrate 
in  all  the  details.  For  at  this  time,  and  probably  until  a 
much  later  period,  the  lower  orders  of  the  islanders  enter- 
tained an  opinion,  common  to  barbarians  also  in  the  same 
situation,  that  whatever  was  cast  on  their  shores  became  their 
indispvitable  property. 

Margery  Bimbister.  the  worthy  spouse  of  the  Ranzelman, 
was  in  the  charge  of  the  house,  and  introduced  Mordaunt  to 
her  guest,  saying,  with  no  great  ceremony,  "  This  is  the  young 
tacksman.  You  will  maybe  tell  him  your  name,  though  you 
will  not  tell  it  to  us.  If  it  had  not  been  for  his  four  quar- 
ters, it's  but  little  vou  would  have  said  to  anybody,  sae  lang 
as  life  lasted." 

The  stranger  arose  and  shook  Mordaunt  by  the  hand;  ob- 
serving, he  understood  that  he  had  been  the  means  of  saving 
his  life  and  his  chest.  "  The  rest  of  the  property,"  he  said, 
"■  is,  I  see,  walking  the  plank;  for  they  are  as  busy  as  the  devil 
in  a  gale  of  wind." 

"  And  what  was  the  use  of  your  seamanship,  then,"  said 
Margery,  "that  you  couldna  keep  off  the  Sumburgh  Head? 
It  would  have  been  lang  ere  Sumburgh  Head  had  come  to 
you." 

"  Leave  us  for  a  moment,  good  ^largery  Bimbister,"  said 
Mordaunt;  "  I  wish  to  have  some  private  conversation  with 
this  gentleman." 

"  Gentleman!  "  said  Marger}^  with  an  emphasis;  "not  but 
the  man  is  well  enough  to  look  at,"  she  added,  again  survey- 
ing him,  "  but  I  doubt  if  there  is  muckle  of  the  gentleman 
about  him." 

Mordaunt  looked  at  the  stranger,  and  was  of  a  different 
opinion.  He  was  rather  above  the  middle  size,  and  formed 
handsomely  as  well  as  strongly.  Mordaunt's  intercourse  with 
society  was  not  extensive:  but  he  thought  his  new  acquaint- 
ance, to  a  bold,  sunburnt,  handsome  countenance,  which 
seemed  to  have  faced  various  climates,  added  the  frank  and 
open  manners  of  a  sailor.  He  answered  clieerfuUy  the  inquir- 
ies which  ^Mordaunt  made  after  his  health;  and  maintained 
that  one  night's  rest  would  relieve  him  from  all  the  effects  of 
the  disaster  he  had  sustained.  But  he  spoke  with  bitterness 
of  the  avarice  and  curiosity  of  the  Ranzelman  and  his  spouse. 


86  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS. 

■'  That  chattering  old  woman,"  said  the  stranger,  "  has  per- 
secuted me  the  whole  day  for  the  name  of  the  ship.  1  think 
she  might  be  contented  with  the  share  she  has  had  of  it.  I 
was  the  principal  owner  of  the  vessel  that  was  lost  yonder, 
and  they  have  left  me  nothing  but  my  wearing  apparel.  Is 
there  no  magistrate,  or  justice  of  the  peace,  in  this  wild  coun- 
try, that  would  lend  a  hand  to  help  one  when  he  is  among 
the  breakers?  " 

Mordaunt  mentioned  Magnus  Troil,  the  principal  proprie- 
tor, as  well  as  the  ''  fowd,"  or  provincial  judge,  of  the  dis- 
trict, as  the  person  from  whom  he  was  most  likely  to  obtain 
redress;  and  regretted  that  his  own  youth,  and  his  father's 
situation  as  a  retired  stranger,  should  put  it  out  of  their 
power  to  afford  him  the  protection  he  required. 

"  Nay,  for  your  part,  you  have  done  enough,"  said  the 
sailor;  "  but  if  I  had  five  out  of  the  forty  brave  fellows  that 
are  fishes'  food  by  this  time,  the  devil  a  man  would  I  ask  to 
do  me  the  right  that  I  could  do  for  myself!  " 

"Forty  hands!"  said  Mordaunt;  "you  were  well  manned 
for  the  size  of  the  ship." 

"  Not  so  well  as  we  needed  to  be.  We  mounted  ten  guns, 
besides  chasers;  but  our  cruise  on  the  main  had  thinned  us  of 
men,  and  lumbered  us  up  with  goods.  Six  of  our  guns  were 
in  ballast.  Hands!  if  I  had  had  enough  of  hands,  we  would 
never  have  miscarried  so  infernally.  The  people  were 
knocked  up  with  working  the  pumps,  and  so  took  to  their 
boats,  and  left  me  with  the  vessel,  to  sink  or  SAvim.  But  the 
dogs  had  their  pay,  and  I  can  afford  to  pardon  them.  The 
boats  swamped  in  the  current — all  were  lost — and  here  am  I." 

"  You  had  come  north  about  then,  from  the  West  Indies?  " 
said  Mordaunt. 

"  Aye — aye,  the  vessel  was  the  '  Good  Hope '  of  Bristol,  a 
letter  of  marque.  She  had  fine  luck  down  on  the  Spanish 
Main,  both  with  commerce  and  privateering;  but  the  luck's 
ended  with  her  now.  My  name  is  Clement  Cleveland,  cap- 
tain, and  part  owner,  as  I  said  before.  I  am  a  Bristol  man 
born;  my  father  was  well  known  on  the  tollsell — old  Clem 
Cleveland  of  the  College  Green." 

Mordaunt  had  no  right  to  inquire  farther,  and  yet  it 
seemed  to  him  as  if  his  own  mind  was  but  half  satisfied. 
There  was  an  affectation  of  bluntness,  a  sort  of  defiance,  in 
the  manner  of  the  stranger,  for  which  circumstances  afforded 
no  occasion.  Captain  Cleveland  had  suffered  injustice  from 
the  islanders,  but  from  Mordaunt  he  had  only  received  kind- 


TEE  PIRATE.  8Y 

ness  and  protection;  yet  he  seemed  as  if  he  involved  all  the 
neighborhood  in  the  wrongs  he  complained  of.  Mordaunt 
looked  down  and  was  silent,  doubting  whether  it  would  be 
better  to  take  his  leave  or  to  proceed  farther  in  his  olt'ers  of 
assistance.  Cleveland  seemed  to  guess  at  his  thoughts,  for 
he  immediately  added,  in  a  conciliating  manner — "  I  am  a 
plain  man,  Master  Mertoun,  for  that  1  understand  is  your 
name;  and  I  am  a  ruined  man  to  boot,  and  that  does  not  mend 
one's  good  manners.  But  you  have  done  a  kind  and  friendly 
part  by  me,  and  it  may  be  I  think  as  much  of  it  as  if  I  {hanked 
you  more.  And  so  before  1  leave  this  place  I'll  give  you  my 
fowling-piece;  she  will  put  a  hundred  swan-shot  through  a 
Dutchman's  cap  at  eighty  paces;  she  will  carry  ball  too:  I 
have  hit  a  wild  bull  within  a  hundred  and  fifty  yards;  but  I 
have  two  pieces  that  are  as  good  or  better,  so  you  may  keep 
this  for  my  sake." 

"  That  would  be  to  take  my  share  of  the  wreck,"  answered 
Mordaunt,  laughing. 

"  No  such  matter,"  said  Cleveland,  undoing  a  case  which 
contained  several  guns  and  pistols;  "  you  see  I  have  saved  my 
private  arm-chest  as  well  as  my  clothes — that  the  tall  old 
woman  in  the  dark  rigging  managed  for  me.  And,  between 
ourselves,  it  is  worth  all  I  have  lost;  for,"  he  added,  lowering 
his  voice  and  looking  round,  "  when  I  speak  of  being  ruined 
in  the  hearing  of  these  land-sharks,  I  do  not  mean  ruined 
stock  and  block.  No,  here  is  something  will  do  more  than 
shoot  sea-fowl."  So  saying,  he  pulled  out  a  great  ammuni- 
tion-pouch marked  swan-shot,  and  showed  ]\Iordaunt,  hastily, 
that  it  was  full  of  Spanish  pistoles  and  Portagues,  as  the 
broad  Portugal  pieces  were  then  called.  "  No — no,"  he 
added,  with  a  smile,  "  I  have  ballast  enough  to  trim  the  ves- 
sel again;  and  now,  will  you  take  the  piece?  " 

"  Since  you  are  willing  to  give  it  me,"  said  Mordaunt, 
laughing,  "  with  all  my  heart.  I  was  just  going  to  ask  you, 
in  my  father's  name,"  he  added,  showing  his  purse,  "  whether 
you  wanted  any  of  that  same  ballast." 

"  Thanks,  but  you  see  I  am  provided.  Take  my  old  ac- 
quaintance, and  may  she  serve  you  as  well  as  she  has  served 
me;  but  you  will  never  make  so  good  a  voyage  with  her.  You 
can  shoot,  I  suppose?" 

"  Tolerably  well,"  said  Mordaunt,  admiring  the  piece, 
which  was  a  beautiful  Spanish-barreled  gun,  inlaid  with  gold, 
small  in  the  bore,  and  of  unusual  length,  such  as  is  chiefly 
used  for  shooting  sea-fowl  and  for  ball-practice. 


88  WAVEELEY  NOVELS. 

"  With  slugs,"  continued  the  donor,  "  never  gun  shot 
closer;  and  with  single  ball  you  may  Kill  a  seal  two  hundred 
yards  at  sea  from  the  top  of  the  highest  peali  of  this  iron- 
bound  coast  of  yours.  But  I  tell  you  again,  that  the  old 
rattler  will  never  do  you  the  service  she  has  done  me." 

"I  shall  not  use  her  so  dexterously,  perhaps?"  said  Mor- 
daunt. 

"  Umph!  perhaps  not,"  replied  Cleveland;  "  but  that  is  not 
the  question.  What  say  you  to  shooting  the  man  at  the 
whe^l,  just  as  we  run  aboard  of  a  Spaniard?  So  the  Don  was 
taken  aback,  and  we  laid  him  athwart  the  hawse,  and  earned 
her  cutlass  in  hand;  and  worth  the  while  she  was — stout 
brigantine — '  El  Santo  Francisco  ' — bound  for  Porto  Bello. 
with  gold  and  negroes.  That  little  bit  of  lead  was  worth 
twenty  thousand  pistoles." 

"  I  have  shot  at  no  such  game  as  yet,"  said  Mordaunt. 

"  Well,  all  in  good  time;  we  cannot  weigh  till  the  tide 
makes.  But  you  are  a  tight,  handsome,  active  young  man. 
What  is  to  ail  you  to  take  a  trip  after  some  of  this  stuff?" 
laying  his  hand  on  the  bag  of  gold. 

"  My  father  talks  of  my  traveling  soon,"  replied  Mordaunt, 
who,  born  to  hold  men-of-war's-men  in  great  respect,  felt 
flattered  by  this  invitation  from  one  who  appeared  a  thor- 
oughbred seaman. 

"  I  respect  him  for  the  thought,"  said  the  captain,  "  and  I 
will  visit  him  before  I  weigh  anchor.  I  have  a  consort  off 
these  islands,  and  be  cursed  to  her.  She'll  find  me  out  some- 
where, though  she  parted  company  in  the  bit  of  a  squall,  un- 
less she  is  gone  to  Davy  Jones  too.  Well,  she  was  better 
found  than  we,  and  not  so  deep  loaded :  she  must  have  weath- 
ered it.  We'll  have  a  hammock  slung  for  you  aboard,  and 
make  a  sailor  and  a  man  of  you  in  the  same  trip." 

"  I  should  like  it  well  enough,"  said  Mordaunt,  who 
eagerly  longed  to  see  more  of  the  world  than  his  lonely  situa- 
tion had  hitherto  permitted;  "  but  then  my  father  must 
decide." 

"Your  father!  pooh!"  said  Captain  Cleveland;  "but  you 
are  very  right,"  he  added,  checking  himself.  "  Gad,  I  have 
lived  so  long  at  sea  that  I  cannot  imagine  anybody  has  a 
right  to  think  except  the  captain  and  the  master.  But  you 
are  very  right.  I  will  go  up  to  the  old  gentleman  this  in- 
stant and  speak  to  him  myself.  He  lives  in  that  handsome, 
modern-looldng  building,  I  suppose,  that  I  see  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  off?" 


THE  PIRATE.  89 

"  In  that  old  half-ruined  house,"  said  Mordaunt,  "  he  does 
indeed  live;  but  he  will  see  no  visitors." 

"  Then  you  must  drive  the  point  yourself,  for  I  can't  stay 
in  this  latitude.  Since  your  father  is  no  magistrate,  I  must 
go  to  see  this  same  Magnus — how  call  you  him? — who  is  not 
justice  of  peace,  but  something  else  that  will  do  the  turn  as 
well.     These  fellows  have  got  two  or  three  things  that  I  must 

and  will  have  back;  let  them  keep  the  rest,  and  be  d d  to 

them.     Will  you  give  me  a  letter  to  him,  just  by  way  of  com- 
mission? " 

"  It  is  scarce  needful,"  said  Mordaunt.  "  It  is  enough 
that  you  are  shipwrecked  and  need  his  help;  but  yet  I  may  as 
well  furnish  you  with  a  letter  of  introduction." 

"  There,"  said  the  sailor,  producing  a  writing-case  from  his 
chest,  "  are  your  writing-tools.  Meantime,  since  bulk  has 
been  broken,  I  will  nail  down  the  hatches  and  make  sure  of 
the  cargo." 

While  Mordaunt,  accordingly,  was  engaged  in  writing  to 
Magnus  Troil  a  letter,  setting  forth  the  circumstances  in 
which  Captain  Cleveland  had  been  thrown  upon  their  coast, 
the  captain,  having  first  selected  and  laid  aside  some  wearing 
apparel  and  necessaries  enough  to  fill  a  knapsack,  took  in 
hand  hammer  and  nails,  employed  himself  in  securing  the  lid 
of  his  sea-chest  by  fastening  it  down  in  a  workman-like  man- 
ner, and  then  added  the  corroborating  security  of  a  cord, 
twisted  and  knotted  with  nautical  dexterity.  "  I  leave  this 
in  your  charge,"  he  said,  "  all  except  this,"  showing  the  bag 
of  gold,  "  and  these,"  pointing  to  a  cutlass  and  pistols, 
"  which  may  prevent  all  further  risk  of  my  parting  company 
with  my  Portagues." 

"  You  will  find  no  occasion  for  weapons  in  this  country, 
Captain  Cleveland,"  replied  Mordaunt:  "  a  child  might  travel 
with  a  purse  of  gold  from  Sumburgh  Head  to  the  Scaw  of 
Unst,  and  no  soul  would  injure  him." 

"  And  that's  pretty  boldly  said,  young  gentleman,  consider- 
ing what  is  ofoing  on  without  doors  at  this  moment." 

"  Oh,"  replied  Mordaunt,  a  little  confused,  "  what  comes  on 
land  with  the  tide  they  reckon  their  lawful  property.  One 
would  think  they  had  studied  under  Sir  Arthegal,  who  pro- 
nounces: 

"For  eqnal  right  in  eqnal  things  doth  stand. 

And  what  the  mighty  sea  liath  once  possess'd, 

And  phipked  quite  from  all  possessors'  hands, 
Or  else  by  wrecks  that  wretches  liave  distress'd, 

He  may  dispose,  by  his  resistless  might, 
As  things  at  random  left,  to  whom  he  list." 


90  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

"  I  shall  think  the  better  of  plays  and  ballads  as  long  as  I 
live  for  these  very  words,"  said  Captain  Cleveland;  "  and  yet 
I  have  loved  them  well  enough  in  my  day.  But  this  is  good 
doctrine,  and  more  men  than  one  may  trim  their  sails  to  such 
a  breeze.  What  the  sea  sends  is  ours,  that's  sure  enough. 
However,  in  case  that  your  good  folks  should  think  the  land 
as  well  as  the  sea  may  present  them  with  waifs  and  strays,  I 
will  make  bold  to  take  my  cutlass  and  pistols.  Will  you 
cause  my  chest  to  be  secured  in  your  own  house  till  you  hear 
from  me,  and  use  your  influence  to  procure  me  a  guide  to 
show  me  the  way,  and  to  carr}'  my  kit?  " 

"  Will  you  go  by  sea  or  land  ?  "  said  Mordaunt,  in  reply. 

"  By  sea!  "  exclaimed  Cleveland.  "  What,  in  one  of  these 
cockle-shells,  and  a  cracked  cockle-shell  to  boot?  No — no; 
land — land,  unless  I  knew  my  crew,  my  vessel,  and  my 
voyage." 

They  parted  accordingly,  Captain  Cleveland  being  supplied 
with  a  guide  to  conduct  him  to  Burgh- Westra,  and  his  chest 
being  carefully  removed  to  the  mansion-house  at  Jarlshof . 


CHAPTER   IX. 

This  is  a  gentle  trader,  and  a  prudent. 

He's  lu)  Autolycus,  to  l)lear  your  eye 

With  quips  of  worldly  j,'iiud3  aud  ^auiesomenesg; 

But  seiisuns  all  his  glitteiiug  nierchHiidise 

With  whok'souie  doctrines,  suited  to  tlie  use, 

As  men  sauce  goose  with  sage  and  rosemary. 

—Old  Play. 

On  the  subsequent  morning,  Mordaunt,  in  answer  to  his 
father's  inquiries,  began  to  give  him  some  account  of  the 
shipwrecked  mariner  whom  he  had  rescued  from  the  waves. 
But  he  had  not  proceeded  far  in  recapituhiting  the  particulars 
which  Cleveland  had  communicated,  when  Mr.  Mertoun's 
looks  became  disturbed;  he  arose  hastily,  and,  after  pacing 
twice  or  thrice  across  the  room,  he  retired  into  the  inner 
chamber,  to  which  he  usually  confined  himself  while  under 
the  influence  of  his  mental  malady.  In  the  evening  he  reap- 
peared, without  any  traces  of  his  disorder;  but  it  may  be  easily 
supposed  that  his  son  avoided  recurring  to  the  subject  which 
had  affected  him. 

Mordaunt  ]\Iertoun  was  thus  left  without  assistance  to  form 
at  his  leisure  his  own  opinion  respecting  the  new  acquaintance 
which  the  sea  had  sent  him;  and,  upon  the  whole,  he  was 
himself  surprised  to  find  the  result  less  favorable  to  the  stran- 
ger than  he  could  well  account  for.  There  seemed  to  Mor- 
daunt to  be  a  sort  of  repelling  influence  about  the  man. 
True,  he  was  a  handsome  man,  of  a  frank  and  prepossessing 
manner,  but  there  was  an  assumption  of  superiority  about 
him  which  Mordaunt  did  not  quite  so  much  like.  Although 
he  was  so  keen  a  sportsman  as  to  be  delighted  with  his  acqui- 
sition of  the  Spanish-barreled  gun,  and  accordingly  mounted 
and  dismounted  it  with  great  interest,  paying  the  utmost 
attention  to  the  most  minute  parts  about  the  lock  and  orna- 
ments, yet  he  was,  upon  the  whole,  inclined  to  have  some 
scruples  about  the  mode  in  which  he  had  acquired  it. 

"  I  should  not  have  accepted  it,"  he  thought;  "  perhaps 
Captain  Cleveland  might  give  it  me  as  a  sort  of  payment  for 
the  trifling  service  I  did  him;  and  yet  it  would  have  been 
churlish  to  refuse  it  in  the  way  it  was  offered.  I  wish  he  had 
looked  more  like  a  man  whom  one  would  have  chosen  to  be 
obliged  to." 

But  a  successful  day's  shooting  reconciled  him  to  his  gun, 

91 


92  WAVEELBY  NOVELS. 

and  he  became  assured,  like  most  young  sportsmen  in  similar 
circumstances,  that  all  other  pieces  were  but  pop-guns  in 
comparison.  But  then,  to  be  doomed  to  shoot  gulls  and  seals, 
when  there  were  Frenchmen  and  Spaniards  to  be  come  at, 
when  there  were  ships  to  be  boarded,  and  steersmen  to  be 
marked  off,  seemed  but  a  dull  and  contemptible  destiny.  His 
father  had  mentioned  his  leaving  these  islands,  and  no  other 
mode  of  occupation  occurred  to  his  inexperience  save  that  of 
the  sea,  with  which  he  had  been  conversant  from  his  infancy. 
His  ambition  had  formerly  aimed  no  higher  than  at  sharing 
the  fatigues  and  dangers  of  a  Greenland  fishing  expedition; 
for  it  was  in  that  scene  that  the  Zetlanders  laid  most  of  their 
perilous  adventures.  But  war  was  again  raging,  the  history 
of  Sir  Francis  Drake,  Captain  Morgan,  and  other  bold  ad- 
venturers, an  account  of  whose  exploits  he  had  purchased 
from  Bryce  Snailsfoot,  had  made  much  impression  on  his 
mind,  and  the  offer  of  Captain  Cleveland  to  take  him  to  sea 
frequently  recurred  to  him,  although  the  pleasure  of  such  a 
project  was  somewhat  damped  by  a  doubt  whether,  in  the 
long  run,  he  should  not  find  many  objections  to  his  proposed 
commander.  Thus  much  he  already  saw,  that  he  was  opin- 
ionative,  and  might  probably  prove  arbitrai7;  and  that,  since 
even  his  Idndness  was  mingled  with  an  assumption  of  su- 
periority, his  occasional  displeasure  might  contain  a  great 
deal  more  of  that  disagreeable  ingredient  than  could  be  pala- 
table to  those  who  sailed  under  him.  And  yet,  after  countinc: 
all  risks,  could  his  father's  consent  but  be  obtained,  with  what 
pleasure,  he  thought,  would  he  embark  in  quest  of  new  scenes 
and  strange  adventures,  in  which  he  proposed  to  himself  to 
achieve  such  deeds  as  should  be  the  theme  of  many  a  tale  to 
the  lovely  sisters  of  Burgh-Westra — tales  at  which  Minna 
should  weep  and  Brenda  should  smile,  and  both  should 
marvel!  And  this  was  to  be  the  reward  of  his  labors  and  his 
dangers;  for  the  hearth  of  Magnus  Troil  had  a  magnetic  in- 
fluence over  his  thoughts,  and  however  they  might  traverse 
amid  his  day-dreams,  it  was  the  point  where  they  finally 
settled. 

There  were  times  when  Mordaunt  thought  of  mentioning 
to  his  father  the  conversation  he  had  held  with  Captain  Cleve- 
land, and  the  seaman's  proposal  to  him;  but  the  very  short 
and  general  account  which  be  had  given  of  that  person's  his- 
tory, upon  the  morning  after  his  departure  from  the  hamlet, 
had  produced  a  sinister  effect  on  Mr.  Mertoun's  mind,  and 
discouraged  him  from  speaking  farther  on  any  subject  con- 


THE  PIRATE.  93 

nected  with  it.  It  would  be  time  enough,  he  thought,  to 
mention  Captain  Cleveland's  proposal  when  liis  consort  should 
arrive,  and  when  he  should  repeat  his  offer  in  a  more  formal 
manner;  and  these  he  supposed  events  likely  very  soon  to 
happen. 

But  days  grew  to  weeks,  and  weeks  were  numbered  into 
months,  and  he  heard  nothing  from  Cleveland;  and  only 
learned  by  an  occasional  visit  from  Bryce  Snailsfoot  that  the 
captain  was  residing  at  Burgh- Westra  as  one  of  the  family. 
Mordaunt  was  somewhat  surprised  at  this,  although  the  un- 
limited hospitality  of  the  islands,  which  Magnus  Troil,  both 
from  fortune  and  disposition,  carried  to  the  utmost  extent, 
made  it  almost  a  matter  of  course  that  he  should  remain  in 
the  family  until  he  disposed  of  himself  otherwise.  Still  it 
seemed  strange  he  had  not  gone  to  some  of  the  northern  isles 
to  inquire  after  his  consort;  or  that  he  did  not  rather  choose 
to  make  Lerwick  his  residence,  where  fishing-vessels  often 
brought  news  from  the  coasts  and  ports  of  Scotland  and  Hol- 
land. Again,  why  did  he  not  send  for  the  chest  he  had  de- 
posited at  Jarlshof?  and  still  farther,  Mordaunt  thought  it 
would  have  been  but  polite  if  the  stranger  had  sent  him  some 
sort  of  message  in  token  of  remembrance. 

These  subjects  of  reflection  were  connected  with  another 
still  more  unpleasant,  and  more  difficult  to  account  for. 
Until  the  arrival  of  this  person,  scarce  a  week  had  passed 
without  bringing  him  some  kind  greeting  or  token  of  recol- 
lection from  Burgh-AYestra;  and  pretenses  were  scarce  ever 
wanting  for  maintaining  a  constant  intercourse.  Minna 
wanted  the  words  of  a  ISTorse  ballad;  or  desired  to  have,  for 
her  various  collections,  feathers  or  eggs,  or  shells,  or  speci- 
mens of  the  rarer  sea-weeds;  or  Brenda  sent  a  riddle  to  be 
resolved,  or  a  song  to  be  learned:  or  the  honest  old  Udaller — 
in  a  rude  manuscript,  which  might  have  passed  for  an  ancient 
Runic  inscription — sent  his  hearty  greetings  to  his  good 
young  friend,  with  a  present  of  something  to  make  good 
cheer,  and  an  earnest  request  he  would  come  to  Burgh- Westra 
as  soon,  and  stay  there  as  long,  as  possible.  These  kindly 
tokens  of  remembrance  were  often  sent  bv  special  message;  be- 
sides which,  there  was  never  a  passenger  or  a  traveler  \vho 
crossed  from  the  one  mansion  to  the  other  who  did  not  bring 
to  Mordaunt  some  friendly  greeting  from  the  Udaller  and  his 
family.  Of  late,  this  intercourse  had  become  more  and  more 
infrequent;  and  no  messenger  from  Burgh-Westra  had  visiti^d 
Jarishof  for  several  weeks.     Mordaunt  both  observed  and  felt 


94  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS. 

this  alteration,  and  it  dwelt  on  his  mind,  while  he  questioned 
Bryce  as  closely  as  pride  and  prudence  would  peraiit,  to  ascer- 
tain, if  possible,  the  cause  of  the  change.  Yet  he  endeavored 
to  assume  an  indiUerent  air  while  he  asked  the  jagger  whether 
there  were  no  news  in  the  country. 

"Great  news,"  the  jagger  replied;  "and  a  gay  mony  of 
them.  That  crack-brained  carle,  the  new  factor,  is  for  mak- 
ing a  change  in  the  'bismars'  and  the  'lispunds';  and  our 
worthy  fowd,  Magnus  Troil,  has  sworn  that,  sooner  than 
change  them  for  the  still-yard  or  aught  else,  he'll  fling  Factor 
Yellowley  from  Brassa  Craig." 

"Is  that  all?"  said  Mordaunt,  very  little  interested. 

"  All  and  eneugh,  I  think,"  replied  the  peddler.  "  How 
are  folks  to  buy  and  sell,  if  the  weights  are  changed  on 
them?" 

"  Very  true,"  replied  Mordaunt;  "  but  have  you  heard  of 
no  strange  vessels  on  the  coast?" 

"  Six  Dutch  doggers  off  Brassa;  and,  as  I  hear,  a  high- 
quartered  galliot  thing,  with  a  gaff  mainsail,  lying  in  Scallo- 
way Bay.     She  will  be  from  Norway." 

"  No  ships  of  war,  or  sloops?  " 

"  None,"  replied  the  peddler,  "  since  the  '  Kite '  tender 
sailed  with  the  impress  men.  If  it  was  His  will,  and  our  men 
were  out  of  her,  I  wish  the  deep  sea  had  her!  " 

"  Were  there  no  news  at  Burgh- Westra?  Were  the  family 
all  well?" 

"  A'  weel,  and  weel  to  do,  out-taken,  it  may  be,  something 
ower  muckle  daffing  and  laughing:  dancing  ilk  night,  they 
say,  wi'  the  stranger  captain  that's  living  there — him  that 
was  ashore  on  Sumburgh  Head  the  tother  day;  less  daffing 
served  him  then." 

"  Daffing!  dancing  every  night!  "  said  Mordaunt,  nor  par- 
ticularly well  satisfied.  "  Whom  does  Captain  Cleveland 
dance  with?  " 

"  Onybody  he  likes,  I  fancy,"  said  the  jagger;  "  at  ony  rate, 
he  gars  a'  body  yonder  dance  after  his  fiddle.  But  I  ken 
little  about  it,  for  I  am  no  free  in  conscience  to  look  upon 
tha^e  flinging  fancies.  Folk  should  mind  that  life  is  made  but 
of  rotten  yarn." 

"  I  fancy  that  it  is  to  keep  them  in  mind  of  that  wholesome 
truth  that  you  deal  in  such  tender  wares,  Bryce,"  replied 
Mordaunt,  dissatisfied  as  well  with  the  tenor  of  the  reply  as 
with  the  affected  scruples  of  the  respondent. 

"  That's  as  muckle  as  to  say,  that  I  suld  hae  minded  you 


THE  PIRATE.  95 

was  a  flinger  and  a  fiddler  yoursell,  Maister  Mordaunt;  but  I 
am  an  auld  man,  and  maun  unburden  my  conscience.  But 
ye  will  be  for  the  dance,  1  sail  warrant,  that's  to  be  at  Burgh- 
Westra  on  John's  Even — Saunt  John's,  as  the  blinded  crea- 
tures ca'  him, — and  nae  doubt  ye  will  be  for  some  warldly 
braws — hose,  waistcoats,  or  sic-like?  I  hae  pieces  frae  Flan- 
ders." With  that  he  placed  his  movable  warehouse  on  the 
table,  and  began  to  unlock  it. 

"  Dance! "  repeated  Mordaunt — "  dance  on  St.  John's 
Even?     Were  you  desired  to  bid  me  to  it,  Brj'ce?  " 

"  Xa;  but  ye  ken  weel  eneugh  ye  wad  be  welcome,  bidden 
or  no  bidden.  This  captain — how  ca'  ye  him? — is  to  be  skud- 
ler,  as  they  ca't — the  first  of  the  gang,  like." 

"  The  devil  take  him! "  said  Mordaunt,  in  impatient  sur- 
prise. 

"  A'  in  gude  time,"  rephed  the  jagger:  "  hurry  no  man's 
cattle;  the  devil  will  hae  his  due,  I  warrant  ye,  or  it  winna  be 
for  lack  of  seeking.  But  it's  true  I'm  telling  you,  for  a'  ye 
stare  like  a  wild-cat;  and  this  same  captain — I  watna  his  name 
— bought  ane  of  the  very  waistcoats  that  I  am  ganging  to  show 
ye, — purple,  wi'  a  gowd  binding,  and  bonnily  broidered;  and 
I  have  a  piece  for  you,  the  neighbor  of  it,  wi'  a  green  grund; 
and  if  ye  mean  to  streek  yourself  up  beside  him,  ye  maun  e'en 
buy  it,  for  it's  gowd  that  glances  in  the  lasses'  een  nowadays. 
See — look  til't,"  he  added,  displacing  the  pattern  in  various 
points  of  view — "  look  till  it  through  the  light  and  till  the 
light  through  it,  wi'  the  grain  and  against  the  grain:  it  shows 
ony  gate;  cam  frae  Antwerp  a'  the  gate.  Four  dollars  is  the 
price;  and  yon  captain  was  sae  weel  pleased  that  he  flang  down 
a  twenty-shilling  Jacobus,  and  bade  me  keep  the  change  and 
be  d d!     Poor,  silly,  profane  creature,  I  pity  him." 

Without  inquiring  whether  the  peddler  bestowed  his  com- 
passion on  the  worldly  imprudence  or  the  religious  de- 
ficiencies of  Captain  Cleveland,  Mordaunt  turned  from  him, 
folded  his  arms,  and  paced  the  apartment,  muttering  to  him- 
self, "  Xot  asked.  A  stranger  to  be  king  of  the  feast! " 
Words  which  he  repeated  so^amestly  that  Bryce  caught  a 
part  of  their  import. 

"  As  for  asking,  I  am  almaist  bauld  to  say  that  ye  will  be 
asked,  Maister  Mordaunt." 

"  Did  they  mention  my  name,  then?  "  said  Mordaunt. 

"I  canna  preceesely  say  that,"  said  Bryce  Snailsfoot;  "but 
e  needna  turn  away  your  head  sae  sourly,  like  a  sealgh  when 
e  leaves  the  shore;  for,  do  you  see,  I  heard  distinctly  that  a' 


S6  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

the  revelers  about  are  to  be  there;  and  is't  to  be  thought  they 
would  leave  out  you,  an  old  kenn'd  freend,  and  the  lightest 
foot  at  sic  frolics — Heaven  send  you  a  better  praise  in  His  ain 
gude  time! — that  ever  flang  at  a  fiddle-squeak,  between  this 
and  Unst?  Sae  I  consider  ye  altogether  the  same  as  invited: 
and  ye  had  best  provide  yoursell  wi'  a  waistcoat,  for  brave  and 
brisk  will  every  man  be  that's  there — the  Lord  pity  them!  " 

He  thus  continued  to  follow  with  his  green  glazen  eyes  the 
motions  of  young  Mordaunt  Mertoun,  who  was  pacing  the 
room  in  a  vei-y  pensive  manner,  which  the  jagger  probablv 
misinterpreted,  as  he  thought,  like  Claudio,  that,  if  a  man  is 
sad,  it  must  needs  be  because  he  lacks  money.  Bryce,  there- 
fore, after  another  pause,  thus  accosted  him:  "Ye  needna  be 
sad  about  the  matter,  Maister  Mordaunt;  for  although  I  got 
the  just  price  of  the  article  from  the  captain-man,  yet  I  maun 
deal  freendly  wi'  you,  as  a  kenn'd  freend  and  customer, 
and  bring  the  price,  as  they  say,  within  your  purse-mouth;  or 
it's  the  same  to  me  to  let  it  lie  ower  till  Martinmas,  or  e'en  to 
Candlemas.  I  am  decent  in  the  warld,  Maister  Mordaunt; 
forbid  that  I  should  hurry  onybody,  far  mair  a  freend  that  has 
paid  me  siller  afore  now.  Or  I  wad  be  content  to  swap  the 
garment  for  the  value  in  feathers  or  sea-otters'  skins,  or  ony 
kind  of  peltrie;  nane  kens  better  than  yoursell  how  to  come  by 
sic  ware,  and.  I  am  sure  I  hae  furnished  you  wi'  the  primest 
o'  powder.  I  dinna  ken  if  I  tell'd  ye  it  was  out  o'  the  kist  of 
Captain  Plunket,  that  perished  on  the  Scaw  of  Unst,  wi'  the 
armed  brig  '  Mar}^,'  sax  years  syne.  He  was  a  prime  fowler 
himself,  and  luck  it  was  that  the  kist  came  ashore  dry.  I 
sell  that  to  nane  but  gude  marksmen.  And  so,  I  was  saying, 
if  ye  had  ony  wares  ye  liked  to  coup  for  the  waistcoat,  I  wad 
be  ready  to  trock  wi'  you,  for  assuredly  ye  will  be  wanted  at 
Burgh- Westra  on  St.  John's  Even;  and  ye  wadna  like  to  look 
waur  than  the  captain — that  wadna  be  setting." 

"  I  will  be  there  at  least,  whether  wanted  or  not,"  said  Mor- 
daunt, stopping  short  in  his  walk,  and  taking  the  waistcoat- 
piece  hastily  out  of  the  peddler's  hand;  "  and,  as  you  say,  will 
not  disgrace  them." 

"  Hand  a  care — baud  a  care,  Maister  Mordaunt,"  exclaimed 
the  peddler;  "  ye  handle  it  as  it  were  a  bale  of  coarse  wad- 
maal:  ye'll  fray't  to  bits;  ye  might  weel  say  my  ware  is  tender; 
and  ye'll  mind  the  price  is  four  dollars.  Sail  I  put  ye  in  my 
book  for  it?  " 

"  No,"  said  Mordaunt  hastily;  and,  taking  out  his  purse,  he 
flung  down  the  money. 


THE  PIRATE.  97 

"  Grace  to  ye  to  wear  the  garment,"  said  the  joyous  ped- 
dler, "  and  to  me  to  guide  the  siller;  and  protect  us  from 
earthly  vanities  and  earthly  covetousuess;  and  send  you  the 
white  linen  raiment,  whilk  is  mair  to  be  desired  than  the  mus- 
lins, and  cambrics,  and  lawns,  and  silks  of  tliis  world;  and 
send  me  the  talents  which  avail  more  than  much  fine  Span- 
ish gold,  or  Dutch  dollars  either;  and — but  God  guide  the 
callant,  what  for  is  he  wrapping  the  silk  up  that  gate,  like  a 
wisp  of  hay  ?  " 

At  this  moment,  old  Swertha,  the  housekeeper,  entered,  to 
whom,  as  if  eager  to  get  rid  of  the  subject,  Mordaunt  threw 
his  purchase,  with  something  like  careless  disdain;  and,  tell- 
ing her  to  put  it  aside,  snatched  his  gun,  wliich  stood  in  the 
corner,  threw  his  shooting  accouterments  about  him,  and, 
without  noticing  Br}^ce's  attempt  to  enter  into  conversation 
upon  the  "  braw  seal-skin,  as  saft  as  doe-leather,"  which  made 
the  sling  and  cover  of  his  fowling-piece,  he  left  the  apartment 
abruptly. 

The  jagger,  with  those  green,  goggling,  and  gain-descr}ing 
kind  of  optics  which  we  have  already  described,  continued 
gazing  for  an  instant  after  the  customer  who  treated  his  wares 
with  such  irreverence. 

Swertha  also  looked  after  him  with  some  surprise.  "  The 
callant's  in  a  creel,"  quoth  she. 

"  In  a  creel! "  echoed  the  peddler;  "  he  will  be  as  wovd  as 
ever  his  father  was.  To  guide  in  that  gate  a  bargain  that 
cost  him  four  dollars! — very,  very  fifish,  as  the  east-country 
fisher-folk  say." 

"  Four  dollars  for  that  green  rag!  "  said  Swertha,  catching 
at  the  words  which  the  jagger  had  unwarily  suffered  to  escape- 
"that  was  a  bargain  indeed!  I  wonder  whether  he  is  the 
greater  fule  or  you  the  mair  rogue,  Bryce  Snailsfoot." 

"I  didna  sav  it  cost  liim  preceesely  four  dollars,"  said 
Snailsfoot;  "  but  if  it  had,  the  lad's  siller's  his  ain,  I  hope; 
and  he  is  auld  eneugh  to  make  his  ain  bargains.  Mair  by 
token,  the  gudes  are  weel  worth  the  money  and  mair." 

"  Mair  by  token,"  said  Swertha  coolly,  "  I  will  see  what  his 
father  thinks  about  it." 

"  Ye'll  no  be  sae  ill-natured,  Mrs.  Swertha,"  said  the  jag- 
ger; "  that  will  be  but  cauld  thanks  for  the  bonny  owerlay 
that  I  hae  brought  you  a'  the  way  frae  Lenvick." 

"And  a  bonny  price  ye'll  be  setting  on't,"  said  Swertha; 
"-'  for  that's  the  gate  your  good  deeds  end." 

"  Ye  sail  hae  the  fixing  of  the  pricf  yoursell;  or  it  may  lie 


M  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

ower  till  ye're  buying  something  for  the  house  or  for  youi 
master,  and  it  can  make  a'  ae  count." 

"  Troth,  and  that's  true,  Bryce  Snailsfoot;  I  am  thinking 
we'll  want  some  napery  sune;  for  it's  no  to  be  thought  we  can 
spin,  and  the  like,  as  if  there  was  a  mistress  in  the  house;  and 
sae  we  make  nane  at  hame." 

"  And  that's  what  I  ca'  walking  by  the  Word,"  said  the 
jagger.  "  '  Go  unto  those  that  buy  and  sell ';  there's  muckle 
profit  in  that  text." 

"  There  is  a  pleasure  in  dealing  wi'  a  discreet  man,  that  can 
make  profit  of  onything,"  said  Swertha;  "  and  now  that  I 
take  another  look  at  that  daft  callant^fe  waistcoat-piece,  I  think 
it  is  honestly  worth  four  dollars." 


CHAPTER  X. 

I  have  posseseed  the  regulation  of  the  weather  and  the  dietribution  of  the 
seaeona.  The  sun  has  listeued  to  my  dictates,  aud  passed  from  tropic  to 
tropic  by  my  direction  ;  the  clouds,  at  my  command,  have  poured  forth 
their  waters. — Hasselas. 

Any  sudden  cause  for  anxious  and  mortifying  reflection, 
which,  in  advanced  age,  occasions  sullen  and  pensive  inac- 
tivity, stimulates  youth  to  eager  and  active  exertion;  as  if, 
like  the  hurt  deer,  they  endeavored  to  drown  the  pain  of  the 
shaft  by  the  rapidity  of  motion.  When  Mordaunt  caught  up 
his  gun  and  rushed  out  of  the  house  of  Jarlshof,  he  walked 
on  with  great  activity  over  waste  and  wild,  without  any  de- 
termined purpose,  except  that  of  escaping,  if  possible,  from 
the  smart  of  his  own  irritation.  His  pride  was  effectually 
mortified  by  the  report  of  the  jagger,  which  coincided  exactly 
with  some  doubts  he  had  been  led  to  entertain,  by  the  long 
and  unkind  silence  of  his  friends  at  Burgh-^Yestra. 

If  the  fortunes  of  Caesar  had  doomed  him,  as  the  poet  sug- 
gests, to  have  been 

But  the  beet  wrestler  on  the  green, 

it  is,  nevertheless,  to  be  presumed  that  a  foil  from  a  rival  in 
that  rustic  exercise  would  have  mortified  him  as  much  as  a 
defeat  from  a  competitor  when  he  was  struggling  for  the  em- 
pery  of  the  world.  And  even  so  Mordaunt  Mertoun,  de- 
graded in  his  own  eyes  from  the  height  wliich  he  had  occu- 
pied as  the  chief  amongst  the  youth  of  the  island,  felt  vexed 
and  irritated,  as  well  as  humbled.  The  two  beautiful  sisters, 
also,  whose  smiles  all  were  so  desirous  of  acquiring,  with 
whom  he  had  lived  on  terms  of  such  familiar  affection  that, 
with  the  same  ease  and  ignorance,  there  was  unconsciously 
mixed  a  shade  of  deeper  though  undefined  tenderness  than 
characterizes  fraternal  love — they  also  seemed  to  have  for- 
gotten him.  He  could  not  be  ignorant  that,  in  the  ur.iversal 
opinion  of  all  Dunrossness,  nay,  of  the  whole  Mainland,  he 
might  have  had  every  chance  of  being  the  favored  lover  of 
either;  and  now  at  once,  and  without  any  failure  on  his  part, 
he  was  become  so  little  to  them  that  he  had  lost  even  the  con- 
sequence of  an  ordinary  acquaintance.  The  old  Udaller,  too, 
whose  hearty  and  sincere  character  should  have  made  him 

99 


100  WAVERLEY  A'OVELS. 

more  constant  in  his  friendships,  seemed  to  have  been  as 
fickle  as  his  daughters,  and  poor  Mordaunt  had  at  once  lost 
the  smiles  of  tlie  fair  and  the  favor  of  the  powerful.  These 
Avere  uncomfortable  reflections,  and  he  doubled  his  pace,  that 
he  might  outstrip  them  if  possible. 

Without  exactly  reflecting  upon  the  route  which  he  pur- 
sued, Mordaunt  walked  briskly  on  through  a  country  where 
neither  hedge,  wall,  nor  inclosure  of  any  kind  interrupts  the 
steps  of  the  wanderer,  until  he  reached  a  very  solitary  spot, 
where,  embosomed  among  steep  heathy  hills,  which  sunk  sud- 
denly down  on  the  verge  of  the  water,  lay  one  of  those  small 
fresh-water  lakes  which  are  common  in  the  Zetland  Isles, 
whose  outlets  form  the  sources  of  the  small  brooks  and  rivu- 
lets by  which  the  country  is  watered,  and  serve  to  drive  the 
little  mills  which  manufacture  their  grain. 

It  was  a  mild  summer  day;  the  beams  of  the  sun,  as  is  not 
uncommon  in  Zetland,  were  moderated  and  shaded  by  a  sil- 
very haze,  which  filled  the  atmosphere,  and,  destroying  the 
strong  contrast  of  light  and  shade,  gave  even  to  noon  the 
sober  livery  of  the  evening  twilight.  The  little  lake,  not 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  in  circuit,  lay  in  profound  quiet;  its 
surface  undimpled,  save  when  one  of  the  numerous  water- 
fowl which  glided  on  its  surface  dived  for  an  instant  under  it. 
The  depth  of  the  water  gave  the  whole  that  cerulean  tint  of 
bluish-green  which  occasioned  its  being  called  the  Green 
Loch;  and  at  present  it  formed  so  perfect  a  mirror  to  the  bleak 
hills  by  which  it  was  surrounded,  and  which  lay  reflected  on 
its  bosom,  that  it  was  difficult  to  distinguish  the  water  from 
the  land;  nay,  in  the  shadowy  uncertainty  occasioned  by  the 
thin  haze,  a  stranger  could  scarce  have  been  sensible  that  a 
sheet  of  water  lay  before  him.  A  scene  of  more  complete 
solitude,  having  all  its  peculiarities  heightened  by  the  ex- 
treme serenity  of  the  weather,  the  quiet,  gray,  composed  tone 
of  the  atmosphere,  and  the  perfect  silence  of  the  elements, 
could  hardly  be  imagined.  The  very  aquatic  birds,  who  fre- 
quented the  spot  in  great  numbers,  forbore  their  usual  flight 
and  screams,  and  floated  in  profound  tranquillity  upon  the 
silent  water. 

Without  taking  any  determined  aim,  without  having  any 
determined  purpose,  without  almost  thinking  what  he  was 
about,  Mordaunt  presented  his  fowling-piece  and  fired  across 
ihe  lake.  The  large  swan-shot  dimpled  its  surface  like  a 
partial  showier  of  hail;  the  hills  took  up  the  noise  of  the  re- 
port, and  repeated  it  again,  and  again,  and  again,  to  all  their 


THE  PIRATE:  101 

echoes;  the  water-fowl  took  to  wing  in  eddying  and  confused 
wheel,  answering  the  echoes  with  a  thousand  varying  screams, 
from  the  deep  note  of  the  swabie,  or  swartback,  to  the  queru- 
lous cry  of  the  tirracke  and  kittiwake. 

Mordaunt  looked  for  a  moment  on  the  clamorous  crowd 
with  a  feeling  of  resentment,  which  he  felt  disposed  at  the 
moment  to  apply  to  all  nature,  and  all  her  objects,  animate  or 
inanimate,  however  little  concerned  with  the  cause  of  his  in- 
ternal mortification. 

"  Aye — aye,"  he  said,_ "  wheel,  dive,  scream,  and  clamor  as 
you  will,  and  all  because  you  have  seen  a  strange  sight  and 
heard  an  unusual  sound.  There  is  many  a  one  like  you  in 
this  round  world.  But  you,  at  least,  shall  learn,"  he  added, 
as  he  reloaded  his  gun,  "  that  strange  sights  and  strange 
sounds,  aye,  and  strange  acquaintances  to  boot,  have  some- 
times a  little  shade  of  danger  connected  with  them.  But 
why  should  I  wreak  my  own  vexation  on  these  harmless  sea- 
gulls?" he  subjoined,  after  a  moment's  pause;  "they  have 
nothing  to  do  with  the  friends  that  have  forgotten  me.  I 
loved  them  all  so  well — and  to  be  so  soon  given  up  for  the  first 
stranger  whom  chance  threw  on  the  coast!  " 

As  he  stood  resting  upon  his  gun,  and  abandoning  his  mind 
to  the  course  of  these  unpleasant  reflections,  his  meditations 
were  expectedly  interrupted  by  someone  touching  his  shoul- 
der. He  looked  around,  and  saw  N"oma  of  the  Fitful  Head, 
wrapped  in  her  dark  and  ample  mantle.  She  had  seen  him 
from  the  brow  of  the  hill,  and  had  descended  to  the  laks 
through  a  small  ravine  which  concealed  her,  until  she  came 
with  noiseless  step  so  close  to  him  that  he  turned  round  at 
her  touch. 

Mordaunt  Merton  was  by  nature  neither  timorous  nor  credu- 
lous, and  a  course  of  reading  more  extensive  than  usual  had, 
in  some  degree,  fortified  his  mind  against  the  attacks  of  super- 
stition; but  he  would  have  been  an  actual  prodigy  if,  living  in 
Zetland  in  the  end  of  the  seventeenth  century,  he  had  pos- 
sessed the  philosophy  which  did  not  exist  in  Scotland  gen- 
erally until  at  least  two  generations  later.  He  doubted  in  his 
own  mind  the  extent,  nay,  the  \evy  existence,  of  Noma's 
supernatural  attributes,  which  was  a  high  flight  of  incredu- 
lity in  the  country  where  they  were  universally  received;  but 
still  his  incredulity  went  no  "farther  than  doubts.  She  was 
unquestionably  an  extraordinary  woman,  gifted  with  an 
energy  above  others,  acting  upon  motives  peculiar  to  her- 
self, and  apparently  independent  of  mere  earthly  considera- 


102  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

tions.  Impressed  with  these  ideas,  which  he  had  imbibed 
from  his  youth,  it  was  not  without  something  like  alarm 
that  he  beheld  this  mysterious  female  standing  on  a  sudden  so 
close  beside  him,  and  looking  upon  him  with  such  sad  and 
severe  eyes,  as  those  with  which  the  Fatal  Virgins,  who,  ac- 
cording to  Northern  mythology,  were  called  the  Valkyriur, 
or  "  Choosers  of  the  Slain,"  were  supposed  to  regard  the 
young  champions  whom  they  selected  to  share  the  banquet 
of  Odin. 

It  was,  indeed,  reckoned  unlucky,  to  say  the  least,  to  meet 
with  Noma  suddenly  alone,  and  in  a  place  remote  from  wit- 
nesses; and  she  was  supposed,  on  such  occasions,  to  have  been 
usually  a  prophetess  of  evil,  as  well  as  an  omen  of  misfor- 
tune, to  those  who  had  such  a  rencounter.  There  were  few  or 
none  of  the  islanders,  however  familiarized  with  her  occa- 
sional appearance  in  society,  that  would  not  have  trembled  to 
meet  her  on  the  solitary  banks  of  the  Green  Loch. 

"  I  bring  you  no  evil,  Mordaunt  Mertoun,"  she  said,  read- 
ing perhaps  something  of  this  superstitious  feeling  in  the 
looks  of  the  young  man.  "  Evil  from  me  you  never  felt,  and 
never  will." 

"  Nor  do  I  fear  any,"  said  Mordaunt,  exerting  himself  to 
throw  aside  an  apprehension  which  he  felt  to  be  unmanly. 
"  Why  should  I,  mother?     You  have  been  ever  my  friend." 

"  Yet,  Mordaunt,  thou  art  not  of  our  region;  but  to  none 
of  Zetland  blood,  no,  not  even  to  those  who  sit  around  the 
hearthstone  of  Magnus  Troil,  the  noble  descendants  of  the 
ancient  Jarls  of  Orkney,  am  I  more  a  well-wisher  than  I  am  to 
thee,  thou  kind  and  brave-hearted  boy.  When  I  hung  around 
thy  neck  that  gifted  chain,  which  all  in  our  isles  know  was 
wrought  by  no  earthly  artist,  but  by  the  Drows,*  in  the 
secret  recesses  of  their  caverns,  thou  wert  then  but  fifteen 
years  old;  yet  thy  foot  had  been  on  the  Maiden  Skerry  of 
Northmaven,  known  before  but  to  the  webbed  sole  of  the 
swartback,  and  thy  skiff  had  been  in  the  deepest  cavern  of 
Brinnastir,  where  the  '  haaf-fish '  f  had  before  slumbered  in 
dark  obscurity.  Therefore  I  gave  thee  that  noble  gift;  and 
well  thou  knowest  that,  since  that  day,  every  eye  in  these 
isles  has  looked  on  thee  as  a  son  or  as  a  brother,  endowed  be- 
yond other- youths,  and  the  favored  of  those  whose  hour  of 
power  is  when  the  night  meets  with  the  day." 

*  See  Note  17. 

t  The  larger  seal,  or  sea-calf,  which  seeks  the  most  solitary  recesses  for  its  abodet 
See  Dr.  Edmonstoue's  "  Zetland,"  vol.  ii.  p.  S94. 


THE  PIRATE.  103 

"  Alas!  mother,"  said  Mordaunt,  "  your  kind  gift  may  have 
given  me  favor,  but  it  has  not  been  able  to  keep  it  for  me,  or 
I  have  not  been  able  to  keep  it  for  myself.  What  matters  it? 
I  shall  learn  to  set  as  little  by  others  as  they  do  by  me.  My 
father  says  that  I  shall  soon  leave  these  islands,  and  there- 
fore. Mother  Noma,  I  \nll  return  to  you  your  fairy  gift,  that 
it  may  bring  more  lasting  luck  to  some  other  than  it  has  done 
to  me." 

"  Despise  not  the  gift  of  the  nameless  race,"  said  Noma, 
frowning;  then  suddenly  changing  her  tone  of  displeasure  to 
that  of  mournful  solemnity,  she  added,  '"  Despise  them  not: 
but,  oh,  Mordaunt,  court  them  not!  Sit  down  on  that  grav 
stone;  thou  art  the  son  of  my  adoption,  and  I  ^\-ill  dotf.  as  far 
as  I  may,  those  attributes  that  sever  me  from  the  common 
mass  of  humanity,  and  speak  to  you  as  a  parent  with  a  child." 

There  was  a  tremulous  tone  of  grief  which  mingled  with 
the  loftiness  of  her  language  and  carriage,  and  was  calculated 
to  excite  sympathy,  as  well  as  to  attract  attention.  Mor- 
daunt sat  down  on  the  rock  which  she  pointed  out — a  frag- 
ment which,  with  many  others  that  lay  scattered  around,  had 
been  torn  by  some  winter  storm  from  the  precipice  at  the 
foot  of  which  it  lay,  upon  the  very  verge  of  the  water.  Noma 
took  her  own  seat  on  a  stone  at  about  three  feet  distance,  ad- 
justed her  mantle  so  that  little  more  than  her  forehead,  her 
eyes,  and  a  single  lock  of  her  gray  hair  were  seen  from  beneath 
the  shade  of  her  dark  wadmaal  cloak,  and  then  proceeded  in 
a  tone  in  which  the  imaginary  consequence  and  importance 
so  often  assumed  by  lunacy  seemed  to  contend  against  the 
deep  workings  of  some  extraordinary  and  deeply  rooted 
mental  affliction. 

"  I  was  not  always,"  she  said,  "  that  which  I  now  am.  I 
was  not  always  the  wise,  the  powerful,  the  commanding,  be- 
fore whom  the  young  stand  abashed  and  the  old  uncover  their 
gray  heads.  There  was  a  time  when  my  appearance  did  not 
silence  mirth,  when  I  sympathized  with  human  passion,  and 
had  my  own  share  in  human  joy  or  sorrow.  It  was  a  time 
of  helplessness — it  was  a  time  of  folly — it  was  a  time 
of  idle  and  unfruitful  laughter — it  was  a  time  of 
causeless  and  senseless  tears;  and  yet,  with  its  follies 
and  its  sorrows,  and  its  weaknesses,  what  would  Noma 
of  Fitful  Head  give  to  be  again  the  unmarked  and 
happy  maiden  that  she  was  in  her  early  days!  Hear 
me,  Mordaunt,  and  bear  with  me;  for  you  hear  me  utter 
complaints  which  have  never  sounded  in  mortal  ears,  and 


104  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

which  in  mortal  cars  shall  never  sound  ajjain.  I  will  be  what 
I  ought,"  she  continued,  startling  up  and  extending  her  lean 
and  withered  arm,  "  the  queen  and  protectress  of  these  wild 
and  neglected  isles!  I  will  be  her  whose  foot  the  wave  wets 
not,  save  by  her  permission,  aye,  even  though  its  rage  be  at 
its  wildest  madness:  whose  robe  the  whirlwind  respects,  when 
it  rends  the  house-rigging  from  the  roof-tree.  Bear  me  wit- 
ness, Mordaunt  jMertoun:  you  heard  my  words  at  Harfra — you 
saw  the  tempest  sink  before  them!     Speak,  bear  me  \vitness!  " 

To  have  contradicted  her  in  this  strain  of  high-toned  en- 
thusiasm would  have  been  cruel  and  unavailing,  even  had 
Mordaunt  been  more  decidedly  convinced  than  he  was  that  an 
insane  woman,  not  one  of  supernatural  power,  stood  before 
him. 

"  I  heard  you  sing,"  he  replied,  "  and  I  saw  the  tempest 
abate." 

"Abate!"  exclaimed  Noma,  striking  the  ground  impa- 
tiently with  her  staff  of  black  oak;  "  thou  speakest  it  but  half: 
it  sunk  at  once — sunk  in  shorter  space  than  the  child  that  is 
hushed  to  silence  by  the  nurse.  Enough,  you  know  my 
power;  but  you  know  not — mortal  man  knows  not,  and  never 
shall  know — the  price  which  I  paid  to  attain  it.  No,  Mor- 
daunt, never  for  the  widest  sw^ay  that  the  ancient  Norsemen 
boasted,  when  their  banners  waved  victorious  from  Bergen 
to  Palestine — never,  for  all  that  the  round  world  contains, 
do  thou  barter  thy  peace  of  mind  for  such  greatness  as 
Noma's."  She  resumed  her  seat  upon  the  rock,  drew  the 
mantle  over  her  face,  rested  her  head  upon  her  hands,  and, 
by  the  convulsive  motion  which  agitated  her  bosom,  appeared 
to  be  weeping  bitterly. 

"  Good  Noma,"  said  Mordaunt,  and  paused,  scarce  know- 
ing what  to  say  that  might  console  the  unhappy  woman — 
"  good  Noma,"  he  again  resumed,  "  if  there  be  aught  in  your 
mind  that  troubles  it,  were  you  not  best  to  go  to  the  worthy 
minister  at  Dunrossness?  Men  say  you  have  not  for  many 
years  been  in  a  Christian  congregation:  that  cannot  be  well, 
or  right.  You  are  yourself  well  known  as  a  healer  of  bodily 
disease;  but  when  the  mind  is  sick,  we  should  draw  to  the 
Physician  of  our  souls." 

Noma  had  raised  her  person  slowly  from  the  stooping  pos- 
ture in  which  she  sat;  but  at  length  she  started  up  on  her  feet. 
threw  back  her  mantle,  extended  her  arm,  and  while  her  lip 
foamed  and  her  eye  sparkled,  exclaimed  in  a  tone  resembling 
a  scream — "  Me  did  you  speak — me  did  you  bid  seek  out-  a 


THE  PIRATE.  105 

priest!  Would  you  kill  the  good  man  with  horror?  Me  in 
a  Christian  congre<iation !  "Would  you  have  the  roof  fall  on 
the  sackless  assembly,  and  mingle  their  blood  with  their  wor- 
ship? I— I  seek  to  the  good  Physician!  Would  you  have 
the  fiend  claim  his  prey  openly  before  God  and  man?" 

The  extreme  agitation  of  the  unhappy  speaker  naturally 
led  Mordaunt  to  the  conclusion  which  was  generally  adopted 
and  accredited  in  that  superstitious  countiy  and  period. 
"  Wretched  woman,"  he  said,  "  if  indeed  thou  hast  leagued 
thyself  with  the  Powers  of  Evil,  why  should  you  not  seek 
even  yet  for  repentance?  But  do  as  thou  wilt,  I  cannot,  dare 
not,  as  a  Christian,  abide  longer  with  you;  and  take  again 
your  gift,"  he  said,  offering  back  the '  chain.  "  Good  can 
never  come  of  it,  if  indeed  evil  hath  not  come  already." 

"  Be  still  and  hear  me,  thou  foolish  boy,"  said  Noma 
calmly,  as  if  she  had  been  restored  to  reason  by  the  alarm  and 
horror  which  she  perceived  in  Mordaunt's  countenance — 
"  hear  me,  I  say.  I  am  not  of  those  who  have  leagued  them- 
selves with  the  Enemy  of  Mankind,  or  derive  skill  or  power 
from  his  ministry.  And  although  the  unearthly  powers  were 
propitiated  by  a  sacrifice  which  human  tongue  can  never 
utter,  yet,  God  knows,  my  guilt  in  that  offering  was  no  more 
than  that  of  the  blind  man  who  falls  from  the  precipice  which 
he  could  neither  see  nor  shun.  Oh,  leave  me  not — shun  me 
not — in  this  hour  of  weakness!  Kemain  with  me  till  the 
temptation  be  passed,  or  I  will  plunge  myself  into  that  lake, 
and  rid  myself  at  once  of  my  power  and  my  wretchedness!  " 

Mordaunt,  who  had  always  looked  up  to  this  singular 
woman  with  a  sort  of  affection,  occasioned  no  doubt  by  the 
early  kindness  and  distinction  which  she  had  shown  to  him, 
was  readily  induced  to  reassume  his  seat  and  listen  to  what 
she  had  further  to  say,  in  hopes  that  she  would  gi-adually 
overcome  the  violence  of  her  agitation.  It  was  not  long  ere 
she  seemed  to  have  gained  the  victory'  her  companion  ex- 
pected, for  she  addressed  him  in  her  usual  steady  and  authori- 
tative manner. 

"  It  was  not  of  myself,  Mordaunt,  that  I  purposed  to  speak 
when  I  beheld  you  from  the  summit  of  yonder  gray  rock,  and 
came  down  the  path  to  meet  with  you.  My  fortunes  are  fixed 
beyond  change,  be  it  for  weal  or  for  woe.  For  myself  I  have 
ceased  to  feel  much:  but  for  those  whom  she  loves  Noma  of 
the  Fitful  Head  has  still  those  feelings  which  link  her  to  her 
kind.  Mark  me.  There  is  an  eagle,  the  noblest  that  build- 
in  these  airy  precipices,  and  into  that  eagle's  nest  there  hao 


106  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

crept  an  adder;  wilt  thou  lend  thy  aid  to  crush  the  reptile, 
and  to  save  the  noble  brood  of  the  lord  of  the  north  sky  ?  "' 

"  You  must  speak  more  plainly,  Noma,"  said  Mordaunt, 
"  if  you  would  have  me  understand  or  answer  you.  I  am  no 
guesser  of  riddles." 

"  In  plain  language,  then,  you  know  well  the  family  of 
Burgh-Westra — the  lovely  daughters  of  the  generous  old 
Udaller,  Magnus  Troil — Minna  and  Brenda,  I  mean?  You 
know  them,  and  you  love  them?" 

"  I  have  known  them,  mother,"  replied  Mordaunt,  "  and  I 
have  loved  them — none  knows  it  better  than  yourself." 

"  To  know  them  once,"  said  Noma,  emphatically,  "  is  to 
know  them  always.  To  love  them  once  is  to  love  them  for- 
ever." 

"  To  have  loved  them  once  is  to  wish  them  well  forever," 
replied  the  youth;  "  but  it  is  nothing  more.  To  be  plain  with 
you.  Noma,  the  family  at  Burgh-Westra  have  of  late  totally 
neglected  me.  But  show  me  the  means  of  serving  them,  I 
will  convince  you  how  much  I  have  remembered  old  kind- 
ness, how  little  I  resent  late  coldness." 

"  It  is  well  spoken,  and  I  will  put  your  purpose  to  the 
proof,"  replied  Noma.  "  Magnus  Troil  has  taken  a  serpent 
into  his  bosom:  his  lovely  daughters  are  delivered  up  to  the 
machinations  of  a  villain." 

"  You  mean  the  stranger,  Cleveland  ?  "  said  Mordaunt. 

"  The  stranger  who  so  calls  himself,"  replied  Noma — "  the 
«ame  whom  we  found  flung  ashore,  like  a  waste  heap  of  sea- 
weed, at  the  foot  of  the  Sumburgh  Cape.  I  felt  that  within 
me  that  would  have  prompted  me  to  let  him  lie  till  the  tide 
floated  him  off,  as  it  had  floated  him  on  shore.  I  repent  me  I 
gave  not  way  to  it." 

"  But,"  said  Mordaunt,  "  I  cannot  repent  that  I  did  my 
duty  as  a  Christian  man.  And  what  right  have  I  to  wish 
otherwise?  If  Minna,  Brenda,  Magnus,  and  the  rest  like  that 
stranger  better  than  me,  I  have  no  title  to  be  offended;  nay, 
I  might  well  be  laughed  at  for  bringing  myself  into  com- 
parison." 

"It  is  well,  and  I  trust  they  merit  thy  unselfish  friendship." 

"  But  I  cannot  perceive,"  said  Mordaunt,  "  in  what  you  can 
propose  that  I  should  serve  them.  I  have  but  just  learned 
iDy  BrV'Ce,  the  jagger,  that  this  Captain  Cleveland  is  all  in  all 
with  the  ladies  at  Burgh-Westra  and  with  the  Udaller  him- 
^If.  I  would  like  ill  to  intrude  myself  where  I  am  not  wel- 
come, or  to  place  my  home-bred  merit  in  comparison  with 


TEE  PIRATE.  107 

Captain  Cleveland's.  He  can  tell  them  of  battles,  when  I 
can  only  speak  of  birds'  nests;  can  speak  of  shooting  French- 
men, when  I  can  only  tell  of  shooting  seals;  he  wears  gay 
clothes  and  bears  a  brave  countenance,  1  am  plainly  dressed 
and  plainly  nurtured.  Such  gay  gallants  as  he  can  noose  the 
hearts  of  those  he  lives  with,  as  the  fowler  nooses  the  guille- 
mot with  his  rod  and  line." 

"  You  do  wrong  to  yourself,"  replied  Noma — "  wrong  to 
yourself,  and  greater  wrong  to  Minna  and  lirenda.  And  trust 
not  the  reports  of  Bryce:  he  is  liki.'  the  greedy  chatfer-whale, 
that  vdW  change  his  course  and  dive  for  the  most  petty  coin 
which  a  fisher  can  cast  at  him.  Certain  it  is  that,  if  you  have 
been  lessened  in  the  opinion  of  Magnus  Troil,  that  sordid  fel- 
low hath  had  some  share  in  it.  But  let  him  count  his  vantage, 
for  my  eye  is  upon  him." 

"  And  why,  mother,"  said  Mordaunt,  "  do  you  not  tell  to 
Magnus  what  you  have  told  me?  " 

"  Because,"  replied  Noma,  "  they  who  wax  wise  in  their 
own  conceit  must  be  taught  a  bitter  lesson  by  f^xperience.  It 
was  but  yesterday  that  I  spoke  with  Magnus,  and  what  was  his 
reply? — '  Good  Noma,  you  grow  old.'  And  this  was  spoken 
by  one  bounden  to  me  by  so  many  and  such  close  ties — by  the 
descendant  of  the  ancient  Norse  earls — this  was  from  Magnus 
Troil  to  me;  and  it  was  said  in  behalf  of  one  whom  the  sea 
flung  forth  as  wreck-weed!  Since  he  despises  the  counsel  of 
the  aged,  he  shall  be  taught  by  that  of  the  young;  and  well 
that  he  is  not  left  to  his  own  folly.  Go,  therefore,  to  Burgh- 
Westra,  as  usual,  upon  the  Baptist's  festival." 

"I  have  had  no  invitation,"  said  Mordaunt:  "I  am  not 
wanted,  not  wished  for,  not  thought  of — perhaps  I  shall  not 
be  acknowledged  if  I  go  thither;  and  yet,  mother,  to  confess 
the  truth,  thither  I  had  thought  to  go." 

"It  was  a  good  thought,  and  to  be  cherished,"  replied 
Noma;  "  we  seek  our  friends  when  they  are  sick  in  health, 
why  not  when  they  are  sick  in  mind  and  surfeited  with  pros- 
perity? Do  not  fail  to  go;  it  may  be,  we  shall  meet  there. 
Meanwhile  our  roads  lie  different.  Farewell,  and  speak  not 
of  this  meeting." 

Thev  parted,  and  Mordaunt  remained  standing  by  the  lake, 
with  his  eyes  fixed  on  Noma,  until  her  tall  dark  fomi  became 
invisible  among  the  windings  of  the  valley  down  which  she 
wandered,  and  Mordaunt  retumed  to  his  father's  mansion, 
determined  to  follow  counsel  which  coincided  so  well  with  his 
own  wi^ea. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

All  your  ancient  cnstoms 
And  long-dcscc'uded  usage«  I'll  chiinge. 
Ye  shall  not  eat,  nor  drink,  nor  speak,  nor  moTe, 
Think,  look,  or  walk,  an  ye  were  wont  to  do. 
Even  your  marriage-beds  shall  know  mutation  : 
The  bride  shall  have  the  stock,  the  groom  the  wall ; 
For  all  old  practice  will  I  turn  and  change, 
And  call  it  reformation— marry  will  I  ! 

— '  Tis  Even  that  we're  at  Odds. 

The  festal  day  approached,  and  still  no  invitation  arrived 
for  that  guest  without  whom,  but  a  little  space  since,  no  feast 
could  have  been  held  in  the  island;  while,  on  the  other  hand, 
such  reports  as  reached  them  on  every  side  spoke  highly  of 
the  favor  which  Captain  Cleveland  enjoyed  in  the  good  graces 
of  the  old  Udaller  of  Burgh- Westra.  Swertha  and  the  Ran- 
zelman  shook  their  heads  at  these  mutations,  and  reminded 
Mordaunt,  by  many  a  half-hint  and  innuendo,  that  he  had 
incurred  this  eclipse  by  being  so  imprudently  active  to  secure 
the  safety  of  the  stranger,  when  he  lay  at  the  mercy  of  the 
next  wave  beneath  the  cliffs  of  Sumburgh  Head.  "  It  is  best 
to  let  saut  water  take  its  gate,"  said  Swertha:  "  luck  never 
came  of  crossing  it." 

"  In  troth,"  said  the  Eanzelman,  "  they  are  wise  folks  that 
let  wave  and  withy  hand  their  aim  luck  never  came  of  a  half- 
drowned  man,  or  a  half-hanged  ane  either.  Who  was't  shot 
Will  Paterson  off  the  Noss?  *  The  Dutchman  that  he 
saved  from  sinking,  I  trow.  To  fling  a  drowning  man  a  plank 
or  a  tow  may  be  the  part  of  a  Christian;  but  I  say,  keep  hands 
aff  him,  if  ye  wad  live  and  thrive  free  frae  his  danger." 

"  Ye  are  a  wise  man,  Ranzelman,  and  a  worthy,"  echoed 
Swertha,  with  a  groan,  "  and  ken  how  and  whan  to  help  a 
neighbor  as  weel  as  ony  man  that  ever  drew  a  net." 

"  In  troth,  I  have  seen  length  of  days,"  answered  the  Ran- 
zelman, "  and  I  have  heard  what  the  auld  folk  said  to  each 
other  anent  sic  matters;  and  nae  man  in  Zetland  shall  go 
farther  than  I  will  in  any  Christian  service  to  a  man  on  firm 
land;  but  if  he  cry  '  Help! '  out  of  the  saut  waves,  that's  an- 
other story." 

"  And  yet,  to  think  of  this  lad  Cleveland  standing  in  our 
Maister  Mordaunt's  light,"  said  Swertha,  "  and  with  Magnus 

*  See  I^ockha-Tt's  "Life  of  Scott,"  vol.  iv.  p.  202. 
106 


THE  PIRATE.  109 

Troil,  that  thought  liim  the  flower  of  the  island  but  on  Whit- 
sunday last;  and  Magnus,  too,  that's  both  held — when  he's 
fresh,  honest  man! — the  wisest  and  wealthiest  of  Zetland!  " 

"  He  canna  win  by  it."  said  the  Eanzelman,  with  a  look 
of  the  deepest  sagacity.  '"  There's  whiles,  Swertha,  that  the 
wisest  of  us,  as  I  am  sure  I  humbly  confess  myself  not  to  be, 
may  be  little  better  than  gulls,  and  can  no  more  win  by  doing 
deeds  of  folly  than  I  can  step  over  Sumburgh  Head.  It  has 
been  my  own  case  once  or  twice  in  my  life.  But  we  shall  see 
soon  what  ill  is  to  come  of  all  tliis,  for  good  there  cannot 
come." 

And  Swertha  answered,  mth  the  same  tone  of  prophetic 
\dsdom.  '*'  Xa — na,  gude  can  never  come  on  it,  and  that  is 
ower  truly  said." 

These  doleful  predictions,  repeated  from  time  to  time,  had 
some  effect  upon  Mordaunt.  He  did  not  indeed  suppose  that 
the  charitable  action  of  relieving  a  drowning  man  had  sub- 
jected him,  as  a  necessary  and  fatal  consequence,  to  the  un- 
pleasant  circumstances  in  which  he  was  placed;  yet  he  felt  as 
if  a  sort  of  spell  were  drawn  around  him,  of  which  he  neither 
understood  the  nature  nor  the  extent;  that  some  power,  in 
short,  beyond  liis  own  control  was  acting  upon  his  destiny, 
and,  as  it  seemed,  ^vith  no  friendly  influence.  His  curiosity, 
as  well  as  his  anxiety,  was  highly  excited,  and  he  continued 
determined,  at  all  events,  to  make  his  appearance  at  the  ap- 
proacliing  festival,  when  he  was  impressed  with  the  belief 
that  something  uncommon  was  necessarily  to  take  place, 
which  should  determine  liis  future  views  and  prospects  in 
life. 

As  the  elder  Mertoun  was  at  this  time  in  his  ordinars-  state 
of  health,  it  became  necessary  that  his  son  should  intimate  to 
him  his  intended  visit  to  Burgh- Westra.  He  did  so;  and  hi- 
father  desired  to  know  the  especial  reason  of  his  going 
at  this  particular  time. 

"  It  is  a  time  of  merr}'-making,"  replied  the  youth,  "  and 
all  the  country  are  assembled." 

"  And  you  are  doubtless  impatient  to  add  another  fool  to 
the  number.  Go;  but  beware  how  you  walk  in  the  path  which 
you  are  about  to  tread:  a  fall  from  the  cliffs  of  Foulah  were 
not  more  fatal." 

"  May  I  ask  the  reason  of  your  caution,  sir?  "  replied  Mor- 
daunt, breaking  through  the  reserve  which  ordinarily  sub- 
sisted betwixt  him  and  his  singular  parent. 

"  Magnus  Troil,"  said  the  elder  Mertoun,  "  has  two  daugh- 


110  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

ters;  you  are  of  the  age  when  men  look  upon  such  gauds  with 
eyes  of  affection,  that  they  may  afterward  learn  to  curse  the 
day  that  first  opened  their  eyes  upon  heaven!  I  bid  you 
beware  of  them;  for,  as  sure  as  that  death  and  sin  came  into 
the  world  by  woman,  so  sure  are  their  soft  words  and  softer 
looks  the  utter  destruction  and  ruin  of  all  who  put  faith  in 
them." 

Mordaunt  had  sometimes  observed  his  father's  marked  dis- 
like to  the  female  sex,  but  had  never  before  heard  him  give 
vent  to  it  in  terms  so  determined  and  precise.  He  replied 
that  the  daughters  of  Magnus  Troil  were  no  more  to  him  than 
any  other  females  in  the  islands.  "  They  were  even  of  less 
importance,"  he  said,  "  for  they  had  broken  off  their  friend- 
ship with  him;,  without  assigning  any  cause." 

"  And  you  go  to  seek  the  renewal  of  it?  "  answered  his 
father.  "  Silly  moth,  that  hast  once  escaped  the  taper  with- 
out singeing  thy  wings,  are  you  not  contented  with  the  safe 
obscurity  of  these  wilds,  but  must  hasten  back  to  the  flame, 
which  is  sure  at  length  to  consume  thee?  But  why  should  I 
waste  arguments  in  deterring  thee  from  thy  inevitable  fate? 
Go  where  thy  destiny  calls  thee." 

On  the  succeeding  day,  which  was  the  eve  of  the  great 
festival,  Mordaunt  set  forth  on  his  road  to  Burgh-Westra, 
pondering  alternately  on  the  injunctions  of  Noma,  on  the 
ominous  words  of  his  father,  on  the  inauspicious  auguries  of 
Swertha  and  the  Eanzelman  of  Jarlshof;  and  not  without  ex- 
periencing that  gloom  with  which  so  many  concurring  cir- 
cumstances of  ill  omen  combined  to  oppress  his  mind. 

"  It  bodes  me  but  a  cold  reception  at  Burgh-Westra,"  said 
he;  "  but  my  stay  shall  be  the  shorter.  I  will  but  find  out 
whether  they  have  been  deceived  by  this  seafaring  stranger, 
or  whether  they  have  acted  out  of  pure  caprice  of  temper  and 
love  of  change  of  company.  If  the  first  be  the  case,  I  will 
vindicate  my  character;  and  let  Captain  Cleveland  look  to 
himself;  if  the  latter,  why,  then,  good-night  to  Burgh-Westra 
and  all  its  inmates." 

As  he  mentally  meditated  this  last  alternative,  hurt  pride, 
and  a  return  of  fondness  for  those  to  whom  he  supposed  he 
was  bidding  farewell  forever,  brought  a  tear  into  his  eye, 
which  he  dashed  off  hastily  and  indignantly,  as,  mending  his 
pace,  he  continued  on  his  journey. 

The  weather  being  now  serene  and  undisturbed,  Mordaunt 
made  his  way  with  an  ease  that  formed  a  striking  contrast  to 
the  difficulties  which  he  had  encountered  when  he  last  trav- 


THE  PIRATE.  Ill 

eled  the  same  route;  yet  there  was  a  less  pleasing  subject  for 
comparison  within  his  own  mind. 

'*  My  breast,"  he  said  to  himself,  '"  was  then  against  the 
wind,  but  my  heart  within  was  serene  and  happy.  I  would  I 
had  now  the  same  careless  feelings,  were  they  to  be  bought  by 
battling  with  the  severest  storm  that  ever  blew  across  these 
lonely  hills!  " 

With  such  thoughts,  he  arrived  about  noon  at  Harfra,  the 
habitation,  as  the  reader  may  remember,  of  the  ingenious 
Mr.  Yellowley.  Our  traveler  had,  upon  the  present  occa- 
sion, taken  care  to  be  quite  independent  of  the  niguaidly 
hospitality  of  this  mansion,  which  was  now  become  infamous 
on  that  account  through  the  whole  island,  by  bringing  with 
him,  in  his  small  knapsack,  such  provisions  as  might  have 
sufficed  for  a  longer  joume}'.  In  courtesy,  however,  or 
rather,  perhaps,  to  get  rid  of  his  own  disquieting  thoughts, 
Mordaunt  did  not  fail  to  call  at  the  mansion,  which  he  found 
in  singular  commotion.  Triptolemus  himself,  invested  with 
a  pair  of  large  jack-boots,  went  clattering  up  and  down  stairs, 
screaming  out  questions  to  his  sister  and  his  serving-woman 
Tronda,  who  replied  with  shriller  and  more  complicated 
screeches.  At  length,  Mrs.  Baby  herself  made  her  appearance, 
her  venerable  person  endued  with  what  was  then  called  a 
Joseph — an  ample  garment,  which  had  once  been  green,  but 
now,  betwixt  stains  and  patches,  had  become,  like  the  vesture 
of  the  patriarch  whose  name  it  bore,  a  garment  of  divers 
colors.  A  steeple-crowned  hat,  the  purchase  of  some  long- 
past  moment,  in  which  vanity  had  got  the  better  of  avarice, 
with  a  feather  which  had  stood  as  much  wind  and  rain  as  if 
it  had  been  part  of  a  seamew's  wing,  made  up  her  equip- 
ment, save  that  in  her  hand  she  held  a  silver-mounted  whip 
of  antique  fashion.  This  attire,  as  well  as  an  air  of  deter- 
mined bustle  in  the  gait  and  appearance  of  Mrs.  Barbara 
Yellowley,  seemed  to  bespeak  that  she  was  prepared  to  take  a 
journey,  and  cared  not,  as  the  saying  goes,  who  knew  that 
such  was  her  determination. 

She  was  the  first  that  observed  IMordaunt  on  his  arrival, 
and  she  greeted  him  with  a  degree  of  mingled  emotion.  "  Be 
good  to  us!  "  she  exclaimed,  "  if  here  is  not  the  canty  callant 
that  wears  yon  thing  about  his  neck,  and  that  snapped  up  our 
goose  as  light  as  if  it  had  been  a  sandie-lavrock!  "  The  ad- 
miration of  the  gold  chain,  which  had  formerly  made  so  deep 
an  impression  on  her  mmd,  was  marked  in  the  first  part  of 
her  speech,  the  recollection   of  the   untimely   fate  of  the 


112  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

smoked  goose  was  commemorated  in  the  second  clause.  "  I 
will  lay  the  burden  of  my  life,"  she  instantly  added,  "  that  he 
is  ganging  our  gate." 

"  I  am  bound  for  Burgh-Westra,  Mrs.  Yellowley,"  said 
Mordaunt. 

"  And  blithe  will  we  be  of  your  company,"  she  added. 
"  It's  early  day  to  eat,  but  if  you  liked  a  barley  scone  and  a 
drink  of  bland — natheless,  it  is  ill  traveling  on  a  full 
stomach,  besides  quelling  your  appetite  for  the  feast  that  is 
biding  you  this  day;  for  all  sort  of  prodigality  there  will 
doubtless  be." 

Mordaunt  produced  his  own  stores,  and,  explaining  that  he 
did  not  love  to  be  burdensome  to  them  on  this  second  occa- 
sion, invited  them  to  partake  of  the  provisions  he  had  to  offer. 
Poor  Triptolemus,  who  seldom  saw  half  so  good  a  dinner  as 
his  guest's  luncheon,  threw  himself  upon  the  good  cheer,  like 
Sancho  on  the  scum  of  Camacho's  kettle,  and  even  the  lady 
herself  could  not  resist  the  temptation,  though  she  gave  way 
to  it  with  more  moderation,  and  with  something  like  a  sense 
of  shame.  "  She  had  let  the  fire  out,"  she  said,  "  for  it  was 
a  pity  wasting  fuel  in  so  cold  a  country,  and  so  she  had  not 
thought  of  getting  anything  ready,  as  they  were  to  set  out  so 
soon;  and  so  she  could  not  but  say  that  the  young  gentle- 
man's 'nacket'  looked  very  good;  and,  besides,  she  had  some 
curiosity  to  see  whether  the  folks  in  that  country  cured  their 
beef  in  the  same  way  they  did  in  the  north  of  Scotland  "; 
under  which  combined  considerations.  Dame  Baby  made  a 
hearty  experiment  on  the  refreshments  which  thus  unex- 
pectedly presented  themselves. 

When  their  extemporary  repast  was  finished,  the  factor  be- 
came solicitous  to  take  the  road;  and  now  Mordaunt  dis- 
covered that  the  alacrity  with  which  he  had  been  received  by 
Mistress  Baby  was  not  altogether  disinterested.  Neither  she 
nor  the  learned  Triptolemus  felt  much  disposed  to  commit 
themselves  to  the  wilds  of  Zetland  without  the  assistance  of 
a  guide;  and  although  they  could  have  commanded  the  aid 
of  one  of  their  own  laboring  folks,  yet  the  cautious  agricul- 
turist observed  that  it  would  be  losing  at  least  one  day's  work; 
and  his  sister  multiplied  his  apprehensions  by  echoing  back. 
"  One  day's  work!  ye  may  weel  say  twenty;  for  set  ane  of 
their  noses  within  the  smell  of  a  kail-pot,  and  their  lugs 
within  the  sound  of  a  fiddle,  and  whistle  them  back  if  ye 
can!" 

Now  the  fortunate  arrival  of  Mordaunt,  in  the  very  nick 


THE  PIRATE.  W^ 

of  time,  not  to  mention  the  good  cheer  which  he  brought  with 
him,  made  him  as  welcome  as  anyone  could  possibly  be  to  a 
threshold  which,  on  all  ordinary  occasions,  abhorred  the  pas- 
sage of  a  guest;  nor  was  Mr.  Yellowley  altogether  insensible 
of  the  pleasure  he  promised  himself  in  detailing  his  plans  of 
improvement  to  his  young  companion,  and  enjoying  what  his 
fate  seldom  assigned  him — the  company  of  a  patient  and  ad- 
miring listener. 

As  the  factor  and  his  sister  were  to  prosecute  their  journey 
on  horseback,  it  only  remained  to  mount  their  guide  and  com- 
panion— a  thing  easily  accomplished  where  there  are  such 
numbers  of  shaggy,  long-backed,  short-legged  ponies  running 
wild  upon  the  extensive  moors,  which  are  the  common  pastur- 
age for  the  cattle  of  every  township,  where  shellies,  geese, 
swine,  goats,  sheep,  and  little  Zetland  cows  are  turned  out 
promiscuously,  and  often  in  numbers  which  can  obtain  but 
precarious  subsistence  from  the  niggard  vegetation.  There 
is,  indeed,  a  right  of  individual  property  in  all  these  animals, 
which  are  branded  or  tattooed  by  each  owner  with  his  own 
peculiar  mark;  but  when  any  passenger  has  occasional  use  for 
a  pony,  he  never  scruples  to  lay  hold  of  the  first  which  he  can 
catch,  puts  on  a  halter,  and,  having  rode  him  as  far  as  he 
finds  convenient,  turns  the  animal  loose  to  find  his  way  back 
again  as  he  best  can — a  matter  in  which  the  ponies  are  suffi- 
ciently sagacious. 

Although  this  general  exercise  of  property  was  one  of  the 
enormities  which  in  due  time  the  factor  intended  to  abolish. 
yet,  like  a  wise  man,  he  scrupled  not,  in  the  meantime,  to 
avail  himself  of  so  general  a  practice,  which  he  condescended 
to  allow,  was  particularly  convenient  for  those  who,  as 
chanced  to  be  his  own  present  case,  had  no  ponies  of  their  own 
on  which  their  neighbors  could  retaliate.  Three  shelties, 
therefore,  were  procured  from  the  hill — little  shagged  ani- 
mals, more  resembling  wild  bears  than  anything  of  the  horse 
tribe,  yet  possessed  of  no  small  degree  of  strength  and  spirit, 
and  able  to  endure  as  much  fatigue  and  indifferent  usage  as 
any  creatures  in  the  world. 

Two  of  these  horses  were  already  provided  and  fully  ac- 
coutered  for  the  journey.  One  of  them,  destined  to  bear  the 
fair  person  of  Mistress  Baby,  was  decorated  with  a  huge  side- 
saddle of  venerable  antiquity — a  mass,  as  it  were,  of  cushion 
and  padding,  from  which  depended,  on  all  sides,  a  housing  of 
ancient  tapestiT.  which,  having  been  originally  intended  for  a 
horse  of  ordinary  size,  covered  up  the  diminutive  palfrev  over 


114  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

which  it  was  spread,  from  the  ears  to  the  tail,  and  from  the 
shoulder  to  the  fetlock,  leaving  nothing  visible  but  its  head, 
which  looked  fiercely  out  from  these  enfoldments,  like  the 
heraldic  representation  of  a  lion  looking  out  of  a  bush.  Mor- 
daunt  gallantly  lifted  up  the  fair  Mistress  Yellowley,  and  at 
the  expense  of  very  slight  exertion  placed  her  upon  the  sum- 
mit of  her  mountainous  saddle.  It  is  probable  that,  on  feel- 
ing herself  thus  squired  and  attended  upon,  and  experiencing 
the  long  unwonted  consciousness  that  she  was  attired  in  her 
best  array,  some  thoughts  dawned  upon  Mistress  Baby's  mind 
which  clieckered  for  an  instant  those  habitual  ideas  about 
thrift  that  formed  the  daily  and  all-engrossing  occupation  of 
her  soul.  She  glanced  her  eye  upon  her  faded  Joseph,  and  on 
the  long  housings  of  her  saddle,  as  she  observed,  with  a  smile, 
to  Mordaunt,  that  "  Traveling  was  a  pleasant  thing  in  fine 
weather  and  agreeable  company,  if,"  she  added,  glancing  a 
look  at  a  place  where  the  embroidery  was  somewhat  frayed 
and  tattered,  "  it  was  not  sae  wasteful  to  ane's  horse-fur- 
niture." 

Meanwhile,  her  brother  stepped  stoutly  to  his  steed;  and  as 
he  chose,  notwithstanding  the  serenity  of  the  weather,  to 
throw  a  long  red  cloak  over  his  other  garments,  his  pony  was 
even  more  completely  enveloped  in  drapery  than  that  of  his 
sister.  It  happened,  moreover,  to  be  an  animal  of  an  high 
and  contumacious  spirit,  bouncing  and  curveting  occasionally 
under  the  weight  of  Triptolemus,  with  a  vivacity  which,  not- 
withstanding his  Yorkshire  descent,  rather  deranged  him  in 
the  saddle;  gambols  which,  as  the  palfrey  itself  was  not  visible, 
except  upon  the  strictest  inspection,  had,  at  a  little  dislanc", 
an  effect  as  if  they  were  the  voluntary  movements  of  tiie 
cloaked  cavalier,  without  the  assistance  of  any  other  legs  than 
those  with  which  nature  had  provided  him;  and,  to  any  who 
had  viewed  Triptolemus  under  such  a  persuasion,  the  gravity, 
and  even  distress,  announced  in  his  countenance  must  have 
made  a  ridiculous  contrast  to  the  vivacious  caprioles  with 
which  he  piaffed  along  the  moor. 

Mordaunt  kept  up  with  this  worthy  couple,  mounted,  ac- 
cording to  the  simplicity  of  the  time  and  country,  on  the  first 
and  readiest  pony  which  they  had  been  able  to  press  into  the 
service,  with  no  other  accouterment  of  any  kind  than  the 
halter  which  served  to  guide  him;  while  Mr.  Yellowley,  seeing 
with  pleasure  his  guide  thus  readily  provided  with  a  steed, 
privately  resolved  that  this  rude  custom  of  helping  travelers 
to  horses,  without  leave  of  the  proprietor,  should  not  be 


TEE  PIRATE.  115 

abated  in  Zetland  until  he  came  to  possess  a  herd  of  ponies 
belonging  in  property  to  himself,  and  exposed  to  suffer  in  the 
way  of  retaliation. 

But  to  other  uses  or  abuses  of  the  countrv'  Triptolemus 
Yellowley  showed  himself  less  tolerant.  Long  and  wearisome 
were  the  discourses  he  held  with  Mordaunt,  or  (to  speak  much 
more  correctly)  the  harangues  which  he  inflicted  upon  him, 
concerning  the  changes  which  his  own  advent  in  these  isles 
was  about  to  occasion.  Unskilled  as  he  was  in  the  modern 
arts  by  which  an  estate  may  be  improved  to  such  a  high  degre.^ 
that  it  shall  altogether  slip  through  the  proprietors  fingers. 
Triptolemus  had  at  least  the  zeal,  if  not  the  knowledge,  of  a 
whole  agricultural  society  in  his  own  person;  nor  was  he  sur- 
passed by  any  who  has  followed  him  in  that  noble  spirit  which 
scorns  to  balance  profit  against  outlay,  but  holds  the  glor}' 
of  effecting  a  great  change  on  the  face  of  the  land  to  be,  like 
virtue,  in  a  great  degree  its  own  reward. 

No  part  of  the  wild  and  mountainous  region  over  which 
Mordaunt  guided  him  but  what  suggested  to  his  active  im- 
agination some  scheme  of  improvement  and  alteration.  He 
would  make  a  road  through  yon  scarce  passable  glen,  where 
at  present  nothing  but  the  sure-footed  creatures  on  which 
they  were  mounted  could  tread  with  any  safety.  He  would 
substitute  better  houses  for  the  skeos,  or  sheds  built  of  dry 
stones,  in  which  the  inhabitants  cured  or  manufactured  their 
fish;  they  should  brew  good  ale  instead  of  bland;  they  should 
plant  forests  where  tree  never  grew;  and  find  mines  of  treasure 
where  a  Danish  skilling  was  accounted  a  coin  of  most  respect- 
able denomination.  All  these  mutations,  with  many  others, 
did  the  worthy  factor  resolve  upon,  speaking  at  the  same  time 
with  the  utmost  confidence  of  the  countenance  and  assist- 
ance which  he  was  to  receive  from  the  higher  classes,  and 
especially  from  Magnus  Troil. 

"  I  will  impart  some  of  my  ideas  to  the  poor  man,"  he  said, 
"  before  we  are  both  many  hours  older;  and  you  will  mark 
how  grateful  he  will  be  to  the  instructor  who  brings  him 
knowledge,  which  is  better  than  wealth." 

"  I  would  not  have  you  build  too  strongly  on  that,"  said 
Mordaunt,  by  way  of  caution.  "  Magnus  Troll's  boat  is  kittle 
to  trim;  he  likes  his  o-wn  ways,  and  his  country  ways,  and 
you  will  as  soon  teach  your  sheltie  to  dive  like  a  sealgh  as 
bring  Magnus  to  take  a  Scottish  fashion  in  the  place  of  a 
Norse  one;  and  yet,  if  he  is  steady  to  his  old  customs,  he  may 
perhaps  be  as  changeable  as  another  in  his  old  friendships." 


116  WAVERLEF  NOVELS. 

" '  Heus,  tu  inepte! ' "  said  the  scholar  of  St.  Andrews, 
"steady  or  unsteady,  what  can  it  matter?  Am  not  I  here 
in  point  of  trust  and  in  point  of  power?  and  sthall  a  fowd,  hy 
which  barbarous  appellative  this  Magnus  Troll  still  calls  him- 
self, presume  to  measure  judgment  and  weigh  reasons  with 
me,  who  represent  the  full  dignity  of  the  chamberlain  of  the 
islands  of  Orkney  and  Zetland?" 

"  Still,"  said  Mordaunt,  "  I  would  advise  you  not  to  ad- 
vance too  rashly  upon  his  prejudices.  Magnus  Troil,  from 
the  hour  of  his  birth  to  this  day,  never  saw  a  greater  man 
than  himself,  and  it  is  difficult  to  bridle  an  old  horse  for  the 
first  time.  Besides,  he  has  at  no  time  in  his  life  been  a 
patient  listener  to  long  explanations,  so  it  is  possible  that  hj 
may  quarrel  with  your  proposed  reformation  before  you  can 
convince  him  of  its  advantages." 

"  How  mean  you,  young  man?  "  said  the  factor.  "  Is  there 
one  who  dwells  in  these  islands  who  is  so  wretchedly  blind 
as  not  to  be  sensible  of  their  deplorable  defects?  Can  a  man," 
he  added,  rising  into  enthusiasm  as  he  spoke,  "  or  even  a  beast, 
look  at  that  thing  there,  which  they  have  the  impudence  to 
call  a  corn-mill,*  without  trembling  to  think  that  com  should 
be  intrusted  to  such  a  miserable  molendinary?  The  wretches 
are  obliged  to  have  at  least  fifty  in  each  parish,  each  trun- 
dling away  upon  its  paltry  millstone,  under  the  thatch  of  a 
roof  no  bigger  than  a  bee-skep,  instead  of  a  noble  and  seemly 
baron's  mill,  of  which  you  would  hear  the  clack  through  the 
haill  country,  and  that  casts  the  meal  through  the  mill-eye 
by  forpits  at  a  time!  " 

"  Aye — aye,  brother,"  said  his  sister,  "  that's  spoken  like 
your  wise  sell.  The  mair  cost  the  mair  honor — that's 
your  word  ever  mair.  Can  it  no  creep  into  your 
wise  head,  man,  that  ilka  body  grinds  their  ain  nievefu* 
of  meal  in  this  country,  without  plaguing  themsells 
about  baron's  mills,  and  thirls,  and  sucken,  and  the 
like  trade?  How  mony  a  time  have  I  heard  you  bell- 
the-cat  with  auld  Edie  Xetherstane,  the  miller  at  Grindle- 
burn,  and  wi'  his  very  knave  too,  about  in-town  and  out-town 
multures,  lock,  gowpen,  and  knaveship,t  and  a'  the  lave  o't; 
and  now  naething  less  will  serve  you  than  to  bring  in  tlie 
very  same  fashery  on  a  wheen  puir  bodies,  that  big  ilk  ane  a 
mill  for  themselves,  sic  as  it  is?  " 

"  Dinna  tell  me  of  gowpen  and  knaveship!  "  exclaimed  the 
indignant  agriculturist;  "better  pnv  the  hnlf  of  the  grist  to 
♦  See  Note  18.  +  See  "  Monastery,"  Notes  8  and  9,  p.  37V. 


THE  Pin  ATE.  117 

the  miller,  to  have  the  rest  prund  in  a  Christian  manner,  than 
put  good  grain  into  a  bairn's  whirligig.  Look  at  it  for  a 
moment.  Baby.  Bide  still,  ye  cursed  imp!  "  This  interjec- 
tion was  applied  -to  his  pony,  wliich  began  to  be  extremely  im- 
patient, while  its  rider  interrupted  his  journey  to  point  out 
all  the  weak  points  of  the  Zetland  mill.  "  Look  at  it,  I  say 
— it's  just  one  degree  better  than  a  hand-quern:  it  has  neither 
wheel  nor  trindle,  neither  cog  nor  happer.  Bide  still,  there's 
a  canny  beast.  It  canna  grind  a  bickerfu'  of  meal  in  a 
quarter  of  an  hour,  and  that  will  be  mair  like  a  mash  for  horse 
than  a  meltith  for  man's  use.     Wherefore — Bide  still,  I  say! 

—wherefore — wherefore The  deil's  in  the  beast,  and  nae 

good,  I  think!  " 

As  he  uttered  the  last  words,  the  sheltie,  which  had  pranced 
and  curveted  for  some  time  with  much  impatience,  at  length 
got  his  head  betwixt  its  legs,  and  at  once  canted  its  rider  into 
the  little  rivulet  which  served  to  drive  the  depreciated  engine 
he  was  survepng;  then  emancipating  itself  from  the  folds  of 
the  cloak,  fled  back  toward  its  own  wilderness,  neighing  in 
scorn,  and  flinging  out  its  heels  at  every  five  yards. 

Laugliing  heartily  at  his  disaster.  ]\Iordaunt  helped  the  old 
man  to  arise;  while  his  sister  sarcastically  congratulated  him 
on  having  fallen  rather  into  the  shallow^s  of  a  Zetland  rivulet 
than  the  depths  of  a  Scottish  mill-pond.  Disdaining  to  reply 
to  this  sarcasm,  Triptolemus,  as  soon  as  he  had  recovered  his 
legs,  shaken  his  ears,  and  found  that  the  folds  of  his  cloak 
had  .saved  him  from  being  much  wet  in  the  scanty  streamlet, 
exclaimed  aloud,  "  I  will  have  cussers  from  Lanarkshire, 
brood  mares  from  Ayrshire:  I  will  not  have  one  of  these 
cursed  abortions  left  on  the  islands,  to  break  honest  folks' 
necks.     I  say,  Baby,  I  will  rid  the  land  of  them." 

"  Ye  had  better  wring  your  ain  cloak,  Triptolemus,"  an- 
swered Baby. 

Mordaunt  meanwhile  was  employed  in  catching  another 
pony  from  a  herd  which  strayed  at  some  distance;  and.  hav- 
ing made  a  halter  out  of  twisted  rushes,  he  seated  the  dis- 
mayed agriculturist  in  safety  upon  a  more  quiet,  though  less 
active,  steed  than  that  which  he  had  at  first  bestrode. 

But  Mr.  Yellowley's  fall  had  operated  as  a  considerable 
sedative  upon  his  spirits,  and,  for  the  full  space  of  five  miles' 
travel,  he  said  scarce  a  word,  leaving  full  course  to  the  melan- 
choly aspirations  and  lamentations  which  his  sister  Baby  be- 
stowed on  the  old  bridle,  which  the  pony  had  carried  off  in 
its  flight,  and  which,  she  observed,  after  having  lasted  for 


lib  WAVER  LEY  NOVELS 

eighteen  years  come  Martinmas,  might  now  be  considered  as 
a  castaway  thing.  Finding  she  had  thus  the  field  to  herself, 
tlie  old  lady  launched  forth  into  a  lecture  upon  economy,  ac- 
cording to  her  own  idea  of  that  virtue,  which  seemed  to 
include  a  system  of  privations  which,  though  observed  with 
the  sole  purpose  of  saving  money,  might,  if  undertaken  upon 
other  principles,  have  ranked  high  in  the  history  of  a  reli- 
gious ascetic. 

She  was  but  little  interrupted  by  Mordaunt,  who,  conscious 
he  was  now  on  the  eve  of  approaching  Burgh-Westra,  em- 
ployed himself  rather  in  the  task  of  anticipating  the  nature 
of  the  reception  he  was  about  to  meet  with  there  from  two 
beautiful  young  women  than  with  the  prosing  of  an  old  one, 
however  wisely  she  might  prove  that  small-beer  was  more 
wholesome  than  strong  ale,  and  that,  if  her  brother  hal 
bruised  his  ankle-bone  in  his  tumble,  cumfrey  and  butter  was 
better  to  bring  him  round  again  than  all  the  doctors'  drugs 
in  the  world. 

But  now  the  dreary  moorlands,  over  which  their  path  had 
hitherto  lain,  were  exchanged  for  a  more  pleasant  prospect, 
opening  on  a  salt-water  lake,  or  arm  of  the  sea,  which  ran 
up  far  inland,  and  was  surrounded  by  flat  and  fertile  ground, 
producing  crops  better  than  the  experienced  eye  of  Triptole- 
mus  Yellowley  had  as  yet  witnessed  in  Zetland.  In  the  midst 
of  this  Goshen  stood  the  mansion  of  Burgh-Westra,  screened 
from  the  north  and  east  by  a  ridge  of  heathy  hills  which  lay 
behind  it,  and  commanding  an  interesting  prospect  of  the 
lake  and  its  parent  ocean,  as  well  as  the  islands  and  more  dis- 
tant mountains.  From  the  mansion  itself,  as  well  as  from 
almost  every  cottage  in  the  adjacent  hamlet,  arose  such  a 
rich  cloud  of  vapory  smoke  as  showed  that  the  preparations 
for  the  festival  were  not  confined  to  the  principal  residence 
of  Magnus  himself,  but  extended  through  the  whole  vicinage. 

"  My  certie,"  said  Mrs.  Baby  Yellowley,  "  ane  wad  think 
the  haill  town  was  on  fire!  The  very  hillside  smells  of  their 
wastefulness,  and  a  hungry  heart  wad  scarce  seek  better 
kitchen  to  a  barley  scone  than  just  to  waft  it  in  the  reek  that's 
rising  out  of  yon  lums." 


CHAPTEE  XII. 

Tliou  hast  described 
A  hot  friend  cooling.     Ever  note,  LuciliuB, 
When  love  begins  to  sicken  and  decay, 
It  useth  an  enforced  ceremony. 
There  are  no  tricka  in  plain  and  simple  faith. 

— Julius  Ccpsar. 

If  the  smell  which  was  wafted  from  the  chimneys  of 

Burgh- Westra  up  to  the  barren  hills  by  which  the  mansion 
was  surrounded  could,  as  Mistress  Barbara  opined,  have  re- 
freshed the  hungr}^,  the  noise  whidi  proceeded  from  thence 
might  have  given  healing  to  the  deaf.  It  was  a  medley  of  all 
sounds,  and  all  connected  with  jollity  and  kind  welcome. 
Nor  were  the  sights  associated  with  them  less  animating. 

Troops  of  friends  were  seen  in  the  act  of  arriving — their 
dispersed  ponies  flying  to  the  moors  in  every  direction,  to  re- 
cover their  own  pastures  in  the  best  way  they  could;  such,  as 
we  have  already  said,  being  the  usual  mode  of  discharging 
the  cavalry  wliich  had  been  levied  for  a  day's  service.  At  a 
small  but  commodious  harbor,  connected  with  the  house  and 
hamlet,  those  visitors  were  landing  from  their  boats  who,  liv- 
ing in  distant  islands  and  along  the  coast,  had  preferred  mak- 
ing their  journey  by  sea.  Mordaunt  and  his  companions 
might  see  each  party  pausing  frequently  to  greet  each  other, 
and  strolling  on  successively  to  the  house,  whose  ever  open 
gate  received  them  alternately  in  such  numl3ers  that  it  seemed 
the  extent  of  the  mansion,  though  suited  to  the  opulence  and 
hospitality  of  the  owner,  was  scarce,  on  this  occasion,  suffi- 
cient for  the  guests. 

Among  the  confused  sounds  of  mirth  and  welcome  which 
arose  at  the  entrance  of  each  new  company,  ]\Iordaunt 
thought  he  could  distinguish  the  loud  laugh  and  hearty  salu- 
tation of  the  sire  of  the  mansion,  and  began  to  feel  more 
deeply  than  before  the  anxious  doubt  whether  that  cordial  re- 
ception, which  was  distributed  so  freely  to  all  others,  would 
be  on  this  occasion  extended  to  him.  As  they  came  on,  they 
heard  the  voluntary  scrapings  and  bravura  effusions  of  the 
gallant  fiddlers,  who  impatiently  flung  already  from  their 
bows  those  sounds  with  which  they  were  to  animate  the  even- 
ing.    The  clamor  of  the  cook's  assistants,  and  the  loud  scold- 

119 


120  WAVEELEY  NOVELS. 

ing  tones  of  the  cook  himself,  were  also  to  be  heard — soundh. 
of  dissonance  at  any  other  time,  but  which,  subdued  with 
others,  and  by  certain  happy  associations,  form  no  disagree- 
able part  of  the  full  chorus  which  always  precedes  a  rurai 
feast. 

Meanwhile,  the  guests  advanced,  each  full  of  their  own 
thoughts.  Mordaunt's  we  have  already  noticed.  Baby  was 
wrapt  up  in  the  melancholy  grief  and  surprise  excited  by  the 
positive  conviction  that  so  much  victuals  had  been  cooked  at 
once  as  were  necessary  to  feed  all  the  mouths  which  were 
clamoring  around  her — an  enormity  of  expense  which, 
though  she  was  no  way  concerned  in  bearing  it,  affected  her 
nerves,  as  the  beholding  a  massacre  would  touch  those  of  the 
most  indifferent  spectator,  however  well  assured  of  his  own 
personal  safety.  She  sickened,  in  short,  at  the  sight  of  so 
much  extravagance,  like  Abyssinian  Bruce,  when  he  saw  the 
luckless  minstrels  of  Gondar  hacked  to  pieces  by  the  order  of 
Bas  Michael.  As  for  her  brother,  they  being  now  arrived 
where  the  rude  and  antique  instruments  of  Zetland  agri- 
culture lay  scattered  in  the  usual  confusion  of  a  Scottish 
barnyard,  his  thoughts  were  at  once  engrossed  in  the  defi- 
ciencies of  the  one-stilted  plow;  of  the  "  twispar,"  with  which 
they  dig  peats;  of  the  sledges,  on  which  they  transport  com- 
modities; of  all  and  everything,  in  short,  in  which  the  usages 
of  the  islands  differed  from  those  of  the  mainland  of  Scot- 
land. The  sight  of  these  imperfect  instruments  stirred  the 
blood  of  Triptolemus  Yellowley,  as  that  of  the  bold  warrior 
rises  at  seeing  the  arms  and  insignia  of  the  enemy  he  is  about 
to  combat;  and,  faithful  to  his  high  emprise,  he  thought  less 
of  the  hunger  which  his  journey  had  occasioned,  although 
about  to  be  satisfied  by  such  a  dinner  as  rarely  fell  to  his  lot, 
than  upon  the  task  which  he  had  undertaken  of  civilizing  the 
manners,  and  improving  the  cultivation,  of  Zetland. 

"  '  Jacta  est  alea,'  "  he  muttered  to  liimself ;  "  this  very  day 
shall  prove  whether  the  Zetlanders  are  worthy  of  our  labors, 
or  whether  their  minds  are  as  incapable  of  cultivation  as  their 
peat-mosses.  Yet,  let  us  be  cautious,  and  watch  the  soft  time 
of  speech.  I  feel,  by  my  own  experience,  that  it  were  best  to 
let  the  body,  in  its  present  state,  take  the  place  of  the  mind. 
A  mouth fiil  of  that  same  roast  beef,  which  smells  so  deli- 
cately, will  form  a.n  apt  introduction  to  my  grand  plan  for 
improving  the  breed  of  stock." 

By  this  time  the  visitors  had  reached  the  low  but  ample 
front  of  Magnus  Troll's  residence,  which  seemed  of  various 


I 


THE  PIRATE.  121 

dates,  with  large  and  ill-imagined  additions,  hastily  adapted 
to  the  original  building,  as  the  increasing  estate,  or  enlarged 
family,  of  successive  proprietors  appeared  to  each  to  demand. 
Beneath  a  low,  broad,  and  large  porch,  supported  by  two 
huge  carved  posts,  once  the  head-ornaments  of  vessels  which 
had  found  shipwreck  upon  the  coast,  stood  Magnus  himself, 
intent  en  the  hospitable  toil  of  receiving  and  welcoming  the 
numerous  guests  who  successively  approached.  His  strong 
portly  figure  was  well  adapted  to  the  dress  which  he  wore — 
a  blue  coat  of  an  antique  cut,  lined  with  scarlet,  and  laced 
and  looped  with  gold  down  the  seams  and  button-holes,  and 
along  the  ample  cuffs.  Strong  and  masculine  features,  ren- 
dered niddy  and  brown  by  frequent  exposure  to  severe 
weather;  a  quantity  of  most  venerable  silver  hair,  which  fell 
in  unshorn  profusion  from  under  his  gold-laced  hat,  and  was 
carelessly  tied  with  a  ribbon  behind,  expressed  at  once  his 
advanced  age,  his  hasty,  yet  well-conditioned  temper,  and  his 
robust  constitution.  As  our  travelers  approached  him,  a 
shade  of  displeasure  seemed  to  cross  his  brow,  and  to  inter- 
rupt for  an  instant  the  honest  and  hearty  burst  of  hilarity 
with  which  he  had  been  in  the  act  of  greeting  all  prior 
arrivals.  When  he  approached  Triptolemus  Yellowley,  he 
drew  himself  up,  so  as  to  mix,  as  it  were,  some  share  of  the 
stately  importance  of  the  opulent  TJdaller  with  the  welcome 
afforded  by  the  frank  and  hospitable  landlord. 

"  You  are  welcome,  Mr.  Yellowley,"  was  his  address  to  the 
factor — "  you  are  welcome  to  Westra;  the  wind  has  blown  you 
on  a  rough  coast,  and  we  that  are  the  natives  must  be  kind  to 
you  as  we  can.  This,  I  believe,  is  your  sister.  Mistress  Bar- 
bara Yellowley,  permit  me  the  honor  of  a  neighborly  salute." 
And  so  saying,  with  a  daring  and  self-devoted  courtesy  which 
would  find  no  equal  in  our  degenerate  days,  he  actually  ven- 
tured to  salute  the  withered  cheek  of  the  spinster,  who  re- 
laxed so  much  of  her  usual  peevishness  of  expression  as  to  re- 
ceive the  courtesy  with  something  which  approached  to  a 
smile.  He  then  looked  full  at  Mordaunt  Mertoun,  and,  with- 
out offering  his  hand,  said,  in  a  tone  somewhat  broken  by  sup- 
pressed agitation,  "You,  too,  are  welcome,  Master  ]\rordaunt." 

''Did  I  not  think  so,"  said  Mordaunt,  naturally  offended  by 
the  coldness  of  his  host's  manner,  "  I  had  not  been  here:  and 
it  is  not  yet  too  late  to  tuni  back." 

"Young  man,"  replied  Magnus,  "you  know  better  than 
most  that  from  these  doors  no  man  can  turn  without  an 
offense  to  their  owner.     I  pray  you,  disturb  not  my  guests  by 


122  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

your  ill-timed  scruples.  When  Magnus  Troil  says  welcome, 
all  are  welcome  who  are  within  hearing  of  his  voice,  and  it  is 
an  indiU'erent  loud  one.  Walk  on,  my  worthy  guests,  and 
let  us  see  what  cheer  my  lasses  can  make  you  within  doors." 

So  saying,  and  taking  care  to  make  his  manner  so  general 
to  the  whole  party  that  Mordaunt  should  not  be  able  to  appro- 
priate any  particular  portion  of  the  welcome  to  himself,  nor 
yet  to  complain  of  being  excluded  from  all  share  in  it,  the 
Udaller  ushered  the  guests  into  his  house,  where  two  large 
outer  rooms,  which,  on  the  present  occasion,  served  the  pur- 
pose of  a  modem  saloon,  were  already  crowded  with  guests  of 
evei"y  description. 

The  furniture  was  suflficiently  simple,  and  had  a  character 
peculiar  to  the  situation  of  those  stormy  islands.  Magnus 
Troil  was,  indeed,  like  most  of  the  higher  class  of  Zetland 
proprietors,  a  friend  to  the  distressed  traveler,  whether  by 
sea  or  land,  and  had  repeatedly  exerted  his  whole  authority  in 
protecting  the  property  and  persons  of  shipwrecked  mariners; 
yet  so  frequent  were  wrecks  upon  that  tremendous  coast,  and 
so  many  unappropriated  articles  were  constantly  flung 
ashore,  that  the  interior  of  the  house  bore  sufficient  witness 
to  the  ravages  of  the  ocean,  and  to  the  exercise  of  those  rights 
which  the  lawyers  term  "  flotsome  and  jetsome."  The  chairs, 
which  were  arranged  around  the  walls,  were  such  as  are  used 
in  cabins,  and  many  of  them  were  of  foreign  construction;  the 
miiTors  and  cabinets,  which  were  placed  against  the  walls  for 
ornament  or  convenience,  had,  it  was  plain  from  their  form, 
been  constructed  for  shipboard,  and  one  or  two  of  the  latter 
were  of  strange  and  unknown  wood.  Even  the  partition 
which  separated  the  two  apartments  seemed  constructed  out 
of  the  bulk-head  of  some  large  vessel,  clumsily  adapted  to  the 
service  which  it  at  present  perfonned  by  the  labor  of  some 
native  joiner.  To  a  stranger  these  evident  marks  and  tokens 
of  human  misery  might,  at  the  first  glance,  form  a  contrast 
with  the  scene  of  mirth  with  which  they  were  now  associated; 
but  the  association  was  so  familiar  to  the  natives  that  it  did 
not  for  a  moment  interrupt  the  course  of  their  glee. 

To  the  younger  part  of  these  revelers  the  presence  of  Mor- 
daunt was  like  a  fresh  charm  of  enjoyment.  All  came  around 
him  to  marvel  at  his  absence,  and  all,  by  their  repeated  in- 
quiries, plainly  showed  that  they  conceived  it  had  been  en- 
tirely voluntary  on  his  side.  The  youth  felt  that  this  general 
acceptation  relieved  his  anxiety  on  one  painful  point.  What- 
ever  prejudice    the    family    of    Burgh-Westra   might    have 


THE  PIRATE.  123 

adopted  respecting  him,  it  must  be  of  a  private  nature;  and  at 
least  he  had  not  the  additional  pain  of  finding  that  he  was 
depreciated  in  the  eyes  of  society  at  large;  and  his  vindica- 
tion, when  he  found  opportunity  to  make  one,  would  not  re- 
quire to  be  extended  beyond  the  circle  of  a  single  family. 
This  was  consoling;  though  his  heart  still  throbbed  with 
anxiety  at  the  thought  of  meeting  with  his  estranged  but  still 
beloved  friends.  Laying  the  excuse  of  his  absence  on  his 
father's  state  of  healtli,  he  made  his  way  through  the  various 
groups  of  friends  and  guests,  each  of  whom  seemed  willing  to 
detain  him  as  long  as  possible,  and  having,  by  presenting 
them  to  one  or  two  families  of  consequence,  got  rid  of  his 
traveling-companions,  who  at  first  stuck  fast  as  burs,  he 
reached  at  length  the  door  of  a  small  apartment,  which,  open- 
ing from  one  of  the  large  exterior  rooms  we  ha.ve  mentioned, 
Minna  and  Brenda  had  been  permitted  to  fit  up  after  their 
own  taste,  and  to  call  their  peculiar  property. 

Mordaunt  had  contributed  no  small  share  of  the  invention 
and  mechanical  execution  employed  in  fitting  up  this  favorite 
apartment,  and  in  disposing  its  ornaments.  It  was,  indeed, 
during  his  last  residence  at  Burgh- Westra,  as  free  to  his  en- 
trance and  occupation  as  to  its  proper  mistresses.  But  now, 
so  much  were  times  altered  that  he  remained  with  his  finger 
on  the  latch,  uncertain  whether  he  should  take  the  freedom 
to  draw  it,  until  Brenda's  voice  pronounced  the  words,  "  Come 
in,  then,"  in  the  tone  of  one  who  is  interrupted  by  an  unwel- 
come disturber,  who  is  to  be  heard  and  dispatched  with  all 
the  speed  possible. 

At  this  signal,  Mertoun  entered  the  fanciful  cabinet  of  the 
sisters,  which,  by  the  addition  of  many  ornaments,  including 
some  articles  of  considerable  value,  had  been  fitted  up  for  the 
approaching  festival.  The  daughters  of  ^Magnus,  at  the  mo- 
ment of  Mordaunt's  entrance,  were  seated  in  deep  consulta- 
tion with  the  stranger  Cleveland  and  \vith  a  little,  slight-made 
old  man,  whose  eye  retained  all  the  vivacity  of  spirit  which 
had  supported  him  under  the  thousand  vicissitudes  of_  a 
changeful  and  precarious  life,  and  which,  accompanying  him 
in  his  old  age,  rendered  his  gray  hairs  less  awfully  reverend 
perhaps,  but  not  less  beloved,  than  would  a  more  grave  and 
less  imaginative  expression  of  countenance  and  character. 
There  was  even  a  penetrating  shrewdness  mingled  in  the  look 
of  curiosity  with  wliich,  as  he  stepped  for  an  instant  aside, 
he  seemed"  to  watch  the  meeting  of  Mordaunt  with  the  two 
lovely  sisters. 


124  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

The  reception  the  3"outh  met  with  resembled,  in  general 
character,  that  which  he  had  experienced  from  Magnus  him- 
self; but  the  maidens  could  not  so  well  cover  their  sense  of 
the  change  of  circumstances  under  which  they  met.  Both 
blushed,  as,  rising,  and  without  extending  the  hand,  far  less 
ottering  the  cheek,  as  the  fashion  of  the  times  permitted,  and 
almost  exacted,  they  paid  to  Mordaunt  the  salutation  due  to 
an  ordinary  acquaintance.  But  the  blush  of  the  elder  was 
one  of  those  transient  evidences  of  flitting  emotion  that 
vanish  as  fast  as  the  passing  thought  which  excites  them.  In 
an  instant  she  stood  before  the  youth  calm  and  cold,  return- 
ing, with  guarded  and  cautious  courtesy,  the  usual  civilities, 
which,  with  a  faltering  voice,  Mordaunt  endeavored  to  present 
to  her.  The  emotion  of  Brenda  bore,  externally  at  least,  a 
deeper  and  more  agitating  character.  Her  blush  extended 
over  ever)^  part  of  her  beautiful  skin  which  her  dress  per- 
mitted to  be  visible,  including  her  slender  neck  and  the  upper 
region  of  a  finely-formed  bosom.  Neither  did  she  even  at- 
tempt to  reply  to  what  share  of  his  confused  compliment 
Mordaunt  addressed  to  her  in  particular,  but  regarded  him 
with  eyes  in  which  displeasure  was  evidently  mingled  with 
feelings  of  regret  and  recollections  of  former  times.  Mor- 
daunt felt,  as  it  were,  assured  upon  the  instant  that  the  regard 
of  Minna  was  extinguished,  but  that  it  might  be  yet  possible 
to  recover  that  of  the  milder  Brenda;  and  such  is  the  way- 
wardness of  human  fancy,  that,  though  he  had  never  hitherto 
made  any  distinct  difference  betwixt  these  two  beautiful  and 
interesting  girls,  the  favor  of  her  which  seemed  most  abso- 
lutely withdrawn  became  at  the  moment  the  most  interesting 
in  his  eyes. 

He  was  disturbed  in  these  hasty  reflections  by  Cleveland, 
who  advanced,  with  military  frankness,  to  pay  his  compli- 
ments to  his  preserver,  having  only  delayed  long  enough  to 
permit  the  exchange  of  the  ordinar}'  salutation  bet\s4xt  the 
visitor  and  the  ladies  of  the  family.  He  made  his  approach 
with  so  good  a  grace,,  that  it  was  impossible  for  Mordaunt, 
although  he  dated  his  loss  of  favor  at  Burgh- Westra  from  this 
stranger's  appearance  on  the  coast  and  domestication  in  the 
family,  to  do  less  than  return  his  advances  as  courtesy  de- 
manded, accept  his  thanks  with  an  appearance  of  satisfaction, 
and  hope  that  his  time  had  passed  pleasantly  since  their  last 
meeting. 

Cleveland  was  about  to  answer,  when  he  was  anticipated 
by  the  little  old  man,  formerly  noticed,  who,  now  thrusting 


THE  PIRATE.  125 

himself  forward  and  seizing  Mordaunt's  hand,  kissed  him  on 
the  forehead;  and  then  at  the  same  time  echoed  and  answered 
his  question.  "  How  passes  time  at  Burgh- Westra?  Was  it 
you  that  asked  it,  my  prince  of  the  cliff  and  of  the  scaur? 
How  should  it  pass,  with  all  the  wings  that  beauty  and  joy 
can  add  to  help  its  flight!  " 

■'  And  wit  and  song,  too,  my  good  old  friend,"  said  Mor- 
daunt,  half-serious,  half-Jesting,  as  he  shook  the  old  man  cor- 
dially by  the  hand.  "  These  cannot  be  wanting  where  Claud 
Halcro  comes!  " 

"  Jeer  me  not,  Mordaunt,  my  good  lad,'"  replied  the  old 
man.  '"  When  your  foot  is  as  slow  as  mine,  your  wit  frozen, 
and  your  song  out  of  tune " 

"  How  can  you  belie  )'ourself,  my  good  master?  "  answered 
Mordaunt,  who  was  not  unwilling  to  avail  himself  of  his  old 
friend's  peculiarities  to  introduce  something  like  conversadon, 
break  the  awkwardness  of  this  singular  meeting,  and  gain 
time  for  observation,  ere  requiring  an  explanation  of  the 
change  of  conduct  which  the  family  seemed  to  have  adopted 
toward  him.  '"'  Say  not  so,"  he  continued.  "  Time,  my  old 
friend,  lays  his  hand  lightly  on  the  bard.  Have  I  not  heard 
you  say,  the  poet  partakes  the  immortality  of  his  song?  and 
surely  the  great  English  poet  you  used  to  tell  us  of  was  elder 
than  yourself  when  he  pulled  the  bow-oar  among  all  the  wits 
of  London." 

This  alluded  to  a  story-  which  was,  as  the  French  term  n, 
Halcro's  "  cheval  de  bataille,"  and  any  allusion  to  which  was 
certain  at  once  to  place  him  in  the  saddle  and  to  push  his 
hobby-horse  into  full  career. 

His  laughing  eye  kindled  with  a  sort  of  enthusiasm,  which 
the  ordinary  folk  of  this  world  might  have  called  crazed, 
while  he  dashed  into  the  subject  which  he  best  loved  to  talk 
upon.  "  Alas,  alas,  my  dear  Mordaunt  Mertoun,  silver  is  sil- 
-ver,  and  waxes  not  dim  by  use;  and  pewter  is  pewter,  and 
grows  the  longer  the  duller.  It  is  not  for  poor  Claud  Halcro 
to  name  himself  in  the  same  twelvemonth  ^^^th  the  immor- 
tal John  Dr\'den.  True  it  is.  as  I  may  have  told  you  before, 
that  I  have  seen  that  great  man,  nay.  T  have  been  in  the  Wits' 
Coffee-house,  as  it  was  then  called,  and  had  once  a  pinch  out 
of  his  own  very  snuff-box.  I  must  have  told  you  all  how  it 
happened,  but  here  is  Captain  Cleveland,  who  never  heard  it. 
I  lodged,  vou  must  know,  in  Russel  Street — I  question  not 
but  vou  kHow  Russel  Street,  Covent  Garden,  Captain 
Cleveland?" 


126  WAVEMLEY  NOVELS. 

"  I  should  know  its  latitude  pretty  well,  Mr.  Halcro,"  said 
the  captain,  smiling;  "  but  1  believe  you  mentioned  the  cir- 
cumstance yesterday,  and,  besides,  we  have  the  day's  duty 
in  hand:  you  must  play  us  this  song  which  we  are  to 
study." 

"  It  will  not  serve  the  turn  now,"  said  Halcro:  "  we  must 
think  of  something  that  will  take  in  our  dear  Mordaunt,  the 
first  voice  in  the  island,  whether  for  a  part  or  solo.  I  will 
never  be  he  will  touch  a  string  to  you  unless  Mordaunt  Mer- 
toun  is  to  help  us  out.  What  say  you,  my  fairest  Night? 
What  think  you,  my  sweet  Dawn  of  Day?  "  he  added,  address- 
ing the  young  women,  upon  whom,  as  we  have  said  elsewhere, 
he  had  long  before  bestowed  these  allegorical  names. 

"  Mr.  Mordaunt  Mertoun,"  said  Minna,  "  has  come  too  late 
to  be  of  our  band  on  this  occasion:  it  is  our  misfortune,  but 
it  cannot  be  helped." 

"How?  what?"  said  Halcro,  hastily — "too  late — and  you 
have  practiced  together  all  your  lives?  Take  my  word,  my 
bonny  lasses,  that  old  tunes  are  sweetest,  and  old  friends 
surest.  Mr.  Cleveland  has  a  fine  bass,  that  must  be  allowed; 
but  I  would  have  you  trust  for  the  first  effect  to  one  of  the 
twenty  fine  airs  you  can  sing  where  Mordaunt's  tenor  joins  so 
well  with  your  own  witchery.  Here  is  my  lovely  Day  ap- 
proves of  the  change  in  her  heart." 

"  You  were  never  in  your  life  more  mistaken,  father  Hal- 
cro," said  Brenda,  her  cheeks  again  reddening,  more  with  dis- 
pleasure, it  seemed,  than  with  shame. 

"Nay,  but  how  is  this?"  said  the  old  man,  pausing  and 
looking  at  them  alternately.  "  What  have  we  got  here  ?  A 
cloudy  night  and  a  red  morning?  That  betokens  rough 
Aveather.  What  means  all  this,  young  women? — where  lies 
the  offense?  In  me,  I  fear;  for  the  blame  is  always  laid  upon 
the  oldest  when  young  folk  like  you  go  by  the  ears." 

"  The  blame  is  not  with  you,  father  Halcro,"  said  Minna, 
rising  and  taking  her  sister  by  the  arm,  "  if  indeed  there  be 
blame  anywhere." 

"  I  should  fear  then,  ]\Iinna."  said  Mordaunt,  endeavoring 
to  soften  his  tone  into  one  of  indifferent  pleasantry,  "  that  the 
newcomer  has  brought  the  offense  along  with  him." 

"  When  no  offense  is  taken,"  replied  Minna,  with  her  usual 
gravity,  "  it  matters  not  by  whom  such  may  have  been 
offered." 

"Is  it  possible,  Minna!"  exclaimed  Mordaunt,  "and  is  it 
you  who  speak  thus  to  me!     And  you  too,  Brenda,  can  you 


THE  PIRATE.  127 

too  judge  so  hardly  of  me,  yet  without  permitting  me  one 
moment  of  honest  and  frank  explanation?  " 

"  Those  who  should  know  best/'  answered  Brenda,  in  a  low 
but  decisive  tone  of  voice,  •'"'  have  told  us  their  pleasure,  and 
it  must  be  done.  Sister,  I  think  we  have  stayed  too  long 
here,  and  shall  be  wanted  elsewhere.  Mr.  Mertoun  will  ex- 
cuse us  on  so  busy  a  day.'" 

The  sisters  linked  their  arms  together.  Halcro  in  vain 
endeavored  to  stop  them,  making,  at  the  same  time,  a  theatri- 
cal gesture,  and  exclaiming: 

"Now,  Day  and  Night,  but  this  is  woudrous  strange!  " 

Then  turned  to  Mordaunt  Mertoun,  and  added,  "  The  girls 
are  possessed  with  the  spirit  of  mutability,  showing,  as  our 
master  Spenser  well  saith,  that 

"  Among  all  living  creatures,  more  or  lesse, 
Change  still  doth  reign,  and  keep  the  greater  sway. 

Captain  Cleveland,"  he  continued,  "  know  ynu  anything  that 
has  happened  to  put  these  two  juvenile  Graces  out  of  tune?  " 

"  He  wall  lose  his  reckoning,"  answered  Cleveland,  "  that 
spends  time  in  inquiring  why  the  wind  shifts  a  point  or  why 
a  woman  changes  her  mind.  Were  I  Mr.  Mordaunt,  I  would 
not  ask  the  proud  wenches  another  question  on  such  a 
subject." 

"  It  is  a  friendly  advice.  Captain  Cleveland,"  replied  Mor- 
daunt, "  and  I  will  not  hold  it  the  less  so  that  it  has  been 
given  unasked.  Allow  me  to  inquire  if  you  are  yourself  as 
indifferent  to  the  opinion  of  your  female  friends  as  it  seems 
you  would  have  me  to  be?" 

"  Who,  I?  "  said  the  captain,  with  an  air  of  frank  indiffer- 
ence, "  I  never  thought  twice  upon  such  a  subject.  I  never 
»aw  a  woman  worth  thinking  twice  about  after  the  anchor  was 
a-peak;  on  shore  it  is  another  thing,  and  1  will  laugh,  sing, 
dance,  and  make  love,  if  they  like  it,  with  twenty  girls,  were 
they  but  half  so  pretty  as  those  who  have  left  us,  and  make 
them  heartily  welcome  to  change  their  course  in  the  sound 
of  a  boatswain's  whistle.  It  will  be  odds  but  I  wear  as  fast 
as  they  can." 

A  patient  is  seldom  pleased  with  that  sort  of  consolation 
which  is  founded  on  holding  light  the  malady  of  which  he 
complaiue;  and  Mordaunt  felt  disposed  to  be  offended  with 
Captain  Cleveland  both  for  taking  notice  of  his  embarrass- 
ment aiad  intruding  upon   him  his  own   opinion;  and  he 


128  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

replied,  therefore,  somewhat  sharply,  "  That  Captain  Cleve- 
land's sentiments  were  only  suited  to  such  as  had  the  art  to 
become  universal  favorites  wherever  chance  happened  to 
throw  them,  and  who  could  not  lose  in  one  place  more  than 
their  merit  was  sure  to  gain  for  them  in  another." 

This  was  spoken  ironically;  but  there  was,  to  confess  the 
truth,  a  superior  knowledge  of  the  world,  and  a  consciousness 
of  external  merit  at  least,  about  the  man  which  rendered  his 
interference  doubly  disagreeable.  As  Sir  Lucius  O'Trigger 
says,  there  was  an  air  of  success  about  Captain  Cleveland 
which  was  mighty  provoking.  Young,  handsome,  and  well 
assured,  his  air  of  nautical  bluntness  sat  naturally  and  easily 
upon  him,  and  was  perhaps  particularly  well  fitted  to  the 
simple  manners  of  the  remote  country  in  which  he  found 
himself;  and  where,  even  in  the  best  families,  a  gi'eater  de- 
gree of  refinement  might  have  rendered  his  conversation 
rather  less  acceptable.  He  was  contented,  in  the  present  in- 
stance, to  smile  good-humoredly  at  the  obvious  discontent  of 
Mordaunt  Mertoun,  and  replied,  "  You  are  angry  with  me, 
my  good  friend,  but  you  cannot  make  me  angry  with  you. 
The  fair  hands  of  all  the  pretty  women  I  ever  saw  in  my  life 
would  never  have  fished  me  up  out  of  the  Roost  of  Sumburgh, 
So,  pray,  do  not  quarrel  with  me;  for  here  is  ]\Ir.  Halcro  wit- 
ness that  I  have  struck  both  jack  and  topsail,  and  should  you 
fire  a  broadside  into  me,  cannot  return  a  single  shot." 

"  Aye — aye,"  said  Halcro,  "  you  must  be  friends  with  Cap- 
tain Cleveland,  Mordaunt.  Never  quarrel  with  your  friend 
because  a  woman  is  whimsical.  Why,  man,  if  they  kept  one 
humor,  how  the  devil  could  we  make  so  many  songs  on  them 
as  we  do?  Even  old  Dryden  himself,  glorious  old  John,  could 
have  said  little  about  a  girl  that  was  always  of  one  mind:  as 
well  write  verses  upon  a  mill-pond.  It  is  your  tides  and  your 
roosts,  and  your  currents  and  eddies,  that  come  and  go,  and 
ebb  and  flow — by  Heaven!  I  run  into  rhyme  when  I  so  much 
as  think  upon  them — that  smile  one  day,  rage  the  next,  flatter 
and  devour,  delight  and  ruin  us,  and  so  forth — it  is  these  that 
give  the  real  soul  of  poetry.  Did  you  ever  hear  my  '  Adieu 
to  the  Lass  of  Northmaven '  ?  That  was  poor  Bet  Stim- 
bister,  whom  I  call  Mary  for  the  sound's  sake,  as  I  call  myself 
Hacon,  after  my  great  ancestor  Hacon  Goldemund.  or  Haco 
with  the  Golden  Mouth,  who  came  to  the  island  with  Harold 
Harfager,  and  was  his  chief  Scald?  Well,  but  where  was  I? 
Oh,  aye:  poor  Bet  Stimbister.  she — and  partly  some  debt — 
was  the  cause  of  my  leaving  the  isles  of  Hialtland — better  so 


THE   PIRATE.  129 

called  than  Shetland,  or  Zetland  even — and  taking  to  the 
broad  world.  I  have  had  a  tramp  of  it  since  that  time.  I 
have  battled  my  way  through  the  world,  captain,  as  a  man  of 
mold  may,  that  has  a  hght  head,  a  light  purse,  and  a  heart  as 
light  as  them  both;  fought  my  way,  and  jxiid  my  way,  that  is, 
either  with  money  or  wit;  have  seen  kings  changed  and  de- 
posed as  you  would  turn  a  tenant  out  of  a  scat-hold;  knew  all 
the  wits  of  the  age,  and  especially  the  glorious  John  Dn'den; 
what  man  in  the  islands  can  say  as  much,  barring  lying?  I 
had  a  pinch  out  of  his  own  snuff-box;  I  will  tell  you  how  I 
came  by  such  promotion." 

"  But  the  song,  Mr.  Halcro,"  said  Captain  Cleveland. 

"  The  song!  "  answered  Halcro,  seizing  the  captain  by  the 
button — for  he  was  too  much  accustomed  to  have  his  audience 
escape  from  him  during  recitation,  not  to  put  in  practice  all 
the  usual  means  of  prevention — "  the  song!  Why,  I  gave  a 
copy  of  it,  with  fifteen  others,  to  the  immortal  John.  You 
shall  hear  it — you  shall  hear  them  all,  if  you  will  but  stand 
still  a  moment;  and  you  too,  my  dear  boy,  ]\Iordaunt  Mer- 
toun,  I  have  scarce  heard  a  word  from  your  mouth  these  six 
months,  and  now  you  are  running  away  from  me."  So  say- 
ing, he  secured  him  with  his  other  hand. 

"  Xay,  now  he  has  got  us  both  in  tow,"  said  the  seaman, 
"  there  is  nothing  for  it  but  hearing  him  out,  though  he  spins 
as  tough  a  yarn  as  ever  an  old  man-of-wars-man  twisted  on 
the  watch  at  midnight." 

"  Nay,  now,  be  silent — be  silent,  and  let  one  of  us  speak  at 
once,"  said  the  poet  imperatively;  while  Cleveland  and  Mor- 
daunt,  looking  at  each  other  with  a  ludicrous  expression  of 
resignation  to  their  fate,  waited  in  submission  for  the  well- 
known  and  inevitable  tale.  "  I  will  tell  you  all  about  it," 
continued  Halcro.  "  I  was  knocked  about  the  world  like 
other  young  fellows,  doing  this,  that,  and  t'other  for  a  liveli- 
hood; for,  thank  God,  I  could  turn  my  hand  to  anything;  but 
lo\ang  still  the  Muses  as  much  as  if  the  nngrateful  jades  had 
found  me,  like  so  many  blockheads,  in  my  own  coach  and  six. 
However,  I  held  out  till  my  cousin,  old  Laurence  Linkletter, 
died,  and  left  me  the  bit  of  an  island  yonder;  although,  by  the 
wa}',  Cultmalindie  was  as  near  to  him  as  I  was:  but  Laurence 
loved  wit,  though  he  had  little  of  his  own.  AVell,  he  left  me 
the  wee  bit  island — it  is  as  barren  as  Parnassus  itself.  What 
then?  I  have  a  penny  to  spend,  a  penny  to  keep  my  purse, 
a  penny  to  give  to  the  poor — aye,  and  a  bed  and  a  bottle  for 
a  friend,  as  you  shall  kijow,  boys,  if  you  will  go  back  with  me 


130  WAVEJiLEY  NOVELS. 

when    this   merriment   is    over.     But    where    was   I    in   my 
story  ?  " 

"  Near  port,  I  hope,"  answered  Cleveland;  but  Halcro  was 
too  determined  a  narrator  to  be  interrupted  by  the  broadest 
hint. 

"Oh,  aye,"  he  resumed,  with  the  self-satisfied  air  of  one 
who  has  recovered  the  thread  of  a  story,  "  I  was  in  my  old 
lodgings  in  Eussel  Street,  with  old  Timothy  Thimblethwaite, 
the  master  fashioner,  then  the  best-known  man  about  town. 
He  made  for  all  the  wits,  and  for  the  dull  boobies  of  fortune 
besides,  and  made  the  one  pay  for  the  other.  He  never  de- 
nied a  wit  credit  save  in  jest,  or  for  the  sake  of  getting  a 
repartee;  and  he  was  in  correspondence  with  all  that  was 
worth  knowing  about  town.  He  had  letters  from  Crowne, 
and  Tate,  and  Prior,  and  Tom  Brown,  and  all  the  famous 
fellows  of  the  time,  with  such  pellets  of  wit,  that  there  was 
no  reading  them  without  laughing  ready  to  die,  and  all  end- 
ing with  craving  a  further  term  for  payment." 

"  I  should  have  thought  the  tailor  would  have  found  that 
jest  rather  serious,"  said  Mordaunt. 

"Not  a  bit — not  a  bit,"  replied  his  eulogist,  "Tim  Thimble- 
thwaite— he  was  a  Cumberland  man  by  birth — had  the  soul 
of  a  prince — aye,  and  died  with  the  fortune  of  one;  for  woe 
betide  the  custard-gorged  alderman  that  came  under  Tim's 
goose,  after  he  had  got  one  of  those  letters — egad,  he  was  sure 
to  pay  the  kain!  Why,  Thimblethwaite  was  thought  to  be 
the  original  of  little  Tom  Bibber,  in  glorious  John's  comedy 
of  the  '  Wild  Gallant';  and  I  know  that  he  has  trusted,  aye, 
and  lent  John  money  to  boot  out  of  his  own  pocket,  at  a  time 
when  all  his  fine  court  friends  blew  cold  enough.  He  trusted 
me  too,  and  I  have  been  two  months  on  the  score  at  a  time 
for  my  upper  room.  To  be  sure,  I  was  obliging  in  his  way — 
not  that  I  exactly  could  shape  or  sew,  nor  would  that  have 
been  decorous  for  a  gentleman  of  good  descent;  but  I — eh, 
eh — I  drew  bills — summed  up  the  books " 

"  Carried  home  the  clothes  of  the  wits  and  aldermen,  and 
got  lodging  for  your  labor?  "  interrupted  Cleveland. 

"No,  no — damn  it,  no,"  replied  Halcro;  "no  such  thing; 
you  put  me  out  in  my  story — where  was  I  ?  " 

"  Nay,  the  devil  help  you  to  the  latitude,"  said  the  captain, 
extricating  his  button  from  the  gripe  of  the  unmerciful  bard's 
finger  and  thumb,  "  for  I  have  no  time  to  take  an  obser\'a- 
tion."     So  saying,  he  bolted  from  the  room. 

"A  silly,  ill-bred,  conceited  fool,"  said  Halcro,  looking 


THE  PIRATE.  181 

after  him;  "  with  as  little  manners  as  wit  in  his  empty  cox- 
comb. I  wonder  what  ]\Iagnus  and  these  silly  wenches  can 
see  in  him.  He  tells  such  damnable  long-winded  stories,  too, 
about  his  adventures  and  sea-fights — eveiy  second  word  a  li©, 
I  doubt  not.  Mordaunt,  my  dear  boy,  take  example  by  that 
man — that  is,  take  warning  by  him — never  tell  long  stories 
about  yourself.  You  are  sometimes  given  to  talk  too  much 
about  your  own  exploits  on  crags  and  skerries,  and  the  like, 
which  only  breaks  convei"sation,  and  prevents  other  folk  from 
being  heard.  Now,  I  see  you  are  impatient  to  hear  out  what 
I  was  saying.     Stop,  whereabouts  was  I  ?  " 

"  I  fear  we  must  put  it  off,  Mr.  Halcro,  until  after  dinner," 
said  Mordaunt,  who  also  meditated  his  escape,  though  de 
sirous  of  effecting  it  with  more  delicacy  toward  his  old  ac- 
quaintance than  Captain  Cleveland  had  thought  it  necessary 
to  use. 

"  Nay,  my  dear  boy,"  said  Halcro,  seeing  himself  about  to 
be  utterly  deserted,  "  do  not  you  leave  me  too:  never  take  so 
bad  an  example  as  to  set  light  by  old  acquaintance,  Mordaunt. 
I  have  wandered  many  a  weary  step  in  my  day;  but  they  were 
always  lightened  when  I  could  get  hold  of  the  arm  of  an  old 
friend  like  yourself." 

So  saying,  he  quitted  the  youth's  coat,  and  sliding  his  hand 
gentl}'  under  his  arm,  grappled  him  more  effectually;  to  which 
Mordaunt  submitted,  a  little  moved  by  the  poet's  observation 
upon  the  unkindness  of  old  acquaintances,  under  which  he 
himself  was  an  immediate  sufferer.  But  when  Halcro  re- 
newed his  formidable  question,  "Whereabouts  was  I?"  Mor- 
daunt, preferring  his  poetr}^  to  his  prose,  reminded  him  of 
the  song  which  he  said  he  had  written  upon  his  first  leaving 
Zetland — a  song  to  which,  indeed,  the  inquirer  was  no  stran- 
ger, but  which,  as  it  must  be  new  to  the  reader,  we  shall  here 
insert  as  a  favorable  specimen  of  the  poetical  powers  of  this 
tuneful  descendant  of  Haco  the  Golden-mouthed;  for,  in  the 
opinion  of  many  tolerable  judges,  he  held  a  respectable  rank 
among  the  inditers  of  madrigals  of  the  period,  and  was  as  well 
qualified  to  give  immortality  to  his  Nancies  of  the  hills  or 
dales  as  many  a  gentle  sonnetteer  of  wit  and  pleasure  about 
town.  He  was  something  of  a  musician  also,  and  on  the 
present  occasion  seized  upon  a  sort  of  lute,  and,  quitting  his 
victim,  prepared  the  instrument  for  an  accompaniment, 
speaking  all  the  while,  that  he  might  lose  no  time. 

"  I  learned  the  lute,"  he  said,  "  from  the  same  man  who 
taught  honest  Shadwell — plump  Tom,  as  they  used  to  call 


132  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

him — somewhat  roughly  treated  by  the  glorious  John,  you  re- 
member— Mordaunt,  you  remember — 

"  Methinks  I  see  the  new  Arion  sail, 
The  hite  still  trembling  underneath  thy  nail ; 
At  thy  well-sharpen'd  thumb,  from  shore  to  shore 
The  trebles  squeak  for  fear,  the  basses  roar. 

Come,  I  am  indifferently  in  tune  now.  What  was  it  to  be? 
Aye,  I  remember — nay,  '  The  T.ass  of  Northmaven '  is  the 
ditty — poor  Bet  Stimbister!  I  have  called  her  Mary  in  the 
verses.  Betsy  does  well  for  an  English  song;  but  Mary  is 
more  natural  here."  So  saying,  after  a  short  prelude,  he 
sung,  with  a  tolerable  voice  and  some  taste,  the  following 
^erses: 


"  Farewell  to  Northniaven, 

Grey  Hillswieke,  farewell! 
To  the  calms  of  thy  haven, 

The  storms  on  tliy  fell, 
To  each  breeze  that  can  vary 

The  mood  of  thy  main, 
And  to  thee,  bonny  Mary! 

We  meet  not  again. 

*   Farfwell  the  wild  ferry, 

Which  Hacon  could  brave, 
When  the  peaks  of  the  skerry 

Were  white  in  the  wave. 
There's  a  maid  may  look  over 

These  wild  waves  in  vain 
For  the  skiff  of  her  lover  : 

He  comes  not  again. 

"The  vows  thou  hast  broke, 

On  the  wild  cun-ents  fling  them  ; 
On  the  quicksand  and  rock 

Let  the  mermaidens  sing  them. 
New  sweetness  they'll  give  her 

Bewildering  strain  ; 
But  there's  one  who  will  never 

Believe  them  again. 

"Oh,  were  there  an  island, 

Though  ever  so  wild. 
Where  woman  coiild  smile,  and 

No  man  be  beguiled  ; 
Too  tempting  a  snare 

To  poor  mortals  were  given, 
And  tlie  hope  would  fix  there. 

That  should  anchor  on  heaven  ! 

"  I  see  you  are  softened,  my  young  friend,"  said  Halcro 
when  he  had  finished  his  song;  "  so  are  most  who  hear  thai 
same  ditty.  Words  and  music  both  mine  own;  and,  without 
saying  much  of  the  w\i  of  it,  there  is  a  sort  of  eh — eh — sim- 


THE  PIRATE.  133 

plicity  and  truth  about  it  which  gets  its  way  to  most  folks' 
heart.  Even  your  father  cannot  resist  it;  and  he  has  a  heart 
as  impenetrable  to  poetry  and  song  as  Apollo  himself  could 
draw  an  arrow  against.  But  then  he  has  had  some  ill  luck 
in  his  time  with  the  womenfolk,  as  is  plain  from  his  owing 
them  such  a  grudge.  Aye — aye,  there  the  charm  lies;  none 
of  us  but  has  felt  the  same  sore  in  our  day.  But  come,  my 
dear  boy,  they  are  mustering  in  the  hall,  men  and  women 
both — plagues  as  they  are,  we  should  get  on  ill  without  them; 
but  before  we  go,  only  mark  the  last  turn — 

"And  the  hope  would  fix  there, — 

that  is,  in  the  supposed  island — a  place  which  neither  was  nor 
will  be, — 

"That  should  anchor  on  heaven. 

Now  you  see,  my  good  young  man,  there  are  here  none  of  your 
heathenish  rants,  which  Rochester,  Etherege,  and  these  wild 
fellows  used  to  string  together.  A  parson  might  sing  the 
song,  and  his  clerk  bear  the  burden:  but  there  is  the  con- 
founded bell — we  must  go  now;  but  never  mind,  we'll  get  into 
a  quiet  corner  at  night,  and  I'll  tell  you  ail  about  it." 


I 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Full  in  the  midst  the  polish'd  tahle  shines, 
And  the  bright  goblets,  rich  witii  geuei'ous  wiues  ; 
Now  eacli  partakes  the  fcusf,  the  wiue  prepares, 
Portions  the  food,  and  eacli  tlie  portion  shares ; 
Nor  till  the  rage  of  thirst  and  hungei-  ceased. 
To  the  high  host  approach'd  the  sagacious  guest. 

—  Odyssey. 

The  hospitable  profusion  of  Magnus  Troil's  board,  the 
number  of  guests  who  feasted  in  the  hall,  the  much  greater 
number  of  retainers,  attendants,  humble  friends,  and  domes- 
ties  of  every  possible  description,  who  reveled  without,  with 
the  multitude  of  the  still  poorer  and  less  honored  assistants, 
who  came  from  every  hamlet  or  township  within  twenty  miles 
round,  to  share  the  bounty  of  the  munificent  Udaller,  were 
such  as  altogether  astonished  Triptolemus  Yellowley,  and 
made  him  internally  doubt  whether  it  would  be  prudent  in 
him  at  this  time,  and  amid  the  full  glow  of  his  hospitality,  to 
propose  to  the  host  who  presided  over  such  a  splendid  ban- 
quet a  radical  change  in  the  whole  customs  and  usages  of  his 
country. 

True,  the  sagacious  Triptolemus  felt  conscious  that  he  pos- 
sessed in  his  own  person  wisdom  far  superior  to  that  of  all  the 
assembled  feasters,  to  sav  nothing  of  the  landlord,  against 
whose  prudence  the  very  extent  of  his  hospitality  formed,  in 
Yellowley's  opinion,  sufficient  evidence.  But  yet  the  Amphit- 
ryon with  whom  one  dines  holds,  for  the  time  at  least,  an 
influence  over  the  minds  of  his  most  distinguished  guests;  and 
if  the  dinner  be  in  good  style  and  the  wines  of  the  right 
quality,  it  is  humbling  to  see  that  neither  art  nor  wisdom, 
scarce  external  rank  itself,  can  assume  their  natural  and 
wonted  superiority  over  the  distributor  of  these  good  things, 
until  coffee  has  been  brought  in.  Triptolemus  felt  the  full 
weight  of  this  temporary  superiority,  yet  he  was  desirous  to 
do  something  that  might  vindicate  the  vaunts  he  had  made 
to  his  sister  and  his  fellow-traveler,  and  he  stole  a  look  at 
them  from  time  to  time,  to  mark  whether  he  was  not  sinking 
in  their  esteem  from  postponing  his  promised  lecture  on  the 
enormities  of  Zetland. 

But  Mrs.  Barbara  was  busily  engaged  in  noting  and  regis- 
tering the  waste  incurred  in  such  an  entertainment  as  she  had 

a34 


THE  PIRATB.  136 

probably  never  before  looked  upon,  and  m  admiring  the  host's 
indifference  to,  and  the  guests'  absolute  negligence  of,  those 
rules  of  civility  in  which  her  youth  had  been  brought  up. 
The  feasters  desired  to  be  helped  from  a  dish  which  was  un- 
broken, and  might  have  figured  at  supper,  with  as  much  free- 
dom as  if  it  had  undergone  the  ravages  of  half  a  dozen  guests; 
and  no  one  seemed  to  care — the  landlord  himself  least  of  all 
whether  those  dishes  only  were  consumed  which,  from  their 
nature,  were  incapable  of  reappearance,  or  whether  the  assault 
was  extended  to  the  substantial  rounds  of  beef,  pasties,  and 
so  forth,  which,  by  the  rules  of  good  housewifely,  were  des' 
tined  to  stand  two  attacks,  and  which,  therefore,  according 
to  Mrs.  Barbara's  ideas  of  politeness,  ought  not  to  have  been 
annihilated  by  the  guests  upon  the  first  onset,  but  spared,  like 
Outis  in  the  cave  of  Polyphemus,  to  be  devoured  the  last. 
Lost  in  the  meditations  to  which  these  breaches  of  convivial 
discipline  gave  rise,  and  in  the  contemplation  of  an  ideal 
larder  of  cold  meat  which  she  could  have  saved  out  of  the 
wreck  of  roast,  boiled,  and  baked,  sufficient  to  have  supplied 
her  cupboard  fof  at  least  a  twelvemonth,  ^Irs.  Barbara  cared 
very  little  whether  or  not  her  brother  supported  in  its  extent 
the  character  which  he  had  calculated  upon  assuming. 

Mordaunt  Mertoun  also  was  conversant  with  far  other 
thoughts  than  those  which  regarded  the  proposed  reformer  of 
Zetland  enormities.  His  seat  was  betwixt  two  blithe  maidens 
of  Thule,  who,  not  taking  scorn  that  he  had  upon  other  occa- 
sions given  preference  to  the  daughters  of  the  Udaller,  were 
glad  of  the  chance  which  assigned  to  them  the  attentions  of 
so  distinguished  a  gallant,  who,  as  being  their  squire  at  the 
feast,  might  in  all  probability  become  their  partner  in  the  sub- 
sequent dance.  But,  whilst  rendering  to  his  fair  neighbors 
all  the  usual  attentions  which  society  required,  Mordaunt 
kept  up  a  covert,  but  accurate  and  close,  observation  upon  his 
estranged  friends,  Minna  and  Brenda.  The  Udaller  himself 
had  a  share  of  his  attention;  but  in  him  he  could  remark 
notliing,  except  the  usual  tone  of  hearty  and  somewhat  bois- 
terous hospitality  with  which  he  was  accustomed  to  animate 
the  banquet  upon  all  such  occasions  of  general  festivity.  But 
in  the  differing  mien  of  the  two  maidens  there  was  much 
more  room  for  painful  remark. 

Captain  Cleveland  sat  betwixt  the  sisters,  was  sedulous  in 
his  attentions  to  both,  and  Mordaunt  was  so  placed  that  he 
could  obsen-e  all,  and  hear  a  great  deal,  of  what  passed  be- 
tween them.     But  Cleveland's  pecuhar  regard  seemed  devoted 


136  WAVEIiLEY  NOVELS. 

to  the  elder  sister.  Of  this  the  younger  was  perhaps  con- 
scious, for  more  than  once  her  eye  glanced  toward  Mordaunt, 
and,  as  he  thought,  with  something  in  it  whicli  resembled  re- 
gret for  the  interruption  of  their  intercourse,  and  a  sad 
remembrance  of  former  and  more  friendly  times;  while  Minna 
was  exclusively  engrossed  by  the  attentions  of  her  neighbor; 
and  that  it  should  be  so,  filled  Mordaunt  with  surprise  and 
resentment. 

Minna,  the  serious,  the  prudent,  the  reserved,  whose  coun- 
tenance and  manners  indicated  so  much  elevation  of  charac- 
ter— Minna,  the  lover  of  solitude,  and  of  those  paths  of 
knowledge  in  which  men  w^alk  best  without  company — the 
enemy  of  light  mirth,  the  friend  of  musing  melancholy,  and 
the  frequenter  of  fountain-heads  and  pathless  glens — she 
whose  character  seemed,  in  short,  the  very  reverse  of  that 
which  might  be  captivated  by  the  bold,  coarse,  and  daring 
gallantry  of  such  a  man  as  this  Captain  Cleveland,  gave, 
nevertheless,  her  eye  and  ear  to  him,  as  he  sat  beside  her  at 
table,  with  an  interest  and  a  graciousness  of  attention  which, 
to  Mordaunt,  who  well  knew  how  to  judge  o^  her  feelings  by 
her  manner,  intimated  a  degree  of  the  highest  favor.  He 
observed  this,  and  his  heart  rose  against  the  favorite  by  whom 
he  had  been  thus  superseded,  as  well  as  against  Minna's  indis- 
creet departure  from  her  own  character. 

"  What  is  there  about  the  man,"  he  said  within  himself, 
"  more  than  the  bold  and  daring  assumption  of  importance 
which  is  derived  from  success  in  petty  enterprises,  and  the 
exercise  of  petty  despotism  over  a  ship's  crew?  His  very  lan- 
guage is  more  professional  than  is  used  by  the  superior  officers 
of  the  British  navy;  and  the  wit  which  has  excited  so  many 
smiles  seems  to  me  such  as  Minna  would  not  formerly  have 
endured  for  an  instant.  Even  Brenda  seems  less  taken  with 
his  gallantry  than  Minna,  whom  it  should  have  suited  so 
little." 

Mordaunt  was  doubly  mistaken  in  these  his  angry  specula- 
tions. In  the  first  place,  with  an  eye  which  was,  in  some 
respects,  that  of  a  rival,  he  criticised  far  too  severely  the  man- 
ners and  behavior  of  Captain  Cleveland.  They  were  unpol- 
ished, certainly;  which  was  of  the  less  consequence  in  a 
country  inhabited  by  so  plain  and  simple  a  race  as  the  ancient 
Zetlanders.  On  the  other  hand,  there  was  an  open,  naval 
frankness  in  Cleveland's  bearing,  much  natural  shrewdness, 
some  appropriate  humor,  an  undoubting  confidence  in  him- 
self, and  that  enterprising  hardihood  of  dispoeition  which. 


THE  PIRATE.  13V 

rt'ithout  any  other  recommendable  quality,  very  often  leads 
to  success  wdth  the  fair  sex.  But  Mordaunt  was  farther  mis- 
taken in  supposing  that  Cleveland  was  likely  to  be  disagreea- 
ble to  Minna  Troil,  on  account  of  the  opposition  of  their 
characters  in  so  many  material  particulars.  Had  his  knowl- 
edge of  the  world  been  a  little  more  extensive,  he  might  have 
observed  that,  as  unions  are  often  fonned  betwixt  couples 
differing  in  complexion  and  stature,  they  take  place  still  more 
frequently  betwixt  persons  totally  differing  in  feelings,  in 
taste,  in  pursuits,  and  in  understanding;  and  it  would  not  be 
saying,  perhaps,  too  much,  to  aver  that  two-thirds  of  the  mar- 
riages around  us  have  been  contracted  betwixt  persons  who, 
judging  "  a  priori,"  we  should  have  thought  had  scarce  any 
channs  for  each  other. 

A  moral  and  primary  cause  might  be  easily  assigned  for 
these  anomalies,  in  the  wise  dispensations  of  Providence,  that 
the  general  balance  of  wit,  wisdom,  and  amiable  qualities  of 
all  kinds  should  be  kept  up  through  society  at  large.  For, 
what  a  world  were  it  if  the  wise  were  to  intermarry  only  with 
the  wise,  the  learned  with  the  learned,  the  amiable  with 
the  amiable,  nay,  even  the  handsome  with  the  handsome? 
and,  is  it  not  evident,  that  the  degraded  castes  of  the  foolish, 
the  ignorant,  the  brutal,  and  the  deformed  (comprehending, 
by  the  way,  far  the  greater  portion  of  mankind),  must,  when 
condemned  to  exclusive  intercourse  with  each  other,  become 
gradually  as  much  brutalized  in  person  and  disposition  as  so 
many  ourang-outangs  ?  When,  therefore,  we  see  the  "  gentle 
joined  to  the  rude,"  we  may  lament  the  fate  of  the  suffering 
individual,  but  we  must  not  the  less  admire  the  mysterious 
disposition  of  that  wise  Providence  which  thus  balances  the 
moral  good  and  evil  of  life;  which  secures  for  a  family,  un- 
happv  in  the  dispositions  of  one  parent,  a  share  of  better  and 
sweeter  blood,  transmitted  from  the  other,  and  preserves  to 
the  offspring  the  affectionate  care  and  protection  of  at  least 
one  of  those  from  whom  it  is  naturally  due.  Without  the 
frequent  occurrence  of  such  alliances  and  unions,  mis-sorted 
as  they  seem  at  first  sight,  the  world  could  not  be  that  for 
which  Eternal  Wisdom  has  designed  it— a  place  of  mixed 
good  and  evil,  a  place  of  trial  at  once  and  of  suffering,  where 
even  the  worst  ills  are  checkered  with  something  that  renders 
them  tolerable  to  humble  and  patient  minds,  and  where  the 
best  blessinirs  carry  with  them  a  necessary  alloy  of  embitter- 
ing depreciation. 

When,  indeed,  we  look  a  little  closer  on  the  causes  of  those 


138  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

unexpected  and  ill-suited  attachments,  we  have  occasion  to 
acknowledge  that  the  means  by  which  they  are  produced  do 
not  infer  that  complete  departure  from,  or  inconsistency 
with,  the  character  of  the  parties  which  we  might  expect  when 
the  result  alone  is  contemplated.  The  wise  purposes  which 
Providence  appears  to  have  had  in  view,  by  permitting  such 
intermixture  of  dispositions,  tempers,  and  understandings  in 
the  married  state,  are  not  accomplished  by  any  mysterious 
impulse  by  which,  in  contradiction  to  the  ordinary  laws  of 
nature,  men  or  women  are  urged  to  an  union  with  those  whom 
the  world  see  to  be  unsuitable  to  them.  The  freedom  of  will 
is  permitted  to  us  in  the  occurrences  of  ordinary  life,  as  in 
our  moral  conduct;  and  in  the  former  as  well  as  the  latter 
case  is  often  the  means  of  misguiding  those  who  possess  it. 
Thus  it  usually  happens,  more  especially  to  the  enthusiastic 
and  imaginative,  that,  having  formed  a  picture  of  admiration 
in  their  own  mind,  they  too  often  deceive  themselves  by  some 
faint  resemblance  in  some  existing  being,  whom  their  fancy, 
as  speedily  as  gratuitously,  invests  with  all  the  attributes 
necessary  to  complete  the  "  beau  ideal  "  of  mental  perfection. 
No  one,  perhaps,  even  in  the  happiest  marriage,  with  an  ob- 
ject really  beloved,  ever  discovered  by  experience  all  the 
qualities  he  expected  to  possess;  but  in  far  too  many  cases  he 
finds  he  has  practiced  a  much  higher  degree  of  mental  decep- 
tion, and  has  erected  his  airy  castle  of  felicity  upon  some  rain- 
bow, which  owed  its  very  existence  only  to  the  peculiar  state 
of  the  atmosphere. 

Thus  Mordaunt,  if  better  acquainted  with  life  and  with  the 
course  of  human  things,  would  have  been  little  surprised  that 
such  a  man  as  Cleveland,  handsome,  bold,  and  animated — a 
man  who  had  obviously  lived  in  danger,  and  who  spoke  of  it 
as  sport,  should  have  been  invested,  by  a  girl  of  Minna's  fanci- 
ful disposition,  with  an  extensive  share  of  those  qualities 
which,  in  her  active  imagination,  were  held  to  fill  up  the  ac- 
complishments of  a  heroic  character.  The  plain  bluntness  of 
his  manner,  if  remote  from  courtesy,  appeared  at  least  as 
widely  different  from  deceit;  and,  unfashioned  as  he  seemed 
by  forms,  he  had  enough  both  of  natural  sense  and  natural 
good  breeding  to  support  the  delusion  he  had  created,  at  least 
as  far  as  externals  were  concerned.  It  is  scarce  necessary  to 
add,  that  these  observations  apply  exclusively  to  what  are 
called  love-matches;  for  when  either  party  fix  their  attach- 
ment upon  the  substantial  comforts  of  a  rental  or  a  jointure, 
they  cannot  be  disappointed   in   the  acquisition,   although 


THE  PIRATE.  139 

they  may  be  cruelly  so  in  their  over-estimation  of  the  happi- 
ness it  was  to  afford,  or  in  having  too  slightly  anticipated  the 
disadvantages  with  which  it  was  to  be  attended. 

Having  a  certain  partiality  for  the  dark  beauty  whom  we 
have  described,  we  have  willingly  dedicated  this  digression, 
in  order  to  account  for  a  line  of  conduct  which  we  allow  to 
seem  absolutely  unnatural  in  such  a  narrative  as  the  present, 
though  the  most  common  event  in  ordinary  life;  namely,  in 
Minna's  appearing  to  have  over-estimated  the  taste,  talent, 
and  ability  of  a  handsome  young  man,  who  was  dedicating  to 
her  his  whole  time  and  attention,  and  whose  homage  rendered 
her  the  envy  of  almost  all  the  other  young  women  of  that 
numerous  party.  Perhaps,  if  our  fair  readers  will  take  the 
trouble  to  consult  their  own  bosoms,  they  will  be  disposed  to 
allow  that  the  distinguished  good  taste  exhibited  by  any  indi- 
vidual who,  when  his  attentions  would  be  agreeable  to  a  whole 
circle  of  rivals,  selects  one  as  their  individual  object,  entitles 
him,  on  the  footing  of  reciprocity,  if  on  no  other,  to  a  large 
share  of  that  individual's  favorable,  and  even  partial  esteem. 
At  any  rate,  if  the  character  shall,  after  all,  be  deemed  incon- 
sistent and  unnatural,  it  concerns  not  us,  who  record  the  facts 
as  we  find  them,  and  pretend  no  privilege  for  bringing  closer 
to  nature  those  incidents  which  may  seem  to  diverge  from  it, 
or  for  reducing  to  consistence  that  most  inconsistent  of  all 
created  things — the  heart  of  a  beautiful  and  admired  female. 

Necessity,  which  teaches  all  the  liberal  arts,  can  render  us 
also  adepts  in  dissimulation;  and  Mordaunt,  though  a  novice, 
failed  not  to  profit  in  her  school.  It  was  manifest  that,  in 
order  to  observe  the  demeanor  of  those  on  whom  his  altention 
was  fixed,  he  must  needs  put  constraint  on  his  own,  and  ap- 
pear, at  least,  so  much  engaged  with  the  damsels  betwixt 
whom  he  sat  that  Minna  and  Brenda  should  suppose  him  in- 
different to  what  was  passing  around  him.  The  ready  cheer- 
fulness of  ]\Iaddie  and  Clara  Groatsettar,  who  were  esteemed 
considerable  fortunes  in  the  island,  and  were  at  this  moment 
too  happy  in  feeling  themselves  seated  somewhat  beyond  the 
sphere  of  vigilance  influenced  by  their  aunt,  the  good  old 
Lady  Glowrowrum,  met  and  requited  the  attempts  which 
Mordaunt  made  to  be  lively  and  entertaining;  and  they  were 
soon  engaged  in  a  gay  conversation,  to  which,  as  usual  on 
such  occasions,  the  gentleman  contributed  wit,  or  what  passes 
for  such,  and  the  ladies  their  prompt  laughter  and  liberal  ap- 
plause. But,  amidst  this  seeming  mirth,  ]\Iordaunt  failed 
not,  from  time  to  time,  as  covertly  as  he  might,  to  observe 


140  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

the  conduct  of  the  two  daughters  of  Magnus;  and  still  it  ap- 
peared as  if  the  elder,  wrapt  up  in  the  conversation  of 
Cleveland,  did  not  cast  away  a  thought  on  the  rest  of  the  com- 
pany; and  as  if  Brenda,  more  openly  as  she  conceived  his  at- 
tention withdrawn  from  her,  looked  with  an  expression  both 
anxious  and  melancholy  toward  the  group  of  which  he  him- 
self formed  a  part.  He  was  much  moved  by  the  diffidence,  as 
well  as  the  trouble,  which  her  looks  seemed  to  convey,  and 
tacitly  formed  the  resolution  of  seeking  a  more  full  explana- 
tion with  her  in  the  course  of  the  evening.  Noma,  he  re- 
membered, had  stated  that  these  two  amiable  young  women 
were  in  danger,  the  nature  of  which  she  left  unexplained,  but 
which  he  suspected  to  arise  out  of  their  mistaking  the  char- 
acter of  this  daring  and  all-engrossing  stranger;  and  he 
secretly  resolved  that,  if  possible,  he  would  be  the  means  of 
detecting  Cleveland  and  of  saving  his  early  friends. 

As  he  revolved  these  thoughts,  his  attention  to  the  Miss 
Groatsettars  gradually  diminished,  and  perhaps  he  might 
altogether  have  forgotten  the  necessity  of  his  appearing  an 
uninterested  spectator  of  what  was  passing,  had  not  the  signal 
been  given  for  the  ladies  retiring  from  table.  Minna,  with 
a  native  grace,  and  somewhat  of  stateliness  in  her  manner, 
bent  her  head  to  the  company  in  general,  with  a  kinder  and 
more  particular  expression  as  her  eye  reached  Cleveland. 
Brenda,  mth  the  blush  which  attended  her  slightest  personal 
exertion  when  exposed  to  the  eyes  of  others,  hurried  through 
the  same  departing  salutation  with  an  embarrassment  which 
almost  amounted  to  awkwardness,  but  which  her  youth  and 
timidity  rendered  at  once  natural  and  interesting.  Again 
Mordaunt  thought  that  her  eye  distinguished  him  amidst  the 
numerous  company.  For  the  first  time  he  ventured  to  en- 
counter and  to  return  the  glance;  and  the  consciousness  that 
he  had  done  so  doubled  the  glow  of  Brenda's  countenance, 
while  something  resembling  displeasure  was  blended  with  her 
emotion. 

When  the  ladies  had  retired,  the  men  betook  themselves  to 
the  deep  and  serious  drinking  which,  according  to  the  fashion 
of  the  times,  preceded  the  evening  exercise  of  the  dance.  Old 
Masmus  himself,  by  precept  and  example,  exhorted  them  "  to 
make  the  best  use  of  their  time,  since  the  ladies  would  soon 
summon  them  to  shake  their  feet."  At  the  same  time  giving 
the  signal  to  a  gray-headed  domestic,  who  stood  behind  him 
in  the  dress  of  a  Dantzic  skipper,  and  who  added  to  many 
other  occupations  that  of  butler,  "  Eric  Scambester,"  he  said, 


THE  PIRATE.  141 

"  has  the  good  sliip  the  '  Jolly  Mariner  of  Canton '  got  hei 
cargo  on  board?  " 

"  Chokeful  loaded,"  answered  the  Ganymede  of  Burgh- 
Westra,  "  with  good  Nantz,  Jamaica  sugar,'  Portugal  lemons, 
not  to  mention  nutmeg  and  toast,  and  water  taken  in  from 
the  Shellicoat  spring." 

Loud  and  long  laughed  the  guests  at  this  stated  and  regular 
jest  betwixt  the  Udaller  and  his  butler,  which  always  sensed 
as  a  preface  to  the  introduction  of  a  punch-bowl  of  enormous 
size,  the  gift  of  the  captain  of  one  of  the  Honorable  East 
India  Company's  vessels,  wdiich,  bound  from  China  home- 
ward, had  been  driven  north  about  by  stress  of  weather  into 
Lerwick  Bay,  and  had  there  contrived  to  get  rid  of  part  of  the 
cargo,  without  very  scrupulously  reckoning  for  the  king's 
duties. 

Magnus  Troil,  having  been  a  large  customer,  besides  other- 
wise obliging  Captain  Coolie,  had  been  remunerated,  on  the 
departure  of  the  ship,  with  this  splendid  veliicle  of  convivi- 
ahty,  at  the  very  sight  of  which,  as  old  Eric  Scambester  bent 
under  its  weight,  a  murmur  of  applause  ran  through  the  com- 
pany. The  good  old  toasts  dedicated  to  the  prosperity  of 
Zetland  were  then  honored  with  flowing  bumpers.  "  Death 
to  the  head  that  never  wears  hair!  "  was  a  sentiment  quaifed 
to  the  success  of  the  fishing,  as  proposed  by  the  sonorous  voice 
of  the  Udaller.  Claud  Halcro  proposed,  wdth  general  ap- 
plause, "  The  health  of  their  worthy  landmaster,  the  sweet 
sister  meat-mistresses;  health  to  man,  death  to  fish,  and 
growth  to  the  produce  of  the  ground."  The  same  recurring 
sentiment  was  proposed  more  concisely  by  a  wdiite-headed 
compeer  of  Magnus  Troil,  in  the  w^ords,  "  God  open  the 
mouth  of  the  gray  fish,  and  keep  his  hand  about  the  corn!  "  * 

Full  opportunity  was  afl^orded  to  all  to  honor  these  int-er- 
esting  toasts.  Those  nearest  the  capacious  Mediterranean  of 
punch  were  accommodated  by  the  Udaller  with  their  portions, 
dispensed  in  huge  rummer  glasses  by  his  own  hospitable  hand, 
whilst  they  who  sat  at  a  greater  distance  replenished  their 
cups  by  means  of  a  rich  silver  flagon,  facetiously  called  the 
pinnace;  which,  filled  occasionally  at  the  bowl,  served  to  dis- 
pense its  liquid  treasures  to  the  more  remote  parts  of  the 
table,  and  occasioned  many  right  merry  Jests  on  it«  frequent 
voyages.  The  commerce  of  the  ZetUmders  with  foreign  ves- 
sels and  homeward-bound  West  Indiamen  had  early  sen^d  to 
introduce  among  them  the  general  use  of  the  generous  bover- 

*8ee  Hibbert'8  "Deecription  of  the  Zetland  Islands,"  p.  470. 


142  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

age  with  which  the  ""  Jolly  Mariner  of  Canton  "  was  loaded; 
nor  was  there  a  man  in  the  archipelago  of  Thule  more  skilled 
in  combining  its  rich  ingredients  than  old  Eric  Scambester, 
who,  indeed,  was  known  far  and  wide  through  the  isles  by  the 
name  of  the  Punch-maker,  after  the  fashion  of  the  ancient 
Norwegians,  who  conferred  on  Rollo  the  Walker,  and  other 
heroes  of  their  strain,  epithets  expressive  of  the  feats  of 
strength  or  dexterity  in  which  they  excelled  all  other  men. 

The  good  liquor  was  not  slow  in  performing  its  office  of 
exhilaration,  and,  as  the  revel  advanced,  some  ancient  Norse 
drinking-songs  were  sung  with  great  effect  by  the  guests, 
tending  to  show  that  if,  from  want  of  exercise,  the  martial 
virtues  of  their  ancestors  had  decayed  among  the  Zetlanders, 
they  could  still  actively  and  intensely  enjoy  so  much  of  the 
pleasures  of  Valhalla  as  consisted  in  quaifing  the  oceans  of 
mead  and  brown  ale  which  were  promised  by  Odin  to  those 
who  should  share  his  Scandinavian  paradise.  At  length,  ex- 
cited by  the  cup  and  song,  the  diffident  grew  bold  and  the 
modest  loquacious;  all  became  desirous  of  talking,  and  none 
were  willing  to  listen;  each  man  mounted  his  own  special 
hobby-horse,  and  began  eagerly  to  call  on  his  neighbors  to 
witness  his  agility.  Amongst  others,  the  little  bard,  who  had 
now  got  next  to  our  friend  Mordaunt  Mertoun,  evinced  a 
positive  determination  to  commence  and  conclude,  in  all  its 
longitude  and  latitude,  the  story  of  his  introduction  to  glori- 
ous John  Dryden;  and  Triptolemus  Yellowley,  as  his  spirits 
arose,  shaking  off  a  feeling  of  involuntary  awe  with  which  he 
was  impressed  by  the  opulence  indicated  in  all  he  saw  around 
him,  as  well  as  by  the  respect  paid  to  Magnus  Troil  by  the 
assembled  guests,  began  to  broach  to  the  astonished  and  some- 
what offended  Udaller  some  of  those  projects  for  ameliorating 
the  islands  which  he  had  boasted  of  to  his  fellow-travelers 
upon  their  journey  of  the  morning. 

But  the  innovations  which  he  suggested,  and  the  reception 
which  they  met  with  at  the  hand  of  Magnus  Troil,  must  be 
told  in  the  next  chapter. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

We'll  keep  our  customs  ;  what  is  law  itself, 

But  old  establish'd  custom  ?    What  religion 

(I  mean,  with  une-half  of  the  men  that  use  it), 

Save  the  good  use  and  wont  that  carries  them 

To  worship  how  and  where  their  lathers  worship'd? 

All  things  resolve  in  custom  ;  well  keep  ours. 

—  Old  Play. 

"We  left  the  comj^any  of  ilagnus  Troil  engaged  in  high 
wassail  and  revelry.  Mordaunt,  who,  like  his  father,  shunned 
the  festive  cup,  did  not  partake  of  the  cheerfulness  which  the 
ship  diffused  among  the  guests  as  they  unloaded  it,  and  the 
pinnace,  as  it  circumnavigated  the  table.  But,  in  low  spirits 
as  he  seemed,  he  was  the  more  meet  prey  for  the  story-tell- 
ing Halcro,  who  had  fixed  upon  him  as  in  a  favorable  state 
to  play  the  part  of  listener,  with  something  of  the  same  in- 
stinct that  directs  the  hooded  crow  to  the  sick  sheep  among 
the  flock,  which  \y\\\  most  patiently  suffer  itself  to  be  made  a 
prey  of.  Joyfully  did  the  poet  avail  himself  of  the  advan- 
tages afforded  by  Mordaunt's  absence  of  mind  and  unwilling- 
ness to  exert  himself  in  measures  of  active  defense.  With 
the  unfailing  dexterity  peculiar  to  prosers,  he  contrived  to 
dribble  out  his  tale  to  double  its  usual  length,  by  the  exer- 
cise of  the  privilege  of  unlimited  digressions;  so  that  the 
story,  like  a  horse  on  the  "  grand  pas,"  seemed  to  be  advanc- 
ing with  rapidity,  wliile,  in  reality,  it  scarce  was  progressive 
at  the  rate  of  a  yard  in  the  quarter  of  an  hour.  At  length, 
however,  he  had  discussed,  in  all  its  various  bearings  and  rela- 
tions, the  history  of  his  friendly  landlord,  the  master  fash- 
ioner in  Russel  Street,  including  a  short  sketch  of  five  of  his 
relations,  and  anecdotes  of  three  of  his  principal  rivals,  to- 
gether with  some  general  obsen^ations  upon  the  dress  and 
fashion  of  the  period;  and  haAing  marched  thus  far  through 
the  environs  and  outworks  of  his  story,  he  arrived  at  the  body 
of  the  place,  for  so  the  Wits'  Cotfee-house  might  be  termed. 
He  paused  on  the  threshold,  however,  to  explain  the  nature 
of  his  landlord's  right  occasionally  to  intrude  himself  into 
this  well-known  temple  of  the  Muses. 

"  It  consisted,"  said  Halcro,  "  in  the  two  principal  points 
of  bearing  and  forbearing;  for  my  friend  Thimblethwaite  was 
a  person  of  wit  himself,  and  never  quarreled  with  any  jest 

143 


144  WAVEELEY  NOVELS. 

which  the  wags  who  frequented  that  house  were  flinging 
about,  like  squibs  and  crackers  on  a  rejoicing-night;  and  then, 
though  some  of  the  wits — aye,  and  I  dare  say  the  greater  num- 
ber, miglit  luive  had  some  dealings  with  him  in  the  way  of 
trade,  he  never  was  the  person  to  put  any  man  of  genius  in 
unpleasant  remembrance  of  such  trifles.  And  though,  my 
dear  young  Master  Mordaunt,  you  may  think  this  is  but 
ordinary  civility,  because  in  this  country  it  happens  seldom 
that  there  is  either  much  bon'owing  or  lending,  and  because, 
praised  be  Heaven,  there  are  neither  bailiffs  nor  sheriff-offi- 
cers to  take  a  poor  fellow  by  the  neck,  and  because  there  are 
no  prisons  to  put  him  into  when  they  have  done  so,  yet,  let 
me  tell  you,  that  such  a  lamb-like  forbearance  as  that  of  my 
poor,  dear,  deceased  landlord,  Thimblethwaite,  is  truly  un- 
common within  the  London  bills  of  mortality.  I  could  tell 
you  of  such  things  that  have  happened  even  to  myself,  as  well 
as  others,  with  these  cursed  London  tradesmen,  as  would  make 
your  hair  stand  on  end.  But  what  the  devil  has  put  old  Mag- 
nus into  such  note?  He  shouts  as  if  he  were  trying  his  voice 
against  a  northwest  gale  of  wind." 

Loud  indeed  was  the  roar  of  the  old  Udaller,  as,  worn  out 
of  patience  by  the  schemes  of  improvement  which  the  fac- 
tor was  now  undauntedly  pressing  upon  his  consideration,  he 
answered  him  (to  use  an  Ossianic  phrase)  like  a  w^ave  upon  a 
rock. 

"  Trees,  sir  factor — talk  not  to  me  of  trees!  I  care  not 
though  there  never  be  one  on  the  island  tall  emough  to  hang 
a  coxcomb  upon.  We  will  have  no  trees  but  those  that  rise 
in  our  havens — the  good  trees  that  have  yards  for  boughs  and 
standing  rigging  for  leaves." 

"  But  touching  the  draining  of  the  lake  of  Braebaster, 
whereof  I  spoke  to  you,  Master  Magnus  Troil,"  said  the  perse- 
vering agriculturist,  "  whilk  I  opine  would  be  of  so  much 
consequence,  there  are  two  ways — down  the  Linklater  glen, 
or  by  the  Scalmester  burn.  Now,  having  taken  the  level  of 
both " 

"  There  is  a  third  way.  Master  Yellowley,"  answered  the 
landlord. 

"  I  profess  I  can  see  none,"  replied  Triptolemus,  with  as 
much  good  faith  as  a  joker  could  desire  in  the  subject  of  his 
wit,  "  in  respect  that  the  hill  called  Braebaster  on  the  south, 
and  ane  high  bank  on  the  north,  of  whilk  I  cannot  carry  the 
name  rightly  in  my  head " 

"  Do  not  tell  us  of  hills  and  banks,  Master  Yellowley;  there 


TEE  PIRATE.  _46 

is  a  third  way  of  draining  the  loch,  and  it  is  the  onlv  way 
that  shall  be  tried  in  my  day.  You  say  my  Lord  Chamber- 
lain and  I  are  the  joint  proprietors;  so  be  it.  Let  each  of 
us  start  an  equal  proportion  of  brandy,  lime-juice,  and  sugar 
into  the  loch — a  ship's  cargo  or  two  will  do  the  job — let  us 
assemble  all  the  jolly  udallcrs  of  the  country,  and  in  twenty- 
four  hours  you  shall  see  dry  ground  where  the  loch  of  Bra'e- 
baster  now  is." 

A  loud  laugh  of  applause,  which  for  a  time  actually  silence! 
Triptolemus,  attended  a  jest  so  very  well  suited  to  time  and 
place — a  jolly  toast  was  given — a  merry  song  was  sung — the 
ship  unloaded  her  sweets — the  pinnace  made  its  genial  rounds 
— the  duet  betwixt  Magnus  and  Triptolemus,  which  had  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  the  whole  company  from  its  superior 
vehemence,  now  once  more  sunk,  and  merged  into  the  general 
hum  of  the  convivial  table,  and  the  poet  Halcro  again  re- 
sumed his  usurped  possessio>n  of  the  ear  of  Mordauut  Mer- 
toun. 

"'Whereabouts  was  I?"  he  said,  with  a  tone  which  expressed 
to  his  weary  listener  more  plainly  than  words  could  how  much 
of  his  desultory  tale  yet  remained  to  be  told.  "  Oh.  I  re- 
member— we  were  just  at  the  door  of  the  Wits'  Coffee-house; 
it  was  set  up  by  one " 

"  Nay,  but,  my  dear  Master  Halcro,"  said  his  hearer,  some- 
what impatiently,  "  I  am  desirous  to  hear  of  your  meeting 
with  Dryden." 

"What,  with  glorious  John? — true — aye — where  was  I? 
At  the  Wit's  Coffee-house.  Well,  in  at  the  door  we  got — the 
waiters,  and  so  forth,  staring  at  me;  for  as  to  Thimblethwaite, 
honest  fellow,  his  was  a  well-known  face.  I  can  tell  you  a 
story  about  that " 

"  Nay,  but  John  Drvden?  "  said  Mordaunt,  in  a  tone  which 
deprecated  further  digression. 

"Aye — aye,  glorious  John — where  was  I?  Well,  as  we 
stood  close  by  the  bar,  where  one  fellow  sat  grinding  of  coffee, 
and  another  putting  up  tobacco  into  penny  parcels — a  pipe 
and  a  dish  cost  just  a  penny — then  and  tliere  it  was  that  I  had 
the  first  peep  of  him.     One  Dennis  sat  near  him,  who " 

"  Xay,  but  John  Dr}-den — what  like  was  he?"  demanded 
Mordaunt. 

"  Like  a  little  fat  old  man,  with  his  own  gray  hair,  and  in  a 
full-trimmed  black  suit,  that  sat  close  as  a  glove.  Honest 
Thimblethwaite  let  no  one  but  himself  shape  for  glorious 
John,  and  he  had  a  slashing  hand  at  a  sleeve,  I  promise  you. 


1 4»  WA  VERLB  Y  NO  VELS. 

But  there  is  no  getting  a  mouthful  of  common  sense  spoken 

here:  d n  that  Scotchman,  he  and  old  Magnus  are  at  it 

again! " 

It  was  very  true;  and  although  the  interruption  did  not 
resemble  a  thunder-clap,  to  which  the  former  stentorian  ex- 
clamation of  the  Udaller  might  have  been  likened,  it  was  a 
close  and  clamorous  dispute,  maintained  by  question,  ansAver, 
retort,  and  repartee,  as  closely  huddled  upon  each  other  as  the 
sounds  which  announce  from  a  distance  a  close  and  sustained 
fire  of  musketry. 

"  Hear  reason,  sir?  "  said  the  Udaller;  "  we  will  hear  reason, 
and  speak  reason  too;  and  if  reason  falls  short,  you  shall  have 
rhyme  to  boot.     Ha,  my  little  friend  Halcro!  " 

Though  cut  off  in  tbe  middle  of  his  best  story,  if  that  could 
be  said  to  have  a  middle  ^Vhich  had  neither  beginning  mor 
end,  the  bard  bristled  up  at  the  summons,  like  a  corps  of  light 
infantry  when  ordered  up  to  the  support  of  the  grenadiers, 
looked  smart,  slapped  the  table  ^dth  his  hand,  and  denoted 
his  becoming  readiness  to  back  his  hospitable  landlord,  as  be- 
comes a  well-entertained  guest.  Triptolemus  was  a  little 
daunted  at  this  re-enforcement  of  his  adversary;  he  paused, 
like  a  cautious  general,  in  the  sweeping  attack  which  he  had 
commenced  on  the  peculiar  usages  of  Zetland,  and  spoke  not 
again  until  the  Udaller  poked  him  with  the  insulting  query, 
"  Where  is  your  reason  now.  Master  Yellowley,  that  you  were 
deafening  me  with  a  moment  since?  " 

"  Be  but  patient,  worthy  sir,"  replied  the  agriculturist. 
"  What  on  earth  can  you  or  any  other  man  say  in  defense  of 
that  thing  called  a  plow,  in  this  blinded  country?  Why,  even 
the  savage  Highlandmen,  in  Caithness  and  Sutherland,  can 
make  more  work,  and  better,  with  their  gascromh,  or  what- 
ever they  call  it." 

"  But  what  ails  you  at  it,  sir?"  said  the  Udaller:  "  let  me 
hear  your  objections  to  it.  It  tills  our  land,  and  what  would 
ye  more  ?  " 

"  It  hath  but  one  handle  or  stilt,"  replied  Triptolemus. 

"  And  who  the  devil,"  said  the  poet,  aiming  at  something 
smart,  "  would  wish  to  need  a  pair  of  stilts  if  he  can  man- 
age to  walk  with  a  single  one  ?  " 

"  Or  tell  me,"  said  Magnus  Troil,  "  how  it  were  possible  for 
Neil  of  Lupness,  that  lost  one  arm  by  his  fall  from  the  crag 
of  Nekbreckan,  to  manage  a  plow  with  two  handles?  " 

"The  harness  is  of  raw  seal-skin."  said  Triptolemus. 

"  It  will  save  dressed  leather,"  answered  Magnus  Troil. 


THE  PIRATE.  147 

"  It  is  drawn  by  four  wretched  bullocks/'  said  the  agricul- 
turist, "  that  are  yoked  breast-fashion;  and  two  women  must 
follow  tliis  unhappy  instrument,  and  complete  the  furrows 
with  a  couple  of  shovels." 

"  Drink  about,  Master  Yellowley,"  said  the  Udaller;  "  and, 
as  you  say  in  Scotland,  '  never  fash  your  thumb.'  Our  cattle 
are  too  high-spirited  to  let  one  go  before  the  other;  our  men 
are  too  gentle  and  well-nurtured  to  taJte  the  working-field 
without  the  women's  company;  our  plows  till  our  land,  our 
land  bears  us  barley;  we  brew  our  ale,  eat  our  bread,  and  make 
strangers  welcome  to  their  share  of  it.  Here's  to  you,  Master 
Ydlowley." 

This  was  said  in  a  tone  meant  to  be  decisive  of  the  question; 
and,  accordingly,  Halcro  whispered  to  Mordaunt,  "  That  has 
settled  the  matter,  and  now  we  will  get  on  with  glorious  John. 
There  he  sat  in  his  suit  of  full-trimmed  black — two  years  dm? 
was  the  bill,  as  mine  honest  landlord  afterward  told  me — and 
such  an  eye  in  his  head!  None  of  your  burning,  blighting, 
falcon  eyes,  which  we  poets  are  apt  to  make  a  rout  about,  but 
a  soft,  full,  thoughtful,  yet  penetrating  glance — never  saw  the 
like  of  it  in  my  life,  unless  it  were  little  Stephen  Kleancogg's, 
the  fiddler,  at  Papastow,  who " 

"Nay,  but  John  Dryden?"  said  Mordaunt,  who,  for  want 
of  better  amusement,  had  begun  to  take  a  sort  of  pleasure  in 
keeping  the  old  gentleman  to  his  narrative,  as  men  herd  in 
a  restifE  sheep,  when  they  wish  to  catch  him.  He  returned  to 
his  theme,  with  his  usual  phrase  of  "  Aye,  true — glorious 
John.  Well,  sir,  he  cast  his  eye,  such  as  I  have  described  it, 
on  mine  landlord,  and  '  Honest  Tim,'  said  he,  '  what  hast 
thou  got  here? '  and  all  the  wits,  and  lords,  and  gentlemen 
that  used  to  crowd  round  him,  like  the  wenches  round  a  ped- 
dler at  a  fair,  they  made  way  for  us,  and  up  we  came  to  the 
fireside,  where  he  had  his  owm  established  chair — I  have  heard 
it  was  carried  to  the  balcony  in  summer,  but  it  was  by  the  fire- 
side when  I  saw  it — so  up  came  Tim  Thimblethwaite,  through 
the  midst  of  them,  as  bold  as  a  lion,  and  I  followed  with  a 
small  parcel  under  my  arm,  which  I  had  taken  up  partly  to 
oblige  my  landlord,  as  the  shop  porter  was  not  in  the  way, 
and  partly  that  I  might  be  thought  to  have  something  to 
do  there,  for  you  are  to  think  there  was  no  admittance  at  the 
Wits'  for  strangers  who  bad  no  business  there.  I  have  heard 
that  Sir  Charles  Sedlcy  said  a  good  thing  about  that " 

'*  Nay,  but  you  forget  glorious  John,"  said  Mordaunt. 

"  Aye,  glorious  you  may  well  call  him.     They  talk  of  their 


148  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

Blackmore,  and  Shadwell.  and  such-like — not  fit  to  tie  the 
latehets  of  John's  shoes.  '  Well,'  he  said  to  my  landlord, 
*  what  have  you  got  there? '  and  he,  bowing,  I  warrant,  lower 
than  he  would  to  a  duke,  said  he  had  made  bold  to  come  and 
show  him  the  stuff  which  Lady  Elizabeth  had  chose  for  her 
nightgown.  '  And  which  of  your  geese  is  that,  Tim,  who  has 
got  it  tucked  under  his  wdng?'  '  He  is  an  Orkney  goose,  if 
it  please  you,  Mr.  Dryden,'  said  Tim,  who  had  wit  at  will, 
'  and  he  hath  brought  you  a  copy  of  verses  for  your  honor  to 
look  at.'  '  Is  he  amphibious?  '  said  glorious  John,  taking  the 
pa})er,  and  methought  1  could  rather  have  faced  a  battery  of 
cannon  than  the  crackle  it  gave  as  it  opened,  though  he  did 
not  speak  in  a  way  to  dash  one  neither;  and  then  he  looked  at 
the  verses,  and  he  was  pleased  to  say,  in  a  very  encouraging 
w^ay  indeed,  with  a  sort  of  good-humored  smile  on  his  face,  and 
certainly  for  a  fat  elderly  gentleman — for  I  would  not  com- 
pare it  to  Minna's  smile  or  Brenda's — he  had  the  pleasantest 
smile  I  ever  saw — '  Why,  Tim,'  he  said,  '  this  goose  of  yours 
will  prove  a  sw^an  on  your  hands.'  With  that  he  smiled  a 
little,  and  they  all  laughed,  and  none  louder  than  those  who 
stood  too  far  off  to  hear  the  jest;  for  everyone  knew  when  he 
smiled  there  was  something  worth  laughing  at,  and  so  took  it 
upon  trust:  and  the  word  passed  through  among  the  young 
Templars,  and  the  wdts,  and  the  smarts,  and  there  was  nothing 
but  question  on  question  who  we  were:  and  one  French  fellow 
wa.s  trying  to  tell  them  it  was  only  Monsieur  Tim  Thimble- 
thwaite;  but  he  made  such  work  with  his  Dumbletate  and 
Timbletate  that  I  tliought  his  explanation  would  have 
lasted " 

"  As  long  as  your  own  story,"  thought  Mordaunt;  but  the 
narrative  was  at  length  finally  cut  short  by  the  strong  and 
decided  voice  of  the  Udaller. 

"  I  will  hear  no  more  on  it,  Mr.  Factor!  "  he  exclaimed. 

"  At  least,  let  me  say  something  about  the  breed  of  horses," 
said  Yellowley,  in  rather  a  cry-mercy  tone  of  voice.  "  Your 
horses,  my  dear  sir,  resemble  cats  in  size  and  tigers  in 
devilry! " 

"  For  their  size,"  said  Magnus,  "  they  are  the  easier  for  us 
to  get  off  and  on  them  ("  As  Triptolemus  experienced  this 
morning,"  thought  Mordaunt  to  himself),  and  as  for  their 
devilry,  let  no  one  mount  them  that  cannot  manage  them." 

A  twinge  of  self-conviction  on  the  part  of  the  agriculturist 
prevented  him  from  reply.  He  darted  a  deprecatory  glance 
at  Mordaunt,  as  if  for  the  purpose  of  imploring  secrecy  re- 


THE  PIRATE.  149 

specting  his  tumble;  and  the  Udaller,  who  saw  his  advantage, 
although  he  was  not  aware  of  the  cause,  pursued  it  with  the 
high  and  stern  tone  proper  to  one  who  had  all  his  life  been 
unaccustomed  to  meet  with,  and  unapt  to  endure,  opposition. 

"  By  the  blood  of  St.  Magnus  the  Martyr,"  he  said,  "  but 
you  are  a  fine  fellow,  Master  Factor  Yellowley!  You  come 
to  us  from  a  strange  land,  understanding  neither  our  laws, 
nor  our  manners,  nor  our  language,  and  you  propose  to  be- 
come governor  of  the  countr}',  and  that  we  should  all  be  your 
slaves!  " 

''  My  pupils,  worthy  sir — my  pupils!  "  said  Yellowley,  "  and 
that  only  for  your  own  proper  advantage." 

"  We  are  too  old  to  go  to  school,"  said  the  Zetlander.  "  I 
tell  you  once  more,  we  will  sow  and  reap  our  grain  as  our 
fathers  did;  we  will  eat  what  God  sends  us,  with  our  doors 
open  to  the  stranger,  even  as  theirs  were  open.  If  there  is 
aught  imperfect  in  our  practice,  we  will  amend  it  in  time  and 
season;  but  the  blessed  Baptist's  holyday  was  made  for  ligli! 
hearts  and  quick  heels.  He  that  speaks  a  word  more  of  rea- 
son, as  you  call  it,  or  anything  that  looks  like  it,  shall  swal- 
low a  pint  of  sea-water — he  shall,  by  this  hand!  And  so  fill 
up  the  good  ship,  the  '  Jolly  Mariner  of  Canton,'  once  more, 
for  the  benefit  of  those  that  will  stick  by  her;  and  let  the 
rest  have  a  fling  ^nth  the  fiddlers,  who  have  been  summoning 
us  this  hour.  I  will  warrant  ever}'  wench  is  on  tiptoe  by  this 
time.  Come,  Mr.  Yellowley,  no  unkindness,  man;  why,  man, 
thou  f eelest  the  rolling  of  the  '  Jolly  Mariner '  still  (for,  in 
truth,  honest  Triptolemus  showed  a  little  unsteadiness  of  mo- 
tion as  he  arose  to  attend  his  host);  but  never  mind,  we  shall 
have  thee  find  thy  land-legs  to  reel  it  with  yonder  bonaiy 
belles.  Come  along,  Triptolemus;  let  me  grapple  thee  fast, 
lest  thou  trip,  old  Triptolemus — ha,  ha,  ha!  " 

So  saying,  the  portly  though  weather-beaten  hulk  of  the 
Udaller  sailed  ofi^  like  a  man-of-war  that  had  braved  a  hun- 
dred gales,  having  his  guest  in  tow  like  a  recent  prize.  The 
greater  part  of  the  revelers  followed  their  leader  with  loud 
jubilee,  although  there  were  several  stanch  topers  who,  taking 
the  option  left  them  by  the  Udaller,  remained  behind  to  re- 
lieve the  ''  Jolly  Mariner  "  of  a  fresh  cargo,  amidst  many  a 
pledge  to  the  health  of  their  absent  landlord,  and  to  the  pros- 
perity of  his  roof-tree,  with  whatsoever  other  wishes  of  kind- 
ness could  be  devised  as  an  apology  for  another  pint-bumper 
of  noble  punch. 

The  rest  soon  thronged  the  dancing-room,  an  apartment 


150  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

which  partook  of  the  simplicity  of  the  time  and  of  the  coun- 
try. Drawiug-rooms  and  saloons  were  then  unknown  in  Scot- 
land, save  in  the  houses  of  the  nobihty,  and  of  couree  abso- 
lutely so  in  Zetland;  but  a  long,  low,  anomalous  store  room, 
sometimes  used  for  the  depositation  of  merchandise,  some- 
times for  putting  aside  lumber,  and  a  thousand  other  pur- 
poses, was  well  known  to  all  the  youth  of  Dunrossness.  and  of 
many  a  district  besides,  as  the  scene  of  the  merry  dance,  which 
was  sustained  with  so  much  glee  when  Magnus  Troil  gave  his 
frequent  feasts. 

The  first  appearance  of  this  ballroom  might  have  shocked 
a  fashionable  party  assembled  for  the  quadrille  or  the  waltz. 
Low  as  we  have  stated  the  apartment  to  be,  it  was  but  im- 
perfectly illuminated  by  lamps,  candles,  ship-lanterns,  and  a 
variety  of  other  candelabra,  which  served  to  throw  a  dusky 
light  upon  the  floor,  and  upon  the  heaps  of  merchandise  and 
miscellaneous  articles  which  were  piled  around;  some  of  them 
stores  for  the  winter;  some  goods  destined  for  exportation; 
some,  the  tribute  of  Neptune,  paid  at  the  expense  of  ship- 
wrecked vessels,  whose  owners  were  unknown;  some,  articles 
of  barter  received  by  the  proprietor,  who,  like  most  others 
at  the  period,  was  somewhat  of  a  merchant  as  well  as  a  land- 
holder, in  exchange  for  the  fish  and  other  articles,  the  pro- 
duce of  his  estate.  All  these,  with  the  chests,  boxes,  casks, 
etc.,  w^hich  contained  them,  had  been  drawn  aside,  and  piled 
one  above  the  other,  in  order  to  give  room  for  the  dancers, 
who,  light  and  lively  as  if  they  had  occupied  the  most  splen- 
did saloon  in  the  parish  of  St.  James',  executed  their  na- 
tional dances  with  equal  grace  and  activity. 

The  group  of  old  men  who  looked  on  bore  no  inconsider- 
able resemblance  to  a  party  of  aged  tritons,  engaged  in  behold- 
ing the  sports  of  the  sea-nymphs;  so  hard  a  look  had  most  of 
them  acquired  by  contending  with  the  elements,  and  so  much 
did  the  shaggy  hair  and  beards,  which  many  of  them  culti- 
vated after  the  ancient  ISTorwegian  fashion,  give  their  heads  the 
character  of  these  supposed  natives  of  the  deep.  The  young 
people,  on  the  other  hand,  were  uncommonly  handsome, 
tall,  well-made,  and  shapely:  the  men  with  long  fair  hair, 
and,  until  broken  by  the  weather,  a  fresh,  ruddy  complexion, 
which,  in  the  females,  was  softened  into  a  bloom  of  infinite 
delicacy.  Their  natural  good  ear  for  music  qualified  them 
to  second  to  the  utmost  the  exertions  of  a  band  whose  strains 
were  by  no  means  contemptible;  while  the  elders,  who  stood 
around  or  sat  quiet  upon  the  old  sea-chests  which  served  for 


THE  PIBATE.  151 

chairs,  criticised  the  dancers,  as  they  compared  tlieir  execution 
with  their  own  exertions  in  former  days;  or,  warmed  by  the 
cup  and  flagon,  wliich  continued  to  circulate  among  them, 
snapped  their  fingers  and  beat  time  with  their  feet  to  the 
music. 

Mordaunt  looked  upon  this  scene  of  universal  mirth  with 
the  painful  recollection  that  he,  thrust  aside  from  his  pre- 
eminence, no  longer  exercised  the  important  duties  of  chief 
of  the  dancers,  or  office  of  leader  of  the  revels,  which  had 
been  assigned  to  the  stranger  Cleveland.  Anxious,  however, 
to  suppress  the  feelings  of  his  own  disappointment,  which  he 
felt  it  was  neither  wise  to  entertain  nor  manly  to  display,  he 
approached  his  fair  neighbors  to  whom  he  had  been  so  ac- 
ceptable at  table,  with  the  purpose  of  inviting  one  of  them  to 
become  his  partner  in  the  dance.  But  the  awfully  ancient 
old  lady,  even  the  Lady  Glowrowrum,  who  had  only  tolerated 
the  exuberance  of  her  nieces'  mirth  during  the  time  of  dinner 
because  her  situation  rendered  it  then  impossible  for  her  to 
interfere,  was  not  disposed  to  permit  the  apprehended  renewal 
of  the  intimacy  implied  in  Mertoun's  invitation.  She  there- 
fore took  upon  herself,  in  the  name  of  her  two  nieces,  who 
sat  pouting  beside  her  in  displeased  silence,  to  inform  Mor- 
daunt, after  thanking  him  for  his  civility,  that  the  hands  of 
her  nieces  were  engaged  for  that  evening;  and,  as  he  con- 
tinued to  watch  the  party  at  a  little  distance,  he  had  an 
opportunity  of  being  convinced  that  the  alleged  engagement 
was  a  mere  apologj'  to  get  rid  of  him,  when  he  saw  the  two 
good-humored  sisters  join  the  dance  under  the  auspices  of 
the  next  young  men  who  asked  their  hands.  Incensed  at  so 
marked  a  slight,  and  unwilling  to  expose  himself  to  another, 
Mordaunt  Mertoun  drew  back  from  the  circle  of  dancers, 
shrouded  himself  amongst  the  mass  of  inferior  persons  who 
crowded  into  the  bottom  of  the  room  as  spectators,  and  there, 
concealed  from  the  obserA-ation  of  others,  digested  his  own 
mortification  as  well  as  he  could — that  is  to  say,  ver}-  ill — and 
with  all  the  philosophy  of  his  age — that  is  to  say,  with  none 
at  all. 


CHAPTEE   XV. 

A  torch  for  me  ;  let  wantons,  light  of  heart. 
Tickle  the  useless  rushes  with  their  heals  ; 
For  I  am  proverb'd  with  a  grandsire  phrase — 
I'll  be  a  candle-holder,  and  look  on. 

— Romeo  and  Juliet. 

The  youth,  says  the  moralist  Johnson,  cares  not  for  the 
boy's  hobby-horse,  nor  the  man  for  the  youth's  mistress;  and 
therefore  the  distress  of  Mordaunt  jNIertoun,  when  exchided 
from  the  merry  dance,  may  seem  trifling  to  many  of  my 
readers,  who  would,  nevertheless,  think  they  did  well  to  be 
angry  if  deposed  from  their  usual  place  in  an  assembly  of  a 
different  kind.  There  lacked  not  amusement,  however,  for 
those  whom  the  dance  did  not  suit,  or  who  were  not  happy 
enough  to  find  partners  to  their  liking.  Halcro,  now  com- 
pletely in  his  element,  had  assembled  round  him  an  audience, 
to  whom  he  was  declaiming  his  poetry  with  all  the  enthusi- 
asm of  glorious  John  himself,  and  receiving  in  return  the 
usual  degree  of  applause  allowed  to  minstrels  who  recite  their 
own  rhymes — so  long  at  least  as  the  author  is  within  hearing 
of  the  criticism.  Halcro's  poetry  might  indeed  have  inter- 
ested the  antiquary  as  well  as  the  admirer  of  the  Muses,  for 
several  of  his  pieces  were  translations  or  imitations  from  the 
Scaldic  sagas,  which  continued  to  be  sung  by  the  fishermen 
of  those  islands  even  until  a  very  late  period;  insomuch  that, 
when  Gray's  poems  first  found  their  way  to  Orkney,  the  old 
people  recognized  at  once,  in  the  ode  of  the  "  Fatal  Sisters," 
the  Eunic  rhymes  which  had  amused  or  terrified  their  infancy 
under  the  title  of  the  "  Magicians,"  and  which  the  fishers  of 
North  Eonaldsha  and  other  remote  isles  used  still  to  sing 
when  asked  for  a  Norse  ditty. 

Half-listening,  half-lost  in  his  own  reflections,  Mordaunt 
Mertoun  stood  near  the  door  of  the  apartment,  and  in  the 
outer  ring  of  the  little  circle  formed  around  old  Halcro,  while 
the  bard  chanted  to  a  low,  wild,  monotonous  air,  varied  only 
by  the  efforts  of  the  singer  to  give  interest  and  emphasis  to 
particular  passages,  the  following  imitation  of  a  Northern 
war-song: 

152 


THE  PIRATE.  268 

The  Soso  of  Habold  Hakfaqeb. 

"The  Sim  is  rising  dimly  red, 
The  wind  is  wailiag  low  and  dread; 
From  his  clitY  the  eagle  sallies, 
Leaves  the  wolf  his  darksome  valleys  ,• 
In  the  midst  the  ravens  hover. 
Peep  tr.e  »vild-dog8  from  the  cover, 
Screaming,  croaking,  baying,  yelling, 
Each  in  his  wild  accents  telling, 
'  Soon  we  feast  on  dead  and  dying, 
Fair-hair'd  Harold's  flag  is  flying.' 

"  Many  a  crest  in  air  is  streaming, 
Many  a  helmet  darkly  gleaming. 
Many  an  arm  the  ax  iiprears; 
Doom'd  to  hew  the  wood  of  spears, 
All  along  the  crowded,  ranks. 
Horses  neigh  and  armor  clanks: 
Chiefs  are  shouting,  clarions  ringing, 
Louder  still  the  hard  is  singing, 
'  Gather,  footmen — gather  horsemen, 
To  the  field,  ye  valiant  Norsemen  ! 

"  Halt  ye  not  for  food  or  slumber, 
View  not  vantage,  count  not  number; 
Jolly  reapers,  forward  still  ; 
Grow  the  crop  on  vale  or  hill, 
Thick  or  scattered,  stiff  or  lithe, 
It  shall  down  before  the  scythe. 
Forward  with  your  sickles  bright, 
Reap  the  harvest  of  the  fight. 
Onward,  footmen — onward,  horsemen. 
To  the  charge,  ye  gallant  Norsemen  ! 

"  Fatal  Choosers  of  the  Slaughter, 
O'er  you  hovers  Odin's  daughter; 
Hear  the  voice  she  spreads  before  ye, — 
Victory,  and  wealth,  and  glory; 
Or  old"  Valhalla's  roaring  hail, 
Her  ever-circling  mead  and  ale. 
Where  for  eternity  iinite 
The  joys  of  wassail  and  of  fight. 
Headlong  forward,  foot  and  horsemen, 
Charge  and  fight,  and  die  like  Norsemen!  " 

"  The  poor,  unhappy,  blinded  heathens!  "  said  Triptolemus, 
with  a  sigh  deep  enough  for  a  groan;  "  they  speak  of  their 
eternal  cups  of  ale,  and  I  question  if  they  kenn'd  how  to 
manage  a  croft  land  of  grain!  " 

"  The  cleverer  fellows  they,  neighbor  Yellowley,"  answered 
the  poet,  "  if  they  made  ale  without  barley." 

"  Barley!  alack-a-day! "  replied  the  more  accurate  agri- 
culturist,'" who  ever  heard  of  barley  in  these  parts?  Bear, 
my  dearest  friend — bear  is  all  they  have,  and  wonderment  it 
is  to  me  that  they  ever  see  an  awn  of  it.  Ye  scart  the  land 
with  a  bit  thing  ye  ca'  a  pleugh;  ye  might  as  weel  give  it  a  ritt 


154  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

with  the  teeth  of  a  redding-kame.  Oh,  to  see  the  sock,  and 
the  heel,  and  the  sole-clout  of  a  real  steady  Scottish  pleugh, 
with  a  chield  like  a  Samson  hetvveen  the  stilts,  laying  a  weight 
on  them  would  keep  down  a  mountain;  twa  stately  owsen, 
and  as  many  broad-breasted  horse  in  the  traces,  going  through 
soil  and  till,  and  leaving  a  fur  in  the  ground  would  carry  off 
water  like  a  causeyed  syver.  They  that  have  seen  a  sight  like 
that  have  seen  something  to  crack  about  in  another  sort  than 
those  unhappy  auld-warld  stories  of  war  and  slaughter,  of 
which  the  land  has  seen  even  but  too  mickle,  for  a'  your  sing- 
ing and  soughing  awa'  in  praise  of  such  bloodthirsty  doings. 
Master  Claud  Halcro." 

"  It  is  a  heresy,"  said  the  animated  little  poet,  bridling  and 
drawing  himself  up,  as  if  the  whole  defense  of  the  Orcadian 
Archipelago  rested  on  his  single  arm — "  it  is  a  heresy  so  much 
as  to  name  one's  native  country  if  a  man  is  not  prepared  when 
and  how  to  defend  himself — aye,  and  to  annoy  another.  The 
time  has  been  that,  if  we  made  not  good  ale  and  aquavitse, 
we  knew  well  enough  where  to  find  that  which  was  ready 
made  to  our  hand;  but  now  the  descendants  of  sea-kings,  and 
champions,  and  Berserkars  are  become  as  incapable  of  using 
their  swords  as  if  they  were  so  many  women.  Ye  may  praise 
them  for  a  strong  pull  on  an  oar  or  a  sure  foot  on  a  skerry; 
but  what  else  could  glorious  John  himself  say  of  ye,  my  good 
Hialtlanders,  that  any  man  would  listen  to?" 

"  Spoken  like  an  angel,  most  noble  poet,"  said  Cleveland, 
who,  during  an  interval  of  the  dance,  stood  near  the  party  in 
which  this  conversation  was  held.  "  The  old  champions  you 
talked  to  us  about  yesternight  were  the  men  to  make  a  harp 
ring — gallant  fellows,  that  were  friends  to  the  sea  and  ene- 
mies to  all  that  sailed  on  it.  Their  ships,  I  suppose,  were 
clumsy  enough;  but  if  it  is  true  that  they  went  upon  the 
account  as  far  as  the  Levant,  I  scarce  believe  that  ever  better 
fellows  unloosed  a  topsail." 

"  Aye,"  replied  Halcro,  "  there  you  spoke  them  right.  In 
those  days  none  could  call  their  life  and  means  of  living  their 
own,  unless  they  dwelt  twenty  miles  out  of  sight  of  the  blue 
sea.  Why,  they  had  public  prayers  put  up  in  every  church  in 
Europe  for  deliverance  from  the  ire  of  the  Northmen.  In 
France  and  England,  aye,  and  in  Scotland  too,  for  as  high  as 
they  hold  their  head  nowadays,  there  was  not  a  bay  or  a  haven 
but  it  was  freer  to  our  forefathers  than  to  the  poor  devils  of 
natives;  and  now  we  cannot,  forsooth,  so  much  as  grow  our 
own  barley  without  Scottish  help  (here  he  darted  a  sarcastic 


THE  PIE  ATE.  166 

glance  at  the  factor).  I  would  I  saw  the  time  we  were  to 
measure  arms  with  them  again!  " 

"  Spoken  like  a  hero  once  more,"  said  Cleveland. 

"  Ah!  "  continued  the  little  bard,  "■  1  would  it  were  possible 
to  see  our  barks,  once  the  water-dragons  of  the  world,  swim- 
ming with  the  black  raven  standard  waving  at  the  topmast, 
and  their  decks  glimmering  with  arms,  instead  of  being 
heaped  up  with  stock-iish;  winning  with  our  fearless  hands 
what  the  niggard  soil  denies;  paying  back  all  old  scorn  and 
modern  injury;  reaping  where  we  never  sowed,  and  felling 
what  we  never  planted;  living  and  laughing  through  tiie 
world,  and  smiling  when  we  were  summoned  to  quit  it! " 

So  spoke  Claud  Halcro,  in  no  serious,  or  at  least  most  cer- 
tainly in  no  sober  mood,  his  brain  (never  the  most  stable) 
whizzing  under  the  influence  of  fifty  well-remembered  sagas, 
besides  five  bumpers  of  usquebaugh  and  brandy;  and  Cle\e- 
land,  between  jest  and  earnest,  clapped  him  on  the  shoulder 
and  again  repeated,  "  Spoken  like  a  hero!  " 

"  Spoken  like  a  fool,  I  think,"  said  Magnus  Trpil,  whose 
attention  had  been  also  attracted  by  the  vehemence  of  the 
little  bard.  "  Where  would  yoti  cruise  upon,  or  against 
whom?  We  are  all  subjects  of  one  realm,  I  trow,  and  I  wfiuld 
have  you  to  remember  that  your  voyage  may  bring  uj)  at  exe- 
cution dock.  I  like  not  the  Scots — no  offense,  Mr.  Yellowley 
— that  is,  I  would  like  them  well  enough  if  they  would  stay 
quiet  in  their  own  land,  and  leave  us  at  peace  with  ou*"  own 
people,  and  manners,  and  fashions;  and  if  they  would  but 
abide  there  till  I  ^vent  to  harry  them  like  a  mad  old  Ber»erkar, 
I  would  leave  them  in  peace  till  the  day  of  judgment.  With 
what  the  sea  sends  us,  and  the  land  lends  us,  as  the  proverb 
says,  and  a  set  of  honest  neighborly  folks  to  help  us  to  con- 
sume it,  so  help  me,  St.  Magnus,  as  I  think,  we  are  evrn  but 
too  happy!  " 

"  I  know  what  war  is,"  said  an  old  man,  "  and  I  would  as 
soon  sail  through  Sumburgh  Eoost  in  a  cockle-shell,  or  in  a 
worse  loom,  as  I  would  venture  there  again." 

"  And,  pray,  what  wars  knew^  your  valor?  "  said  Halcro, 
who,  though  forbearing  to  contradict  his  landlord  from  a 
sense  of  respect,  was  not  a  whit  inclined  to  abandon  his  argu- 
ment to  any  meaner  authority. 

"  I  was  pressed,"  answered  the  old  triton,  "  to  serve  under 
Montrose,*  when  he  came  here  about  the  sixteen  hundr^  and 
fiftj-O'ne,  and  carried  a  sort  of  us  off.  will  ye  nill  ye    ^■q  get 

*  Se«  Montroee  in  Zetlaod.    Kote  19. 


156  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

our  throats  cut  in  the  wilds  of  Strathnavern.  I  shall  never 
forget  it.  We  had  been  hard  put  to  it  for  victuals:  what 
would  I  have  given  for  a  luncheon  of  Burgh-Wcstra  beef — 
aye,  or  a  mess  of  sour  sillocks?  When  our  Highlandmeai 
brought  in  a  dainty  drove  of  kyloes,  much  ceremony  there 
was  not,  for  we  shot  and  felled,  and  flayed,  and  roasted,  and 
broiled,  as  it  came  to  every  man's  hand;  till  just  as  our  beards 
were  the  greasiest,  we  heard — God  preserve  us — 'a  tramp  of 
hoi-se,  then  twa  or  three  drapping  shots — then  came  a  full 
salvo — and  then,  when  the  officers  were  crying  on  us  to  stand, 
and  the  maist  of  us  looking  which  way  we  might  run  away, 
down  they  broke,  horse  and  foot,  with  old  John  Urry,  or 
Hurry,t  or  whatever  they  called  him — he  hurried  us  that  day, 
and  worried  us  to  boot — ^and  we  began  to  fall  as  thick  as  the 
stots  that  we  were  felling  five  minutes  before." 

"  And  Montrose,"  said  the  soft  voice  of  the  graceful  Minna 
— "  what  became  of  Montrose,  or  how  looked  he  ?  " 

"  Like  a  lion  with  the  hunters  before  him,"  answered  the 
old  gentleman;  "but  I  looked  not  twice  his  way,  for  my  own 
lay  right  over  the  hill." 

"And  so  you  left  him?"  said  Minna,  in  a  tone  of  the 
deepest  contempt. 

"  It  was  no  fault  of  mine,  Mistress  Minna,"  answered  the 
old  man,  somewhat  out  of  countenance;  "  but  I  was  there 
with  no  choice  of  my  own;  and,  besides,  what  good  could  I 
have  done?  all  the  rest  were  running  like  sheep,  and  why 
should  I  have  stayed?  " 

"  You  might  have  died  with  him,"  said  Minna. 

"  And  lived  with  him  to  all  eternity,  in  immortal  verse!  " 
added  Claud  Halcro. 

"  I  thank  you.  Mistress  Minna,"  replied  the  plain-dealing 
Zetlander,  "and  I  thank  you,  my  old  friend  Claud;  but  I 
would  rather  drink  both  your  healths  in  this  good  bicker  of 
ale,  like  a  living  man  as  I  am,  than  that  you  should  be  making 
songs  in  my  honor,  for  having  died  forty  or  fifty  years  agone. 
But  what  signified  it?  Eun  or  fight,  'twas  all  one:  they  took 
Montrose,  poor  fellow,  for  all  his  doughty  deeds,  and  they 
took  me  that  did  no  doughty  deeds  at  all;  and  they  hanged 
him,  poor  man,  and  as  for  me " 

"  I  trust  in  Heaven  they  flogged  and  pickled  you,"  said 
Cleveland,  worn  out  of  patience  with  the  dull  narrative  of 
the  peaceful  Zetlander's  poltroonery,  of  which  he  seemed  so 
wondrous  little  ashamed. 

*  See  Note  20. 


THE  PIRATE.  157 

"  Flog  horses  and  pickle  beef,"  said  Magnus.  "  Why,  you 
have  not  the  vanity  to  think  that,  with  all  your  quarter-deck 
airs,  you  will  make  poor  old  neighbor  Haagen  ashamed  that 
he  was  not  killed  some  scores  of  years  since?  You  have 
looked  on  death  yourself,  my  doughty  young  friend,  but  it 
was  with  the  eyes  of  a  young  man  who  wishes  to  be  thought 
of;  but  we  are  a  peaceful  people — peaceful,  that  is,  as  long 
as  anyone  should  be  peaceful,  and  that  is  till  someone  has  the 
impudence  to  wrong  us  or  our  neighbors;  and  then,  perhaps, 
they  may  not  find  our  Northern  blood  much  cooler  in  oui 
veins  than  was  that  of  the  old  Scandinavians  that  gave  us  oui 
names  and  lineage.  Get  ye  along — get  ye  along  to  the  sword- 
dance,*  that  the  strangers  that  are  amongst  us  may  see  that 
our  hands  and  our  weapons  are  not  altogether  unacquainted 
even  yet." 

A  dozen  cutlasses,  selected  hastily  from  an  old  arm-chest, 
and  whose  rusted  hue  bespoke  how  seldom  they  left  the 
fiheath,  armed  the  same  number  of  young  Zetlanders,  with 
whom  mingled  six  maidens,  led  by  Minna  Troil;  and  the  min- 
strelsy instantly  commenced  a  tune  appropriate  to  the  ancient 
Norwegian  war-dance,  the  evolutions  of  which  are  perhaps 
still  practiced  in  those  remote  islands. 

The  first  movement  was  graceful  and  majestic,  the  youths 
holding  their  swords  erect,  and  without  much  gesture;  but  the 
tune,  and  the  corresponding  motions  of  the  dancers,  became 
gradually  more  and  more  rapid;  they  clashed  their  swords 
together,  in  measured  time,  with  a  spirit  which  gave  the  exer- 
cise a  dangerous  appearance  in  the  eye  of  the  spectator, 
though  the  firmness,  justice,  and  accuracy  with  which  the 
dancers  kept  time  with  the  stroke  of  their  weapons  did,  in 
truth,  insure  its  safety.  The  most  singular  part  of  the  ex- 
hibition was  the  courage  exhibited  by  the  female  performers, 
who  now,  surrounded  by  the  swordsmen,  seemed  like  the 
Sabine  maidens  in  the  hands  of  their  Eoman  lovers;  now, 
moving  under  the  arch  of  steel  which  the  young  men  had 
formed  by  crossing  their  weapons  over  the  heads  of  their 
fair  partners,  resembled  the  band  of  Amazons  when  they  first 
joined  in  the  Pyrrhic  dance  with  the  followers  of  Theseus. 
But  by  far  the  most  striking  and  appropriate  figure  was  that 
of  Minna  Troil,  whom  Halcro  had  long  since  entitled  the 
Queen  of  Swords,  and  who,  indeed,  moved  amidst  the  swords- 
men with  an  air  which  seemed  to  hold  all  the  drawn  blades  as 
the  proper  accompaniments  of  her  person  and  the  implements 

+  See  Note  21. 


158  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

of  her  pleasure.  And  when  the  mazes  of  the  dance  became 
more  intricate,  when  the  close  and  continuous  clash  of  the 
weapons  made  some  of  her  companions  shrink  and  show 
signs  of  fear,  her  cheek,  her  lip,  and  her  eye  seemed  rather 
to  announce  that,  at  the  moment  when  the  weapons  flashed 
fastest  and  rung  sharpest  around  her,  she  was  most  com- 
pletely self-possessed  and  in  her  own  element.  Last  of  all, 
when  the  music  had  ceased,  and  she  remained  for  an  instant 
upon  the  floor  by  herself,  as  the  rule  of  the  dance  required, 
the  swordsmen  and  maidens  who  departed  from  around  her 
seemed  the  guards  and  the  train  of  some  princess,  who,  dis- 
missed by  her  signal,  were  leaving  her  for  a  time  to  solitude. 
Her  own  look  and  attitude,  wrapped,  as  she  probably  was,  in 
some  vision  of  imagination,  corresponded  admirably  with  the 
ideal  dignity  which  the  spectators  ascribed  to  her;  but.  almost 
immediately  recollecting  herself,  she  blushed,  as  if  conscious 
she  had  been,  though  but  for  an  instant,  the  object  of  un- 
divided attention,  and  gave  her  hand  gracefully  to  Cleveland, 
who,  though  he  had  not  joined  in  the  dance,  assumed  the  duty 
of  conducting  her  to  her  seat. 

As  they  passed,  Mordaunt  Mertoun  might  observe  that 
Cleveland  whispered  into  Minna's  ear,  and  that  her  brief  re- 
ply was  accompanied  with  even  more  discomposure  of  counte- 
nance than  she  had  manifested  when  encountering  the  gaze 
of  the  whole  assembly.  Mordaunt's  suspicions  were  strongly 
awakened  by  what  he  observed,  for  he  knew  Minna's  charac- 
ter well,  and  with  what  equanimity  and  indifference  she  was 
in  the  custom  of  receiving  the  usual  compliments  and  gal- 
lantries with  which  her  beauty  and  her  situation  rendered  her 
suflEiciently  familiar. 

"  Can  it  be  possible  she  really  loves  this  stranger?  "  was  the 
unpleasant  thought  that  instantly  shot  across  Mordaunt's 
mind.  "  And  if  she  does,  what  is  my  interest  in  the  mat- 
ter? "  was  the  second;  and  which  was  quickly  followed  by  the 
reflection  that,  though  he  claimed  no  interest  at  any  time  but 
as  a  friend,  and  though  that  interest  was  now  withdrawn,  he 
was  still,  in  consideration  of  their  former  intimacy,  entitled 
both  to  be  sorry  and  angry  at  her  for  throwing  away  her 
affections  on  one  he  judged  unworthy  of  her.  In  this  proc- 
ess of  reasoning,  it  is  probable  that  a  little  mortified  vanity, 
or  some  indescribable  shade  of  selfish  regret,  might  be  endeav- 
oring to  assume  the  disguise  of  disinterested  generosity;  but 
there  is  so  much  of  base  alloy  in  our  very  best  (unassisted) 
thoughts,  that  it  is  melancholy  work  to  criticise  too  closely 


THE  PIRATE.  169 

the  motives  of  our  most  worthy  actions;  at  least  we  would 
recommend  to  everyone  to  let  those  of  his  neighbors  pass  cur- 
rent, however  narrowly  he  may  examine  the  purity  of  his 
own. 

The  sword-dance  was  succeeded  by  various  other  specimens 
of  the  same  exercise,  and  by  songs,  to  which  the  singers  lent 
their  whole  soul,  while  the  audience  were  sure,  as  oc-ca&ion 
offered,  to  unite  in  some  favorite  chorus.  It  is  upon  such 
occasions  that  music,  though  of  a  simple  and  even  rude  char- 
acter, finds  its  natural  empire  over  the  generous  bosom,  and 
produces  that  strong  excitement  which  cannot  be  attained  by 
the  most  learned  compositions  of  the  first  masters,  which  are 
caviare  to  the  common  ear,  although,  doubtless,  they  afford  a 
delight,  exquisite  in  its  kind,  to  those  whose  natural  capacity 
and  education  have  enabled  them  to  comprehend  and  relish 
those  difficult  and  complicated  combinations  of  harmony. 

It  was  about  midnight  when  a  knocking  at  the  door  of  the 
mansion,  with  the  sound  of  the  "  gue  "  and  the  "  langspiel," 
announced,  by  their  tinkling  chime,  the  arrival  of  fresh  revel- 
ers, to  whom,  according  to  the  hospitable  custom  of  the 
country,  the  apartments  were  instantly  thrown  open. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

My  mind  misgives, 
Some  consequence,  yet  hanging  in  the  stare, 
Shall  bitterly  begin  his  fearful  date 
With  this  night's  revels. 

— Romeo  and  Juliet. 

The  newcomers  were,  according  to  the  frequent  custom  of 
such  froHckers  all  over  the  world,  disguised  in  a  sort  of 
masking  habits,  and  designed  to  represent  the  tritons  and 
mermaids  with  whom  ancient  tradition  and  popular  belie  C 
have  peopled  the  northern  seas.  The  former,  called  by  Zet- 
landers  of  that  time  "  shoupeltins,"  were  represented  by 
young  men  grotesquely  habited,  with  false  hair,  and  beards 
made  of  flax,  and  chaplets  composed  of  sea-ware  intenvove;i 
with  shells  and  other  marine  productions,  with  which  also 
were  decorated  their  light-blue  or  greenish  mantles  of  wad- 
maal,  repeatedly  before-mentioned.  They  had  fish-spears 
and  other  emblems  of  their  assumed  quality,  amongst  which 
the  classical  taste  of  Claud  Halcro,  by  whom  the  mask  was 
arranged,  had  not  forgotten  the  conch-shells,  which  were 
stoutly  and  hoarsely  winded  from  time  to  time  by  one  or  two 
of  the  aquatic  deities,  to  the  great  annoyance  of  all  who  stood 
near  them. 

The  nereids  and  water-nymphs  who  attended  on  this  occa- 
sion displayed,  as  usual,  a  little  more  taste  and  ornament  than 
was  to  be  seen  amongst  their  male  attendants.  Fantastic  gar- 
ments of  green  silk,  and  other  materials  of  superior  cost  and 
fashion,  had  been  contrived  so  as  to  imitate  their  idea  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  waters,  and,  at  the  same  time,  to  show  the 
shape  and  features  of  the  fair  wearers  to  the  best  advantage. 
The  bracelets  and  shells  which  adorned  the  neck,  arms,  and 
ankles  of  the  pretty  mermaids  were,  in  some  cases,  inter- 
mixed with  real  pearls;  and  the  appearance,  upon  the  whole, 
was  such  as  might  have  done  no  discredit  to  the  court  of 
Amphitrite,  especially  when  the  long  bright  locks,  blue  eyes, 
fair  complexions,  and  pleasing  features  of  the  maidens  of 
Thule  were  taken  into  consideration.  We  do  not  indeed  pre- 
tend to  aver  that  any  of  these  seeming  mermaids  had  so  ac- 
curately imitated  the  real  siren  as  commentators  have  sup- 
posed those  attendant  on  Cleopatra  did,  who,  adopting  the 

ISO 


THE  PIRATE.  181 

fish's  train  of  their  original,  were  able,  nevertheless,  to  make 
their  ''  bends,"  or  "  ends "  (said  commentators  cannot  tell 
which),  "  adomings."*  Indeed,  had  they  not  left  their  ex- 
tremities in  their  natural  state,  it  would  have  been  impos- 
sible for  the  Zetland  sirens  to  have  executed  the  very  pretty 
dance  with  which  they  rewarded  the  company  for  the  ready 
admission  which  had  been  granted  to  them. 

It  was  soon  discovered  that  these  maskers  were  no  stran- 
gers, but  a  part  of  the  guesis,  who,  stealing  out  a  little  time 
before,  had  thus  disguised  themselves,  in  order  to  give  variety 
to  the  mirth  of  the  evening.  The  muse  of  Claud  Ilalcro, 
always  active  on  such  occasions,  had  supplied  them  with  an 
appropriate  song,  of  which  we  may  give  the  following  speci- 
men. The  song  was  alternate  betwixt  a  nereid  or  mermaid 
and  a  merman  or  triton — the  males  and  females  on  either 
part  forming  a  semi-chorus,  which  accompanied  and  b^re 
burden  to  the  principal  singer: 

Mermaid  : 

"Fathoms  deep  beneath  the  wave, 

Stringing  beads  of  glistering  pearl, 
Singing  the  achievements  brave 

Of  many  an  old  Norwegian  earl; 
Dwelling  where  the  tempest's  raviqg 

Falls  as  light  upon  our  ear 
As  the  sigh  of  lover  craving 

Pity  from  his  lady  dear, 
Children  of  wild  Thule,  we, 
From  the  deep  caves  of  the  sea, 
As  the  lark  springs  from  the  lea, 
Hither  come,  to  share  your  glee. 

Merman : 

"  From  reining  of  the  water-horse, 

That  bounded  till  the  waves  were  foaming, 
Watching  the  infant  tempest's  course, 

Chasing  the  sea-snake  in  his  roaming; 
From  winding  charge-notes  on  the  shell. 

When  the  huge  whale  and  sword-fish  duel, 
Or  tolling  shroudless  seamen's  knell. 

When  the  winds  and  waves  are  cruel, 
Children  of  wild  Thule,  we 
Have  plow'd  such  furrows  on  the  sea 
As  the  steer  draws  on  the  lea, 
And  hither  we  come  to  share  your  glee. 

Mermaids  and  Mermen: 

"  We  heard  you  in  our  twilight  caves, 
A  hundred  fathom  deep  below 
For  note  of  joy  can  pierce  the  waves. 
That  drown  each  sound  of  war  and  woe. 

■'Bee  some  admirable  diBcauion  on  this  passage  in  the  Variorum  Staakepere. 


162  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

Those  who  dwell  beneath  the  sea 

Love  the  boiiH  of  Tluile  well; 
Thus,  to  aid  your  mirth,  bring  we 

Dance,  and  song,  and  sounding  shelL 
Children  of  dark  Thuie,  know, 
Those  who  dwell  by  liaaf  and  voe, 
Where  your  daring  shallops  row, 
Come  to  share  the  festal  show." 

The  jfinal  chorus  was  borne  by  the  whole  voices,  excepting 
those  carrying  the  conch-shells,  who  had  been  trained  to  blow 
them  in  a  sort  of  rude  accompaniment,  which  had  a  good 
effect.  The  poetry,  as  well  as  the  performance,  of  the 
maskers  received  great  applause  from  all  who  pretended  to 
be  Judges  of  such  matters;  but  above  all  from  Triptolemus 
Yellowley,  who,  his  ear  having  caught  the  agricultural  sounds 
of  plow  and  fuiTow,  and  his  brain  being  so  well  drenched  that 
it  could  only  construe  the  words  in  their  most  literal  accep- 
tation, declared  roundly  and  called  Mordaunt  to  bear  witness, 
that,  though  it  was  a  shame  to  waste  so  much  good  lint  as 
went  to  form  the  tritons'  beards  and  periwigs,  the  song  con- 
tained the  only  words  of  common  sense  which  he  had  heard 
all  that  long  day. 

But  Mordaunt  had  no  time  to  answer  the  appeal,  being  en- 
gaged in  attending  with  the  utmost  vigilance  to  the  motions 
of  one  of  the  female  maskers,  who  had  given  him  a  private 
signal  as  they  entered,  which  induced  him,  though  uncertain 
who  she  might  prove  to  be,  to  expect  some  communication 
from  her  of  importance.  The  siren  who  had  so  boldly 
touched  his  arm,  and  had  accompanied  the  gesture  with  an 
expression  of  eye  which  bespoke  his  attention,  was  disguised 
with  a  good  deal  more  care  than  her  sister-maskers,  her  man- 
tle being  loose,  and  wide  enough  to  conceal  her  shape  com- 
pletely, and  her  face  was  hidden  beneath  a  silk  mask.  He 
observed  that  she  gradually  detached  herself  from  the  rest 
of  the  maskers,  and  at  length  placed  herself,  as  if  for  the  ad- 
vantage of  the  air,  near  the  door  of  a  chamber  which  re- 
mained open,  looked  earnestly  at  him  again,  and  then  taking 
an  opportunity,  when  the  attention  of  the  company  was  fi:xed 
upon  the  rest  of  her  party,  she  left  the  apartment. 

Mordaunt  did  not  hesitate  instantly  to  follow  his  mysteri- 
ous guide,  for  such  we  may  term  the  masker,  as  she  paused 
to  let  him  see  the  direction  she  was  about  to  take,  and  then 
walked  swiftly  toward  the  shore  of  the  voe,  or  salt-water  lake, 
now  lying  full  before  them,  its  small  summer  waves  glisten- 
ing and  rippling  under  the  influence  of  a  broad  moonlight, 


THE  PIRATE.  1«« 

which,  added  to  the  strong  twilight  of  those  regions  during 
the  summer  solstice,  left  no  reason  to  regret  the  absence  of  the 
sun,  the  path  of  whose  setting  was  still  visible  on  the  waves  of 
the  west,  while  the  horizon  on  the  east  side  was  already  be- 
ginning to  glimmer  with  the  lights  of  dawn. 

Mordaunt  had  therefore  no  difficulty  in  keeping  sight  of 
his  disguised  guide,  as  she  tripped  it  over  height  and  hollow 
to  the  seaside,  and,  winding  among  the  rocks,  led  the  way  to 
the  spot  where  liis  own  labors,  during  the  time  of  his  former 
intimacy  at  Burgh-Westra,  had  constructed  a  sheltered  and 
solitary  seat,  where  the  daughters  of  Magnus  were  accustomed 
to  spend,  when  the  weather  was  suitable,  a  good  deal  of  theii- 
time.  Here,  then,  was  to  be  the  place  of  explanation;  for  the 
masker  stopped,  and,  after  a  moment's  hesitation,  sat  down 
on  the  rustic  settle.  But  from  the  lips  of  whom  was  he  to 
receive  it?  Noma  had  first  oc-curred  to  him;  but  her  tall 
figure  and  slow,  majestic  step  were  entirely  different  from  the 
size  and  gait  of  the  more  fairy-formed  siren,  who  had  pre- 
ceded him  with  as  light  a  trip  as  if  she  had  been  a  real  nereid, 
who,  having  remained  too  late  upon  the  shore,  was,  under  the 
dread  of  Amphitrite's  displeasure,  hastening  to  regain  her 
native  element.  Since  it  was  not  Noma,  it  could  be  only,  he 
thought,  Brenda  who  thus  singled  him  out;  and  when  she 
had  seated  herself  upon  the  bench,  and  taken  the  mask  from 
her  face,  Brenda  it  accordingly  proved  to  be.  Mordaunt  had 
certainly  done  notliing  to  make  liim  dread  her  presence;  and 
yet,  such  is  the  influence  of  bashfulness  over  the  ingenuous 
youth  of  both  sexes,  that  he  experienced  all  the  embarrass- 
ment of  one  who  finds  himself  unexpectedly  placed  before  a 
person  who  is  justly  offended  with  him.  Brenda  felt  no  less 
embarrassment;  but  as  she  had  sought  this  interview,  and  was 
sensible  it  must  be  a  brief  one,  she  was  compelled,  in  spite  of 
herself,  to  begin  the  conversation. 

"  Mordaunt,"  she  said,  with  a  hesitating  voice;  then  cor- 
recting herself,  she  proceeded — '"'  You  must  be  surprised, 
Mr.  Mertoun,  that  I  should  have  taken  this  uncommon 
freedom." 

"  It  was  not  till  this  morning,  Brenda,"  replied  Mordaunt, 
"  that  any  mark  of  friendship  or  intimacy  from  you  or  from 
your  sister  could  have  surprised  me.  I  am  far  more  aston- 
is/hed  that  you  should  shun  me  without  reason  for  so  many 
hours  than  that  you  should  now  allow  me  an  interview.  In 
the  name  of  Heaven,  Brenda,  in  what  have  I  offended  you? 
or  why  are  we  on  these  unusual  terms?  " 


164  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

"  May  it  not  be  enough  to  say,"  replied  Brenda,  looking 
downward,  "  that  it  is  my  fathei^'s  pleasure?  " 

"  No,  it  is  not  enough,"  returned  Mertoun.  "  Your  father 
cannot  have  so  suddenly  altered  his  whole  thoughts  of  me,  and 
his  whole  actions  toward  me,  without  acting  under  the  in- 
fluence of  some  strong  delusion.  I  ask  you  but  to  explain  of 
what  nature  it  is;  for  I  will  be  contented  to  be  lower  in  your 
esteem  than  the  meanest  hind  in  the<e  islands  if  I  cannot  show 
that  his  change  of  opinion  is  only  grounded  upon  some  in- 
famous deception  or  some  extraordinary  mistake." 

"  It  may  be  so,"  said  Brenda — "  I  hope  it  is  so;  that  I  do 
hope  it  is  so,  my  desire  to  see  you  thus  in  private  may  well 
prove  to  you.  But  it  is  difficult — in  short,  it  is  impossible — 
for  me  to  explain  to  you  the  cause  of  my  fathe.r's  resentment. 
Noma  has  spoken  with  him  concerning  it  boldly,  and  I  fear 
they  parted  in  displeasure;  and  you  well  know  no  light  matter 
could  cause  that." 

"  I  have  observed,"  said  Mordaunt,  "  that  your  father  is 
most  attentive  to  Noma's  counsel,  and  more  complacent  to 
her  peculiarities  than  to  those  of  others;  this  I  have  observed, 
though  he  is  no  willing  believer  in  the  supernatural  qualities 
to  which  she  lays  claim." 

"  They  are  related  distantly,"  answered  Brenda,  "  and 
were  friends  in  youth;  nay,  as  I  have  heard,  it  was  once  sup- 
posed they  would  have  been  married;  but  Noma's  peculiari- 
ties showed  themselves  immediately  on  her  father's  death,  and 
there  was  an  end  of  that  matter,  if  ever  there  was  anything  in 
it.  But  it  is  certain  my  father  regards  her  with  much  inter- 
est; and  it  is,  I  fear,  a  sign  how  deeply  his  prejudices  respect- 
ing you  must  be  rooted,  since  they  have  in  some  degree  quar- 
reled on  your  account." 

"  Now,  blessings  upon  you,  Brenda,  that  you  have  called 
them  prejudices,"  said  Mertoun  warmly  and  hastily — "  a 
thousand  blessings  on  you!  You  were  ever  gentle-hearted: 
you  could  not  have  maintained  even  the  show  of  unkindness 
long." 

"  It  was  indeed  but  a  show,"  said  Brenda,  softening  gradu- 
ally into  the  familiar  tone  in  which  they  had  conversed  from 
infancy.  "  I  could  never  think,  Mordaunt — never,  that  is, 
seriously  believe,  that  you  could  say  aught  unkind  of  Minna 
or  of  me." 

"And  who  dares  to  say  I  have?"  said  Mordaunt,  giving 
way  to  the  natural  impetuosity  of  hi^  disposition — "  who  dares 
to  say  that  I  have,  and  ventures  at  the  same  time  to  hope  that 


TEE  PIRATE.  165 

I  will  suffer  his  tongue  to  remain  in  safety  betwixt  his 
jaws?  By  St.  Magnus  the  Martyr,  I  will  feed  the  hawks 
with  it!  " 

"  Nay,  now,"  said  Brenda,  "  your  anger  only  terrifies  me, 
and  will  force  me  to  leave  you." 

"  Leave  me,"  said  he,  "  without  telling  me  either  the 
calumny  or  the  name  of  the  villainous  calumniator!  " 

'*  Oh,  there  are  more  than  one,"  answered  Brenda,  "  that 
have  possessed  my  father  with  an  opinion — which  I  cannot 
myself  tell  you — but  there  are  more  than  one  who  say " 

"  Were  they  hundreds,  Brenda,  I  will  do  no  less  to  them 
than  I  have  said.  Sacred  Martyr!  to  accuse  me  of  speaking 
unkindly  of  those  whom  I  most  respected  and  valued  under 
Heaven.  I  will  back  to  the  apartment  this  instant,  and  your 
father  shall  do  me  right  before  all  the  world." 

"Do  not  go,  for  the  love  of  Heaven!"  said  Brenda — "do 
not  go,  as  you  would  not  render  me  the  most  unhappy  wretch 
in  existence!  " 

"  Tell  me  then,  at  least,  if  I  guess  aright,"  said  Mordaunt, 
"  when  I  name  this  Cleveland  for  one  of  those  who  have  slan- 
dered me?  " 

"  ISTo — 'Uo,"  said  Brenda  vehemently,  "  you  run  from  one 
error  into  another  more  dangerous.  You  say  you  are  my 
friend — I  am  willing  to  be  yours — be  but  still  for  a  moment 
and  hear  what  I  have  to  say:  our  interview  has  lasted  but  too 
long  already,  and  every  additional  moment  brings  additional 
danger  with  it." 

"  Tell  me,  then,"  said  Mordaunt,  much  softened  by  the 
poor  girl's  extreme  apprehension  and  distress,  "  what  is  it  that 
you  require  of  me;  and  believe  me,  it  is  impossible  for  you  to 
ask  aught  that  I  will  not  do  my  very  uttermost  to  comply 
with." 

"Well,  then,  this  captain,"  said  Brenda — "this  Cleve- 
land  ■" 

"I  knew  it,  by  Heaven!"  said  Mordaunt:  "my  mind  as- 
sured me  that  that  fellow  was,  in  one  way  or  other,  at  the 
bottom  of  all  this  mischief  and  misunderstanding!  " 

"  If  you  cannot  be  silent  and  patient  for  an  instant,"  re- 
plied Brenda,  "  I  must  instantly  quit  you.  What  I  meant  to 
say  had  no  relation  to  you,  but  to  another — in  one  word,  to 
my  sister  Minna.  I  have  nothing  to  say  concerning  her  dis- 
like to  you,  but  an  anxious  tale  to  tell  concerning  his  atten- 
tion to  her." 

"It   is   obvious,   striking,   and   marked,"   said   Mordaunt; 


166  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

"  aud,  unless  my  eyes  deceive  me,  it  is  received  as  welcome,  if, 
indeed,  it  is  not  returned." 

"  That  is  the  very  cause  of  my  fear,"  said  Brenda.  "  I, 
too,  was  struck  with  the  external  appearance,  frank  manners, 
and  romantic  conversation  of  this  man." 

"  His  appearance!  "  said  Mordaunt;  "  he  is  stout  and  well- 
featured  enough,  to  be  sure;  but,  as  old  Sinclair  of  Quendale 
said  to  the  Spanish  admiral,  '  Farcie  on  his  face!  I  have 
seen  many  a  fairer  hang  on  the  Borough  Moor.'  From  his 
manners,  he  might  be  captain  of  a.  privateer;  and,  by  his  con- 
versation, the  trumpeter  to  his  own  puppet-show:  for  he 
speaks  of  little  else  than  his  own  exploits." 

"  You  are  mistaken,"  answered  Brenda:  "  he  speaks  but  too 
well  on  all  that  he  has  seen  and  learned;  besides,  he  has  really 
been  in  many  distant  countries  and  in  many  gallant  actions, 
and  he  can  tell  them  with  as  much  spirit  as  modesty.  You 
would  think  you  saw  the  flash  and  heard  the  report  of  the 
guns.  And  he  has  other  tones  of  talking  too — about  the  de- 
lightful trees  and  fruits  of  distant  climates;  and  how  the  peo- 
ple wear  no  dress,  through  the  whole  year,  half  so  warm  as 
our  summer  gowns,  and,  indeed,  put  on  little  except  cambric 
and  muslin." 

"  Upon  my  word,  Brenda,  he  does  seem  to  understand 
the  business  of  amusing  young  ladies,"  replied  Mor- 
daunt. 

"  He  does,  indeed,"  said  Brenda,  with  great  simplicity.  "  T 
assure  you  that,  at  first,  I  liked  him  better  than  Minna  did; 
and  yet,  though  she  is  so  much  cleverer  than  I  am,  I  know 
more  of  the  world  than  she  does;  for  I  have  seen  more  of 
cities,  having  been  once  at  Kirkwall;  besides  that  I  was  thrice 
at  Lerwick,  when  the  Dutch  ships  were  there,  and  so  I  should 
not  be  very  easily  deceived  in  people." 

"  And  pray,  Brenda,"  said  Mertoun,  "  what  was  it  that 
made  you  think  less  favorably  of  this  young  fellow,  who  seems 
to  be  so  captivating?" 

"  Why,"  said  Brenda,  after  a  moment's  reflection,  "  at  first 
he  was  much  livelier;  and  the  stories  he  told  were  not  quite 
so  melancholy  or  so  terrible;  and  he  laughed  and  danced 
more." 

"  And,  perhaps,  at  that  time,  danced  oftener  with  Brenda 
than  with  her  sister?  "  added  Mordaunt. 

"  No — I  am  not  sure  of  that,"  said  Brenda;  "  and  yet,  to 
speak  plain,  I  could  have  no  suspicion  of  him  at  all  while  he 
was  attending  quite  equally  to  us  both;  for  you  know  that 


THE  PIRATE.  167 

then  he  could  have  been  no  more  to  us  than  yourself,  Mor- 
daunt  Mertoun,  or  young  Swaraster,  or  any  other  yuung  man 
in  the  islands." 

"  But,  why  then,"  said  Mordaunt,  "  should  you  not  see  him, 
with  patience,  become  acquainted  with  your  sister?  He  is 
wealthy,  or  seems  to  be  so  at  least.  You  say  he  is  accom- 
plished and  pleasant.  What  else  would  you  desire  in  a  lover 
for  Minna  ?  " 

"  Mordaunt,  you  forget  who  we  are,"  said  the  maiden, 
assuming  an  air  of  consequence,  which  sat  as  gracefully  upon 
her  simplicity  as  did  the  different  tone  in  which  she  had 
spoken  hitherto.  ''  This  is  a  little  world  of  ours,  this  Zet- 
land, inferior,  perhaps,  in  soil  and  climate  to  other  parts  of 
the  earth,  at  least  so  strangers  say;  but  it  is  our  own  little 
world,  and  we,  the  daughters  of  Magnus  Troil,  hold  a  first 
rank  in  it.  It  would,  I  think,  little  become  us,  who  are  de- 
scended from  sea-kings  and  jarls,  to  throw  ourseh-e?  nwMv 
upo-n  a  stranger,  who  comes  to  our  coast,  like  the  eider  duck 
in  spring,  from  we  know  not  whence,  and  may  leave  it  iU 
autumn,  to  go  we  know  not  where." 

"  And  who  may  yet  entice  a  Zetland  golden-eye  to  accom- 
pany his  migration,"  said  Mertoun. 

"  I  will  hear  nothing  light  on  such  a  subject,"  replied 
Brenda  indignantly.  "  Minna,  like  myself,  is  the  daughter  of 
Magnus  Troil,  the  friend  of  strangers,  but  the  father  of  Hialt- 
land.  He  gives  them  the  hospitality  they  need;  but  let  not 
the  proudest  of  them  think  that  they  can,  at  their  pleasure, 
ally  with  his  house." 

She  said  this  in  a  tone  of  considerable  warmth,  which  she 
instantly  softened,  as  she  added,  "  No,  Mordaunt,  do  not  sup- 
pose that  Minna  Troil  is  capable  of  so  far  forgetting  what  she 
owes  to  her  father  and  her  father's  blood  as  to  think  of  mar- 
rying this  Cleveland;  but  she  may  lend  an  ear  to  him  so  long 
as  to  destroy  her  future  happiness.  She  has  that  sort  of  mind 
into  which  some  feelings  sink  deeply.  You  remember  how 
Ulla  Storlson  used  to  go,  day  by  day,  to  the  top  of  Vossdale 
Head,  to  look  for  her  lover's  ship  that  was  never  to  return? 
When  I  think  of  her  slow  step,  her  pale  cheek,  her  eye,  that 
grew  dimmer  and  dimmer,  like  the  lamp  that  is  half  extin- 
guished for  lack  of  oil;  when  I  remember  the  fluttered  look 
of  something  like  hope  with  which  she  ascended  the  cliff  at 
morning,  and  the  deep,  dead  despair  which  sat  on  her  fore- 
head when  she  returned — when  I  think  on  all  this,  can  you 
wonder  that  I  fear  for  Minna,  whose  heart  is  formed  to  enter- 


lea  WAVEIiLEY  NOVELS. 

tain,  with  such  deep-rooted  fidelity,  any  affection  that  may  be 
implanted  in  it?  " 

"  I  do  not  wonder,"  said  Mordaunt,  eagerly  sjinpathizing 
with  the  poor  girl;  for,  besides  the  tremulous  expression  of  her 
voice,  the  light  could  almost  show  him  the  tear  which  trem- 
bled in  her  eye,  as  she  drew  the  picture  to  which  her  fancy 
had  assimilated  her  sister — "  I  do  not  wonder  that  you  should 
feel  and  fear  whatever  the  purest  affection  can  dictate;  and  if 
you  can  but  point  out  to  me  in  what  1  can  serve  your  sis- 
terly love,  you  shall  find  me  as  ready  to  venture  my  life,  if 
necessary,  as  I  have  been  to  go  out  on  the  crag  to  get  you  the 
eggs  of  the  guillemot;  and,  believe  me,  that  whatever  has 
been  told  to  your  father  or  yourself  of  my  entertaining  the 
slightest  thoughts  of  disrespect  or  unkindness  is  as  false  as  a 
fiend  could  devise." 

"  I  believe  it,"  said  Brenda,  giving  him  her  hand — *'  I  be 
lieve  it,  and  my  bosom  is  lighter,  now  I  have  renewed  my  con- 
fidence in  so  old  a  friend.  How  you  can  aid  us,  I  know  not: 
but  it  was  by  the  advice,  I  may  say  by  the  commands,  o\ 
Noma  that  I  have  ventured  to  make  this  communication;  and 
I  almost  wonder,"  she  added,  as  she  looked  around  her,  "  that 
I  have  had  courage  to  carry  me  through  it.  At  present  you 
know  all  that  I  can  tell  you  of  the  risk  in  which  my  sister 
stands.  Look  after  this  Cleveland;  beware  how  you  quaiTe) 
with  him,  since  you  must  so  surely  come  by  the  worst  with  au 
experienced  soldier." 

"  I  do  not  exactly  understand,"  said  the  youth,  "  how  thai 
should  so  surely  be.  This  I  know,  that,  with  the  good  limbs 
and  good  heart  that  God  hath  given  me,  aye,  and  with  a 
good  cause  to  boot,  I  am  little  afraid  of  any  quarrel  which 
Cleveland  can  fix  upon  me." 

"  Then,  if  not  for  your  own  sake,  for  ]\Iinna's  sake,"  said 
Brenda — "  for  my  father's — for  mine — for  all  our  sakes,  avoid 
any  strife  with  him;  but  be  contented  to  watch  him,  and,  if 
possible,  to  discover  who  he  is,  and  what  are  his  intentions 
toward  us.  He  has  talked  of  going  to  Orkney  to  inquire  after 
the  consort  with  whom  he  sailed;  but  day  after  day  and  week 
after  week  passes,  and  he  goes  not;  and  while  he  keeps  my 
father  company  over  the  bottle,  and  tells  Minna  romantic 
stories  of  foreign  people,  and  distant  wars,  in  wild  and  un- 
known regions,  the  time  glides  on,  and  the  stxanger,  of  whom 
we  know  nothing  except  that  he  is  one,  becomes  gradually 
closer  and  more  inseparably  intimate  in  our  society.  And 
now  farewell.     Norna  hopes  to  make  your  peace  wit^h  my 


THE  PTBATB.  169 

father,  and  entreats  you  not  to  leave  Burgh-Westra  to-mor- 
row, however  cold  he  and  my  sister  may  appear  toward  you. 
1  too,"  she  said,  stretching  her  hand  toward  him,  '•  must  wear 
a  face  of  cold  friendship  as  toward  an  unwelcome  visitor,  but 
at  heart  we  are  still  Brenda  and  Mordaunt.  And  now  sepa- 
rate quickly,  for  we  must  not  be  seen  together." 

She  stretched  her  hand  to  him,  but  withdrew  it  in  some 
slight  confusion,  laughing  and  blushing,  when,  by  a  natural 
impulse,  he  was  about  to  press  it  to  his  lips.  He  endeavored 
for  a  moment  to  detain  her,  for  the  interview  had  for  him  a 
degree  of  fascination  which,  as  often  as  he  had  before  been 
alone  with  Brenda,  he  had  never  experienced,  But  she  ex- 
tricated herself  from  him,  and  again  signing  an  adieu,  and 
pointing  out  to  him  a  path  different  from  that  which  she  was 
herself  about  to  take,  tripped,  toward  the  house,  and  was  soon 
hidden  from  his  view  by  the  accli^dty. 

Mordaunt  stood  gazing  after  her  in  a  state  of  mind  to 
which,  as  yet,  he  had  been  a  stranger.  The  dubious  neutral 
ground  between  love  and  friendship  may  be  long  and  safely 
trodden,  until  he  who  stands  upon  it  is  suddenly  called  upon 
to  recognize  the  authority  of  the  one  or  the  other  power;  and 
then  it  most  frequently  happens  that  the  party  who  for 
years  supposed  himself  only  a  friend,  finds  himself  at  once 
transformed  into  a  lover.  That  such  a  change  in  Mordaunt's 
feelings  should  take  place  from  this  date,  although  he  him- 
self was  unable  exactly  to  distinguish  its  nature,  was  to  be 
expected.  He  found  himself  at  once  received,  with  the  most 
unsuspicious  frankness,  into  the  confidence  of  a  beautiful  and 
fascinating  young  woman,  by  whom  he  had,  so  short  a  time  be- 
fore, imagined  himself  despised  and  disliked;  and,  if  anything 
could  make  a  change,  in  itself  so  surprising  and  so  pleasing, 
yet  more  intoxicating,  it  was  the  guileless  and  open-hearted 
simplicity  of  Brenda,  that  cast  an  enchantment  over  every- 
thing wliich  she  did  or  said.  The  scene,  too,  might  have  had 
its  effect,  though  there  was  little  occasion  for  its  aid.  But 
a  fair  face  looks  yet  fairer  under  the  light  of  the  moon,  and 
a  sweet  voice  sounds  yet  sweeter  among  the  whispering  sounds 
of  a  summer  night.  Mordaunt,  therefore,  who  had  by  this 
time  returned  to  the  house,  was  disposed  to  listen  with  un- 
usual patience  and  complacency  to  the  enthusia'^tic  declama- 
tion pronounced  upon  moonlight  by  Claud  Halcro,  whose 
ecstasies  had  been  awakened  on  the  subject  by  a  short  turn  in 
the  open  air,  undertaken  to  qualify  the  vapors  of  the  good 
liquor,  which  he  had  not  spared  during  the  festival. 


170  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

"  The  sun,  my  boy,"  he  said,  "  is  every  wretched  laborer's 
day-lantem:  it  comes  glaring  yonder,  out  of  the  east,  to  sum- 
mon up  a  whole  world  to  labor  and  to  misery;  whereas  the 
merry  moon  lights  all  of  us  to  mirth  and  to  love." 

"  And  to  madness,  or  she  is  much  belied,"  said  Mordaunt, 
by  way  of  saying  something. 

"  Let  it  be  so,"  answered  Halcro,  "  so  she  does  not  turn  us 
melancholy  mad.  My  dear  young  friend,  the  folks  of  this 
painstaking  world  are  far  too  anxious  about  possessing  all 
their  wits,  or  having  them,  as  they  say,  about  them.  At  least, 
I  know  I  have  been  often  called  half-witted,  and  I  am  sure  I 
have  gone  through  the  world  as  well  as  if  I  had  double  the 
quantity.  But  stop — where  was  I?  Oh,  touching  and  con- 
cerning the  moon;  why,  man,  she  is  the  very  soul  of  love  and 
poetry.  I  question  if  there  was  ever  a  true  lover  in  existence 
who  had  not  got  at  least  as  far  as  '  Oh,  thou,'  in  a  sonnet  in 
her  praise." 

"  The  moon,"  said  the  factor,  who  was  now  beginning  to 
speak  very  thick,  "  ripens  com,  at  least  the  old  folk  said  so; 
and  she  fills  nuts  also,  whilk  is  of  less  matter — '  sparge  nuces, 
pueri.' " 

"  A  fine — a  fine,"  said  the  Udaller,  who  was  now  in  his  alti- 
tudes; "  the  factor  speaks  Greek.  By  the  bones  of  my  holy 
namesake,  St.  Magnus,  he  shall  drink  off  the  yawl  full  of 
punch,  unless  he  gives  us  a  song  on  the  spot!  " 

"  Too  much  water  drowned  the  miller,"  answered  Triptol- 
emus.  "  My  brain  has  more  need  of  draining  than  of  being 
drenched  with  more  liquor." 

"  Sing,  then,"  said  the  despotic  landlord,  "  for  no  one  shall 
speak  any  other  language  here  save  honest  Norse,  jolly  Dutch, 
or  Danske,  or  broad  Scots,  at  the  least  of  it.  So,  Eric  Scam- 
bester,  produce  the  yawl,  and  fill  it  to  the  brim,  as  a  charge 
for  demurrage." 

Ere  the  vessel  could  reach  the  agriculturist,  he,  seeing  it 
under  way  and  steering  toward  him  by  short  tacks  (for  Scam- 
bester  himself  was  by  this  time  not  over  steady  in  his  course), 
made  a  desperate  effort,  and  began  to  sing,  or  rather  to  croak 
forth,  a  Yorkshire  harvest-home  ballad,  which  his  father  used 
to  sing  when  he  was  a  little  mellow,  and  which  went  to  the 
tune  of  "  Hey,  Dobbin,  away  with  the  wagon."  The  ruefu! 
aspect  of  the  singer,  and  the  desperately  discordant  tones  of 
his  voice,  formed  so  delightful  a  contrast  with  the  jollity  of 
the  words  and  tune,  that  honest  Triptolemus  afforded  the 
same  sort  of  amusement  which,  a  reveler  might  give  by  appear- 


THE  PIRATE.  171 

ing  on  a  festival  day  in  the  holiday  coat  of  his  grandfather. 
The  jest  concluded  the  evening,  for  even  the  mighty  and 
strong-headed  Magnus  himself  had  confessed  the  influence 
of  the  sleepy  god.  The  guests  went  off  as  they  best  might, 
each  to  his  separate  crib  and  resting-place,  and  in  a  short  time 
the  mansion,  which  was  of  late  so  noisy,  was  hushed  into  per- 
fect silence. 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

They  man  their  boats,  and  all  the  young  men  arm 
With  whatsoever  might  the  monsters  harm; 
Pikes,  halberds,  spits,  and  darts,  that  wound  afar, 
The  tools  of  peace  and  implements  of  war. 
Now  was  the  time  for  vigorous  lads  to  show 
What  love  or  honor  could  incite  them  to; — 
A  goodly  theater,  where  rocks  are  round 
With  reverend  age  and  lovely  lasses  crown'd. 

— Battle  of  tke  Summer  Islands. 

The  morning  which  succeeds  such  a  feast  as  that  of  Mag- 
nus Troil  usually  lacks  a  little  of  the  zest  which  seasoned  the 
revels  of  the  preceding  day,  as  the  fashionable  reader  may 
have  observed  at  a  public  breakfast  during  the  race-week  in 
a  country  town;  for,  in  what  is  called  the  best  society,  these 
lingering  moments  are  usually  spent  by  the  company  each 
apart  in  their  own  dressing  rooms.  At  Burgh-Westra,  it  will 
readily  be  believed,  no  such  space  for  retirement  was  afforded; 
and  the  lasses,  with  their  paler  cheeks,  the  elder  dames,  with 
many  a  wink  and  yawn,  were  compelled  to  meet  with  their 
male  companions,  headaches  and  all,  just  three  hours  after 
they  had  parted  from  each  other. 

Eric  Scambester  had  done  all  that  man  could  do  to  supply 
the  full  means  of  diverting  the  "  ennui "  of  the  morning 
meal.  The  board  groaned  with  rounds  of  hung  beef,  made 
after  the  fashion  of  Zetland — with  pasties — with  baked  meats 
— with  fish,  dressed  and  cured  in  every  possible  manner;  nay, 
with  the  foreign  delicacies  of  tea,  coffee,  and  chocolate;  for, 
as  we  have  already  had  occasion  to  remark,  the  situation  of 
these  islands  made  them  early  acquainted  with  various  articles 
of  foreign  luxury,  which  were,  as  yet,  but  little  known  in 
Scotland,  where,  at  a  much  later  period  than  that  we  write 
of,  one  pound  of  green  tea  was  dressed  like  cabbage,  and  an- 
other converted  into  a  vegetable  sauce  for  salt  beef,  by  the 
ignorance  of  the  good  housewives  to  whom  they  had  been 
sent  as  rare  presents. 

Besides  these  preparations,  the  table  exhibited  whatever 
mighty  potions  are  resorted  to  by  "  bons  vivans  "  under  the 
facetious  name  of  a  "  hair  of  the  dog  that  bit  you."  There 
was  the  potent  Irish  usquebaugh — right  Nantz — genuine 
Schiedam — aquavitae    ivom   Caithness— and    Golden    Wasser 

178 


THE  PIRATE.  1'73 

from  Hamburgh;  there  was  rum  of  formidable  antiquity,  and 
cordials,  from  the  Leeward  Islands.  After  these  details,  it 
were  needless  to  mention  the  stout  home-brewed  ale,  the  Ger- 
man mum  and  schwartz  beer;  and  still  more  would  it  be  be- 
neath our  dignity  to  dwell  upon  the  innumerable  sorts  of 
pottage  and  flummery,  together  with  the  bland  and  various 
preparations  of  milk,  for  those  who  preferred  thinner 
potations. 

No  wonder  that  the  sight  of  so  much  good  cheer  awakened 
the  appetite  and  raised  the  spirits  of  the  fatigued  revelers. 
The  young  men  began  immediately  to  seek  out  their  partners 
of  the  preceding  evening,  and  to  renew  the  small  talk  which 
had  driven  the  night  so  merrily  away;  while  Magnus,  with 
his  stout  old  Norse  kindred,  encouraged,  by  precept  and 
example,  those  of  elder  days  and  graver  mood  to  a  substan- 
tial flirtation  with  the  good  things  before  them.  Still,  how- 
ever, there  was  a  long  period  to  be  filled  up  before  dinner;  for 
the  most  protracted  breakfast  cannot  well  last  above  an  hour; 
and  it  was  to  be  feared  that  Claud  Halcro  meditated  the  occu- 
pation of  this  vacant  morning  with  a  formidable  recitation  of 
his  own  verses,  besides  telling,  at  its  full  length,  the  whole 
history  of  his  introduction  to  glorious  John  Dryden.  But 
fortune  relieved  the  guests  of  Burgh- Westra  from  this  threat- 
ened infliction,  by  sending  them  means  of  amusement  pe- 
culiarly suited  to  their  taste  and  habits. 

Mosit  of  the  guests  were  using  their  toothpicks,  some  were 
beginning  to  talk  of  what  was  to  be  done  next,  when,  with 
haste  in  his  step,  fire  in  his  eye,  and  a  harpoon  in  his  hand, 
Eric  Scambester  came  to  announce  to  the  company  that  there 
was  a  whale  on  shore,  or  nearly  so,  at  the  throat  of  the  voe! 
Then  you  might  have  seen  such  a  joyous,  boisterous,  and  uni- 
versal bustle  as  only  the  love  of  sport,  so  deeply  implanted  in 
our  nature,  can  possibly  inspire.  A  set  of  country  squires, 
about  to  beat  for  the  first  woodcocks  of  the  season,  were  a 
comparison  as  petty  in  respect  to  the  glee  as  in  regard  to  the 
importance  of  the  object.  The  battue  upon  a  strong  cover  in 
Ettrick  Forest,  for  the  destruction  of  the  foxes;  the  insurrec- 
tion of  the  sportsmen  of  the  Lennox,  when  one  of  the  duke's 
deer  gets  out  from  Inch-Mirran;  nay,  the  joyous  rally  of  the 
fox-chase  itself,  with  all  its  blithe  aceom])animents  of  hound 
and  horn,  fall  infinitely  short  of  the  animation  with  which  the 
gallant  sons  of  Thuleset  off  to  encounter  the  monster  whom 
the  s=ea  had  sent  for  their  amusement  at  so  opportune  a  con- 
juncture. 


1^4  WAVEBLET  NOVELS. 

The  multifarious  stores  of  Burgh-Westra  were  rummaged 
hastily  for  all  sorts  of  arms  which  could  be  used  on  such  an 
occasion.  Harpoons,  swords,  pikes,  and  halberds  fell  to  the 
lot  of  some;  others  contented  themselves  with  hay-forks, 
spits,  and  whatever  else  could  be  found,  that  was  at  once  long 
and  sharp.  Thus  hastily  equipped,  one  division,  under  the 
command  of  Captain  Cleveland,  hastened  to  man  the  boats 
which  lay  in  the  little  haven,  while  the  rest  of  the  party 
hurried  by  land  to  the  scene  of  action. 

Poor  Triptolemus  was  interrupted  in  a  plan  which  he,  too, 
had  formed  against  the  patience  of  the  Zetlanders,  and  which 
was  to  have  consisted  in  a  lecture  upon  the  agriculture  and  the 
capabilities  of  the  country,  by  this  sudden  hubbub,  which  put 
an  end  at  once  to  Halcro's  poetry  and  to  his  no  less  formida- 
able  prose.  It  may  be  easily  imagined  that  he  took  very  little 
interest  in  the  sport  which  was  so  suddenly  substituted  for  his 
lucubrations,  and  he  would  not  even  have  deigned  to  have 
looked  upon  the  active  scene  which  was  about  to  take  place, 
had  he  not  been  stimulated  thereunto  by  the  exhortations  of 
Mistress  Baby.  "  Pit  yoursell  forward,  man,"  said  that  provi- 
dent person — "  pit  yoursell  forward;  wha  kens  whare  a  bless- 
ing may  light  ?  They  say  that  a'  men  share  and  share  equals- 
aquals  in  the  creature's  ulzie,  and  a  pint  o't  wad  be  worth 
siller,  to  light  the  cruise  in  the  lang  dark  nights  that  they 
speak  of.  Pit  yoursell  forward,  man — there's  a  graip  to  ye — 
faint  heart  never  wan  fair  lady;  wha  kens  but  what,  when  it's 
fresh,  it  may  eat  weel  enough,  and  spare  butter?  " 

What  zeal  was  added  to  Triptolemus'  motions  by  the  pros- 
pect of  eating  fresh  train-oil  instead  of  butter,  we  know  not; 
but,  as  better  might  not  be,  he  brandished  the  rural  imple- 
ment (a  stable-fork)  with  which  he  was  armed,  and  went  down 
to  wage  battle  with  the  whale. 

The  situation  in  which  the  enemy's  ill  fate  had  placed  him 
was  particularly  favorable  to  the  enterprise  of  the  islanders. 
A  tide  of  unusual  height  had  carried  the  animal  over  a  large 
bar  of  sand,  into  the  voe  or  creek  in  which  he  was  now  lying. 
So  soon  as  he  found  the  water  ebbing,  he  became  sensible  of 
his  danger,  and  had  made  desperate  efforts  to  get  over  the 
shallow  water,  where  the  waves  broke  on  the  bar;  but  hitherto 
he  had  rather  injured  than  mended  his  condition,  having  got 
himself  partly  aground,  and  lying  therefore  particularly  ex- 
posed to  the  meditated  attack.  At  this  moment  the  enemy 
came  down  upon  him.  The  front  ranks  consisted  of  the 
young  and  hardy,  armed  in  the  miscellaneous  manner  we  have 


THE  PIRATE.  175 

described;  while,  to  witness  and  animate  their  efforts,  the 
young  women,  and  the  elderly  persons  of  both  sexes  took  their 
place  among  the  rocks  which  overhung  the  scene  of  action. 

As  the  boats  had  to  double  a  little  headland  ere  they  opened 
the  mouth  of  the  voe,  those  who  came  by  land  to  the  shores  of 
the  inlet  had  time  to  make  the  necessary  reconnoisances  upon 
the  force  and  situation  of  the  enemy,  on  whom  they  were 
about  to  commence  a  simultaneous  attack  by  land  and  sea. 

This  duty  the  stout-hearted  and  experienced  general,  for  so 
the  Udaller  might  be  termed,  would  entrust  to  no  eyes  but 
his  own;  and,  indeed,  his  external  appearance  and  his  sage 
conduct  rendered  him  alike  qualified  for  the  command  which 
he  enjoyed.  His  gold-laced  hat  was  exchanged  for  a  bearskin 
cap,  his  suit  of  blue  broadcloth,  with  its  scarlet  lining,  and 
loops,  and  frogs  of  bullion,  had  given  place  to  a  red  flannel 
jacket,  with  buttons  of  black  horn,  over  which  he  wore  a  seal- 
skin shirt  curiously  seamed  and  plaited  on  the  bosom,  such  as 
are  used  by  the  Esquimaux,  and  sometimes  by  the  Greenland 
whale-fishers.  Sea-boots  of  a  formidable  size  completed  his 
dress,  and  in  his  hand  he  held  a  large  whaling-knife,  which  he 
brandished,  as  if  impatient  to  employ  it  in  the  operation  of 
"  flinching  "  the  huge  animal  which  lay  before  them — that  is, 
the  act  oi  separating  its  flesh  from  its  bones.  Upon  closer 
examination,  however,  he  was  obliged  to  confess  that  the 
sport  to  which  he  had  conducted  his  friends,  however  much 
it  corresponded  with  the  magnificent  scale  of  his  hospitality, 
was  likely  to  be  attended  with  its  own  peculiar  dangers  and 
difficulties. 

The  animal,  upwards  of  sixty  feet  in  length,  was  lying  per- 
fectly still,  in  a  deep  part  of  the  voe  into  which  it  had  wel- 
tered, and  where  it  seemed  to  await  the  return  of  tide,  of 
which  it  was  probably  assured  by  instinct.  A  council  of  ex- 
perienced harpooners  was  instantly  called,  and  it  was  agreed 
that  an  effort  should  be  made  to  noose  the  tail  of  this  torpid 
leviathan,  by  casting  a  cable  around  it,  to  be  made  fast  by 
anchors  to  the  shore,  and  thus  to  secure  against  his  escape,  in 
case  the  tide  should  make  before  they  were  able  to  dispatch 
him.  Three  boats  were  destined  to  this  delicate  piece  of 
service,  one  of  which  the  Udaller  himself  proposed  to  com- 
mand, while  Cleveland  and  Mertoun  were  to  direct  the  two 
others.  This  being  decided,  they  sat  down  on  the  strand, 
waiting  with  impatience  until  the  naval  part  of  the  force 
should  arrive  in  the  voe.  It  was  during  this  interval  that 
Triptolemus  Yellowley,  after  measuring  with  liis  eyes  the  ex- 


176  WAVERLE7  NOVe^LS. 

traordinary  size  of  the  whale,  observed  that,  in  his  poor  mind, 
"  A  wain  with  six  owsen,  or  with  sixty  owsen  either,  if  they 
were  the  owsen  of  the  country,  could  not  drag  siccan  a  huge 
creature  from  the  water,  where  it  was  now  lying,  to  the  sea^ 
beach." 

Trifling  as  this  remark  may  seem  to  the  reader,  it  was  con- 
nected with  a  subject  which  always  fired  the  blood  of  the  old 
Udaller,  who,  glancing  upon  Triptolemus  a  quick  and  stem 
look,  asked  him  what  the  devil  it  signified,  supposing  a  hun- 
dred oxen  could  not  drag  the  whale  upon  the  beach?  Mr. 
Yellowley,  though  not  much  liking  the  tone  with  which  the 
question  was  put,  felt  that  his  dignity  and  his  profit  com- 
pelled him  to  answer  as  follows:  "■  Nay,  sir,  you  know  yoursell. 
Master  Magnus  Troil,  and  everyone  knows  that  knows  any- 
thing, that  whales  of  siccan  size  as  may  not  be  masterfully 
dragged  on  shore  by  the  instrumentality  of  one  wain  with  six 
owsen  are  the  right  and  property  of  the  admiral,  who  is  at 
this  time  the  same  noble  lord  who  is,  moreover,  chamberlain 
of  these  isles." 

"  And  I  tell  you,  Mr.  Triptolemus  Yellowley,"  said  the 
Udaller,  "  as  I  would  tell  your  master  if  he  were  here,  that 
every  man  who  risks  his  life  to  bring  that  fish  ashore  shall 
have  an  equal  share  and  partition,  according  to  our  ancient 
and  loveable  ISTorse  custom  and  wont;  nay,  if  there  is  so  much 
as  a  woman  looking  on,  that  will  but  touch  the  cable,  she  will 
be  partner  with  us;  aye,  and  more  than  all  that,  if  she  will 
but  say  there  is  a  reason  for  it,  we  will  assign  a  portion  to  the 
babe  that  is  unborn." 

The  strict  principle  of  equity  which  dictated  this  last  ar- 
rangement occasioned  laughter  among  the  men,  and  some 
slight  confusion  among  the  women.  The  factor,  however, 
thought  it  shame  to  be  so  easily  daunted.  "  '  Suum  cuique 
tribuito,' "  said  he:  "I  will  stand  for  my  lord's  right  and  my 
own." 

"Will  you?"  replied  Magnus;  "then,  by  the  Martyr's 
bones  you  shall  have  no  law  of  partition  but  that  of  God  and 
St.  Olave,  which  we  had  before  either  factor,  or  treasurer,  or 
chamberlain  were  heard  of!  All  shall  share  that  lend  a  hand, 
and  never  a  one  else.  So  you.  Master  Factor,  shall  be  busy  as 
well  as  other  folk,  and  think  yourself  lucky  to  share  like  other 
folk.  Jump  into  that  boat  (for  the  boats  had  by  this  time 
pulled  round  the  headland),  and  you.  my  lads,  make  way  for 
the  factor  in  the  stern-sheets:  he  shall  be  the  first  man  this 
blessed  day  that  shall  strike  the  fish." 


THE  PIE  ATE.  177 

The  loud,  authoritative  voice,  and  the  habit  of  absolute 
command  inferred  in  the  Udaller's  whole  manner,  together 
with  the  conscious  want  of  favorers  and  backers  amongst  the 
rest  of  the  company,  rendered  it  difficult  for  Triptolemus  to 
evade  compliance,  although  he  was  thus  about  to  be  placed 
in  a  situation  equally  novel  and  perilous.  He  was  still,  how- 
ever, hesitating,  and  attempting  an  explanation,  with  a  voice 
in  which  anger  was  qualified  by  fear,  and  both  thinly  dis- 
guised under  an  attempt  to  be  jocular,  and  to  represent  the 
whole  as  a  jest,  when  he  heard  the  voice  of  Baby  maundering 
in  his  ear,  "  Wad  he  lose  his  share  of  the  ulzie,  and  the  lang 
Zetland  winter  coming  on,  when  the  lightest  day  in  Decem- 
ber is  not  so  clear  as  a  moonless  night  in  the  Mearns?  " 

This  domestic  instigation,  in  addition  to  those  of  fear  of  the 
Udaller  and  shame  to  seem  less  courageous  than  others,  so 
inflamed  the  agriculturist's  spirits  that  he  shook  his  "  graij)  " 
aloft,  and  entered  the  boat  with  the  air  of  Neptune  himself, 
carrying  on  high  his  trident. 

The  three  boats  destined  for  this  perilous  service  now  ap- 
proached the  dark  mass,  which  lay  like  an  islet  in  the  deepest 
part  of  the  voe.  and  suffered  them  to  approach  without  show- 
ing any  sign  of  animation.  Silently,  and  with  such  precau- 
tion as  the  extreme  delicacy  of  the  operation  required,  the  in- 
trepid adventurers,  after  the  failure  of  their  first  attempt,  and 
the  expenditure  of  considerable  time,  succeeded  in  casting  a 
cable  around  the  body  of  the  torpid  monster,  and  in  caTr}'ing 
the  ends  of  it  ashore,  when  an  hundred  hands  were  instantly 
employed  in  securing  them.  But,  ere  this  was  accomplished, 
the  tide  began  to  make  fast,  and  the  Udaller  informed  his 
assistants  that  either  the  fish  miist  be  killed,  or  at  least  greatly 
wounded,  ere  the  depth  of  water  on  the  bar  was  sufficient  to 
float  him,  or  that  he  was  not  unlikely  to  escape  from  their 
joint  prowess. 

"  Wherefore,"  said  he,  "  we  must  set  to  work,  and  the  factor 
shall  have  the  honor  to  make  the  first  throw." 

The  valiant  Triptolemus  caught  the  word:  and  it  is  neces- 
sary to  say  that  the  patience  of  the  whale,  in  suffering  himself 
to  be  noosed  without  resistance,  had  abated  his  terrors,  and 
very  much  lowered  the  creature  in  his  opinion.  He  pro- 
tested the  fish  had  no  more  wit,  and  scarcely  more  activity, 
than  a  black  snail;  and.  influenced  by  this  undue  contempt  of 
the  adversary,  he  waited  neither  for  a  further  signal,  nor  a 
better  weapon,  nor  a  more  suitable  position,  but.  rising  in  his 
energy,  hurled  his  graip  with  all  his  force  against  the  unfor- 


178  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

tunate  monster.  The  boats  had  not  yet  retreated  from  him 
to  the  distance  necessaiy  to  insure  safety  when  this  injudi- 
cious commencement  of  the  war  took  place. 

Magnus  Troil,  who  had  only  jested  with  the  factor,  and 
had  reserved  tiie  launching  the  first  spear  against  the  whale 
to  some  much  more  skillful  hand,  had  just  time  to  exclaim, 
"  Mind  yourselves,  lads,  or  we  are  all  swamped!  "  when  the 
monster,  roused  at  once  from  inactivity  by  the  blow  of  the 
factor's  missile,  blew,  with  a  noise  resembling  the  explosion 
of  a  steam-engine,  a  huge  shower  of  water  into  the  air,  and  at 
the  same  time  began  to  lash  the  waves  with  his  tail  in  every 
direction.  The  boat  in  which  Magnus  presided  received  the 
shower  of  brine  which  the  animal  spouted  aloft;  and  the  ad- 
venturous Triptolemus,  who  had  a  full  share  of  the  immer- 
sion, was  so  much  astonished  and  terrified  by  the  conse- 
quences of  his  own  valorous  deed  that  he  tumbled  backward 
amongst  the  feet  of  the  people,  who,  too  busy  to  attend  to 
him,  were  actively  engaged  in  getting  the  boat  into  shoal 
water,  out  of  the  whale's  reach.  Here  he  lay  for  some 
minutes,  trampled  on  by  the  feet  of  the  boatmen,  until  they 
lay  on  their  oars  to  bale,  when  the  Udaller  ordered  them  to 
pull  to  shore  and  land  this  spare  hand,  who  had  commenced 
the  fishing  so  inauspiciously. 

"While  tliis  was  doing,  the  other  boats  had  also  pulled  off  to 
safer  distance,  and  now,  from  these  as  well  as  from  the  shore, 
the  unfortunate  native  of  the  deep  was  overwhelmed  by  all 
kinds  of  missiles:  harpoons  and  spears  flew  against  him  on  all 
sides,  guns  were  fired,  and  each  various  means  of  annoyance 
plied  which  could  excite  him  to  exhaust  his  strength  in  use- 
less rage.  When  the  animal  found  that  he  was  locked  in  by 
shallows  on  all  sides,  and  became  sensible,  at  the  same  time, 
of  the  strain  of  the  cable  on  his  body,  the  convulsive  efforts 
which  he  made  to  escape,  accompanied  with  sounds  resem- 
bling deep  and  loud  groans,  would  have  moved  the  compas- 
sion of  all  but  a  practiced  whale-fisher.  The  repeated 
showers  which  he  spouted  into  the  air  began  now  to  be 
mingled  with  blood,  and  the  waves  which  surrounded  him 
assumed  the  same  crimson  appearance.  Meantime,  the  at- 
tempts of  the  assailants  were  redoubled;  but  Mordaunt  Mer- 
toun  and  Cleveland,  in  particular,  exerted  themselves  to  the 
uttermost,  contending  who  should  display  most  courage  in 
approaching  the  monster,  so  tremendous  in  its  agonies,  and 
should  inflict  the  most  deep  and  deadly  wounds  upon  its  huge 
bulk. 


THE  PIRATE.  179 

The  contest  seemed  at  last  pretty  well  over;  for,  although 
the  animal  continued  from  time  to  time  to  make  frantic  exer- 
tions for  liberty,  yet  its  strength  appeared  so  much  exhausted, 
that,  even  with  the  assistance  of  the  tide,  which  had  now  risen 
considerably,  it  was  thought  it  could  scarcely  extricate  itself. 

Magnus  gave  the  signal  to  venture  nearer  to  the  whale,  call- 
ing out  at  the  same  time,  *'  Close  in,  lads,  he  is  not  half  so 
mad  now.  The  factor  may  look  for  a  winter's  oil  for  the  two 
lamps  at  Harfra.     Pull  close  in,  lads." 

Ere  his  orders  could  be  obeyed,  the  other  two  boats  had 
anticipated  his  purpose;  and  Mordaunt  Mertoun,  eager  to  dis- 
tinguish himself  above  Cleveland,  had,  with  the  whole 
strength  he  possessed,  plunged  a  half-pike  into  the  body  of 
the  animal.  But  the  leviathan,  like  a  nation  Mdiose  resources 
appear  totally  exhausted  by  previous  losses  and  calamities, 
collected  his  whole  remaining  force  for  an  effort  which  proved 
at  once  desperate  and  successful.  The  wound  last  received 
had  probably  reached  through  his  external  defenses  of  blub- 
ber, and  attained  some  very  sensitive  part  of  the  system;  for 
he  roared  aloud,  as  he  sent  to  the  sky  a  mingled  sheet  of  brine 
and  blood,  and  snapping  the  strong  cable  like  a  twig,  overset 
Mertoun's  boat  with  a  blow  of  his  tail,  shot  himself,  by  a 
mighty  effort,  over  the  bar,  upon  which  the  tide  had  now  risen 
considerably,  and  made  out  to  sea,  carrying  with  him  a  whole 
grove  of  the  implements  which  had  been  planted  in  his  body, 
and  leaving  behind  him,  on  the  waters,  a  dark  red  trace  of  his 
course. 

"  There  goes  to  sea  your  cruise  of  oil.  Master  Yellowley," 
said  Magnus,  "  and  you  must  consume  mutton  suet  or  go  to 
bed  in  the  dark." 

" '  Operam  et  oleum  perdidi,' "  muttered  Triptolemus; 
"  but  if  they  catch  me  whale-fishing  again,  I  will  consent  that 
the  fish  shall  swallow  me  as  he  did  Jonah." 

"But  where  is  Mordaunt  Mertoun  all  this  while?"  ex- 
claimed Claud  Halcro;  and  it  was  instantly  perceived  that  the 
youth,  who  had  been  stunned  when  his  boat  was  stove,  was 
unable  to  swim  to  shore  as  the  other  sailors  did,  and  now 
floated  senseless  upon  the  waves. 

We  have  noticed  the  strange  and  inhuman  prejudice  which 
rendered  the  Zetlanders  of  that  period  unwilling  to  assist 
those  whom  they  saw  in  the  act  of  drowning,  though  that  is 
the  calamity  to  which  the  islanders  are  most  frequently  ex- 
posed. Three  men,  however,  soared  above  this  superstition. 
The  first  was  Claud  Halcro,  who  threw  himself  from  a  small 


180  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

rock  hea"dlong  into  the  waves,  forgetting,  as  he  himself  after- 
ward stated,  that  he  could  not  swim,  and,  if  possessed  of  the 
harp  of  Arion,  had  no  dolphins  in  attendance.  The  first 
plunge  which  the  poet  made  in  deep  water  reminding  him  of 
these  deficiencies,  he  was  fain  to  cling  to  the  rock  from  which 
he  had  dived,  and  was  at  length  glad  to  regain  the  shore,  at 
the  expense  of  a  ducking. 

Magnus  Troil,  whose  honest  heart  forgot  his  late  coolness 
toward  Mordaunt  when  he  saw  the  youth's  danger,  would  in- 
stantly have  brought  him  more  effectual  aid,  but  Eric  Scam- 
best«r  held  him  fast. 

•'  Hout,  sir — hout,"  exclaimed  that  faithful  attendant, 
"  Captain  Cleveland  has  a  grip  of  Mr.  Mordaunt;  just  let  the 
twa  strangers  help  ilk  other,  and  stand  by  the  upshot.  The 
light  of  the  country  is  not  to  be  quenched  for  the  like  of 
them.  Bide  still,  sir,  I  say.  Bredness  Voe  is  not  a  bowl  of 
punch,  that  a  man  can  be  fished  out  of  like  a  toast  with  a 
long  spoon." 

This  sage  remonstrance  would  have  been  altogether  lost 
upon  Magnus  had  he  not  observed  that  Cleveland  had,  in 
fact,  jumped  out  of  the  boat  and  swum  to  Mertoun's  assist- 
ance, and  was  keeping  him  afloat  till  the  boat  came  to  the  aid 
of  both.  As  soon  as  the  immediate  danger  which  called  so 
loudly  for  assistance  was  thus  ended,  the  honest  Udaller's 
desire  to  render  aid  terminated  also;  and  recollecting  the 
cause  of  offense  which  he  had,  or  thought  he  had,  against 
Mordaunt  Mertoun,  he  shook  off  his  butler's  hold,  and  turn- 
ing round  scornfully  from  the  beach,  called  Eric  an  old  fool 
for  supposing  that  he  cared  whether  the  young  fellow  sank 
or  swam. 

Still,  however,  amid  his  assumed  indifference,  Magnus 
could  not  help  peeping  over  the  heads  of  the  circle  which, 
surrounding  Mordaunt  as  soon  as  he  was  brought  on  shore, 
were  charitably  employed  in  endeavoring  to  recall  him  to  life; 
and  he  was  not  able  to  attain  the  appearance  of  absolute  un- 
concern until  the  young  man  sat  up  on  the  beach  and  showed 
plainly  that  the  accident  had  been  attended  with  no  material 
consequences.  It  was  then  first  that,  cursing  the  assistants 
for  not  giving  the  lad  a  glass  of  brandy,  he  walked  sullenly 
away,  as  if  totally  unconcerned  in  his  fate. 

The  women,  alwavs  accurate  in  observing  the  tell-tale  emo- 
tions of  each  other,  failed  not  to  remark  that,  when  the  sisters 
of  Burgh-Westra  saw  Mordaunt  immersed  in  the  waves, 
Minna  grew  as  pale  as  death,  while  Brenda  uttered  successive 


THE  PIRATE.  181 

shrieks  of  terror.  But,  though  there  were  some  nods,  winks, 
and  hints  that  auld  acquaintance  were  not  easily  forgot,  it 
was,  on  the  whole,  candidly  admitted  that  less  than  such 
marks  of  interest  could  scarce  have  been  expected  when  they 
saw  the  companion  of  their  early  youth  in  the  act  of  perish- 
ing before  their  eyes. 

Whatever  interest  Mordaunt's  condition  excited  while  it 
seemed  perilous,  began  to  abate  as  he  recovered  himself;  and 
when  his  senses  were  fully  restored,  only  Claud  Halcro,  with 
two  or  three  others,  were  standing  by  him.  About  ten  paces 
off  stood  Cleveland — his  hair  and  clothes  dropping  water, 
and  his  features  wearing  so  peculiar  an  expression  as  imme- 
diately to  arrest  the  attention  of  Mordaunt.  There  was  a 
suppressed  smile  on  his  cheek,  and  a  look  of  pride  in  his  eye, 
that  implied  liberation  from  a  painful  restraint,  and  some- 
thing resembling  gratified  scorn.  Claud  Halcro  hastened  to 
intimate  to  Mordaunt  that  he  owed  his  life  to  Cleveland;  and 
the  youth,  rising  from  the  ground,  and  losing  all  other  feel- 
ings in  those  of  gratitude,  stepped  forward  with  his  hand 
stretched  out,  to  offer  his  warmest  thanks  to  his  preserver. 
But  he  stopped  short  in  surprise,  as  Cleveland,  retreating  a 
pace  or  two,  folded  his  arms  on  his  breast  and  declined  to  ac- 
cept his  proffered  hand.  He  drew  back  in  turn,  and  gazed 
with  astonishment  at  the  ungracious  manner,  and  almost  in- 
sulting look,  with  which  Cleveland,  who  had  formerly  rather 
expressed  a  frank  cordiality,  or  at  least  openness  of  bearing, 
now,  after  having  thus  rendered  him  a  most  important  .-ervicc, 
chose  to  receive  his  thanks. 

"  It  is  enough,"  said  Cleveland,  obsenang  his  surprise, 
"  and  it  is  unnecessary  to  say  more  about  it.  I  have  paid 
back  my  debt,  and  we  are  now  equal." 

"  You  are  more  than  equal  with  me.  Captain  Cleveland," 
answered  ^lertoun,  "  because  you  endangered  your  life  to  do 
for  me  what  I  did  for  you  without  the  slightest  risk;  besides," 
he  added,  tr}-ing  to  give  the  discourse  a  more  pleasant  turn, 
"  I  have  your  rifle-gun  to  boot." 

"  Cowards  only  count  danger  for  any  point  of  the  game," 
said  Cleveland.  "  Danger  has  been  my  consort  for  life,  and 
sailed  with  me  on  a  thousand  worse  voyages;  and  for  rifles,  I 
have  enough  of  my  own,  and  you  may  see,  when  you  will, 
which  can  use  them  best." 

There  was  something  in  the  tone  with  which  this  was  said 
that  struck  Mordaunt  strongly:  it  was  "  miching  malicho," 
as  Hamlet  says,  "  and  meant  mischief."     Cleveland  saw  his 


182  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

surprise,  came  close  up  to  him,  and  spoke  in  a  low  tone  of 
voice:  "Hark  ye,  my  young  brother.  There  is  a  custom 
among  us  gentlemen  of  fortune,  that,  when  we  follow  the 
same  chase,  and  take  the  wind  out  of  each  other's  sails,  we 
think  sixty  yards  of  the  sea-beach  and  a  brace  of  rifles  are  no 
bad  way  of  making  our  odds  even." 

"  I  do  not  understand  you,  Captain  Cleveland,"  said  Mor- 
daunt. 

"  I  do  not  suppose  you  do — I  did  not  suppose  you  would," 
said  the  captain;  and,  turning  on  his  heel,  with  a  smile  that 
resembled  a  sneer,  Mordaunt  saw  him  mingle  with  the  guests, 
and  very  soon  beheld  him  at  the  side  of  Minna,  who  was  talk- 
ing to  him  with  animated  features,  that  seemed  to  thank  him 
for  his  gallant  and  generous  conduct. 

"  If  it  were  not  for  Brenda,"  thought  Mordaunt,  "  I  al- 
most wish  he  had  left  me  in  the  voe,  for  no  one  seems  to  care 
whether  I  am  alive  or  dead.  Two  rifles  and  sixty  yards  of 
sea-beach — is  that  what  he  points  at?  It  may  come;  but  not 
on  the  day  he  has  saved  my  life  with  risk  of  his  own." 

While  he  was  thus  musing,  Eric  Scambester  was  whispering 
to  Halcro,  "  If  tliese  two  lads  do  not  do  each  other  a  mis- 
chief, there  is  no  faith  in  freits.  Master  Mordaunt  saves 
Cleveland — well.  Cleveland,  in  requital,  has  turned  all  the 
sunshine  of  Burgh- Westra  to  his  own  side  of  the  house;  and 
think  what  it  is  to  lose  favor  in  such  a  house  as  this,  where 
the  punch-kettle  is  never  allowed  to  cool!  Well,  now  that 
Cleveland  in  his  turn  has  been  such  a  fool  as  to  fish  Mordaunt 
out  of  the  voe,  see  if  he  does  not  give  him  sour  sillocks  for 
stock-fish." 

"  Pshaw — pshaw! "  replied  the  poet,  "  that  is  all  old 
women's  fancies,  my  friend  Eric;  for  what  says  glorious  Dry- 
den — sainted  John: 

"  The  yellow  gall  that  in  your  bosom  floats 
Engenders  all  these  melancholy  thoughts." 


"  St.  John,  or  St.  James  either,  may  be  mistaken  in  the 
matter,"  said  Eric;  "  for  I  think  neither  of  them  lived  in  Zet- 
land. I  only  say  that,  if  there  is  faith  in  old  saws,  these  two 
lads  will  do  each  other  a  mischief;  and  if  they  do,  I  trust  it 
will  light  on  Mordaunt  Mertoun." 

"  And  why,  Eric  Scambester,"  said  Halcro  hastily  and 
angrily,  "  should  you  wish  ill  to  that  poor  young  man,  that  is 
worth  fifty  of  the  other?  " 


THE  PIRATE.  183 

"  Let  everyone  roose  the  ford  as  he  finds  it,"  replied  Eric. 
*'  Master  Mordaunt  is  all  for  wan  water,  like  his  old  dog-fish 
of  a  father;  now  Captain  Cleveland,  d'ye  see,  takes  his  glass, 
like  an  honest  fellow  and  a  gentleman." 

'•'  Rightly  reasoned,  and  in  thine  own  division,"  said  Hal- 
ero;  and,  breaking  off  their  conversation,  took  his  way  back 
to  Burgh- Westra,  to  which  the  guests  of  Magnus  were  now 
returning,  discussing  as  they  went,  with  much  animation,  the 
various  incidents  of  their  attack  upon  the  whale,  and  not  a 
little  scandalized  that  it  should  have  baffled  all  their  exertions. 

"  I  hope  Captain  Donderdrecht  of  the  '  Eintracht '  of 
Rotterdam  will  never  hear  of  it,"  said  Magnus;  "  he  would 
swear,  donner  and  blitzen,  we  were  only  fit  to  fish  flounders."  * 

♦  The  contest  about  the  whale  will  remind  the  poetical  reader  of  Waller's  "Battle  of 
the  Sommer  Islands.'' 


CHAPTEE  XVIII. 

And  helter-skelter  have  I  rode  to  thee, 
And  tidings  do  I  bring,  and  lucky  joys, 
And  golden  times,  and  happy  news  of  price. 

— Ancient  Pistol. 

Fortune,  who  seems  at  times  to  bear  a  conscience,  owed 
the  hospitable  Udaller  some  amends,  and  accordingly  repaid 
to  Burgh-Westra  the  disappointment  occasioned  by  the  un- 
successful whale-fishing  by  sending  tliither,  on  the  evening 
of  the  day  in  which  that  incident  happened,  no  less  a  person 
than  the  jagger,  or  traveling  merchant,  as  he  styled  himself. 
Bryce  Snailsfoot,  who  arrived  in  great  pomp,  himself  on  one 
pony,  and  his  pack  of  goods,  swelled  to  nearly  double  its  usual 
Bize,  forming  the  burden  of  another,  which  was  led  by  a  bare- 
headed, bare-legged  boy. 

As  Bryce  announced  himself  the  bearer  of  important  news, 
he  was  introduced  to  the  dining  apartment,  where  (for  that 
primitive  age  was  no  respecter  of  persons)  he  was  permit- 
ted to  sit  down  at  a  side-table,  and  amply  supplied  with  pro- 
visions and  good  liquor;  while  the  attentive  hospitality  of 
Magnus  permitted  no  questions  to  be  put  to  him,  until,  his 
hunger  and  thirst  appeased,  he  announced,  with  the  sense  of 
importance  attached  to  distant  travels,  that  he  had  just  yester- 
day arrived  at  Lerwick  from  Kirkwall,  the  capital  of  Orkney, 
and  would  have  been  here  yesterday,  but  it  blew  hard  off  the 
Fitful  Head. 

"  We  had  no  wind  here,"  said  Magnus. 

"  There  is  somebody  has  not  been  sleeping,  then,"  said  the 
peddler,  "  and  her  name  begins  with  IST;  but  Heaven  is  above 
all." 

"  But  the  news  from  Orkney,  Bryce,  instead  of  croaking 
about  a  capful  of  wind  ?  " 

"  Such  news,"  replied  Bryce,  "  as  has  not  been  heard  this 
thirty  years — not  since  Cromwell's  time." 

"There  is  not  another  revolution,  is  there?"  said  Halero; 
"  King  James  has  not  come  back,  as  blithe  as  King  Charlie 
did,  has  he?" 

"  It's  news,"  replied  the  peddler,  '*'  that  are  worth  twenty 

184 


THE  PIRATE.  185 

kings,  and  kingdoms  to  boot  of  them;  for  what  good  did  the 
revolutions  ever  do  us?  and  I  dare  say  we  have  seen  a  dozen, 
great  and  sma'." 

"Are  any  Indiamen  come  north  about?"  said  Magnus 
Troil. 

"  Ye  are  nearer  the  mark,  fowd,"  said  the  jagger;  "  but  it 
is  nae  Indiaman,  but  a  gallant  armed  vessel,  chokeful  of  mer- 
chandise, that  they  part  with  so  easy  that  a  decent  man  like 
mysell  can  afford  to  give  the  country  the  best  pennyworths 
you  ever  saw;  and  that  you  will  say  when  I  open  that  pack, 
for  I  count  to  carry  it  back  another  sort  lighter  than  when 
I  brought  it  here." 

"  Aye — aye,  Bryce,"  said  the  Udaller,  "  you  must  have  had 
good  bargains  if  you  sell  cheap;  but  what  ship  was  it?  " 

"  Cannot  justly  say.  I  spoke  to  nobody  but  the  captain, 
who  was  a  discreet  man;  but  she  had  been  down  on  the  Span- 
ish Main,  for  she  has  silks  and  satins,  and  tobacco,  I  war- 
rant you,  and  wine,  and  no  lack  of  sugar,  and  bonnie-wallies 
baith  of  silver  and  gowd,  and  a  bonny  dredging  of  gold  dust 
into  the  bargain." 

"  What  like  was  she?  "  said  Cleveland,  who  seemed  to  give 
much  attention. 

"  A  stout  ship,"  said  the  itinerant  merchant,  "  schooner- 
rigged,  sails  like  a  dolphin,  they  say,  carries  twelve  guns,  and 
is  pierced  for  twenty." 

"  Did  you  hear  the  captain's  name?  "  said  Cleveland,  speak- 
ing rather  lower  than  his  usual  tone. 

"  I  just  ca'd  him  the  captain,"  replied  Bryce  Snailsfoot; 
"  for  I  make  it  a  rule  never  to  ask  questions  of  them  I  deal 
with  in  the  way  of  trade;  for  there  is  many  an  honest  cap- 
tain, begging  your  pardon.  Captain  Cleveland,  that  does  not 
care  to  have  his  name  tacked  to  his  title;  and  as  lang  as  we 
ken  what  bargains  we  are  making,  what  signifies  it  wha  we 
are  making  them  wi',  ye  ken  ?  " 

"  Bryce  Snailsfoot  is  a  cautious  man,"  said  the  Udaller, 
laughing:  "  he  knows  a  fool  may  ask  more  questions  than  a 
wise  man  cares  to  answer." 

"  I  have  dealt  with  the  fair  traders  in  my  day,"  replied 
Snailsfoot,  "  and  I  ken  nae  use  in  blurting  braid  out  with  a 
man's  name  at  every  moment;  but  I  will  uphold  this  gentle- 
man to  be  a  gallant  commander — aye,  and  a  kind  one  too;  for 
ever}'  one  of  his  crew  is  as  brave  in  apparel  as  himself  nearly: 
the  very  foremast-men  have  their  silken  scarfs — I  have  seen 
many  a  lady  wear  a  warse,  and  think  hersell  nae  sma'  drink — 


186  WAVE  RLE  Y  NOVELS. 

and  for  siller  buttons,  and  buckles,  and  the  lave  of  sic  vani- 
ties, there  is  nae  end  of  them." 

"  Idiots ! "  muttered  Cleveland  between  his  teeth ;  and 
then  added,  "  I  suppose  they  are  often  ashore,  to  show  all 
thoir  bravery  to  the  lasses  of  Kirkwall  ?" 

"  Ne'er  a  bit  of  that  are  they.  The  captaiu  will  scarce  let 
them  stir  ashore  without  the  boatswain  go  in  the  boat — as 
rough  a  tarpaulin  as  ever  swabb'd  a  deck,  and  you  may  as 
weel  catch  a  cat  without  her  claws  as  him  without  his  cutlas.s 
and  his  double  brace  of  pistols  about  him;  every  man  stands 
as  much  in  awe  of  him  as  of  the  commander  himsell." 
"  That  must  be  Hawkins,  or  the  devil,"  said  Cleveland. 
"  Aweel,  captain,"  replied  the  jagger,  "  be  he  the  tane  or 
-'-.he  tither,  or  a  wee  bit  o'  baith,  mind  it  is  you  that  give  him 
•hese  names,  and  not  I." 

"  Why,  Captain  Cleveland,"  said  the  Udaller,  •'  this  may 
"^rove  the  very  consort  you  spoke  of." 

*'  They  must  have  had  some  good  luck,  then,"  said  Cleve- 
land, "  to  put  them  in  better  plight  than  when.  I  left  them. 
Did  they  speak  of  having  lost  their  consort,  peddler?  " 

"  In  troth  did  they,"  said  Bryce;  "  that  is,  they  said  some- 
thing about  a  partner  that  had  gone  down  to  Davie  Jones  in 
these  seas." 

"  And  did  you  tell  them  what  you  knew  of  her?  "  said  the 
Udaller. 

"  And  wha  the  deevil  wad  hae  been  the  fule,  then,"  said  the 
peddler,  "that  I  should  say  sae?  When  they  kenn'd  what 
came  of  the  ship,  the  next  question  wad  have  been  about  the 
cargo;  and  ye  wad  not  have  had  me  bring  down  an  armed 
vessel  on  the  coast  to  harrie  the  poor  folk  about  a  wheen  rags 
of  duds  that  the  sea  flung  upon  their  shores !"  "* 

"  Besides  what  might  have  been  found  in  your  own  pack, 
you  scoundrel!  "  said  Magnus  Troil — an  observation  which 
produced  a  loud  laugh.  The  Udaller  could  not  help  joining 
in  the  hilarity  which  applauded  his  jest;  but,  instantly  com- 
posing his  countenance,  he  said,  in  an  unusually  grave  tone, 
"  You  may  laugh,  my  friends;  but  this  is  a  matter  which 
brings  both  a  curse  and  a  shame  on  the  country;  and  till  we 
learn  to  regard  the  rights  of  them  that  suffer  by  the  winds  and 
waves,  we  shall  deserve  to  be  oppressed  and  hag-ridden,  as  we 
have  been  and  are,  by  the  superior  strength  of  the  strangers 
who  rule  us." 

The  company  hung  their  heads  at  the  rebuke  of  Magnus 
Troll.     Perhaps  some,  even  of  the  better  class,  might  be  con- 


THE  PIRATE.  187 

science-struck  on  their  own  account;  and  all  of  them  were 
sensible  that  the  appetite  for  plunder,  on  the  part  of  the  ten- 
ants and  inferiors,  was  not  at  all  times  restrained  with  suffi- 
cient strictness.  But  Cleveland  made  answer  gayly,  "  If  these 
honest  fellows  be  my  comrades,  I  will  answer  for  them  that 
they  will  never  trouble  the  country  about  a  parcel  of  chests, 
hammocks,  and  such  trumpery  that  the  Roost  may  have 
washed  ashore  out  of  my  poor  sloop.  What  signifies  to  them 
whether  the  trash  went  to  Bryce  Snailsfoot,  or  to  the  bottom, 
or  to  the  devil?  So  unbuckle  thy  pack,  Bryce,  and  show  the 
ladies  thy  cargo,  and  perhaps  we  may  see  something  that  will 
please  them." 

"  It  cannot  be  his  consort,"  said  Brenda,  in  a  whisper  to  her 
sister;  "  he  would  have  shown  more  joy  at  her  appearance." 

"It  must  be  the  vessel,"  answered  iMinna;  "I  saw  liis  eye 
glisten  at  the  thought  of  being  again  united  to  the  partner  of 
his  dangers." 

"  Perhaps  it  glistened,"  said  her  sister,  still  apart,  "  at  the 
thought  of  leaving  Zetland;  it  is  difficult  to  guess  the  thought 
of  the  heart  from  the  glance  of  the  eye." 

"  Judge  not,  at  least  unkindly,  of  a  friend's  thought,"  said 
Minna;  "  and  then,  Brenda,  if  you  are  mistaken,  the  fault 
rests  not  with  you." 

During  this  dialogue,  Bryce  Snailsfoot  was  busied  in  un- 
coiling the  carefully  arranged  cordage  of  his  pack,  which 
amounted  to  six  good  yards  of  dressed  sealskin,  curiously  com- 
plicated and  secured  by  all  manner  of  knots  and  buckles.  He 
was  considerably  interrupted  in  the  task  by  the  Udaller  and 
others,  who  pressed  him  with  questions  respecting  the  stranger 
vessel. 

"Were  the  officers  often  ashore?  and  how  were  they  re- 
ceived by  the  people  of  Kirkwall  ?  "  said  Magnus  Troil. 

"  Excellently  well,"  answered  Brj'ce  Snailsfoot;  "  and  the 
captain  and  one  or  two  of  his  men  had  been  at  some  of  the 
vanities  and  dances  which  went  forward  in  the  town;  but 
there  had  been  some  word  about  customs,  or  king's  duties,  or 
the  like,  and  some  of  the  higher  folk,  that  took  upon  them  as 
magistrates,  or  the  like,  had  had  words  with  the  captain,  and 
he  refused  to  satisfy  them;  and  then  it  is  like  he  was  more 
coldly  looked  on,  and  he  spoke  of  carrying  the  ship  round  to 
Stromness,  or  the  Langhope,  for  she  lay  under  the  guns  of  the 
battery  at  Kirkwall.  But  he  (Br\'ce)  thought  she  wad  bide 
at  Kirkwall  till  the  summer  fair  was  over,  for  all  that." 

"  The  Orkney  gentry,"  said  Magnus  Troil,  "  are  always  in  a 


188  WA  VERLEY  NO  VEL8. 

hurry  to  draw  the  Scotch  collar  tighter  round  their  own  necks. 
Is  it  not  enough  that  we  must  pay  '  scat '  and  '  wattle," 
which  were  all  the  public  dues  under  our  old  Norse  govern- 
ment; but  must  they  come  over  us  with  king's  dues  and  cus- 
toms besides?  It  is  the  part  of  an  honest  man  to  resist  these 
things.  I  have  done  so  all  my  life,  and  will  do  so  to  the  end 
of  it." 

There  was  a  loud  jubilee  and  shout  of  applause  among  the 
guests,  who  were  (some  of  them  at  least)  better  pleased  with 
Magnus  Troll's  latitudinarian  principles  with  respect  to  the 
public  revenue  (which  were  extremely  natural  to  those  living 
in  so  secluded  a  situation,  and  subjected  to  many  additional 
exactions)  than  they  had  been  with  the  rigor  of  his  judgment 
on  the  subject  of  wrecked  goods.  But  Minna's  inexperienced 
feelings  carried  her  farther  than  her  father,  while  she  whis- 
pered to  Brenda,  not  unheard  by  Cleveland,  that  the  tame 
spirit  of  the  Orcadians  had  missed  every  chance  which  late 
incidents  had  given  them  to  emancipate  these  islands  from  the 
Scottish  voke. 

"  Why,"  she  said,  "  should  we  not,  under  so  many  changes 
as  late  times  have  introduced,  have  seized  the  opportunity  to 
shake  off  an  allegiance  which  is  not  justly  due  from  us,  and  to 
return  to  the  protection  of  Denmark,  our  parent  country? 
Why  should  we  yet  hesitate  to  do  this,  but  that  the  gentry  of 
Orkney  have  mixed  families  and  friendship  so  much  with  our 
invaders  that  they  have  become  dead  to  the  throb  of  the 
heroic  Norse  blood  which  they  derived  from  their  ancestors?  " 

The  latter  part  of  this  patriotic  speech  happened  to  reach 
the  astonished  ears  of  our  friend  Triptolemus,  who,  having  a 
sincere  devotion  for  the  Protestant  succession,  and  the  Eevo- 
lution  as  established,  was  surprised  into  the  ejaculation,  "  As 
the  old  cock  crows  the  young  cock  learns — hen,  I  should  say, 
mistress,  and  I  crave  your  pardon  if  I  say  anything  amiss  in 
either  gender.  But  it  is  a  happy  country  where  the  father 
declares  against  the  king's  customs,  and  the  daughter  against 
the  king's  crown!  and,  in  my  judgment,  it  can  end  in  naething 
but  trees  and  tows." 

"  Trees  are  scarce  among  us,"  said  Magnus;  "  and  for  ropes, 
we  need  them  for  our  rigging,  and  cannot  spare  them  to  be 
shirt-collars." 

"  And  whoever,"  said  the  captain,  "  takes  umbrage  at  what 
this  young  lady  says  had  better  keep  his  ears  and  tongue  for 
a  safer  employment  than  such  an  adventure." 

"  Aye — aye,"  said  Triptolemus,  "  it  helps  the  matter  much 


THE  PIRATE.  189 

to  speak  truths  whilk  are  as  unwelcome  to  a  proud  stomach  as 
wet  clover  to  a  cow's,  in  a  land  where  lads  are  ready  to  draw 
the  whittle  if  a  lassie  but  looks  awry.  But  what  manners  are 
to  be  expected  in  a  country  where  folk  call  a  pleugh-sock  a 
markal?" 

"  Hark  ye,  Master  Yellowley,"  said  the  captain,  smiling,  "  I 
hope  my  manners  are  not  among  those  abuses  which  you  come 
hither  to  reform;  any  experiment  on  them  may  be  dangerous." 

"  As  well  as  difficult,"  said  Triptolemus  dryly;  ''  but  fear 
nothing,  Captain  Cleveland,  from  my  remonstrances.  My 
labors  regard  the  men  and  things  of  the  earth,  and  not  the 
men  and  things  of  the  sea:  you  are  not  of  my  element." 

"  Let  us  be  friends,  then,  old  clod-compeller,"  said  the 
captain. 

"  Clod-compeller!  "  said  the  agriculturist,  bethinking  him- 
self of  the  lore  of  his  earlier  days.  "  Clod-compeller  pro 
cloud-compeller,  vf^cAT/ypeVa  Zeus — GrcBcum  est;  in  which 
voyage  came  you  by  that  phrase?  " 

"  I  have  traveled  books  as  well  as  seas  in  my  day,"  said  the 
captain;  "  but  my  last  voyages  have  been  of  a  sort  to  make  me 
forget  my  early  cruises  through  classic  knowledge.  But  come 
here,  Bryce;  hast  cast  off  the  lasliing?  Come  all  hands,  and 
let  us  see  if  he  has  aught  in  his  cargo  that  is  worth  looking 
upon." 

With  a  proud,  and  at  the  same  time  a  wily,  smile  did  the 
crafty  peddler  display  a  collection  of  wares  far  superior  to 
those  which  usually  filled  his  packages,  and,  in  particular, 
some  stuffs  and  embroideries  of  such  beauty  and  curiosity, 
fringed,  flowered,  and  worked,  with  such  art  and  magnifi- 
cence, upon  foreign  and  arabesque  patterns,  that  the  sight 
might  have  dazzled  a  far  more  brilliant  company  than  the 
simple  race  of  Thule.  All  beheld  and  admired,  while  Mis- 
tress Baby  Yellowley,  holding  up  her  hands,  protested  it  was 
a  sin  even  to  look  upon  such  extravagance,  and  worse  than 
murder  so  much  as  to  ask  the  price  of  them. 

Others,  however,  were  more  courageous:  and  the  prices  de- 
manded by  the  merchant,  if  they  were  not,  as  he  himself 
declared,  something  just  more  than  nothing,  short  only  of  an 
absolute  free  gift  of  his  wares,  were  nevertheless  so  moderate 
as  to  show  that  he  himself  must  have  made  an  easy  acquisition 
of  the  goods,  judging  by  the  rate  at  which  he  offered  to  pari; 
with  them.  Accordingly,  the  cheapness  of  the  articles  cre- 
ated a  rapid  sale;  for  in  Zetland,  as  well  as  elsewhere,  wise 
lolk  buy  more  from  the  prudential  desire  to  secure  a  good  bar- 


100  WAVEULEY  liOVELS. 

gain  than  from  any  real  occasion  for  the  purchase.  The  lady 
Glowrowrum  boufi^ht  seven  petticoats  and  twelve  stomachers 
on  this  sole  principle,  and  other  matrons  present  rivaled  her 
in  this  sagacious  species  of  econom_y.  The  Udaller  was  also 
a  considerable  purchaser;  but  the  principal  customer  for  what- 
ever could  please  the  eye  of  beauty  was  the  gallant  Captain 
Cleveland,  who  rummaged  the  jagger's  stores  in  selecting 
presents  for  the  ladies  of  the  party,  in  which  Minna  and 
Brenda  Troil  were  especially  remembered. 

"  I  fear,"  said  Magnus  Troil,  "  that  the  young  women  are 
to  consider  these  pretty  presents  as  keepsakes,  and  that  all 
this  liberality  is  only  a  sure  sign  we  are  soon  to  lose  you?  " 

This  question  seemed  to  embarrass  him  to  whom  it  was  put. 

"  I  scarce  know,"  he  said  with  some  hesitation,  "  whether 
this  vessel  is  my  consort  or  no;  I  must  take  a  trip  to  Kirk- 
wall to  make  sure  of  that  matter,  and  then  I  hope  to  return  to 
Dunrossness  to  bid  you  all  farewell." 

"  In  that  case,"  said  the  Udaller,  after  a  moment's  pause, 
"  I  think  I  may  carry  you  thither.  I  should  be  at  the  Kirk- 
wall fair,  to  settle  with  the  merchants  I  have  consigned  my 
fish  to,  and  I  have  often  promised  Minna  and  Brenda  that 
they  should  see  the  fair.  Perhaps  also  your  consort,  or  these 
strangers,  whoever  they  be,  may  have  some  merchandise  that 
will  suit  me.  I  love  to  see  my  rigging-loft  well  stocked  with 
goods,  almost  as  much  as  to  see  it  full  of  dancers.  We  will 
go  to  Orkney  in  my  own  brig,  and  I  can  offer  you  a  hammock, 
if  you  will." 

The  offer  seemed  so  acceptable  to  Cleveland  that,  after 
pouring  himself  forth  in  thanks,  he  seemed  detennined  to 
mark  his  joy  by  exhausting  Bryce  Snailsfoot's  treasures  in 
liberality  to  the  company.  The  contents  of  a  purse  of  gold 
were  transferred  to  the  jagger,  with  a  facility  and  indifference 
on  the  part  of  its  former  owner  which  argued  either  the 
greatest  profusion  or  consciousness  of  superior  and  inexhaust- 
ible wealth;  so  that  Baby  whispered  to  her  brother  that,  "  If 
he  could  afford  to  fling  away  money  at  this  rate,  the  lad  had 
made  a  better  voyage  in  a  broken  ship  than  all  the  skippers 
of  Dundee  had  made  in  their  haill  anes  for  a  twelvemonth 
past." 

But  the  angry  feeling  in  which  she  made  this  remark  was 
much  mollified  when  Cleveland,  whose  object  it  seemed  that 
evening  to  be  to  buy  golden  opinions  of  all  sorts  of  men, 
approached  her  with  a  garment  somewhat  resembling  in  shape 
the  Scottish  plaid,  but  woven  of  a  sort  of  wool  so  soft  that  it 


THE  PIRATE.  191 

felt  to  the  touch  as  if  it  were  composed  of  eider-down. 
"  This,"  he  said,  "  was  a  part  of  a  Spanish  lady's  dress,  called 
a  '  mantilla ';  as  it  would  exactly  lit  the  size  of  Mrs.  Baby 
Yellowley,  and  was  very  well  suited  for  the  fogs  of  the  climato 
of  Zetland,  he  entreated  her  to  wear  it  for  his  sake."  Tlie 
lady,  with  as  much  condescending  sweetness  as  her  counte- 
nance was  able  to  express,  not  only  consented  to  receive  this 
mark  of  gallantry,  but  permitted  the  donor  to  arrange  the 
mantilla  upon  her  projecting  and  bony  shoulder-blades, 
where,  said  Claud  Halcro,  "  It  hung,  for  all  the  world,  as  if 
it  had  been  stretched  betwixt  a  couple  of  cloak-pins." 

While  the  captain  was  performing  this  piece  of  courtesy, 
much  to  the  entertainment  of  the  company,  which,  it  may  be 
presumed,  was  his  principal  object  from  the  beginning.  Mor- 
daunt  Mertoun  made  purchase  of  a  small  golden  chaplet,  with 
the  private  intention  of  presenting  it  to  Brenda,  when  he 
should  find  an  opportunity.  The  price  was  fixed,  and  the 
article  laid  aside.  Claud  Halcro  also  showed  some  desire  of 
possessing  a  silver  box  of  antique  shape,  for  depositing  to- 
bacco, which  he  was  in  the  habit  of  using  in  considerable 
quantity.  But  the  bard  seldom  had  current  coin  in  prompti- 
tude, and,  indeed,  in  his  wandering  way  of  life,  had  little 
occasion  for  any;  and  Bryce,  on  the  other  hand,  his  having 
been  hitherto  a  ready-money  trade,  protested  that  his  very 
moderate  profits  upon  such  rare  and  choice  articles  would  not 
allow  of  his  affording  credit  to  the  purchase.  Mo  r daunt 
gathered  the  import  of  this  conversation  from  the  mode  in 
which  they  whispered  together,  while  the  bard  seemed  to 
advance  a  wistful  finger  toward  the  box  in  question,  and  the 
cautious  peddler  detained  it  with  the  weight  of  his  whole 
hand,  as  if  he  had  been  afraid  it  would  literally  make  itself 
wings  and  fly  into  Claud  Halcro's  pocket.  Mordaunt  Mer- 
toun at  this  moment,  desirous  to  gratify  an  old  acquaintance, 
laid  the  price  of  the  box  on  the  table,  and  said  he  would  not 
permit  Master  Halcro  to  purchase  that  box,  as  he  had  settled 
in  his  own  mind  to  make  him  a  present  of  it. 

"  I  cannot  think  of  robbing  you,  my  dear  young  friend," 
said  the  poet;  "  but  the  truth  is,  that  that  siame  box  does  re- 
mind me  strangely  of  glorious  John's,  out  of  which  I  had  the 
honor  to  take  a  pinch  at  the  Wits'  Coffee-house,  for  which  I 
think  more  highly  of  my  right-hand  finger  and  thumb  than 
any  other  part  of  my  body;  only  you  must  allow  me  to  i)ay 
you  back  the  price  when  my  Urkaster  stock-fish  come  to 
market." 


192  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

"  Settle  that  as  you  like  betwixt  you,"  said  the  jagger,  tak- 
ing up  Mordaunt's  money;  "  the  box  is  bought  and  sold." 

"  And  how  dare  you  sell  over  again,"  said  Captain  Cleve- 
land, suddenly  interfering,  "  what  you  already  have  sold  to 
me?" 

All  were  surprised  at  this  interjection,  which  was  hastily 
made,  as  Cleveland,  having  turned  from  Mistress  Baby,  had 
become  suddenly,  and,  as  it  seemed,  not  without  emotion, 
aware  what  articles  Bryce  Snailsfoot  was  now  disposing  of. 
To  this  short  and  fierce  question  the  jagger,  afraid  to  con- 
tradict a  customer  of  his  description,  answered  only  by  stam- 
mering, that  the  ''  Lord  knew  he  meant  nae  offense." 

"  How,  sir!  no  offense!  "  said  the  seaman,  "  and  dispose  of 
my  property?"  extending  his  hand  at  the  same  time  to  the 
box  and  chaplet;  "  restore  the  young  gentleman's  money,  and 
learn  to  keep  your  course  on  the  meridian  of  honesty." 

The  jagger,  confused  and  reluctant,  pulled  out  his  leathern 
pouch  to  repay  to  Mordaunt  the  money  he  had  just  deposited 
in  it;  but  the  youth  was  not  to  be  so  satisfied. 

"  The  articles,"  he  said,  "  were  bought  and  sold — these 
were  your  own  words,  Bryce  Snailsfoot,  in  Master  Halcro's 
hearing;  and  I  will  suffer  neither  you  nor  any  other  to  deprive 
me  of  my  property." 

"Your  property,  young  man?"  said  Cleveland.  "It  is 
mine:  I  spoke  to  Bryce  respecting  them  an  instant  before  I 
turned  from  the  table." 

"  I — I — I  had  not  just  heard  distinctly,"  said  Br3^ce,  evi- 
dentlv  unwilling  to  offend  either  party. 

"  Come — come."  said  the  Udaller,  "  we  will  have  no  quar- 
reling about  baubles;  we  shall  be  summoned  presently  to  the 
rigffing-loft " — so  he  used  to  call  the  apartment  used  as  a 
ball-room — "  and  we  must  all  go  in  a  good  humor.  The 
things  shall  remain  with  Bryce  for  to-night,  and  to-morrow  I 
will  myself  settle  whom  they  shall  belong  to." 

The  laws  of  the  Udaller  in  his  own  house  were  absolute  as 
those  of  the  ]\Iedes.  The  two  young  men,  regarding  each 
other  with  looks  of  sullen  displeasure,  drew  off  in  different 
directions. 

It  is  seldom  that  the  second  day  of  a  prolonged  festival 
equals  the  first.  The  spirits,  as  well  as  the  limbs,  are  jaded, 
and  unequal  to  the  renewed  expenditure  of  animation  and 
exertion;  and  the  dance  at  Burgh-Westra  was  sustained  with 
much  less  mirth  than  on  the  preceding  evening.  It  was  yet 
an  hour  from  midnight,  when  even  the  reluctant  Magnus 


THE  PIRATE.  198 

Troil,  after  regretting  the  degeneracy  of  the  times,  and  wish- 
ing he  could  transfuse  into  the  modern  Hialthmders  some  of 
the  vigor  which  still  animated  his  own  frame,  found  himself 
compelled  to  give  the  signal  for  general  retreat. 

Just  as  this  took  place,  Halcro,  leading  Mordaimt  Mer- 
toun  a  little  aside,  said  he  had  a  message  to  him  from  Captain 
Cleveland. 

"  A  message! "  said  Mordaunt,  his  heart  beating  somewhat 
thick  as  he  spoke.     "A  challenge,  I  suppose?" 

"A  challenge!"  repeated  Halcro;  "who  ever  heard  of  a 
challenge  in  our  quiet  islands?  Do  you  think  that  1  look  like 
a  carrier  of  challenges,  and  to  you  of  all  men  living?  I  am 
none  of  those  fighting  fools,  as  glorious  John  calls  them;  and 
it  was  not  quite  a  message  I  had  to  deliver — only  thus  far, 
this  Captain  Cleveland,  I  find,  hath  set  his  heart  upon  hav- 
ing these  articles  you  looked  at." 

"  He  shall  not  have  them,  I  swear  to  you,"  replied  Mor- 
daunt Mertoun. 

"Nay,  but  hear  me,"  said  Halcro;  "it  seems  that,  by  the 
marks  or  arms  that  are  upon  them,  he  knows  that  they  were 
formerly  his  property.  Now,  were  you  to  give  me  the  box, 
as  you  promised,  I  fairly  tell  you  I  should  give  the  man  back 
his  own." 

"  And  Brenda  might  do  the  like,"  thought  Mordaunt  to 
himself,  and  instantly  replied  aloud,  "I  have  thought  better 
of  it,  my  friend.  Captain  Cleveland  shall  have  the  toys  he 
sets  such  store  by,  but  it  is  on  one  sole  condition." 

"  Nay,  you  \\\\\  spoil  all  with  your  conditions,"  said  Halcro; 
"  for,  as  glorious  John  says,  conditions  are  but " 

"  Here  me,  I  say,  with  patience.  My  condition  is,  that  he 
keeps  the  toys  in  exchange  for  the  rifle-gun  I  accepted  from 
him,  which  will  leave  no  obligation  between  us  on  either  side." 

"  I  see  where  you  would  be:  this  is  Sebastian  and  Dorax  all 
over.  Well,  you  may  let  the  jagger  know  he  is  to  deliver  the 
things  to  Cleveland — I  think  he  is  mad  to  have  them — and 
I  will  let  Cleveland  know  the  conditions  annexed,  otherwise 
honest  Bryce  might  come  by  two  payments  instead  of  one; 
and  I  believe  his  conscience  would  not  choke  upon  it." 

With  these  words  Halcro  went  to  seek  out  Cleveland;  while 
Mordaunt,  obse^^dng  Snailsfoot,  who,  as  a  sort  of  privileged 
person,  had  thrust  himself  into  the  crowd  at  the  bottom  of 
the  dancing-room,  went  up  to  him,  and  gave  him  directions  to 
deliver  the  disputed  articles  to  Cleveland  as  soon  as  he  had  an 
opportunity. 


194  WAVEELEY  NOVELS. 

"  Ye  are  in  the  right,  Maister  Mordaunt,"  said  the  jagger; 
"  ye  are  a  prudent  and  a  sensible  lad — a  calm  answer  turneth 
away  wrath;  and  mysell,  I  sail  be  willing  to  please  you  in  ony 
trifling  matters  in  my  sma'  way;  for,  between  the  Udaller  of 
Burgh- Westra  and  Captain  Cleveland,  a  man  is,  as  it  were, 
atween  the  deil  and  the  deep  sea;  and  it  was  like  that  the 
Udaller,  in  the  end,  would  have  taken  your  part  in  the  dis- 
pute, for  he  is  a  man  that  loves  justice." 

"  Which  apparently  you  care  very  little  about.  Master 
Snailsfoot,"  said  Mordaunt,  "  otherwise  there  could  have 
been  no  dispute  whatever,  the  right  being  so  clearly  on  my 
side,  if  you  had  pleased  to  bear  witness  according  to  the  dic- 
tates of  truth." 

"  Maister  Mordaunt,"  said  the  jagger,  "  I  must  own  there 
was,  as  it  were,  a  coloring  or  shadow  of  justice  on  your  side; 
but  then  the  justice  that  I  meddle  with  is  only  justice  in  the 
way  of  trade — to  have  an  ell-wand  of  due  length,  if  it  be  not 
something  worn  out  with  leaning  on  it  in  my  lang  and  pain- 
ful journeys,  and  to  buy  and  sell  by  just  weight  and  measure, 
twenty-four  merks  to  the  lispund;  but  I  have  nothing  to  do, 
to  do  justice  betwixt  man  and  man,  like  a  fowd  or  a  lawright- 
man  at  a  law-ting  lang  syne." 

"  No  one  asked  you  to  do  so,  but  only  to  give  evidence  ac- 
cording to  your  conscience,"  replied  Mordaunt,  not  greatly 
pleased  either  with  the  part  the  jagger  had  acted  during  the 
dispute  or  the  construction  which  he  seemed  to  put  on  his 
own  motives  for  yielding  up  the  point. 

But  Bryce  Snailsfoot  wanted  not  his  answer.  "  My  con- 
science," he  said,  "  Maister  Mordaunt,  is  as  tender  as  ony 
man's  in  my  degree;  but  she  is  something  of  a  timorsome 
nature,  cannot  abide  angry  folk,  and  can  never  speak  above 
her  breath  when  there  is  aught  of  a  fray  going  forward.  In- 
deed, she  hath  at  all  times  a  small  and  low  voice." 

"  Which  you  are  not  much  in  the  habit  of  listening  to," 
said  Mordaunt. 

"  There  is  that  on  your  ain  breast  that  proves  the  con- 
trary," said  Bryce  resolutely. 

"  In  my  breast!  "  said  Mordaunt,  somewhat  angrily;  "  what 
know  I  of  you?  " 

''  I  said  on  your  breast,  Maister  Mordaunt,  and  not  in  it.  I 
am  sure  nae  eye  that  looks  on  that  waistcoat  upon  your  own 
gallant  brisket  but  will  say  that  the  merchant  who  sold  such  a 
piece  for  four  dollars  had  justice  and  conscience,  and  a  kind 
heart  to  a  customer  to  the  boot  of  a'  that;  sae  ye  shouldna  be 


THE  PIRATE.  195 

sae  thrawart  wi'  me  for  ha^^ng  spared  the  breath  of  my  mouth 
in  a  fool's  quarrel." 

'•■  I  thrawart!  "  said  Mordaunt;  "  pooh,  you  silly  man!  I 
have  no  quarrel  with  you." 

"  I  am  glad  of  it,"  said  the  traveling-merchant.  ''  I  will 
quarrel  with  no  man,  with  my  will,  least  of  all  with  an  old 
customer;  and  if  you  will  walk  by  my  advice,  you  will  quarrel 
nane  with  Captain  Cleveland.  He  is  like  one  of  yon  cutters 
and  slashers  that  have  come  into  Kirkwall,  that  think  as  little 
of  slicing  a  man  as  we  do  of  flinching  a  whale:  it's  their  trade 
to  fight,  and  they  live  by  it;  and  they  have  the  advantage  of 
the  like  of  you,  that  only  take  it  up  at  your  own  hand,  and  in 
the  way  of  pastime,  when  you  hae  nothing  better  to  do." 

The  company  had  now  almost  all  dispersed;  and  Mordaunt, 
laughing  at  the  jagger's  caution,  bade  him  good-night,  and 
went  to  his  own  place  of  repose,  which  had  been  assigned  to 
him  by  Eric  Scambester  (who  acted  the  part  of  chamberlain 
as  well  as  butler)  in  a  small  room,  or  rather  closet,  in  one  of 
the  outhouses,  furnished  for  the  occasion  with  the  hammock 
of  a  sailor. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

I  pass  like  niglit  from  land  to  land, 

I  have  strange  power  of  speech; 
So  soon  as  e'er  his  face  I  see, 
I  know  the  man  that  imist  hear  me, 

To  him  my  tale  I  teach. 

— Coleridge's  Bime  of  the  Ancient  Marines-. 

The  daughters  of  Magnus  Troil  shared  the  same  bed,  in  a 
chamber  which  had  been  that  of  their  parents  before  the 
death  of  their  mother.  Magnus,  who  suffered  grievously 
under  that  dispensation  of  Providence,  had  become  disgusted 
with  the  apartment.  The  nuptial  chamber  was  abandoned 
to  the  pledges  of  his  bereaved  affection,  of  whom  the  eldest 
was  at  that  period  only  four  years  old,  or  thereabouts;  and, 
having  been  their  nursery  in  infancy,  continued,  though  now 
tricked  and  adorned  according  to  the  best  fashion  of  the 
islands  and  the  taste  of  the  lovely  sisters  themselves,  to  be 
their  sleeping-room,  or,  in  the  old  Norse  dialect,  their  bower. 

It  had  been  for  many  years  the  scene  of  the  most  intimate 
confidence,  if  that  could  be  called  confidence  where,  in  truth, 
there  was  nothing  to  be  confided;  where  neither  sister  had  a 
secret;  and  where  every  thought  that  had  birth  in  the  bosom 
of  the  one  was,  without  either  hesitation  or  doubt,  confided  to 
the  other  as  spontaneously  as  it  had  arisen.  But,  since  Cleve- 
land abode  in  the  mansion  of  Burgh-Westra,  each  of  the  lovely 
sisters  had  entertained  thoughts  which  are  not  lightly  or 
easily  communicated,  unless  sh?  who  listens  to  them  has  pre- 
viously assured  herself  that  the  confidence  will  be  kindly  re- 
ceived. Minna  had  noticed  what  other  and  less  interested 
observers  had  been  unable  to  perceive,  that  Cleveland,  namely, 
held  a  lower  rank  in  Brenda's  opinion  than  in  her  own;  and 
Brenda,  on  her  side,  thought  that  Minna  had  hastily  and  un- 
justly joined  in  the  prejudices  which  had  been  excited  against 
Mordaunt  Mertoun  in  the  mind  of  their  father.  Each  was 
sensible  that  she  was  no  longer  the  same  to  her  sister;  and  this 
conviction  was  a  painful  addition  to  other  painful  apprehen- 
sions which  they  supposed  they  had  to  struggle  with.  Their 
manner  toward  each  other  was,  in  outward  appearances,  and 
in  all  the  little  cares  by  which  affection  can  be  expressed,  even 
more  assiduously  kind  than  before,  as  if  both,  conscious  that 

196 


THE  PIRATE.  197 

their  internal  reserve  was  a  breach  of  their  sisterly  union, 
strove  to  atone  for  it  by  double  assiduity  in  those  external 
marks  of  affection  which,  at  other  times,  when  there  was  noth- 
ing to  hide,  might  be  omitted  without  inferring  any  con- 
sequences. 

On  the  night  referred  to,  in  particular,  the  sisters  felt  more 
especially  the  decay  of  the  confidence  which  used  to  exist  be- 
twixt them.  The  proposed  voyage  to  Kirkwall,  and  that  at 
the  time  of  the  fair,  when  persons  of  every  degree  in  these 
islands  repair  thither,  either  for  business  or  amusement,  was 
likely  to  be  an  important  incident  in  lives  usually  so  simple 
and  uniform  as  theirs;  and,  a  few  months  ago,  Minna  and 
Brenda  would  have  been  awake  half  the  night,  anticipating, 
in  their  talk  with  each  other,  all  that  was  likely  to  happen  on 
so  momentous  an  occasion.  But  now  the  subject  was  just 
mentioned  and  suffered  to  drop,  as  if  the  topic  was  likely  to 
produce  a  difference  betwixt  them,  or  to  call  forth  a  more 
open  display  of  their  several  opinions  than  either  was  willing 
to  make  to  the  other. 

Yet  such  was  their  natural  openness  and  gentleness  of  dis- 
position, that  each  sister  imputed  to  herself  the  fault  that 
there  was  aught  like  an  estrangement  existing  between  them; 
and  when,  having  finished  their  devotions  and  betaken  them- 
selves to  their  common  couch,  they  folded  each  other  in  their 
arms,  and  exchanged  a  sisterly  kiss  and  a  sisterly  good-night, 
they  seemed  mutually  to  ask  pardon  and  to  exchange  forgive- 
ness, although  neither  said  a  word  of.  offense,  either  offered 
or  received;  and  both  were  soon  plunged  in  that  light  and  yet 
profound  repose  which  is  only  enjoyed  when  sleep  sinks  down 
on  the  eyes  of  youth  and  innocence. 

On  the  night  to  which  the  story  relates,  both  sisters  were 
visited  by  dreams,  which,  though  varied  by  the  moods  aad 
habits  of  the  sleepers,  bore  yet  a  strange  general  resemblance 
to  each  other. 

Minna  dreamed  that  she  was  in  one  of  the  most  lonely  re- 
cesses of  the  beach,  called  Swartaster,  where  the  incessant 
operation  of  the  waves,  indenting  a  calcarious  rock,  has 
formed  a  deep  "  halier,"  which,  in  the  language  of  the  island, 
means  a  subterranean  cavern,  into  which  the  tide  ebbs  and 
flows.  Many  of  these  run  to  an  extraordinary  and  unascer- 
tained depth  under  ground,  and  are  the  secure  retreat  of  cor- 
morants and  seals,  which  it  is  neither  easy  nor  safe  to  pursue 
to  their  extreme  recesses.  Amongst  these,  this  halier  of 
Swartaster  was  accounted  peculiarly  inaccessible,  and  shunned 


1 98  WA  VERLEY  NO  VELS. 

both  by  fowlers  and  b}'  seamen,  on  account  of  sharp  angles 
and  turnings  in  the  cave  itself,  as  well  as  the  sunken  rocks 
which  rendered  it  very  dangerous  for  skiffs  or  boats  to  ad- 
vance far  into  it,  especially  if  there  was  the  usual  swell  of  an 
island  tide.  From  the  dark-browed  mouth  of  this  cavern,  it 
seemed  to  Minna,  in  her  dream,  that  she  beheld  a  mermaid 
issue,  not  in  the  classical  dress  of  a  nereid,  as  in  Claud  Hal- 
cro's  mask  of  the  preceding  evening,  but  wdth  comb  and  glass 
in  hand,  according  to  popular  belief,  and  lashing  the  waves 
with  tliat  long  scaly  train  which,  in  the  traditions  of  the 
country,  forms  so  frightful  a  contrast  with  the  fair  face,  long 
tresses,  and  displayed  bosom  of  a  human  and  earthly  female 
of  surpassing  beauty.  She  seemed  to  beckon  to  Minna,  while 
her  wild  notes  rang  sadly  in  her  ear,  and  denounced,  in  pro- 
phetic sounds,  calamity  and  woe. 

The  vision  of  Brenda  was  of  a  different  description,  yet 
equally  melancholy.  She  sat,  as  she  thought,  in  her  favorite 
bower,  surrounded  by  her  father  and  a  party  of  his  most  be- 
loved friends,  amongst  whom  Mordaunt  Mertoun  was  not  for- 
gotten. She  was  required  to  sing;  and  she  strove  to  enter- 
tain them  with  a  lively  ditty,  in  which  she  was  accounted 
eminently  successful,  and  which  she  sung  with  such  simple 
yet  natural  humor  as  seldom  failed  to  produce  shouts  of 
laughter  and  applause,  wdiile  all  wdio  could,  or  who  could  not, 
sing  were  irresistibly  compelled  to  lend  their  voices  to  the 
chorus.  But  on  this  occasion  it  seemed  as  if  her  own  voice 
refused  all  its  usual  duty,  and  as  if,  while  she  felt  herself  un- 
able to  express  the  words  of  the  well-known  air,  it  assumed, 
in  her  own  despite,  the  deep  tones  and  wild  and  melancholy 
notes  of  Noma  of  Fitful  Head,  for  the  purpose  of  chanting 
some  wild  Runic  rhyme,  resembling  those  sung  by  the 
heathen  priests  of  old,  when  the  victim,  too  often  human, 
was  bound  to  the  fatal  altar  of  Odin  or  of  Thor. 

At  length  the  two  sisters  at  once  started  from  sleep,  and, 
uttering  a  low  scream  of  fear,  clasped  themselves  in  each 
other's  arms.  For  their  fancy  had  not  altogether  played 
them  false;  the  sounds  wdiich  had  suggested  their  dreams  were 
real,  and  sung  within  their  apartment.  They  knew  the  voice 
"well,  indeed,  and  yet,  knowing  to  whom  it  belonged,  their  sur- 
prise and  fear  were  scarce  the  less  when  they  saw  the  well- 
known  Noma  of  Fitful  Head  seated  by  the  chimney  of  the 
apartment,  which,  during  the  summer  season,  contained  an 
iron  lamp  well  trimmed,  and  in  wdnter  a  fire  of  wood  or  of 
turf. 


THE  PIRATE.  199 

She  was  wrapped  in  her  long  and  ample  garment  of  wad- 
maal,  and  moved  her  body  slowly  to  and  fro  over  the  pale 
flame  of  the  lamp,  as  she  sung  lines  to  the  following  purport, 
in  a  slow,  sad,  and  almost  an  unearthly  accent: 

"  For  leagues  along  the  watery  way, 

Through  gulf  and  stream  my  course  has  been; 
The  billows  kuow  my  Ruuic  lay, 

And  smooth  their  crests  to  silent  green. 

"  The  billows  know  my  Runic  lay, — 

The  gulf  grows  smooth,  the  stream  is  still; 
But  human  hearts,  more  wild  than  they, 
Know  but  the  rule  of  wayward  will. 

"  One  hour  is  mine,  in  all  the  year, 
To  tell  my  woes,  and  one  alone: 
When  gleams  this  magic  lamp,  'tie  here  ; 
When  dies  the  mystic  light,  'tis  gone. 

**  Daughters  of  northern  Magnus,  hail ! 
The  lamp  is  lit,  the  flame  is  clear, — 
To  you  I  come  to  teU  my  tale, 
Awake,  arise,  my  tale  to  hear  !  " 

Noma  was  well  known  to  the  daughters  of  Troil,  but  it  was 
not  without  emotion,  although  varied  by  their  respective  dis- 
positions, that  they  beheld  her  so  unexpectedly,  and  at  such 
an  hour.  Their  opinions  with  respect  to  the  supernatural 
attributes  t-o  which  she  pretended  were  extremely  different. 

Minna,  with  an  unusual  intensity  of  imagination,  although 
superior  in  talent  to  her  sister,  was  more  apt  to  listen  to,  and 
delight  in,  every  tale  of  wonder,  and  was  at  all  times  more 
willing  to  admit  impressions  which  gave  her  fancy  scope  and 
exercise,  without  minutely  examining  their  reality.  Brenda, 
on  the  other  hand,  had,  in  her  gayety,  a  slight  propensity  to 
satire,  and  was  often  tempted  to  laugh  at  the  very  circum- 
stances upon  which  Minna  founded  her  imaginative  dreams; 
and,  like  all  who  love  the  ludicrous,  she  did  not  readily  suffer 
herself  to  be  imposed  upon,  or  overawed,  by  pompous  preten- 
sions of  any  kind  whatever.  But,  as  her  nen^es  were  weaker 
and  more  irritable  than  those  of  her  sister,  she  often  paid 
involuntary  homage,  by  her  fears,  to  ideas  which  her  reason 
disowned;  and  hence  Claud  Halcro  used  to  say,  in  reference 
to  many  of  the  traditionary  superstitions  around  Burgh- 
Westra,  that  Minna  believed  them  without  trembling,  and 
that  Brenda  trembled  without  believing  them.  In  our  o^sti 
more  enlightened  days  there  are  few  whose  undoubting  mind 
and  native  courage  bave  not  felt  ]\Iinna's  high-wrought  tone 
of  enthusiasm;  and  perhaps  still  fewer  who  have  not,  at  one 


200  WAVEELEY  NOVELS. 

time  or  other,  felt,  like  Brenda,  their  nerves  confess  the  in- 
fluence of  terrors  which  their  reason  disowned  and  despised. 
Under  the  power  of  such  different  feelings,  Minna,  when 
the  first  moment  of  surprise  was  over,  prepared  to  spring 
from  her  bed  and  go  to  greet  Noma,  who,  she  doubted  not, 
had  come  on  some  errand  fraught  with  fate;  while  Brenda, 
who  only  beheld  in  her  a  woman  partially  deranged  in  her 
understanding,  and  who  yet,  from  the  extravagance  of  her 
claims,  regarded  her  as  an  undefined  object  of  awe,  or  rather 
terror,  detained  her  sister  by  an  eager  and  terrified  grasp, 
while  she  whispered  in  her  ear  an  anxious  entreaty  that  she 
would  call  for  assistance.  But  the  soul  of  Minna  was  too 
highly  wrought  up  by  the  crisis  at  which  her  fate  seemed  to 
have  arrived  to  permit  her  to  follow  the  dictates  of  her  sister's 
fears;  and,  extricating  herself  from  Brenda's  hold,  she  hastily 
threw  on  a  loose  nightgown,  and,  stepping  boldly  across  the 
apartment,  while  her  heart  throbbed  rather  with  high  excite- 
ment than  with  fear,  she  thus  addressed  her  singular  visitor: 

"  jSTorna,  if  your  mission  regards  us,  as  your  words  seem  to 
express,  there  is  one  of  us,  at  least,  who  will  receive  its  import 
'Vvith  reverence,  but  without  fear." 

*'\NoiXia — dear  Noma,"  said  the  tremulous  voice  of  Brenda, 
who,  feeling  no  safety  in  the  bed  after  ]\Iinna  quitted  it,  had 
followed  her,  as  fugitives  crowd  into  the  rear  of  an  advancing 
army,  because  they  dare  not  remain  behind,  and  who  now 
stood  half  concealed  by  her  sister,  and  holding  fast  by  the 
skirts  of  her  gown — "  Noma — dear  Noma,"  said  she,  "  what- 
ever you  are  to  say,  let  it  be  to-morrow.  I  will  call  Euphane 
Fea,  the  housekeeper,  and  she  will  find  you  a  bed  for  the 
night." 

"  No  bed  for  me!  "  said  their  nocturnal  visitor;  "  no  closing 
of  the  eyes  for  me!  They  have  watched  as  shelf  and  stack 
appeared  and  disappeared  betwixt  Burgh- Westra  and  Orkney; 
they  have  seen  the  Man  of  Hoy  sink  into  the  sea,  and  the 
Peak  of  Hengcliff  arise  from  it,  and  yet  they  have  not  tasted 
of  slumber;  nor  must  they  slumber  now  till  my  task  is  ended. 
Sit  down,  then,  Minna,  and  thou,  silly  trembler,  sit  down, 
while  I  trim  my  lamp.  Don  your  clothes,  for  the  tale  is  long, 
and  ere  'tis  done  ye  will  shiver  with  worse  than  cold." 

"  For  Heaven's  sake,  then,  put  it  ofl'  till  daylight,  dear 
Norna!  "  said  Brenda;  "the  dawn  cannot  be  far  distant,  and 
if  you  are  to  tell  us  of  anything  frightful,  let  it  be  by  day- 
light, and  not  by  the  dim  glimmer  of  that  blue  lamp!  " 

"  Patience,  fool!  "  said  their  uninvited  guest.     "  Not  by 


THE  PIRATE.  20V 

daylight  should  Noma  tell  a  tale  that  might  hlot  the  sun  out 
of  heaven,  and  blight  the  hopes  of  the  hundred  boats  that  will 
leave  this  shore  ere  noon  to  commence  their  deep-sea  fishing 
— aye,  and  of  the  hundred  families  that  will  await  their  return. 
The  demon,  whom  the  sounds  will  not  fail  to  awaken,  must 
shake  his  dark  wings  over  a  shipless  and  a  boatless  sea,  as  he 
rushes  from  his  mountain  to  drink  the  accents  of  horror  he 
loves  so  well  to  listen  to." 

"  Have  pity  on  Brenda's  fears,  good  Norna."»said  the  elder 
sister,  "  and  \i  least  postpone  this  frightful  communication 
to  another  place  and  hour." 

"Maiden,  no!"  replied  Noma  sternly;  "it  must  be  told 
while  that  lamp  yet  burns.  ^line  is  no  daylight  tale:  by  that 
lamp  it  must  be  told,  which  is  framed  out  of  the  gibbet-irons 
of  the  cruel  Lord  of  Wodensvoe.  who  murdered  his  brother; 
and  has  for  its  nourishment — but  be  that  nameless — enough 
that  its  food  never  came  either  from  the  fis^h  or  from  the 
frait!  See,  it  waxes  dim  and  dimmer,  nor  must  my  tale  last 
longer  than  its  flame  endureth.  Sit  ye  down  there,  while  I 
sit  here  opposite  to  you,  and  place  the  lamp  betwixt  us;  for 
within  the  sphere  of  its  light  the  demon  dares  not  venture." 

The  sisters  obeyed,  Jlinna  casting  a  slow,  awestmck,  yet 
determined  look  all  around,  as  if  to  see  the  being  who,  ac- 
cording to  the  doubtful  words  of  Noma,  hovered  in  their 
neighborhood;  while  Brenda's  fears  were  mingled  vdih.  some 
share  both  of  anger  and  of  impatience.  Noma  paid  no  atten- 
tion to  either,  but  began  her  stor}'  in  the  following  words :_ 

"  Ye  know,  my  daughters,  that  your  blood  is  allied  to  mine, 
but  in  what  degree  ye  know  not;  for  there  was  early  hostility 
betwixt  your  grandsire  and  him  who  had  the  misfortune  to 
call  me  daughter.  Let  me  term  him  by  his  Christian  name  of 
Erland.  for' that  which  marks  our  relation  I  dare  not  bestow. 
Your  grandsire  Olave  was  the  brother  of  Erland.  But  when 
the  wide  udal  possessions  of  their  father  Rolfe  Troil,  the  most 
rich  and  well-estated  of  any  who  descended  from  the  old 
Norse  stock,  were  divided  betwixt  the  brothers,  the  fowd  gave 
to  Erland  his  fathers  lands  in  Orkney,  and  reserved  for  Olave 
those  of  Hialtland.  Discord  arose  between  the  brethren:  for 
Erland  held  that  he  was  wronged:  and  when  the  law-ting,* 
with  the  raddmen  and  lawright-men,  confirmed  the  division, 
he  went  in  wrath  to  Orkney,  cursing  Hialtland  and  its  inhab- 
itants— cursing  his  brother  and  his  blood. 

"  But   the   love   of   the   rock   and    of   the   mountain   still 

♦  See  Note  28. 


202  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

wrought  on  Erland's  mind,  and  he  fixed  his  dwelling  not  on 
the  soft  hills  of  Orphir  or  the  green  plains  of  Graemsay,  but 
in  the  wild  and  mountainous  Isle  of  Hoy,*  whose  summit 
rises  to  the  sky  like  the  cliffs  of  Foulah  and  of  Feroe.  He 
knew — that  unhappy  Erland — whatever  of  legendary  lore 
Scald  and  bard  had  left  behind  them;  and  to  teach  me  that 
knowledge,  which  was  to  cost  us  both  so  dear,  was  the  chief 
occupation  of  his  old  age.  I  learned  to  visit  each  lonely  bar- 
row, each  lofty  cairn;  to  tell  its  appropriate  tale,  and  to  soothe 
with  rhymes  in  his  praise  the  spirit  of  the  stern  warrior  who 
dwelt  within.  I  knew  where  the  sacrifices  were  made  of  yore 
to  Thor  and  to  Odin;  on  what  stones  the  blood  of  the  victims 
flow^ed;  where  stood  the  dark-browed  priest;  where  the  crested 
chiefs,  who  consulted  the  will  of  the  idol;  where  the  more  dis- 
tant crowd  of  inferior  worshipers,  who  looked  on  in  awe  or  in 
terror.  The  places  most  shunned  by  the  timid  peasants  had 
no  terrors  for  me:  I  dared  walk  in  the  fairy  circle,  and  sleep 
by  the  magic  spring. 

"  But,  for  my  misfortune,  I  was  chiefly  fond  to  linger  about 
the  dwarfie  Stone,t  as  it  is  called,  a  relic  of  antiquity,  which 
strangers  look  on  with  curiosity  and  the  natives  with  awe.  It 
is  a  huge  fragment  of  rock,  which  lies  in  a  broken  and  rude 
valley,  full  of  stones  and  precipices,  in  the  recesses  of  the 
Ward  Hill  of  Hoy.  The  inside  of  the  rock  has  two  couches, 
hewn  by  no  earthly  hand,  and  having  a  small  passage  between 
them.  The  doorway  is  now  open  to  the  weather;  but  beside 
it  lies  a  large  stone,  wdiich,  adapted  to  grooves  still  visible  in 
the  entrance,  once  had  served  to  open  and  to  close  this  extraor- 
dinary dwelling,  which  Trold,  a  dwarf  famous  in  the  North- 
em  sagas,  is  said  to  have  framed  for  his  own  favorite 
residence.  The  lonely  shepherd  avoids  the  place;  for  at 
sunrise,  high  noon,  or  sunset  the  misshapen  form  of  the 
necromantic  owner  may  sometimes  still  be  seen  sitting  by  the 
Dwarfie  Stone.  I  feared  not  the  apparition,  for,  Minna,  my 
heart  was  as  bold  and  my  hand  was  as  innocent  as  yours.  In 
my  childish  courage,  I  Avas  even  but  too  presumptuous,  and 
the  thirst  after  things  unattainable  led  me,  like  our  primitive 
mother,  to  desire  increase  of  knowledge  even  by  prohibited 
means.  I  longed  to  possess  the  power  of  the  voluspa?  and 
divining-women  of  our  ancient  race;  to  wield,  like  them, 
command  over  the  elements;  and  to  summon  the  ghosts  of 
deceased  heroes  from  their  caverns,  that  they  might  recite 
their  daring  deeds  and  impart  to  me  their  hidden  treasures. 

*  See  Note  23.  +  See  Note  84. 


THE  PIRATE.  208 

Often,  when  watching  by  the  Dwarfie  Stone,  with  mine  eyes 
fixed  on  the  Ward  Hill,  which  rises  above  that  gloomy  valley, 
I  have  distinguished,  among  the  dark  rocks,  that  wonderful 
carbuncle,*  which  gleams  ruddy  as  a  furnace  to  them  who 
view  it  from  beneath,  but  has  ever  become  invisible  to  him 
whose  daring  foot  has  scaled  the  precipices  from  which  it 
darts  its  splendor.  My  vain  and  youthful  bosom  burned  to 
investigate  these  and  an  hundred  other  mysteries,  which  the 
sagas  that  1  perused,  or  learned  from  Erland,  rather  indicated 
than  explained;  and  in  my  daring  mood  I  called  on  the  lord 
of  the  Dwarfie  Stone  to  aid  me  in  attaining  knowledge  inac- 
cessible to  mere  mortals." 

"  And  the  evil  spirit  heard  your  summons?  "  said  Minna, 
her  blood  curdling  as  she  listened. 

"  Hush,"  said  Noma,  lowering  her  voice,  "  vex  him  not 
with  reproach;  he  is  with  us — he  hears  us  even  now." 

Brenda  started  from  her  seat.  "  I  will  to  Euphane  Fea's 
c?aamber,"  she  said,  "  and  leave  you,  Minna  and  Noma,  to 
finish  your  stories  of  hobgoblins  and  of  dwarfs  at  your  own 
leisure.  I  care  not  for  them  at  any  time,  but  I  will  not  en- 
dvire  them  at  midnight,  and  by  this  pale  lamplight." 

She  was  accordingly  in  the  act  of  leaving  the  room,  when 
her  sister  detained  her. 

"  Is  this  the  courage,"  she  said,  "  of  her  that  disbelieves 
whatever  the  history  of  our  fathers  tells  us  of  supernatural 
prodigy?  What  Noma  has  to  tell  concerns  the  fate,  perhaps, 
of  our  father  and  his  house;  if  I  can  listen  to  it,  trusting  that 
God  and  my  innocence  will  protect  me  from  all  that  is  malig- 
nant, you,  Brenda,  who  believe  not  in  such  influence,  have 
surely  no  cause  to  tremble.  Credit  me,  that  for  the  guiltless 
there  is  no  fear." 

"  There  may  be  no  danger,"  said  Brenda,  unable  to  sup- 
press her  natural  turn  for  humor,  "  but,  as  the  old  jest-book 
says,  there  is  much  fear.  However,  Minna,  I  will  stay  with, 
you;  the  rather,"  she  added  in  a  whisper,  "  that  I  am  loth  to 
leave  you  alone  with  this  frightful  woman,  and  that  I  have  a 
dark  staircase  and  long  passage  betwixt  [us]  and  Eui)hane 
Fea,  else  I  would  have  her  here  ere  I  were  five  minutes  older." 

"  Call  no  one  hither,  maiden,  upon  peril  of  thy  life,"  said 
Noma,  "  and  interrupt  not  my  tale  again;  for  it  cannot  and 
must  not  be  told  after  that  charmed  light  has  ceased  to  burn." 

"  And  I  thank  Heaven,"  said  Brenda  to  herself,  "  that  the 
oil  burns  low  in  the  cruise!     I  am  sorely  tempted  to  lend  it 

*  See  Note  !J5, 


904  WAYERLEY  NOVELS 

a  puff,  but  then  Noma  would  be  alone  with  us  in  the  dark, 
and  that  would  be  worse." 

So  saying,  she  submitted  to  her  fate,  and  sat  down,  deter- 
mined to  listen  with  all  the  equanimity  which  she  could  com- 
mand to  the  remaining  part  of  Noma's  tale,  which  went  on  as 
follows: 

"  It  happened  on  a  hot  summer  day,  and  just  about  the 
hour  of  noon,"  continued  Noma,  "  as  I  sat  by  the  Dwarfie 
Stone,  with  my  eyes  fixed  on  the  Ward  Hill,  whence  the  mys- 
terious and  ever-burning  carbuncle  shed  its  rays  more 
brightly  than  usual,  and  repined  in  my  heart  at  the  restricted 
bounds  of  human  knowledge,  that  at  length  I  could  not  help 
exclaiming,  in  the  words  of  an  ancient  saga: 

"  'Dwellers  of  the  mountain,  rise, 

Trold  the  powerful,  Haims  the  wise! 
Ye  who  tanglit  weak  woman's  tongue 
Words  that  sway  the  wise  and  strong, — 
Ye  who  taught  weak  woman's  hand 
How  to  wield  the  magic  wand, 
And  wake  the  gales  on  Fonlah's  steep, 
Or  lull  wild  Sumburgh's  waves  to  sleep  ! 
Still  are  ye  yet  ?     Not  yours  the  power 
Ye  knew  in  Odin's  mightier  hour. 
What  are  ye  now  but  empty  names, 
♦  Powerful  Trold,  sagacious  Haims, 

That,  lightly  spoken,  lightly  heard, 
Float  on  the  air  like  thistle's  beard  ?  ' 

"  I  had  scarce  uttered  these  words,"  proceeded  Noma,  "  ere 
the  sky,  which  had  been  till  then  unusually  clear,  grew  so 
suddenly  dark  around  me  that  it  seemed  more  like  midnight 
than  noon.  A  single  flash  of  lightning  showed  me  at  once 
the  desolate  landscape  of  heath,  morass,  mountain,  and  preci- 
pice which  lay  around;  a  single  clap  of  thunder  wakened  all 
the  echoes  of  the  Ward  Hill,  which  continued  so  long  to  re- 
peat the  sound,  that  it  seemed  some  rock,  rent  by  the  thunder- 
bolt from  the  summit,  was  rolling  over  cliff  and  precipice  into 
the  valley.  Immediately  after  fell  a  burst  of  rain  so  violent 
that  I  was  fain  to  shun  its  pelting  by  creeping  into  the  in- 
terior of  the  mysterious  stone. 

"  I  seated  myself  on  the  larger  stone  couch,  which  is  cut  at 
the  farther  end  of  the  cavity,  and,  with  my  eyes  fixed  on  the 
smaller  bed,  wearied  myself  with  conjectures  respecting  the 
origin  and  purpose  of  my  singular  place  of  refuge.  Had  it 
been  really  the  work  of  that  powerful  Trold  to  whom  the 
poetry  of  the  Scalds  referred  it?  Or  was  it  the  tomb  of  some 
Scandinavian  chief,  interred  with  his  arms  and  his  wealth, 
perhaps  also  with  his  immolated  wife,  that  what  he  loved  best 


TEE  PIRATE.  205 

in  life  might  not  in  death  be  divided  from  him?  Or  was  it 
the  abode  of  penance,  chosen  by  some  devoted  anchorite  of 
later  days?  Or  the  idle  work  of  some  wandering  mechanic, 
whom  chance,  and  vvliim,  and  leisure,  had  thrust  upon  such 
an  undertaking?  I  tell  you  the  thoughts  that  then  floated 
through  my  brain,  that  ye  may  know  that  what  ensued  was 
not  the  vision  of  a  prejudiced  or  prepossessed  imagination, 
but  an  apparition,  as  certain  as  it  was  awful. 

"  Sleep  had  gradually  crept  on  me,  amidst  my  lucubrations, 
when  I  was  startled  from  my  slumbers  by  a  second  clap  of 
thunder;  and,  when  I  awoke,  I  saw,  through  the  dim  light 
which  the  upper  aperture  admitted,  the  unshapely  and  indis- 
tinct form  of  Trold  the  dwarf,  seated  opposite  to  me  on  the 
lesser  couch,  which  his  square  and  misshapen  bulk  seemed 
absolutely  to  fill  up.  I  was  startled,  but  not  affrighted;  for 
the  blood  of  the  ancient  race  of  Lochlin  was  warm  in  my 
veins.  He  spoke;  and  his  words  were  of  Norse,  so  old  that 
few,  save  my  father  or  I  myself,  could  have  comprehended 
their  import — such  language  as  was  spoken  in  these  islands 
ere  Olave  planted  the  cross  on  the  ruins  of  heathenism.  His 
meaning  was  dark  also  and  obscure,  like  that  which  the  pagan 
priests  were  wont  to  deliver,  in  the  name  of  their  idols,  to  the 
tribes  that  assembled  at  the  Helgafels.*    This  was  the  import: 

"  'A  thousand  ■winters  dark  have  flown, 
Since  o'er  the  threshold  of  my  stone 
A  votaress  pass'd,  my  power  to  own, 
Yisitor  bold 
Of  the  mansion  of  Trold, 

Maiden  haughty  of  heart, 
Who  liast  hitlier  presumed — 
Ungifted,  undoom'd, 

Thou  shalt  not  depart  : 
The  power  thou  dost  covet 

O'er  tempest  and  wave, 
Shall  be  thine,  thou  proud  maiden, 
By  beach  and  by  cave, — 
By  stack  and  by  skerry,  by  nonp  and  by  voe, 
By  air  and  by  wick,  and  by  lielyer  and  gio. 
And  by  every  wild  Khore  which  the  nortliern  winds  know, 

And  the  northern  tides  lave. 
But  though  this  shall  be  given  tliee.  tlioii  desperately  brave, 
I  doom  thee  that  never  the  gift  thon  shalt  have, 
Till  thou  reave  thy  life's  giver 
Of  the  gift  which  he  gave.' 

"  I  answered  him  in  nearly  the  same  strain;  for  the  spirit  of 
the  ancient  Scalds  of  our  race  was  upon  me,  and,  far  from 

*  Or  consecrated  mountain,  used  by  the  Scandinavian  priests  for  the  jmrposes  of  their 
idol-worship. 


206  WAVMRLEY  NOVELS. 

fearing  the  phantom,  with  whom  I  sat  cooped  within  so  nar- 
row a  space,  1  telt  the  imjjulse  of  tliat  high  courage  which 
thrust  the  ancient  champions  and  Druidesses  upon  contests 
with  the  invisihle  worki,  when  tliey  thought  that  the  earth 
no  longer  contained  enemies  worthy  to  be  subdued  by  them. 
Therefore  did  1  answer  him  thus: 

"Dark  are  tliy  words,  aud  severe, 

Thou  dweller  in  the  stone; 
But  trembling  and  fear 

To  her  are  unknown, 
Who  hath  Honght  thee  here 

In  thy  dwelling  lone. 
Come  what  comes  soever. 

The  worst  I  can  endure; 
Life  is  but  a  short  fever, 

And  death  is  the  cure. 

"  The  demon  scowled  at  me,  as  if  at  once  incensed  and 
overawed;  and  then  coiling  himself  up  in  a  thick  and  sul- 
phureous vapor,  he  disappeared  from  his  place.  I  did  not, 
till  that  moment,  feel  the  influence  of  fright,  but  then  it 
seized  me.  I  rushed  into  the  open  air,  where  the  tempest 
had  passed  away,  and  all  was  pure  and  serene.  After  a  mo- 
ment's breathless  pause,  I  hasted  home,  musing  by  the  way 
on  the  words  of  the  phantom,  which  I  could  not,  as  often 
happens,  recall  so  distinctly  to  memory  at  the  time  as  I  have 
been  able  to  do  since. 

"  It  may  seem  strange  that  such  an  apparition  should,  in 
time,  have  glided  from  my  mind  like  a  vision  of  the  night; 
but  so  it  was.  I  brought  myself  to  believe  it  the  work  of 
fancy;  I  thought  I  had  lived  too  much  in  solitude,  and  had 
given  way  too  much  to  the  feelings  inspired  by  my  favorite 
studies.  I  abandoned  them  for  a  time,  and  I  mixed  with  the 
youth  of  my  age.  I  was  upon  a  visit  at  Kirkwall  when  I 
learned  to  know  your  father,  whom  business  had  brought 
thither.  He  easily  found  access  to  the  relation  with  whom  I 
lived,  who  was  anxious  to  compose,  if  possible,  the  feud  which 
divided  our  families.  Your  father,  maidens,  has  been  rather 
hardened  than  changed  by  years:  he  had  the  same  manly 
form,  the  same  old  Norse  frankness  of  manner  and  of  heart, 
the  same  upright  courage  and  honesty  of  disposition,  with 
more  of  the  gentle  ingenuousness  of  youth,  an  eager  desire  to 
please,  a  willingness  to  be  pleased,  and  a  vivacity  of  spirits 
which  survives  not  our  early  years.  But  though  he  was  thus 
worthy  of  love,  and  though  Erland  wrote  to  me  authorizing 
his  attachment,  there  was  another — a  stranger,  Minna,  a  fatal 


THE  PIRATE.  201 

stranger — full  of  arts  unknown  to  us,  and  graces  which  to  the 
plain  manners  of  your  father  were  unknown.  Yes,  he 
walked,  indeed,  among  us  like  a  being  of  another  and  of  a 
superior  race.  Ye  look  on  me  as  if  it  were  stmnge  that  I 
should  have  had  attractions  for  such  a  lover;  but  I  present 
nothing  that  can  remind  you  that  Noma  of  the  Fitful  Head 
was  once  admired  and  loved  as  Ulla  Troil:  the  change  betwixt 
the  animated  body  and  the  corpse  after  decease  is  scarce  more 
awful  and  absolute  than  1  have  sustained  while  I  yet  linger 
on  earth.  Look  on  me,  maidens — look  on  me  by  this  glim- 
mering light.  Can  ye  believe  that  these  haggard  and 
weather-wasted  features;  these  eyes,  which  have  been  almost 
converted  to  stone  by  looldng  upon  sights  of  terror;  these 
locks,  that,  mingled  with  gray,  now  stream  out,  the  shattered 
pennons  of  a  sinking  vessel — that  these,  and  she  to  whom 
they  belong,  could  once  be  the  objects  of  fond  affection? 
But  the  waning  lamp  sinks  fast,  and  let  it  sink  while  I  tell  my 
infamy.  We  loved  in  secret,  we  met  in  secret,  till  I  gave  the 
last  proof  of  fatal  and  of  guilty  passion!  And  now  beam  out, 
thou  magic  glimmer:  shine  out  a  little  space,  thou  flame  so 
powerful  even  in  thy  feebleness;  bid  him  who  hovers  near  us 
keep  his  dark  pinions  aloof  from  the  circle  thou  dost  illumi- 
nate; live  but  a  little  till  the  worst  be  told,  and  then  sink  when 
thou  wilt  into  darkness  as  black  as  my  guilt  and  sorrow!  " 

While  she  spoke  thus,  she  drew  together  the  remaining 
nutriment  of  the  lamp,  and  trimmed  its  decaying  flame;  then 
again,  with  a  hollow  voice  and  in  broken  sentences,  pursued 
her  narrative. 

"  I  must  waste  little  time  in  words.  Mv  love  was  discov- 
ered, but  not  my  guilt.  Erland  came  to  Pomona  in  anger, 
and  transported  me  to  our  solitary  dwelling  in  Hoy.  He 
commanded  me  to  see  my  lover  no  more,  and  to  receive  Mag- 
nus, in  whom  he  was  willing  to  forgive  the  offenses  of  his 
father,  as  my  future  husband.  Alas!  I  no  longer  deserved 
his  attachment;  my  only  wish  was  to  escape  from  my  father's 
dwelling,  to  conceal  my  shame  in  my  lover's  amis.  Let  me 
do  him  justice:  he  was  faithful — too,  too  faithful;  his  perfidy 
would  have  bereft  me  of  my  senses,  but  the  fatal  consequences 
of  his  fidelity  have  done  me  a  tenfold  injury." 

She  paused,  and  then  resumed,  with  the  wild  tone  of  in- 
sanity, "  It  has  made  me  the  powerful  and  the  despairing 
sovereign  of  the  seas  and  winds!  " 

She  paused  a  second  time  after  this  wild  exclamation,  and 
resumed  her  narrative  in  a  more  composed  manner. 


208  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

"  My  lover  came  in  secret  to  Hoy,  to  concert  measures  for 
my  flight,  and  I  agreed  to  meet  him,  that  we  might  fix  the 
time  when  his  vessel  should  come  into  the  sound.  I  left  the 
house  at  midnight." 

Here  she  appeared  to  gasp  with  agony,  and  went  on  with 
her  tale  by  broken  and  interrupted  sentences.  "  I  left  the 
house  at  midnight.  I  had  to  pass  my  father's  door,  and  I 
perceived  it  was  open.  I  thought  he  watched  us;  and,  that 
the  sound  of  my  steps  might  not  break  his  slumbers,  I  closed 
the  fatal  door — a  light  and  trivial  action,  but,  God  in  Heaven! 
what  were  the  consequences!  At  morn  the  room  was  full  of 
suffocating  vapor — my  father  was  dead — dead  through  my  act 
— dead  through  my  disobedience — dead  through  my  infamy! 
All  that  follows  is  mist  and  darkness — a  choking,  suffocating, 
stifling  mist  envelops  all  that  I  said  and  did,  all  that  was 
said  and  done,  until  I  became  assured  that  my  doom  was 
accomplished,  and  walked  forth  the  calm  and  terrible  being 
you  now  behold  me — the  queen  of  the  elements — the  sharer 
in  the  power  of  those  beings  to  whom  man  and  his  passions 
give  such  sport  as  the  tortures  of  the  dog-fish  afford  the  fisher- 
man, when  he  pierces  his  eyes  with  thorns,  and  turns  him 
once  more  into  his  native  element,  to  traverse  the  waves  in 
blindness  and  agony.*  No,  maidens,  she  whom  you  see  be- 
fore you  is  impassive  to  the  follies  of  which  your  minds  are 
the  sport.  I  am  she  that  have  made  the  offering— I  am  she 
that  bereaved  the  giver  of  the  gift  of  life  which  he  gave  me: 
the  dark  saying  has  been  interpreted  by  my  deed,  and  I  am 
taken  from  humanity,  to  be  something  pre-eminently  power- 
ful, pre-eminently  wretched!  " 

As  she  spoke  thus,  the  light,  which  had  been  long  quiver- 
ing, leaped  high  for  an  instant,  and  seemed  about  to  expire, 
when  Noma,  interrupting  herself,  said  hastily,  "  No  more 
now — he  comes — he  comes.  Enough  that  ye  know  me,  and 
the  right  I  have  to  advise  and  command  you.  Approach 
now,  proud  spirit!  if  thou  wilt." 

So  saying,  she  extinguished  the  lamp,  and  passed  out  of 
the  apartment  with  her  usual  loftiness  of  step,  as  Minna  could 
observe  from  its  measured  cadence. 

*  This  cruelty  is  practiced  by  eome  flsberB,  out  of  a  vindictive  hatred  to  tliese  raven- 
ons  fishes. 


CHAPTEE   XX. 

Is  all  the  counsel  that  we  two  have  shared 
The  sisters'  vows,  the  hours  tliat  we  have  spent, 
When  we  have  chid  the  hasty-footed  time 
For  parting  us— O,  and  is  all  forgot  ! 

— Midsummer  NighVs  Dream,. 

The  attention  of  Minna  was  powerfully  arrested  by  this 
tale  of  terror,  which  accorded  with  and  explained  many 
broken  hints  respecting  Noma  which  she  had  heard  from 
her  father  and  other  near  relations,  and  she  was  for  a  time  so 
lost  in  surprise,  not  unmingled  with  horror,  that  she  did  not 
even  attempt  to  speak  to  her  sister  Brenda.  When,  at  length, 
she  called  her  by  her  name,  she  received  no  answer,  and,  on 
touching  her  hand,  she  found  it  cold  as  ice.  x'Vlarmed  to  the 
uttermost,  she  threw  open  the  lattice  and  the  window- 
shutters,  and  admitted  at  once  the  free  air  and  the  pale  glim- 
mer of  the  hyperborean  summer  night.  She  then  became 
sensible  that  her  sister  was  in  a  swoon.  All  thoughts  con- 
cerning Noma,  her  frightful  tale,  and  her  mysterious  connec- 
tion with  the  invisible  world,  at  once  vanished  from  Minna's 
thoughts,  and  she  hastily  ran  to  the  apartment  of  the  old 
housekeeper,  to  summon  her  aid,  without  reflecting  for  a  mo- 
ment what  sights  she  might  encounter  in  the  long  dark  pass- 
ages which  she  had  to  traverse. 

The  old  woman  hastened  to  Brenda's  assistance,  and  in- 
stantly applied  such  remedies  as  her  experience  suggested; 
but  the  poor  girl's  nervous  system  had  been  so  much  agitated 
by  the  horrible  tale  she  had  just  heard  that,  when  recovered 
from  her  swoon,  her  utmost  endeavors  to  compose  her  mind 
could  not  prevent  her  falling  into  a  hysterical  fit  of  some 
duration.  This  also  was  subdued  by  the  experience  of  old 
pAiphane  Fea,  who  was  well  versed  in  all  the  simple  pharmacy 
used  by  the  natives  of  Zetland,  and  who,  after  administering 
a  composing-draught,  distilled  from  simples  and  wild  flowers, 
at  length  saw  her  patient  resigned  to  sleep.  IMinna  stretched 
herself  beside  her  sister,  kissed  her  cheek,  and  courted  slum- 
ber in  her  turn;  but  the  more  she  invoked  it,  the  farther  it 
seemed  to  fly  from  her  eyelids;  and  if  at  times  she  was  dis- 
posed to  sink  into  repose,  the  voice  of  the  involuntary  parri- 

809 


210  WAVEELEY  NOVELS. 

cide  seemed  again  to  sound  in  her  ears,  and  startled  her  into 
consciousness. 

The  early  morning  hour  at  which  they  were  accustomed  to 
rise  found  the  state  of  the  sisters  dill'erent  from  what  might 
have  been  expected.  A  sound  sleep  had  restored  the  spirit  of 
Brenda's  lightsome  eye,  and  the  rose  on  her  laughing  cheek; 
the  transient  indisposition  of  the  preceding  night  having  left 
as  little  trouble  on  her  look  as  the  fantastic  terrors  of  Noma's 
tale  had  bee*n  able  to  impress  on  her  imagination.  The  looks 
of  Minna,  on  the  contrary,  were  melancholy,  downcast,  and 
apparently  exhausted  by  watching  and  anxiety.  They  said 
at  first  little  to  each  other,  as  if  afraid  of  touching  a  subject 
so  fraught  with  emotion  as  the  scene  of  the  preceding  night. 
It  was  not  until  they  had  performed  together  their  devotions, 
as  usual,  that  Brenda,  while  lacing  Minna's  bodice  (for  they 
rendered  the  services  of  the  toilet  to  each  other  reciprocally), 
became  aware  of  the  paleness  of  her  sister's  looks;  and  having 
ascertained,  by  a  glance  at  the  mirror,  that  her  own  did  not 
wear  the  same  dejection,  she  kissed  Minna's  cheek,  and  said 
affectionately,  "  Claud  Halcro  was  right,  my  dearest  sister, 
when  his  poetical  folly  gave  us  these  names  of  Night  and 
Day." 

"  And  wherefore  should  you  say  so  now?  "  said  Minna. 

"  Because  we  each  are  bravest  in  the  season  that  we  take 
our  name  from:  I  was  frghtened  well-nigh  to  death  by  hear- 
ing those  things  last  night  which  you  endured  with  coura- 
geous firmness;  and  now,  when  it  is  broad  light,  I  can  think  of 
them  with  composure,  while  you  look  as  pale  as  a  spirit  who 
is  surprised  by  sunrise." 

"  You  are  lucky,  Brenda,"  said  her  sister  gravely,  "  who 
can  so  soon  forget  such  a  tale  of  wonder  and  horror." 

"  The  horror,"  said  Brenda,  "  is  never  to  be  forgotten,  un- 
less one  could  hope  that  the  unfortunate  woman's  excited 
imagination,  which  shows  itself  so  active  in  conjuring  up 
apparitions,  may  have  fixed  on  her  an  imaginary  crime." 

"  You  believe  nothing,  then,"  said  Minna,  "  of  her  inter- 
view at  the  Dwarfie  Stone,  that  wondrous  place,  of  which  so 
many  tales  are  told,  and  which,  for  so  many  centuries,  has 
been  reverenced  as  the  work  of  a  demon,  and  as  his  abode?  " 

"  I  believe,"  said  Brenda,  "  that  our  unhappy  relative  is  no 
impostor;  and  therefore  I  believe  that  she  was  at  the  Dwarfie 
Stone  during  a  thunderstorm,  that  she  sought  shelter  in  it, 
and  that,  during  a  swoon,  or  during  sleep  perhaps,  some 
dream  visited  her,  concerned  with  the  popular  traditions  with 


THE  PIRATE.  211 

which  she  was  so  conversant;  but  I  cannot  easily  believe 
more." 

"  And  yet  the  event,"  said  Minna,  "  corresponded  to  the 
dark  intimations  of  the  vision." 

"  Pardon  me,"  said  Brenda,  "  I  rather  think  the  dream 
would  never  have  been  put  into  shape,  or  perhaps  remembered 
at  all,  but  for  the  event.  She  told  us  herself  she  had  nearly 
forgot  the  vision,  till  after  her  father's  dreadful  death;  and 
who  shall  warrant  how  much  of  what  she  then  supposed  her- 
self to  remember  was  not  the  creation  of  her  own  fancy,  dis- 
ordered as  it  naturally  was  by  the  horrid  accident?  Had  she 
really  seen  and  conversed  with  a  necromantic  dwarf,  she  was 
likely  to  remember  the  conversation  long  enough — at  least  I 
am  sure  I  should." 

"  Brenda,"  replied  Minna,  "  you  have  heard  the  good  minis- 
ter of  the  Cross  kirk  say,  that  human  wisdom  was  worse  than 
folly,  when  it  was  applied  to  mysteries  beyond  its  comprehen- 
sion; and  that,  if  we  believed  no  more  than  we  could  under- 
stand, we  should  resist  the  evidence  of  our  senses,  which  pre- 
sented us,  at  ever}'  turn,  circumstances  as  certain  as  they  were 
unintelligible." 

"  You  are  too  learned  yourself,  sister,"  answered  Brenda, 
"  to  need  the  assistance  of  the  good  minister  of  Cross  kirk; 
but  I  think  his  doctrine  only  related  to  the  mysteries  of  our 
religion,  which  it  is  our  duty  to  receive  without  investigation 
or  doubt;  but  in  things  occurring  in  common  life,  as  God  has 
bestowed  reason  upon  us,  we  cannot  act  wrong  in  employing 
it.  But  you,  my  dear  Minna,  have  a  warmer  fancy  than 
mine,  and  are  willing  to  receive  all  those  wonderful  stories  for 
truth,  because  you  love  to  think  of  sorcerers,  and  dwarfs,  and 
water-spirits,  and  would  like  much  to  have  a  little  trow,  or 
fairy,  as  the  Scotch  call  them,  with  a  green  coat,  and  a  pair 
of  wings  as  brilliant  as  the  hues  of  the  starling's  neck,  spe- 
cially to  attend  on  you." 

"  It  would  spare  you  at  least  the  trouble  of  lacing  my 
bodice,"  said  Minna,  "  and  of  lacing  it  wrong,  too;  for  in  the 
heat  of  your  argument  you  have  missed  two  eyelet-holes." 

"  That  error  shall  be  presently  mended,"  said  Brenda; 
"  and  then,  as  one  of  our  friends  might  say,  I  will  haul  tight 
and  belay — but  you  draw  your  breath  so  deeply,  that  it  will 
be  a  difficult  matter." 

"  I  only  sighed,"  said  Minna,  in  some  confusion,  "  to  think 
how  soon  you  can  trifle  with  and  ridicule  the  misfortunes  of 
this  extraordinai'y  woman." 


212  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

"I  do  not  ridicule  them,  God  knows!"  replied  Brenda, 
somewhat  angrily;  "  it  is  you,  Minna,  who  turn  all  I  say  in 
truth  and  kindness  to  something  harsh  or  wicked.  I  look  on 
Noma  as  a  woman  of  very  extraordinary  abilities,  which  are 
very  often  united  with  a  strong  cast  of  insanity;  and  I  con- 
sider her  as  better  skilled  in  the  signs  of  the  weather  than  any 
woman  in  Zetland.  But  that  she  has  any  power  over  the  ele- 
ments I  no  more  believe  than  I  do  in  the  nursery  stories  of 
King  Erick,  who  could  make  the  wind  blow  from  the  point 
he  set  his  cap  to." 

Minna,  somewhat  nettled  with  the  obstinate  incredulity  of 
her  sister,  replied  sharply,  "  And  yet,  Brenda,  this  woman — 
half-mad  woman,  and  the  veriest  impostor — is  the  person  by 
whom  you  choose  to  be  advised  in  the  matter  next  your  own 
heart  at  this  moment!  " 

"  I  do  not  know  what  you  mean,"  said  Brenda,  coloring 
deeply,  and  shifting  to  get  away  from  her  sister.  But  as  she 
was  now  undergoing  the  ceremony  of  being  laced  in  her  turn, 
her  sister  had  the  means  of  holding  her  fast  by  the  silken 
string  with  which  she  was  fastening  the  bodice,  and,  tapping 
her  on  the  neck,  which  expressed,  by  its  sudden  writhe  and 
sudden  change  to  a  scarlet  hue,  as  much  pettish  confusion  as 
she  had  desired  to  provoke,  she  added,  more  mildly,  "  Is  it 
not  strange,  Brenda,  that,  used  as  we  have  been  by  the  stran- 
ger Mordaunt  Mertoun,  whose  assurance  has  brought  him  un- 
invited to  a  house  where  his  presence  is  so  unacceptable,  you 
should  still  look  or  think  of  him  with  favor?  Surely,  that 
you  do  so  should  be  a  proof  to  you  that  there  are  such  things 
as  spells  in  the  country,  and  that  you  yourself  labor 
under  them.  It  is  not  for  naught  that  Mordaunt  wears  a 
chain  of  elfin  gold;  look  to  it,  Brenda,  and  be  wise  in 
time." 

"  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  Mordaunt  Mertoun,"  answered 
Brenda  hastily,  "  nor  do  I  know  or  care  what  he  or  any  other 
young  man  wears  about  his  neck.  I  could  see  all  the  gold 
chains  of  all  the  bailies  of  Edinburgh,  that  Lady  Glowrow- 
rum  speaks  so  much  of,  without  falling  in  fancy  with  one  of 
the  wearers."  And,  having  thus  complied  with  the  female 
rule  of  pleading  not  guilty  in  general  to  such  an  indictment, 
she  immediately  resumed,  in  a  different  tone,  "  But.  to  say 
the  truth,  Minna,  I  think  you,  and  all  of  you,  have  judged  far 
too  hastily  about  this  joung  friend  of  ours,  who  has  been  so 
long  our  most  intimate  companion.  Mind,  Mordaunt  Mer- 
toun is  no  more  to  me  than  he  is  to  you,  who  best  know  how 


THE  PIRATE.  213 

little  difference  he  made  betwixt  us;  and  that,  chain  or  no 
chain,  he  lived  with  us  like  a  brother  with  two  sisters;  and 
yet  you  can  turn  him  off  at  once,  because  a  wandering  sea- 
man, of  whom  we  know  nothing,  and  a  peddling  jagger,  whom 
we  do  know  to  be  a  thief,  a  cheat,  and  a  liar,  speak  words  and 
carry  tales  in  his  disfavor!  I  do  not  believe  he  ever  said  he 
could  have  his  cho-ice  of  either  of  us,  and  only  waited  to  see 
which  was  to  have  Burgh- Westra  and  Bredness  Voe.  I  do 
not  believe  he  ever  spoke  such  a  word,  or  harbored  such  a 
thought,  as  that  of  making  a  choice  between  us," 

"  Perhaps,"  said  Minna  coldly,  "  you  may  have  had  reason 
to  know  that  his  choice  was  already  determined." 

"I  will  not  endure  this!"  said  Brenda.  giving  way  to  her 
natural  vivacity,  and  springing  from  between  her  sister's 
hands;  then  turning  round  and  facing  her,  while  her  glowing 
cheek  was  rivaled  in  the  deepness  of  its  crimson  by  as  much 
of  her  neck  and  bosom  as  the  upper  part  of  the  half-laced 
bodice  permitted  to  be  visible.  "  Even  from  you,  Minna," 
she  said,  "I  will  not  endure  this!  You  know  that  all  my 
life  I  have  spoken  the  truth,  and  that  I  love  the  truth;  and  T 
tell  you  that  Mordaunt  Mertoun  never  in  his  life  made  dis- 
tinction betwixt  you  and  me,  until " 

Here  some  feeling  of  consciousness  stopped  her  short,  and 
her  sister  replied,  with  a  smile,  "Until  ichen,  Brenda?  Me- 
thinks  your  love  of  truth  seems  choked  with  the  sentence  you 
were  bringing  out." 

"  Until  you  ceased  to  do  him  the  justice  he  deserves,"  said 
Brenda  firmly,  "  since  I  must  speak  out.  I  have  little  doubt 
that  he  will  not  long  throw  away  his  friendship  on  you,  who 
hold  it  so  lightly." 

"  Be  it  so,"  said  Minna;  "  you  are  secure  from  my  rivalry, 
either  in  his  friendship  or  love.  But  bethink  you  better, 
Brenda;  this  is  no  scandal  of  Cleveland's — Cleveland  is  in- 
capable of  slander — no  falsehood  of  Br}'ce  Snailsfoot;  not  one 
of  our  friends  or  acquaintance  but  says  it  has  been  the  com- 
mon talk  of  the  island,  that  the  daughters  of  Magnus  Troil 
were  patiently  awaiting  the  choice  of  the  nameless  and  birth- 
less  stranger,  Mordaunt  Mertoun.  Is  it  fitting  that  this 
should  be  said  of  us.  the  descendants  of  a  Norwegian  jarl,  and 
the  daughters  of  the  first  Udaller  in  Zetland?  or  would  it  be 
modest  or  maidenly  to  submit  to  it  unresented,  were  we  the 
meanest  lasses  that  ever  lifted  a  milk  pail?  " 

"  The  tongues  of  fools  are  no  reproach,"  replied  Brenda 
warmly;  "  I  will  never  quit  my  own  thoughts  of  an  innocent 


«U  WAVEELE7  NOVELS. 

friend  for  the  gossip  of  the  island,  which  can  put  the  worst 
meaning  on  the  most  innocent  actions." 

"  Hear  but  what  our  friends  say,"  repeated  Minna;  "  hear 
but  the  Lady  Glowrowrum;  hear  but  Maddie  and  Clara  Groat- 
settar." 

"  If  I  were  to  hear  Lady  Glowrowrum,"  said  Brenda 
steadily,  "  I  should  listen  to  the  worst  tongue  in  Zetland;  and 
as  for  Maddie  and  Clara  Groatsettar,  they  were  both  blithe 
enough  to  get  Mordaunt  to  sit  betwixt  them  at  dinner  the  day 
before  yesterday,  as  you  might  have  observed  yourself,  but 
that  your  ear  was  better  engaged." 

"  Your  eyes,  at  least,  have  been  but  indifferently  engaged, 
Brenda,"  retorted  the  elder  sister,  "  since  they  were  fixed  on 
a  young  man  whom  all  the  world  but  yourself  believes  to  have 
talked  of  us  with  the  most  insolent  presumption;  and  even  if 
he  be  innocently  charged.  Lady  Glowrowrum  says  it  is  un- 
maidenly  and  bold  of  you  even  to  look  in  the  direction  where 
he  sits,  knowing  it  must  confirm  such  reports." 

"  I  will  look  which  way  I  please,"  said  Brenda.,  growing  still 
warmer.  "  Ivady  Glowrowrum  shall  neither  rule  my 
thoughts,  nor  my  words,  nor  my  eyes.  I  hold  Mordaunt  Mer- 
toun  to  be  innocent — I  will  look  at  him  as  such — I  will  speak 
of  him  as  such;  and  if  I  did  not  speak  to  him  also,  and  be- 
have to  him  as  usual,  it  is  in  obedience  to  my  father,  and  not 
for  what  Lady  Glowrowrum  and  all  her  neices,  had  she  twenty 
instead  of  two,  could  think,  wink,  nod,  or  tattle  about  the 
matter  that  concerns  them  not." 

"Alas!  Brenda,"  answered  Minna,  with  calmness,  "tliis 
vivacity  is  more  than  is  required  for  the  defense  of  the  char- 
acter of  a  mere  friend!  Beware!  He  who  ruined  Noma's 
peace  forever  was  a  stranger,  admitted  to  her  affections 
against  the  will  of  her  family." 

"  He  was  a  stranger,"  replied  Brenda,  with  emphasis,  "  not 
only  in  birth  but  in  manners.  She  had  not  been  bred  up 
with  him  from  her  youth;  she  had  not  known  the  gentleness, 
the  frankness  of  his  disposition  by  an  intimacy  of  many  years. 
He  was  indeed  a  stranger,  in  character,  temper,  birth,  man- 
ners, and  morals;  some  wandering  adventurer,  perhaps,  whom 
chance  or  tempest  had  thrown  upon  the  islands,  and  who 
knew  how  to  mask  a  false  heart  with  a  frank  brow.  My  good 
sister,  take  home  your  own  warning.  There  are  other  stran- 
gers at  Burgh- Westra  besides  this  poor  Mordaunt  Mertoun." 

Minna  seemed  for  a  moment  overwhelmed  with  the  rapidity 
with  which  her  sister  retorted  her  suspicion  and  her  caution. 


THE  PIRATE.  215 

But  her  natural  loftiness  of  disposition  enabled  her  to  reply 
with  assumed  composure. 

"  Were  I  to  treat  you,  Brenda,  with  the  want  of  confidence 
you  show  toward  me,  I  might  reply  that  Cleveland  is  no  more 
to  me  than  Mordaunt  was;  or  than  young  Swaraster,  or  Lau- 
rence Ericson,  or  any  other  favorite  guest  of  my  father's,  now 
is.  But  I  scorn  to  deceive  you,  or  to  disguise  my  thoughts. 
I  love  Clement  Cleveland." 

"  Do  not  say  so,  my  dearest  sister,"  said  Brenda,  abandon- 
ing at  once  the  air  of  acrimony  with  which  the  conversation 
had  been  latterly  conducted,  and  throwing  her  arms  round 
her  sister's  neck,  with  looks,  and  with  a  tone,  of  the  most 
earnest  affection — "  do  not  say  so,  I  implore  you!  I  will  re- 
nounce Mordaunt  Mertoun,  I  will  swear  never  to  speak  to 
him  again;  but  do  not  repeat  that  you  love  this  Cleveland!  " 

"  And  why  should  I  not  repeat,"  said  Minna,  disengaging 
herself  gently  from  her  sister's  grasp,  "  a  sentiment  in  which 
I  glory?  The  boldness,  the  strength  and  energy,  of  his  char- 
acter, to  which  command  is  natural  and  fear  unknown — these 
very  properties,  which  alarm  you  for  my  happiness,  are  the 
qualities  which  insure  it.  Eemember,  Brenda,  that  when 
your  foot  loved  the  calm,  smooth  sea-beach  of  the  summer 
sea,  mine  ever  delighted  in  the  summit  of  the  precipice  when 
the  waves  are  in  fury." 

"  And  it  is  even  that  which  I  dread,"  said  Brenda;  "  it  is 
even  that  adventurous  disposition  which  now  is  urging  you  to 
the  brink  of  a  precipice  more  dangerous  than  ever  was  washed 
by  a  spring-tide.  This  man — do  not  frown,  I  will  say  no 
slander  of  him — but  is  he  not,  even  in  your  own  partial  judg- 
ment, stern  and  overbearing?  accustomed,  as  you  say,  to  com- 
mand; but,  for  that  very  reason,  commanding  where  he  has 
no  right  to  do  so,  and  leading  whom  it  would  most  become 
him  to  follow?  rushing  on  danger,  rather  for  its  own  sake 
than  for  any  other  object?  And  can  you  think  of  being 
yoked  with  a  spirit  so  unsettled  and  stormy,  whose  life  has 
hitherto  been  led  in  scenes  of  death  and  peril,  and  who,  even 
while  sitting  by  your  side,  cannot  disguise  his  impatience 
again  to  engage  in  them?  A  lover,  methinks,  should  love  his 
mistress  better  than  his  own  life;  but  yours,  my  dear  Minna, 
loves  her  less  than  the  pleasure  of  inflicting  death  on  others." 

"  And  it  is  even  for  that  I  love  him,"  said  Minna.  "  I  am 
a  daughter  of  the  old  dames  of  Norway,  who  could  send  their 
lovers  to  battle  with  a  smile,  and  slay  them  with  their  own 
hands  if  they  returned  with  dishonor.     My  lover  must  scom 


216  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

the  mockeries  by  which  our  degraded  race  strive  for  distine- 
lion,  or  must  practice  them  only  in  sport,  and  in  earnest  of 
nobk'r  dangers.  No  whale-striking,  bird-nesting  favorite  for 
me:  my  lover  must  be  a  sea-king,  or  what  else  modem  times 
may  give  that  draws  near  to  that  lofty  character." 

"  Alas,  my  sister!  "  said  Brenda,  "  it  is  now  that  I  must  in 
earnest  begin  to  believe  the  force  of  spells  and  of  charms. 
You  remember  the  Spanish  story  which  you  took  from  me 
long  since,  because  I  said,  in  your  admiration  of  the  chivalry 
of  the  olden  times  of  Scandinavia,  you  rivaled  the  extrava- 
gance of  the  hero.  Ah,  Minna,  your  color  shows  that  your 
conscience  checks  you,  and  reminds  you  of  the  book  I  mean; 
is  it  more  wise,  think  you,  to  mistake  a  windmill  for  a  giant, 
or  the  commander  of  a  paltry  corsair  for  a  kiempe  or  a 
viking?  " 

Minna  did  indeed  color  with  anger  at  this  insinuation,  of 
which,  perhaps,  she  felt  in  some  degree  the  truth. 

"  You  have  a  right,"  she  said,  "  to  insult  me,  because  you 
are  possessed  of  my  secret." 

Brenda's  soft  heart  could  not  resist  this  charge  of  unkind- 
ness;  she  adjured  her  sister  to  pardon  her,  and  the  natural 
gentleness  of  Minna's  feelings  could  not  resist  her  entreaties. 

"  We  are  unhappy,"  she  said,  as  she  dried  her  sister's  tears, 
"  that  we  cannot  see  with  the  same  eyes;  let  us  not  make  each 
other  more  so  by  mutual  insult  and  unkindness.  You  have 
my  secret;  it  will  not,  perhaps,  long  be  one,  for  my  father 
shall  have  the  confidence  to  which  he  is  entitled,  so  soon  as 
certain  circumstances  will  permit  me  to  offer  it.  Meantime, 
I  repeat,  you  have  my  secret,  and  I  more  than  suspect  that  I 
have  yours  in  exchange,  though  you  refuse  to  own  it." 

"How,  Minna!"  said  Brenda;  "would  you  have  me  ac- 
knowledge for  anyone  such  feelings  as  you  allude  to,  ere  he 
has  said  the  least  word  that  could  justify  such  a  confession?  " 

"  Surely  not;  but  a  hidden  fire  may  be  distinguished  by 
heat  as  well  as  flame." 

"  You  understand  these  signs,  Minna,"  said  Brenda,  hang- 
ing down  her  head,  and  in  vain  endeavoring  to  suppress  the 
temptation  to  repartee  which  her  sister's  remark  offered;  "  but 
I  can  only  say  that,  if  ever  I  love  at  all,  it  shall  not  be  until 
I  have  been  asked  to  do  so  once  or  twice  at  least,  which  has 
not  yet  chanced  to  me.  But  do  not  let  us  renew  our  quarrel, 
and  rather  let  us  think  why  Noma  should  have  told  us  that 
horrible  tale,  and  to  what  she  expects  it  should  lead." 

"  It  must  have  been  as  a  caution,"  replied  Minna — "  a  cau- 


THE  PIRATE.  217 

tion  which  our  situation,  and,  I  will  not  deny  it,  which  mine 
in  particular,  might  seem  to  her  to  call  for;  but  I  am  alike 
strong  in  my  own  innocence  and  in  the  honor  of  Cleveland." 

Brenda  would  fain  have  replied  that  she  did  not  confide  so 
absolutely  in  the  latter  security  as  in  the  first;  but  she  was 
prudent,  and,  forbearing  to  awaken  the  former  painful  dis- 
cussion, only  replied,  "  It  is  strange  that  Noma  should  have 
said  nothing  more  of  her  lover.  Surely  he  could  not  desert 
her  in  the  extremity  of  misery  to  which  he  had  reduced  her?  " 

"  There  may  be  agonies  of  distress,"  said  Minna,  after  a 
pause,  "  in  which  the  mind  is  so  much  Jarred  that  it  ceases  to 
be  responsive  even  to  the  feelings  which  have  most  engrossed 
it:  her  sorrow  for  her  lover  may  have  been  swallowed  up  in 
horror  and  despair." 

"  Or  he  might  have  fled  from  the  islands  in  fear  of  our 
father's  vengeance,"  replied  Brenda. 

"  If  for  fear  or  faintness  of  heart,"  said  Minna,  looking 
upward,  "  he  was  capable  of  flying  from  the  ruin  which  he 
had  occasioned.  I  trust  he  has  long  ere  this  sustained  the 
punishment  which  Heaven  reserves  for  the  most  base  and  das- 
tardly of  traitors  and  of  cowards.  Come,  sister,  we  are  ere 
this  expected  at  the  breakfast  board." 

And  they  went  thither,  arm  in  ann,  with  much  more  of 
confidence  than  had  lately  subsisted  between  them;  the  little 
quarrel  which  had  taken  place  having  ser\^ed  the  purpose  of  a 
"  bourasque,"  or  sudden  squall,  which  dispels  mists  and 
vapors,  and  leaves  fair  weather  behind  it. 

On  their  way  to  the  breakfast  apartment,  they  agreed  that 
it  was  unnecessary,  and  might  be  imprudent,  to  communicate 
to  their  father  the  circumstance  of  the  nocturnal  visit,  or  to 
let  him  obser^'e  that  they  now  knew  more  than  formerly  of 
the  melancholy  history  of  Noma. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

But  lost  to  me,  for  ever  lost  those  joys, 
Which  reason  scatters,  iiud  which  time  destroys. 
No  more  the  midnight  fairy-train  I  view, 
All  in  the  merry  moonlight  tippling  dew. 
Even  the  last  lingering  fiction  of  the  braiu, 
The  churchyard  ghost,  is  now  at  rest  again. 

—  The  Library. 

The  moral  bard,*  from  whom  we  borrow  the  motto  of  this 
chapter,  has  touched  a  theme  with  which  most  readers  have 
some  feelings  that  vibrate  unconsciously.  Superstition,  when 
not  arrayed  in  her  full  horrors,  but  laying  a  gentle  hand  only 
on  her  suppliant's  head,  had  charms  which  we  fail  not  to  re- 
gret, even  in  those  stages  of  society  from  which  her  influ- 
ence is  well-nigh  banished  by  the  light  of  reason  and  general 
education.  At  least,  in  more  ignorant  periods,  her  system  of 
ideal  terrors  had  something  in  them  interesting  to  minds 
which  had  few  means  of  excitement.  This  is  more  especially 
true  of  those  lighter  modifications  of  the  superstitious  feel- 
ings and  practices  which  mingle  in  the  amusements  of  the 
ruder  ages,  and  are,  like  the  auguries  of  Hallow-e'en  in  Scot- 
land, considered  partly  as  matter  of  merriment,  partly  as  sad 
and  prophetic  earnest.  And,  with  similar  feelings,  people 
even  of  tolerable  education  have,  in  our  times,  sought  the  cell 
of  a  fortune-teller,  upon  a  frolic,  as  it  is  termed,  and  yet  not 
always  in  a  disposition  absolutely  skeptical  toward  the  re- 
sponses they  receive. 

When  the  sisters  of  Burgh- Westra  arrived  in  the  apartment 
destined  for  a  breakfast  as  ample  as  that  which  we  have  de- 
scribed on  the  preceding  morning,  and  had  undergone  a  jocu- 
lar rebuke  from  the  Udaller  for  their  late  attendance,  they 
found  the  company,  most  of  whom  had  already  breakfasted, 
engaged  in  an  ancient  Norwegian  custom  of  the  character 
which  we  have  just  described. 

It  seems  to  have  been  borrowed  from  those  poems  of  the 
Scalds  in  which  champions  and  heroines  are  so  often  rep- 
resented as  seeking  to  know  their  destiny  from  some  sorceress 
or  prophetess,  who,  as  in  the  legend  called  by  Gray  the  "  De- 
scent of  Odin,"  awakens  by  the  force  of  Eunic  rhyme  the 
♦  Rev.  George  Crabbe.— iaing'. 
^218 


I 


THE  PIRATE.  219 

unwilling  revealer  of  the  doom  of  fate,  and  compels  from  her 
answers,  often  of  dubious  import,  but  which  were  then  be- 
lieved to  express  some  shadow  of  the  events  of  futurity. 

An  old  sibyl,  Euphane  Fea,  the  housekeeper  we  have 
already  mentioned,  was  installed  in  the  recess  of  a  large  win- 
dow, studiously  darkened  by  bearskins  and  other  miscellane- 
ous drapery,  so  as  to  give  it  something  the  appearance  of  a 
Laplander's  hut,  and  accommodated,  like  a  confessional  chair, 
with  an  aperture,  which  permitted  the  person  within  to  hear 
with  ease  whatever  questions  should  be  put,  though  not  to  see 
the  querist.  Here  seated,  the  voluspa,  or  sibyl,  was  to  Hsten 
to  the  rhythmical  inquiries  which  should  be  made  to  her,  and 
return  an  extemporaneous  answer.  The  drapery  was  sup- 
posed to  prevent  her  from  seeing  by  what  individuals  she  was 
consulted,  and  the  intended  or  accidental  reference  which  the 
answer  given  under  such  circumstances  bore  to  the 
situation  of  the  person  by  whom  the  question  was  asked 
often  furnished  food  for  laughter,  and  sometimes,  as  it 
happened,  for  more  serious  reflection.  The  sibyl  was 
usually  chosen  from  her  possessing  the  talent  of  im- 
provisation in  the  Norse  poetry;  no  unusual  accom- 
plishment, where  the  minds  of  many  were  stored  with 
old.  verses,  and  where  the  rules  of  metrical  composition  are 
uncommonly  simple.  The  questions  were  also  put  in  verse; 
but  as  this  power  of  extemporaneous  composition,  though 
common,  could  not  be  supposed  universal,  the  medium  of  an 
interpreter  might  be  used  by  any  querist,  which  interpreter, 
holding  the  consulter  of  the  "oracle  by  the  hand,  and  standing 
by  the  place  from  which  the  oracles  were  issued,  had  the  task 
of  rendering  into  verse  the  subject  of  inquiry.* 

On  the  present  occasion,  Claud  Halcro  was  summoned,  bv 
the  universal  voice,  to  perform  the  part  of  interpreter;  and, 
after  shaking  his  head  and  muttering  some  apology  for  decay 
of  memory  and  poetical  powers,  contradicted  at  once  by  his 
own  conscious  smile  of  confidence  and  by  the  general  shout 
of  the  company,  the  light-hearted  old  man  came  forward  to 
play  his  part  in  the  proposed  entertainment. 

But,  just  as  it  was  about  to  commence,  the  arrangement  of 
parts  was  singularly  altered.  Noma  of  the  Fitful  Head, 
whom  everyone  excepting  the  two  sisters  believed  to  be  at 
the  distance  of  many  miles,  suddenly,  and  without  greeting, 
entered  the  apartment,  walked  majestically  up  to  the  bear- 
skin  tabernacle,   and   signed   to   the   female   who   was   therp 

*  See  Fortune-telling  Rhymes.    Note  28. 


230  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

seated  to  abdicate  her  sanctuary.  The  old  woman  came  forth, 
shaking  her  head  and  looking  like  one  overwhelmed  with  fear; 
nor,  indeed,  were  there  many  in  the  company  who  saw  with 
absolute  composure  the  sudden  appearance  of  a  person  so 
well  known  and  so  generally  dreaded  as  Noma. 

She  paused  a  moment  at  the  entrance  of  the  tent;  and,  as 
she  raised  the  skin  which  formed  the  entrance,  sihe  looked  up 
to  the  north,  as  if  imploring  from  that  quarter  a  strain  of 
inspiration;  then  signing  to  the  surprised  guests  that  they 
might  approach  in  succession  the  shrine  in  which  she  was 
about  to  install  herself,  she  entered  the  tent,  and  was 
shrouded  from  their  sight. 

But  this  was  a  different  sport  from  what  the  company  had 
meditated,  and  to  most  of  them  seemed  to  present  so  much 
more  of  earnest  than  of  game  that  there  was  no  alacrity  shown 
to  consult  the  oracle.  The  character  and  pretensions  of  Noma 
seemed,  to  almost  all  present,  too  serious  for  the  part  which 
she  had  assumed;  the  men  whispered  to  each  other,  and  the 
women,  according  to  Claud  Halcro,  realized  the  description  of 
glorious  John  Dryden: 

With  horror  shuddering,  in  a  heap  they  ran. 

The  pause  was  interrupted  by  the  loud,  manly  voice  of  tha 
TJdaller.  "  Why  does  the  game  stand  still,  my  masters?  'Are 
you  afraid  because  my  kinswoman  is  to  play  our  voluspa?  It 
is  kindly  done  in  her,  to  do  for  us  what  none  in  the  isles  can 
do  so  well;  and  we  will  not  balk  our  sport  for  it,  but  rather 
go  on  the  merrier." 

There  was  still  a  pause  in  the  company,  and  Magnus  Troil 
added,  "  It  shall  never  be  said  that  my  kinswoman  sat  in  her 
bower  unhalsed,  as  if  she  were  some  of  the  old  mountain 
giantesses,  and  all  from  faint  heart.  I  will  speak  first  my- 
self; but  the  rhyme  comes  worse  from  my  tongue  than  when  I 
was  a  score  of  years  younger.  Claud  Halcro,  you  must  stand 
by  me." 

Hand  in  hand  they  approached  the  shrine  of  the  supposed 
sibyl,  and  after  a  moment's  consultation  together,  Halcro  thus 
expressed  the  query  of  his  friend  and  patron.  Now,  the 
Udaller,  like  many  persons  of  consequence  in  Zetland,  who, 
as  Sir  Eobert  Sibbald  has  testified  *  for  tl  em,  had  begun  thus 
early  to  apply  both  to  commerce  and  navigation,  was  con- 
cerned to  some  extent  in  the  whale-fishery  of  the  season,  and 

*  "  The  Description  of  the  Isles  of  Orkney  and  Zetland  "  was  published  by  Sir  Robert 
Sibbald,  M.  D.,  Edinburgh,  1711,  foWo.—Laing. 


THE  PIRATE.  221 

the  bard  had  been  directed  to  put  into  his  halting  verse  an 
inquiry  concerning  its  success. 

Claud  Halcro: 

•'  Mother  darksome,  mother  dread. 
Dweller  on  the  Fitful  Head, 
Thou  canst  see  what  deeds  are  done 
Under  the  never-settinj?  sun. 
Look  through  sleet,  and  look  through  frost, 
Look  to  Greenland's  caves  and  coast, — 
By  the  iceberg  is  a  sail 
Chasing  of  the  swarthy  whale  ; 
Mother  doubtful,  mother  dread, 
Tell  us,  has  the  good  ship  sped  ?  " 

The  jest  seemed  to  turn  to  earnest,  as  all,  bendiu^c  their 
heads  around,  listened  to  the  voice  of  Noma,  who,  without  a 
moment's  hesitation,  answered  from  the  recesses  of  the  tent 
in  which  she  was  inclosed: 

Nokka: 

"  The  thought  of  the  aged  is  ever  on  gear, — 
On  his  fishing,  his  furrow,  his  flock,  and  his  steer  ; 
But  thrive  may  his  fishing,  flock,  furrow,  and  herd, 
While  the  aged  for  anguish  shall  tear  his  gray  beard." 

There  was  a  momentary  pause,  during  which  Triptolemus 
had  time  to  whisper,  "  If  ten  witches  and  as  many  warlocks 
were  to  swear  it,  I  will  never  believe  that  a  decent  man  will 
either  fash  his  beard  or  himself  about  anHhing  so  long  as 
stock  and  crop  goes  as  it  should  do." 

But  the  voice  from  within  the  tent  resumed  its  low,  mo- 
notonous tone  of  recitation,  and,  interrupting  further  com- 
mentary, proceeded  as  follows: 

NOBNA. 

"  The  ship,  well-laden  as  bark  need  be, 
Lies  deep  in  the  furrow  of  the  Iceland  sea; 
The  breeze  for  Zetland  blows  fair  and  soft, 
And  gayly  the  garland  is  fluttering  aloft; 
Seven  good  fishes  have  spouted  their  last. 
And  their  jaw-bones  are  hanging  to  yard  and  mast; 
Two  are  for  Lerwick,  and  two  for  Kirkwall, 
And  three  for  Burgh-Westra,  the  choicest  of  all."  * 

"  Now  the  powers  above  look  down  and  protect  us!  "  said 
Bryce  Snailsfoot;  "for  it  is  mair  than  woman's  wit  that  has 
spaed  out  that  ferly.     I  saw  them  at  North  Ronaldsha  that 

*  See  Whalins  Customs.    Note  37. 


222  WAVERLIiT  NOVELS. 

had  seen  the  good  bark,  the  '  Olave  '  of  Lerwick,  that  our 
worthy  patron  has  such  a  great  share  in  that  she  may  be  called 
his  own  in  a  manner,  and  they  had  broomed  the  ship,  and,  as 
sure  as  there  ai'e  stars  in  heaven,  she  answered  them  for  seven 
fish,  exact  as  Noma  has  tolled  us  in  her  rhyme!  " 

"  Umph — seven  fish  exactly!  and  you  heard  it  at  North 
Ronaldsha?"  said  Captain  Cleveland,  "and  I  suppose  told  it 
as  a  good  piece  of  news  when  you  came  hither?  " 

"  It  never  crossed  my  tongue,  captain,"  answered  the  ped- 
dler. "  I  have  kenn'd  mony  chapmen,  traveling-merchants, 
and  such  like,  neglect  their  goods  to  cary  clashes  and  clavers 
up  and  down  from  one  countryside  to  another;  but  that  is  no 
traffic  of  mine.  I  dinna  believe  I  have  mentioned  the 
•  Olave's '  having  made  up  her  cargo  to  three  folks  since  I 
crossed  to  Dunrossness." 

"  But  if  one  of  those  three  had  spoken  the  news  over  again, 
and  it  is  two  to  one  that  such  a  thing  happened,  the  old  lady 
prophesies  upon  velvet." 

Such  was  the  speech  of  Cleveland,  addressed  to  Magnus 
Troil,  and  heard  without  any  applause.  The  Udaller's  re- 
spect for  his  country  extended  to  its  superstitions,  and  so  did 
the  interest  which  he  took  in  his  unfortunate  kinswoman.  If 
he  never  rendered  a  precise  assent  to  her  high  supernatural 
pretensions,  he  was  not  at  least  desirous  of  hearing  them  dis- 
puted by  others. 

"  Noma,"  he  said,  "  his  cousin  (an  emphasis  on  the  word), 
held  no  communication  with  Bryce  Snailsfoot  or  his  acquaint- 
ances. He  did  not  pretend  to  explain  how  she  came  by  her 
information;  but  he  had  always  remarkeH  that  Scotsmen,  and 
indeed  strangers  in  general,  when  they  came  to  Zetland,  were 
ready  to  find  reasons  for  things  which  remained  sufficiently 
obscure  to> those  whose  ancestors  had  dwelt  there  for  ages." 

Captain  Cleveland  took  the  hint,  and  bowed,  without  at- 
tempting to- defend  his  own  skepticism. 

"  And  now  forward,  my  brave  hearts,"  said  the  Udaller; 
"and  may  all  have  as  good  tidings  as  I  have!  Three  whales 
cannot  but  yield — let  me  think  how  many  hogsheads " 

There  was  an  obvious  reluctance  on  the  part  of  the  guests 
to  be  the  next  in  consulting  the  oracle  of  the  tent. 

"  Gude  news  are  welcome  to  some  folks,  if  they  came  frae 
the  deil  himsell,"  said  Mistress  Baby  Yellowley,  addressing 
the  Lady  Glowrowrum — for  a  similarity  of  disposition  in 
eome  respects  had  made  a  sort  of  intimacy  betwixt  them— 
"  but  I  think,  my  leddy,  that  this  has  ower  mickle  of  rank 


THE  PIRATE.  223 

witchcraft  in  it  to  have  the  countenance  of  douce  Christian 
folks  Hke  you  and  me,  my  leddy." 

''  There  may  be  something  in  what  you  say,  my  dame,"  re- 
plied the  good  Lady  Glowrowrum;  "  but  we  Hialtlanders  are 
no  just  like  other  folks;  and  this  woman,  if  she  be  a  witch, 
being  the  Fowd's  friend  and  near  kinswoman,  it  will  be  ill 
ta'en  if  we  haena  our  fortunes  spaed  like  a'  the  rest  of  them; 
and  sae  my  nieces  may  e'en  step  forward  in  their  turn,  and 
nae  harm  dune.  They  will  hae  time  to  repent,  ye  ken,  in  the 
course  of  nature,  if  there  be  ony  thing  wrang  in  it,  Mistress 
Yellowley." 

While  others  remained  under  similar  uncertainty  and  ap- 
prehension, Halcro,  who  saw  by  the  knitting  of  the  old 
Udaller's  brows,  and  by  a  certain  impatient  shuffle  of  his 
right  foot,  like  the  motion  of  a  man  who  with  difficulty  re- 
frains from  S)tamping,  that  his  patience  began  to  wax  rather 
thin,  gallantly  declared  that  he  himself  would,  in  his  own 
person,  and  not  as  a  procurator  for  others,  put  the  next  query 
to  the  pythoness.  He  paused  a  minute,  collected  his  rhymes, 
and  thus  addressed  her: 

Claud  Halcbo: 

"  Mother  doubtful,  mother  dread, 
Dweller  of  the  Fitful  Head, 
Thou  hast  conn'd  full  many  a  rhyme, 
That  lives  upou  the  surge  of  time  : 
Tell  me,  shall  my  lays  be  sung. 
Like  Hacon's  of  the" Golden  Tongue, 
Long  after  Halcro's  dead  and  gone  ? 
Or  shall  Hialtland's  minstrel  own 
One  note  to  rival  glorious  John  ?  " 

The  voice  of  the  sibyl  immediately  replied  from  her  sanc- 
tuary: 

Noena: 

"  The  infant  loves  the  rattle's  noise; 
Age,  double  childhood,  hath  its  toys; 
But  ditierent  far  the  descant  rings. 
As  strikes  a  different  hand  the  strings. 
The  eagle  mounts  the  polar  sky; 
The  imber-goose,  unskill'd  to  fly, 
Must  be  content  to  glide  along. 
Where  seal  and  sea-dog  list  his  song." 

Halcro  bit  his  lip,  shrugged  his  shoulders,  and  then,  in- 
stantly recovering  his  good  humor  and  the  ready,  though 
slovenly,  power  of  extemporaneous  composition,  with  which 
long  habit  had  invested,  liim,  gallantly  rejoined: 


224  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

Claud  Halcbo  : 

"  Be  mine  the  imber-goose  to  play, 
And  haunt  lone  cave  and  silent  bay  ; 
The  archer's  aim  so  shall  I  shun, 
So  shall  I  'scape  tlie  level'd  gnn, 
Content  my  verse's  tuneless  jingle, 
With  Thule's  sounding  tides  to  mingle, 
While,  to  the  ear  of  wondering  wight, 
Upon  the  distant  headland's  height, 
Soften'd  by  murmur  of  the  sea, 
The  rude  sounds  seem  like  harmony  !  " 

As  the  little  bard  stepped  back,  with  an  alert  gait  and 
satisfied  air,  general  applause  followed  the  spirited  manner 
in  which  he  had  acquiesced  in  the  doom  which  leveled  him 
with  an  imber-goose.  But  his  resigned  and  courageous  sub- 
mission did  not  even  yet  encourage  any  ether  person  to  con- 
sult the  redoubted  Noma. 

"  The  coward  fools!  "  said  the  Udaller.  "  Are  you,  too, 
afraid,  Captain  Cleveland,  to  speak  to  an  old  woman?  Ask 
her  anything — ask  her  whether  the  twelve-gun  sloop  at  Kirk- 
wall be  your  consort  or  no." 

Cleveland  looked  at  Minna,  and  probably  conceiving  that 
she  watched  with  anxiety  his  answer  to  her  father's  question, 
he  collected  himself,  after  a  moment's  hesitation. 

"  I  never  was  afraid  of  man  or  woman.  Master  Halcro,  you 
have  heard  the  question  which  our  host  desires  me  to  ask; 
put  it  in  my  name,  and  in  your  own  way.  I  pretend  to  as 
little  skill  in  poetry  as  I  do  in  witchcraft." 

Halcro  did  not  wait  to  be  invited  twice,  but,  grasping  Cap- 
tain Cleveland's  hand  in  his,  according  to  the  form  which  the 
game  prescribed,  he  put  the  query  which  the  Udaller  had  dic- 
tated to  the  stranger,  in  the  following  words: 

Claud  Halcro: 

"Mother  doubtful,  mother  dread, 
Dweller  of  the  Fitful  Head, 
A  gallant  bark  from  far  abroad, 
St,  Magnus  hath  her  in  his  road, 
With  guns  and  firelocks  not  a  few, 
A  silken  and  a  scarlet  crew, 
Deep  stored  with  precious  merchandise, 
Of  gold  and  goods  of  rare  device — 
What  interest  hath  our  comrade  bold 
In  bark  and  crew,  in  goods  and  gold  ?  " 

There  was  a  pause  of  unusual  duration  ere  the  oracle  would 
return  any  answer;  and  when  she  replied,  it  was  in  a  lower, 
though  an  equally  decided,  tone  with  that  which  she  had 
hitherto  employed: 


THE  PIRATE.  ^26 

Nobka: 

*  Gold  is  ruddy,  fair,  and  free, 
Blood  i.-<  crimson  and  dark  to  see; — 
I  look'd  out  on  St.  ]\Iagnu8  Bay, 
And  I  saw  a  falcon  that  struck  her  prey: 
A  gobbet  of  tlesh  in  her  beak  she  bore, 
And  talons  and  singles  are  dripping  with  gore; 
Let  him  that  asks  after  them  look  on  hie  hand, 
And  if  there  is  blood  on't,  he's  one  of  their  band." 

Cleveland  smiled  scornfully,  and  held  out  his  hand.  "  Few 
men  have  been  on  the  Spanish  Main  as  often  as  I  have  with- 
out having  had  to  do  with  the  '  guarda-costas '  once  and 
again;  but  there  never  was  aught  like  a  stain  on  my  hand  that 
a  wet  towel  would  not  wipe  away." 

The  Udaller  added  his  voice  potential:  "There  is  never 
peace  with  Spaniards  beyond  the  line:  I  have  heard  Captain 
Tragendeck  and  honest  old  Commodore  Eummelaer  say  so  an 
hundred  times,  and  they  have  both  been  down  in  the  Bay  of 
Honduras,  and  all  thereabouts.  I  hate  all  Spaniards,  since 
they  came  here  and  reft  the  Fair  Isle  men  of  their  vivers  in 
1588.*  I  have  heard  my  grandfather  speak  of  it;  and  there 
is  an  old  Dutch  history  somewhere  about  the  house,  that 
shows  what  work  they  made  in  the  Low  Countries  long  since. 
There  is  neither  mercv  nor  faith  in  them." 

"  True — true,  my  old  friend,"  said  Cleveland:  "  they  are  as 
jealous  of  their  Indian  possessions  as  an  old  man  of  his  young 
bride;  and  if  they  can  catch  you  at  disadvantage,  the  mines 
for  your  life  is  the  word;  and  so  we  fight  them  mth  our  colors 
nailed  to  the  mast." 

"  That  is  the  way,"  shouted  the  Udaller:  "  the  old  British 
jack  should  never  down!  When  I  think  of  the  wooden  walls, 
I  almost  think  myself  an  Englishman,  only  it  would  be  be- 
coming too  like  niy  Sco'ttish  neighbors;  but  come,  no  offense 
to  any  here,  gentlemen — all  are  friends,  and  all  are  welcome. 
Come,  Brenda,  go  on  with  the  play:  do  you  speak  next,  you 
have  Norse  rhymes  enough,  we  all  know." 

"  But  none  that  suit  the  srame  we  play  at,  father,"  said 
Brenda,  drawing  back. 

"Nonsense!"  said  her  father,  pushing  her  onward,  while 
Halcro  seized  on  her  reluctant  hand;  "never  let  mistimed 
modesty  mar  honest  mirth.  Speak  for  Brenda,  Halcro;  it  is 
your  trade  to  interpret  maidens'  thoughts." 

The  poet  bowed  to  the  beautiful  young  woman,  with  the 
devotion  of  a  po€t  and  the  gallantry  of  a  traveler,  and  hav- 

♦  Se«  Arma4a  in  Zetland.    TJo.te  28. 


226  WA  VERLEY  NO  VELS. 

ing,  in  a  whisper,  reminded  her  that  she  was  in  no  way  re- 
sponsibh'  for  the  nonsense  he  was  about  to  speak,  he  paused, 
looked  upward,  simpered  as  if  he  had  caught  a  sudden  idea, 
and  at  length  set  odf  in  the  following  verses: 

Claud  Halcro: 

"Motlicr  doubtful,  mother  dread, 
Dweller  of  the  Fitful  Head, 
Well  thou  know'st  it  iw  thy  task 
To  tell  what  beauty  will  uot  ask. 
Then  steep  thy  words  in  wine  and  milk, 
And  weave  a  doom  of  gold  and  silk; 
For  we  would  know,  shall  Brenda  prove 
In  love,  and  happy  in  her  love?  " 

The  prophetess  replied  almost  immediately  from  behind  her 
curtain: 

NORNA: 

"  Untoueh'd  by  love,  the  maiden's  breast 
Is  like  the  snow  on  Eona's  crest, 
High  seated  in  the  middle  sky 
In  bright  and  barren  purity; 
But  by  the  sunbeam  gently  kiss'd, 
Scarce  by  the  gazing  eye  'tis  miss'd, 
Ere  down  the  lonely  valley  stealing. 
Fresh  grass  and  growth  its  course  revealing. 
It  cheers  the  flock,  revives  the  flower, 
And  decks  some  happy  shepherd's  bower." 

"  A  comfortable  doctrine,  and  most  justly  spoken,"  said  the 
Udaller,  seizing  the  blushing  Brenda,  as  she  was  endeavoring 
to  escape.  "  Never  think  shame  for  the  matter,  my  girl.  To 
be  the  mistress  of  some  honest  man's  house,  and  the  means 
of  maintaining  some  old  Norse  name,  making  neighbors 
happy,  the  poor  easy,  and  relieving  strangers,  is  the  most 
creditable  lot  a  young  woman  can  look  to,  and  I  heartily  wish 
it  to  all  here.  Come,  who  speaks  next?  Good  husbands  are 
going — Maddie  Groatsettar — my  pretty  Clara,  come  and  have 
your  share." 

The  Lady  Glowrowrum  shook  her  head,  and  "  could  not," 
she  said,  "  altogether  approve^ " 

"  Enough  said — enough  said,"  replied  Magnus;  "  no  com- 
pulsion; but  the  play  shall  go  on  till  we  are  tired  of  it.  Here, 
Minna,  I  have  got  you  at  command.  Stand  forth,  my  girl; 
there  are  plenty  of  things  to  be  ashamed  of  besides  old-fash- 
ioned and  innocent  pleasantry.  Come,  I  will  speak  for  you 
myself,  though  I  am  not  sure  I  can  remember  rhyme  enough 
for  it." 

There  was  a  slight  color  which  passed  rapidly  over  Minna's 
face,  but  she  instantly  regained  her  composure,  and  stood 


THE  PIRATE.  MV 

erect  by  her  father,  as  one  superior  to  any  little  jest  to  which 
her  situation  might  give  rise. 

Her  fatlier,  after  some  rubbing  of  his  brow  and  other  me- 
chanical efforts  to  assist  his  memory,  at  length  recovered 
verse  sufficient  to  put  the  following  query,  though  in  less  gal- 
lant strains  than  those  of  Halcro: 

Magnus  Tkoil: 

"  Mother,  speak,  and  do  not  tarry, 
Here's  a  maiden  fain  would  marry. 
Shall  she  marry,  aye  or  not  ? 
If  she  marry,  what's  her  lot  ?  " 

A  deep  sigh  was  uttered  within  the  tabernacle  of  the 
soothsayer,  as  if  she  compassionated  the  subject  of  the  doom 
which  she  was  obliged  to  pronounce.  She  then,  as  usual,  re- 
turned her  response: 

Nokna: 

"  Untouch'd  by  love,  the  maiden's  breast 
Is  like  the  snow  on  Rona's  crest; 
So  pure,  so  free  from  earthly  dye, 
It  seems,  whilst  leaning  on  the  sky. 
Part  of  the  heaven  to  which  'tis  nigh; 
But  passion,  like  the  wild  March  rain. 
May  soil  the  wreath  with  many  a  stain. 
We  gaze — the  lovely  vision's  gone — 
A  torrent  fills  the  bed  of  stone. 
That,  hurrying  to  destruction's  shock, 
Leaps  headlong  from  the  lofty  rock." 

The  TJdaller  heard  this  reply  with  high  resentment.  "  By 
the  bones  of  the  Martyr,"  he  said,  his  bold  visage  becoming 
suddenly  ruddy,  "  this  is  an  abuse  of  courtesy !  and,  were  it 
any  but  yourself  that  had  classed  my  daughter's  name  and 
the  word  '  destruction  '  together,  they  had  better  have  left  the 
word  unspoken.  But  come  forth  of  the  tent,  thou  old  gal- 
dragon,"  he  added,  with  a  smile,  "  I  should  have  known  that 
thou  canst  not  long  joy  in  anything  that  smacks  of  mirth, 
God  help  thee!  "  His  summons  received  no  answer;  and, 
after  waiting  a  moment,  he  again  addressed  her:  "•  Nay,  never 
be  sullen  with  me,  kinswoman,  though  I  did  speak  a  hasty 
word;  thou  knowest  I  bear  malice  to  no  one,  least  of  all  to 
thee;  so  come  forth,  and  let  us  shake  hands.  Thou  mightst 
have  foretold  the  wreck  of  my  ship  and  boats,  or  a  bad  her- 
ring-fishery, and  I  should  have  said  never  a  word;  but  Minna 
or  Brenda,  you  know,  are  things  which  touch  me  nearer. 
But  come  out,  shake  hands,  and  there  let  there  be  an  end 
on't." 


238  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

Noma  returned  no  answer  whatever  to  his  repeated  in- 
vocations, and  the  company  began  to  look  upon  each  other 
with  some  surprise,  when  the  Udaller,  raising  the  skin  which 
covered  the  entrance  of  the  tent,  discovered  that  the  interior 
was  empty.  The  wonder  was  now  general,  and  not  unmixed 
with  fear;  for  it  seemed  impossible  that  Noma  could  have, 
in  any  manner,  escaped  from  the  tabernacle  in  which  she  was 
inclosed,  without  having  been  discovered  by  the  company. 
Gone,  however,  she  was,  and  the  Udaller,  after  a  moment's 
consideration,  dropped  the  skin  curtain  again  over  the  en- 
trance of  the  tent. 

"  My  friends,"  he  said,  with  a  cheerful  countenance,  "  we 
have  long  known  my  kinswoman,  and  that  her  ways  are 
not  like  those  of  the  ordinary  folks  of  this  world.  But  she 
means  well  by  Hialtland,  and  hath  the  love  of  a  sister  for  me 
and  for  my  house;  and  no  guest  of  mine  needs  either  to  fear 
evil  or  to  take  offense  at  her  hand.  I  have  little  doubt  she 
will  be  with  us  at  dinner-time." 

"  No,  Heaven  forbid!  "  said  Mrs.  Baby  Yellowley;  "  for,  my 
gude  Leddy  Glowrowrum,  to  tell  your  leddyship  the  truth,  I 
likena  cummers  that  can  come  and  gae  like  a  glance  of  the 
sun  or  the  whisk  of  a  whirlwind." 

"  Speak  lower — speak  lower,"  said  the  Lady  Glowrowrum, 
"  and  be  thankful  that  yon  carline  hasna  ta'en  the  house- 
side  away  wi'  her.  The  like  of  her  have  played  warse  pranks, 
and  so  has  she  hersell,  unless  she  is  the  sairer  lied  on." 

Similar  murmurs  ran  through  the  rest  of  the  company, 
until  the  Udaller  uplifted  his  stentorian  and  imperative  voice 
to  put  them  to  silence,  and  invited,  or  rather  commanded,  the 
attendance  of  his  guests  to  behold  the  boats  set  off  for  the 
haaf  or  deep-sea  fishing. 

"  The  wind  had  been  high  since  sunrise,"  he  said,  "  and 
had  kept  the  boats  in  the  bay;  but  now  it  was  favorable,  and 
they  would  sail  immediately." 

This  sudden  alteration  of  the  weather  occasioned  sundry 
nods  and  winks  amongst  the  guests,  who  were  not  indisposed 
to  connect  it  with  Noma's  sudden  disappearance;  but  without 
giving  vent  to  observations  which  could  not  be  but  disagree- 
able to  their  host,  they  followed  his  stately  step  to  the  shore, 
as  the  herd  of  deer  follows  the  leading  stag,  with  all  manner 
of  respectful  observance. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

There  was  a  laughing  devil  in  his  sneer, 
That  raised  emotions  both  of  rage  and  fear; 
And  where  his  frown  of  hatred  darkly  fell, 
Hope  withering  tied,  and  Mercy  sigh'd  farewell. 

—  The  Corsair,  Canto  I. 

The  ling  or  white  fishery  is  the  principal  employment  of 
the  natives  of  Zetland,  and  was  formerly  that  upon  which  the 
gentry  chiefly  depended  for  their  income,  and  the  poor  for 
their  subsistence.  The  fishing  season  is,  therefore,  like  the 
harvest  of  an  agricultural  country,  the  busiest  and  most  im- 
portant, as  well  as  the  most  animating,  period  of  the  year. 

The  fishermen  of  each  district  assemble  at  particular  sta- 
tions, with  their  boats  and  crews,  and  erect  upon  the  shore 
small  huts  composed  of  shingle  and  covered  with  turf,  for 
their  temporary  lodging,  and  skeos,  or  drying-houses,  for  the 
fish;  so  that  the  lonely  beach  at  once  assumes  the  appearance 
of  an  Indian  town.  The  banks  to  which  they  repair  for  the 
haaf  fishing  are  often  many  miles  distant  from  the  station 
where  the  fish  is  dried;  so  that  they  are  always  twenty  or 
thirty  hours  absent,  frequently  longer;  and  under  unfavor- 
able circumstances  of  wind  and  tide,  they  remain  at  sea, 
with  a  very  small  stock  of  provisions,  and  in  a  boat  of  a  con- 
struction which  seems  extremely  slender,  for  two  or  three 
days,  and  are  sometimes  heard  of  no  more.  The  departure 
of  the  fishers,  therefore,  on  this  occupation  has  in  it  a  charac- 
ter of  danger  and  of  suffering  w^hich  renders  it  dignified,  and 
the  anxiety  of  the  females  who  remain  on  the  beach,  watch- 
ing the  departure  of  the  lessening  boat,  or  anxiously  looking 
out  for  its  return,  gives  pathos  to  the  scene.* 

The  scene,  therefore,  was  in  busy  and  anxious  animation 
when  the  Udaller  and  his  friends  appeared  on  the  beach.  Tho 
various  crews  of  about  thirty  boats,  amounting  each  to  from 
three  to  five  or  six  men,  were  taking  leave  of  their  wives  and 
female  relatives,  and  jumping  on  board  their  long  Norway 
skiffs,  where  their  lines  and  tackle  lay  ready  stowed.  Magnus 
was  not  an  idle  spectator  of  the  scene:  he  went  from  one 
place  to  another,  inquiring  into  the  state  of  their  provisions 
for  the  voyage,  and  their  preparations  for  the  fishing;  now 

*  See  Fiehennen'B  Wives.    Note  29. 
220 


230  WAVBBLEY  NOVELS. 

and  then,  with  a  rough  Dutch  or  ISTorse  oath,  abusing  them 
for  blockheads  for  going  to  sea  with  their  boats  indifferently 
found,  but  always  ending  by  ordering  from  his  own  stores  a 
gallon  of  gin,  a  lispund  of  meal,  or  some  similar  essential  addi- 
tion to  their  sea-stores.  The  hardy  sailors,  on  receiving  such 
favors,  expressed  their  thanks  in  the  brief,  gruff  manner 
which  their  landlord  best  approved;  but  the  women  were 
more  clamorous  in  their  gratitude,  which  Magnus  was  often 
obliged  to  silence  by  cursing  all  female  tongues  from  Eve's 
downward. 

At  length  all  were  on  board  and  ready,  the  sails  were 
hoisted,  the  signal  for  departure  given,  the  rowers  began  to 
pull,  and  all  started  from  the  shore,  in  strong  emulation  to 
get  first  to  the  fishing-ground,  and  to  have  their  lines  set  be- 
fore the  rest — an  exploit  to  which  no  little  consequence  was 
attached  by  the  boat's  crew  who  should  be  happy  enough  to 
perform  it. 

While  they  were  yet  within  hearing  of  the  shore,  they 
chanted  an  ancient  Norse  ditty  appropriate  to  the  occasion,  of 
which  Claud  Halcro  had  executed  the  following  literal  trans- 
lation: 

"Farewell,  merry  maidens,  to  song  and  to  laugh, 
For  the  brave  lads  of  Westra  are  bound  to  the  haaf ; 
And  we  must  have  labor,  and  hunger,  and  pain, 
Ere  we  dance  with  the  maids  of  Dunrossuess  again. 

"  For  now,  in  our  trim  boats  of  Norroway  deal, 
We  must  dance  on  the  waves,  with  the  porpoise  and  seat; 
The  breeze  it  shall  pipe,  so  it  pipe  not  too  high, 
And  the  gull  be  our  songstress  whene'er  she  flits  by. 

"  Sing  on,  my  brave  bird,  while  we  follow,  like  thee, 
By  bank,  shoal,  and  quicksand,  the  swarms  of  the  sea; 
And  when  twenty  score  fishes  are  straining  our  line, 
Sing  louder,  brave  bird,  for  their  spoils  shall  be  thine. 

"  We'll  sing  while  we  bait,  and  we'll  sing  when  we  haul, 
For  the  deeps  of  the  haaf  have  enough  for  us  all: 
There  is  torsk  for  the  gentle,  and  skate  for  tlie  carle, 
And  there's  wealth  for  the  bold  Magnus,  the  son  of  the  earl. 

"  Huzza  !  my  brave  comrades,  give  way  for  the  haaf. 
We  shall  sooner  come  back  to  tlie  dance  and  the  laugh; 
For  life  without  mirth  is  a  lamp  without  oil; 
Then,  mirth  and  long  life  to  the  bold  Magnus  Troil!  " 

The  rude  words  of  the  song  wei'e  soon  drowned  in  the 
ripple  of  the  waves,  but  the  tune  continued  long  to  mingle 
with  the  sound  of  wind  and  sea,  and  the  boats  were  like  so 
many  black  specks  on  the  surface  of  the  ocean,  diminishing 
by  degrees  as  they  bore  far  and  farther  seawaxd;  while  the  ear 


THE  PIRATE.  231 

could  distinguish  touches  of  the  Imman  voice,  almost  drowned 
amid  that  of  the  elements. 

The  fishermen's  wives  looked  their  last  after  the  part- 
ing sails,  and  were  now  departing  slowly,  with  down- 
cast and  anxious  looks,  toward  the  huts  in  which 
they  were  to  make  arrangements  for  preparing  and 
drying  the  fish,  with  which  they  hoped  to  see  their 
husbands  and  friends  return  deeply  laden.  Here  and 
there  an  old  sibyl  displayed  the  superior  importance 
of  her  experience  by  predicting,  from  the  appearance  of  the 
atmosphere,  that  the  wind  would  be  fair  or  foul,  while  other.- 
recommended  a  vow  to  the  kirk  of  St.  Ninian's  for  the  safely 
of  their  men  ajid  boats  (an  ancient  Catholic  superstition  not 
yet  wholly  abolished),  and  others,  but  in  a  low  and  timorous 
tone,  regretted  to  their  companions  that  Xorna  of  Fitful 
Head  had  been  suffered  to  depart  in  discontent  that  morning 
from  Burgh-Westra,  "  and,  of  all  days  in  the  year,  that  they 
suld  have  contrived  to  give  her  displeasure  on  the  first  day  of 
the  white-fishing!  " 

The  gentry,  guests  of  Magnus  Troil,  having  whiled  away 
as  much  time  as  could  be  so  disposed  of  in  viewing  the  little 
armament  set  sail,  and  in  conversing  with  the  poor  women 
who  had  seen  their  friends  embark  in  itj  began  now  to  sepa- 
rate into  various  groups  and  parties,  which  strolled  in  differ- 
ent directions,  as  fancy  led  them,  to  enjoy  what  may  be  called 
the  clair-obscure  of  a  Zetland  summer  da}',  which,  though 
without  the  brilliant  sunshine  that  cheers  other  countries  dur- 
ing the  fine  season,  has  a  mild  and  pleasing  character  of  its 
own,  that  softens  while  it  saddens  landscapes  which,  in  their 
own  lonely,  bare,  and  monotonous  tone,  have  something  in 
them  stem  as  well  as  barren. 

In  one  of  the  loneliest  recesses  of  the  coast,  where  a  deep 
indenture  of  the  rocks  gave  the  tide  access  to  the  cavern,  or, 
as  it  is  called,  the  helyer,  of  Swartaster,  Minna  Troil  was 
walking  with  Captain  Cleveland.  They  had  probably  chosen 
that  walk  as  being  little  liable  to  interruption  from  others; 
for,  as  the  force  of  the  tide  rendered  the  place  unfit  either  for 
fishing  or  sailing,  so  it  was  not  the  ordinary  resort  of  walkers, 
on  account  of  its  being  the  supposed  habitation  of  a  mermaid, 
a  race  which  ISTorwegian  superstition  invests  with  magical  as 
well  as  mischievous  qualities.  Here,  therefore,  IMinna  wan- 
dered with  her  lover. 

A  small  spot  of  milk-white  sand,  that  stretched  beneath  one 
of  the  precipices  which  walled  in  the  creek  on  either  side. 


232  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

afforded  them  space  for  a  dry,  firm,  and  pleasant  walk  of 
about  an  hundred  yards,  terminated  at  one  extremity  by  a 
dark  stretch  of  the  bay,  which,  scarce  touched  by  the  wind, 
seemed  almost  as  smooth  as  glass,  and  which  was  seen  from 
between  two  lofty  rocks,  the  Jaws  of  the  creek,  or  indentm-e, 
that  approached  each  other  above,  as  if  they  wished  to  meet 
over  the  dark  tide  that  separated  them.  The  other  end  of 
their  promenade  was  closed  by  a  lofty  and  almost  unscalable 
precipice,  the  abode  of  hundreds  of  sea-fowl  of  different  kinds, 
in  the  bottom  of  which  the  huge  helyer,  or  sea-cave,  itself 
yawned,  as  if  for  the  purjoose  of  swallowing  up  the  advancing 
tide,  which  it  seemed  to  receive  into  an  abyss  of  immeasurable 
depth  and  extent.  The  entrance  to  this  dismal  cavern  con- 
sisted not  in  a  single  arch,  as  usual,  but  was  divided  into  two, 
by  a  huge  pillar  of  natural  rock,  which,  rising  out  of  the  sea, 
and  extending  to  the  top  of  the  cavern,  seemed  to  lend  its 
support  to  the  roof,  and  thus  formed  a  double  portal  to  the 
helyer,  on  which  the  fishermen  and  peasants  had  bestowed 
the  rude  name  of  the  Devil's  Nostrils.  In  tliis  wild  scene, 
lonely  and  undisturbed  but  by  the  clang  of  the  sea-fowl, 
Cleveland  had  already  met  ^^'ith  ]\Iinna  Troil  more  than  once; 
for  with  her  it  was  a  favorite  walk,  as  the  objects  which  it 
presented  agreed  peculiarly  with  the  love  of  the  wild,  the 
melancholy,  and  the  wonderful.  But  now  the  conversation 
in  which  she  was  earnestly  engaged  was  such  as  entirely  to 
withdraw  her  attention,  as  well  as  that  of  her  companion, 
from  the  scenery  around  them. 

"  You  cannot  deny  it,"  she  said,  "  you  have  given  way  to 
feelings  respecting  this  young  man  which  indicate  prejudice 
and  violence — the  prejudice  unmerited,  as  far  as  you  are  con- 
cerned at  least,  and  the  violence  equally  imprudent  and 
unjustifiable." 

"  I  should  have  thought,"  replied  Cleveland,  ''  that  the 
service  I  rendered  him  yesterday  might  have  freed  me  from 
such  a  charge.  I  do  not  talk  of  my  own  risk,  for  I  have  lived 
in  danger,  and  love  it;  it  is  not  everyone,  however,  would 
have  ventured  so  near  the  furious  animal  to  save  one  with 
whom  they  had  no  connection." 

"  It  is  not  everv^one,  indeed,  who  could  have  saved  him," 
answered  Minna  gravely;  "  but  everj^one  who  ha.s  courage  and 
generosity  would  have  attempted  it.  The  giddy-brained 
Claud  Halcro  would  have  done  as  much  as  you  had  his 
strength  been  equal  to  his  courage;  mv  father  would  have 
done  as  much,  though  having  such  Just  cause  of  resentment 


THE  PIRATE,  233 

against  the  young  man,  for  his  vain  and  braggart  abuse  of 
our  hospitality.  Do  not,  therefore,  boast  of  your  exploit  too 
much,  my  good  friend,  lest  you  should  make  me  think  that  it 
required  too  great  an  effort.  I  know  you  love  not  Mordaunt 
Mertoun,  though  you  exposed  your  own  life  to  save  his." 

"  Will  you  allow  nothing,  then,"  said  Cleveland,  "  for  the 
long  misery  I  was  made  to  endure  from  the  common  and 
prevailing  report  that  this  beardless  bird-hunter  stood  be- 
twixt me  and  what  I  on  earth  coveted  most — the  affections 
of  Minna  Troil?" 

He  spoke  in  a  tone  at  once  impassioned  and  insinuating, 
and  his  whole  language  and  manner  seemed  to  express  a  grace 
and  elegance  which  formed  the  most  striking  contrast  with 
the  speech  and  gesture  of  the  unpolished  seaman  which  he 
usually  affected  or  exhibited.  But  his  apology  was  unsatis- 
factory to  Minna. 

"  You  have  known,"  she  said,  "  perhaps  too  soon  and  too 
well,  how  little  you  had  to  fear — if  you  indeed  feared — that 
Mertoun  or  any  other  had  interest  with  Minna  Troil.  Nay, 
truce  to  thanks  and  protestations;  I  would  accept  it  as  the 
best  proof  of  gratitude  that  you  will  be  reconciled  with  this 
youth,  or  at  least  avoid  every  quarrel  with  him." 

"  That  we  should  be  friends,  Minna,  is  impossible,"  replied 
Cleveland;  "  even  the  love  I  bear  you,  the  most  powerful 
emotion  that  my  heart  ever  knew,  cannot  work  that  miracle." 

"  And  why,  I  pray  you?  "  said  Minna;  "  there  have  been  no 
evil  offenses  between  you,  but  rather  an  exchange  of  mutual 
services;  why  can  you  not  be  friends?  I  have  many  reasons 
to  wish  it." 

"  And  can  you,  then,  forget  the  slights  which  he  hag 
cast  upon  Brenda,  and  on  yourself,  and  on  your  father's 
house? " 

"  I  can  forgive  them  all,"  said  Minna;  "  can  you  not  say  so 
much,  who  have  in  truth  received  no  offense?  " 

Cleveland  looked  down  and  paused  for  an  instant;  then 
raised  his  head  and  replied,  "I  might  easily  deceive  you, 
Minna,  and  promise  you  what  my  soul  tells  me  is  an  impossi- 
bility; but  I  am  forced  to  use  too  much  deceit  with  others, 
and  with  you  I  will  use  none.  I  cannot  be  friend  to  this 
young  man:  there  is  a  natural  dislike — an  instinctive  aversion 
— something  like  a  principle  of  repulsion,  in  our  mutual 
nature,  which  makes  us  odious  to  each  other.  Ask  himself 
— he  will  tell  you  he  has  the  same  antipathv  against  me.  The 
obligation  he  conferred  on  me  was  a  bridle  to  my  resentment; 


234  WA  VERLET  NO  VBL8. 

but  I  was  so  galled  by  the  restraint  that  I  could  have 
gnawed  the  curb  till  my  lips  were  bloody." 

"  You  have  worn  what  you  are  wont  to  call  your  iron  mask 
so  long  that  your  features,"  replied  Minna,  "  retain  the  im- 
pression of  its  rigidity  even  when  it  is  removed." 

"  You  do  me  injustice,  Minna,"  replied  her  lover,  "  and  you 
are  angry  witli  me  because  I  deal  with  you  plainly  and  hon- 
estly. I'lainly  and  honestly,  however,  will  1  say,  that  I  can- 
not be  Mertoun's  friend,  but  it  shall  be  his  own  fault,  not 
mine,  if  I  am  ever  his  enemy.  I  seek  not  to  injure  him;  but 
do  not  ask  me  to  love  him.  And  of  this  remain  satisfied, 
that  it  would  be  vain  even  if  I  could  do  so;  for  as  sure  as  I 
attempted  any  advances  toward  his  confidence,  so  sure  would 
I  be  to  awaken  his  disgust  and  suspicion.  Leave  us  to  the 
exercise  of  our  natural  feelings,  which,  as  they  will  unques- 
tionably keep  us  as  far  separate  as  possible,  are  most  likely 
to  prevent  any  possible  interference  with  each  other.  Does 
this  satisfy  you?  " 

"  It  must,"  said  Minna,  "  since  you  tell  me  there  is  no 
remedy.  And  now  tell  me  why  you  looked  so  grave  when  you 
heard  of  your  consort's  arrival — for  that  it  is  her  I  have  no 
doubt — in  the  port  of  Kirkwall  ?  " 

"  I  fear,"  replied  Cleveland,  "  the  consequences  of  that  ves- 
sel's arrival  with  her  crew,  as  comprehending  the  ruin  of  my 
fondest  hopes.  I  had  made  some  progress  in  your  father's 
favor,  and,  with  time,  might  have  made  more,  when  hither 
come  Hawkins  and  the  rest  to  blight  my  prospects  forever. 
I  told  you  on  what  terms  we  parted.  I  then  commanded  a 
vessel  braver  and  better  found  than  their  own,  with  a  crew 
who,  at  my  slightest  nod,  would  have  faced  fiends  armed  with 
their  own  fiery  element;  but  I  now  stand  alone,  a  single  man, 
destitute  of  all  means  to  overawe  or  to  restrain  them;  and 
they  will  soon  show  so  plainly  the  ungovernable  license  of 
their  habits  and  dispositions,  that  ruin  to  themselves  and  to 
me  will  in  all  probability  be  the  consequence." 

"  Do  not  fear  it,"  said  Minna;  "  my  father  can  never  be  so 
unjust  as  to  hold  you  liable  for  the  offenses  of  others." 

"  But  wliat  will  Magnus  Troil  say  to  my  own  demerits,  fair 
Minna?  "  said  Cleveland,  smiling. 

"  My  father  is  a  Zetlander,  or  rather  a  Norwegian,"  said 
Minna,  "  one  of  an  oppressed  race,  who  will  not  care  whether 
you  fought  against  the  Spaniards,  who  are  the  tyrants  of  the 
New  World,  or  against  the  Dutch  and  English,  who  have  suc- 
ceeded to  their  usurped  dominions.     His  own  ancestors  sup- 


THE  PIRATE.  235 

ported  and  exercised  the  freedom  of  the  seas  in  those  gallant 
barks  whose  pennons  were  the  dread  of  all  Europe." 

"  I  fear,  nevertheless,"  said  Cleveland,  "  that  the  descend- 
ant of  an  ancient  sea-king  will  scarce  acknowledge  a  fitting 
acquaintance  in  a  modern  rover.  1  have  not  disguised  from 
you  that  I  have  reason  to  dread  the  English  laws;  and  Mag- 
nus, though  a  great  enemy  to  taxes,  imposts,  scat,  wattle,  and 
so  forth,  has  no  idea  of  latitude  upon  points  of  a  more  gen- 
eral character:  he  would  willingly  reeve  a  rope  to  the  yard 
arm  for  the  benefit  of  an  unfortunate  buccaneer." 

"  Do  not  suppose  so,"  said  Minna;  "  he  himself  suffers  too 
much  oppression  from  the  tyrannical  laws  of  our  proud  neigh- 
bors of  Scotland.  I  trust  he  will  soon  be  able  to  rise  in  re- 
sistance against  them.  The  enemy — such  1  will  call  them — 
are  now  divided  amongst  themselves,  and  every  vessel  from 
their  coast  brings  intelligence  of  fresh  commotions — the 
Highlands  against  the  Lowlands,  the  Williamites  against  the 
Jacobites,  the  Whigs  against  the  Tories,  and,  to  sum  the 
whole,  the  kingdom  of  England  against  that  of  Scotland. 
What  is  there,  as  Claud  Halcro  well  hinted,  to  prevent  our 
availing  ourselves  of  the  quarrels  of  these  robbers  to  assert 
the  independence  of  which  we  are  deprived?" 

"  To  hoist  the  raven  standard  on  the  Castle  of  Scalloway," 
said  Cleveland,  in  imitation  of  her  tone  and  manner,  "  and 
proclaim  your  father  Earl  Magnus  the  First!  " 

"  Earl  ]\Iagnus  the  Seventh,  if  it  please  you,"  answered 
Minna;  "for  six  of  his  ancestors  have  worn,  or  were  entitled 
to  wear,  the  coronet  before  him.  You  laugh  at  my  ardor,  but 
what  is  there  to  prevent  all  this?  " 

''  Nothing  will  prevent  it,"  replied  Cleveland,  "  because  it 
will  never  be  attempted.  Anything  miglit  prevent  it  that  is 
equal  in  strength  to  the  long-boat  of  a  British  man-of-war." 

"  You  treat  us  with  scorn,  sir,"  said  Minna;  "  yet  yourself 
should  know  what  a  few  resolved  men  may  perform." 

"  But  they  must  be  armed,  Minna,"  replied  Cleveland, 
"  and  willing  to  place  their  lives  upon  each  desperate  adven- 
ture. Think  not  of  such  visions.  Denmark  has  been  cut 
dovv^n  into  a  second-rate  kingdom,  incapable  of  exchanging  a 
single  broadside  with  England;  Norway  is  a  starving  wilder- 
ness; and,  in  these  islands,  the  love  of  independence  has  been 
suppressed  by  a  long  term  of  subjection,  or  shows  itself  but  in 
a  few  muttered  growls  over  the  bowl  and  bottle.  And,  were 
your  men  as  willing  warriors  as  their  ancestors,  what  could 
the  unarmed  crews  of  a  .few  fishing-boats  do  against  the  Brit- 


236  WAYERLEY  NOVELS. 

ish  navy?  Think  no  more  of  it,  sweet  Minna;  it  is  a  dream, 
and  I  must  term  it  so,  though  it  makes  your  eye  so  bright  and 
your  stop  so  noble." 

"  It  is  indeed  a  dream!  "  said  Minna,  looking  down,  "  and 
it  ill  becomes  a  daughter  of  Hialtland  to  look  or  to  move  like 
a  freewoman.  Our  eye  should  be  on  the  ground,  and  our 
step  slow  and  reluctant,  as  that  of  one  who  obeys  a  task- 
master." 

"  There  are  lands,"  said  Cleveland,  "  in  which  the  eye  may 
look  bright  upon  groves  of  the  palm  and  the  cocoa,  and  where 
the  foot  may  move  light  as  a  galley  under  sail,  over  fields 
carpeted  with  flowers,  and  savannas  surrounded  by  aromatic 
thickets,  and  where  subjection  is  unknown,  except  that  of  the 
brave  to  the  bravest,  and  of  all  to  the  most  beautiful." 

Minna  paused  a  moment  ere  she  spoke,  and  then  answered. 
"  No,  Cleveland.  My  own  rude  country  has  charms  for  me, 
even  desolate  as  you  think  it,  and  depressed  as  it  surely  is, 
which  no  other  land  on  earth  can  offer  to  me.  I  endeavor  in 
vain  to  represent  to  myself  those  visions  of  trees  and  of  groves 
which  my  eye  never  saw;  but  my  imagination  can  conceive  no 
sight  in  nature  more  sublime  than  these  waves  when  agitated 
by  a  storm,  or  more  beautiful  than  when  they  come,  as  they 
now  do,  rolling  in  calm  tranquillity  to  the  shore.  Not  the 
fairest  scene  in  a  foreign  land,  not  the  brightest  sunbeam  that 
ever  shone  upon  the  richest  landscape,  would  win  my 
thoughts  for  a  moment  from  that  lofty  rock,  misty  hill,  and 
wide-rolling  ocean.  Hialtland  is  the  land  of  my  deceased  an- 
cestors and  of  my  living  father;  and  in  Hialtland  will  I  live 
and  die." 

"  Then  in  Hialtland,"  answered  Cleveland,  "  vAW  I  too  live 
and  die.  I  will  not  go  to  Kirkvi^all:  I  will  not  make  my  ex- 
istence known  to  my  comrades,  from  whom  it  were  else  hard 
for  me  to  escape.  Your  father  loves  me,  Minna;  who  knows 
whether  long  attention,  anxious  care,  might  not  bring  him  to 
receive  me  into  his  family?  Who  would  regard  the  length  of 
a  voyage  that  was  certain  to  terminate  in  happiness?  " 

"  Dream  not  of  such  an  issue,"  said  Minna;  "  it  is  impos- 
sible. While  you  live  in  my  father's  honse,  while  you  receive 
his  assistance  and  share  his  table,  yo'u  will  find  him  the  gen- 
erous friend  and  the  hearty  host;  but  touch  him  on  what  con- 
cerns his  name  and  family,  and  the  frank-hearted  Udaller 
will  start  up  before  you  the  haughty-  and  proud  descendant 
of  a  Norwegian  jarl.  See  you — a  moment's  suspicion  has  fal- 
len on  Mordaunt  M^rtoun,  and  he  haiS  banished  from»his  favor 


THE  PIRATE.  237 

the  youth  whom  he  so  lately  loved  as  a  son.     No  one  must  ally 
witli  his  house  that  is  not  of  untainted  Northern  descent." 

"  And  mine  may  be  so  for  aught  that  is  known  to  me  upon 
the  subject,"  said  Cleveland. 

"How!"  said  Minna;  "have  you  any  reason  to  believe 
yourself  of  Norse  descent?  " 

"  I  have  told  you  before/'  replied  Cleveland,  "  that  my 
family  is  totally  unknown  to  me.  I  spent  my  earliest  days 
upon  a  solitary  plantation  in  the  little  island  of  Tortuga, 
under  the  charge  of  my  father,  then  a  different  person  from 
what  he  afterward  became.  We  were  plundered  by  the  Span- 
iards, and  reduced  to  such  extremity  of  poverty  that  my 
father,  in  desperation  and  in  thirst  of  revenge,  took  up  arms, 
and  having  become  chief  of  a  little  band  who  were  in  the 
same  circumstances,  became  a  buccanier,  as  it  is  called,  and 
cruised  against  Spain,  with  various  vicissitudes  of  good  and 
bad  fortune,  until,  while  he  interfered  to  check  some  violence 
of  his  companions,  he  fell  by  their  hands — no  uncommon  fate 
among  the  captains  of  these  rovers.  But  whence  my  father 
came,  or  what  was  the  place  of  his  birth,  I  know  not,  fair 
Minna,  nor  have  I  ever  had  a  curious  thought  on  the  sub- 
ject." 

"  He  was  a  Briton,  at  least,  your  unfortunate  father?  "  said 
Minna. 

"  I  have  no  doubt  of  it,"  said  Cleveland;  "  his  name,  which 
I  have  rendered  too  formidable  to  be  openly  spoken,  is  an  Eng- 
hsh  one;  and  his  acquaintance  with  the  English  language,  and 
even  with  English  literature,  together  with  the  pains  which  he 
took,  in  better  days,  to  teach  me  both,  plainly  spoke  him  to 
be  an  Englishman.  If  the  rude  bearing  which  I  display  to- 
ward others  is  not  the  genuine  character  of  my  mind  and 
manners,  it  is  to  my  father,  Minna,  that  I  owe  any  share  of 
better  thoughts  and  principles,  which  may  render  me  worthy, 
in  some  small  degree,  of  your  notice  and  approbation.  And 
yet  it  sometimes  seems  to  me  that  I  have  two  different  charac- 
ters; for  I  cannot  bring  myself  to  believe  that  I.  who  now  walk 
this  lone  beach  with  the  lovely  ^linna  Troil,  and  am  permitted 
to  speak  to  her  of  the  passion  which  I  have  cherished,  have 
ever  been  the  daring  leader  of  the  bold  band  whose  name  was 
as  terrible  as  a  tornado." 

"  You  had  not  been  permitted,"  said  Minna,  "  to  use  that 
bold  language  toward  the  daughter  of  ^lagnus  Troil  had  you 
7\ot  been  the  brave  and  undaunted  leader  who,  with  so_  small 
means,  has  made  Ms  name  so  formidable.     My  heart  is  like 


238  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS. 

that  of  a  maiden  of  the  ancient  days,  and  is  to  be  won  not  by 
fair  words,  but  by  gallant  deeds."" 

"Alas!  that  heart,"  said  Cleveland;  '"and  what  is  it  that  I 
may  do — what  is  it  that  man  can  do,  to  win  in  it  tlie  interest 
which  I  desire?" 

"  Kejoin  your  friends — pursue  your  fortunes — leave  the 
rest  to  destiny,"  said  Minna.  "  Should  you  return  the  leader 
of  a  gallant  fleet,  who  can  tell  what  may  befall?" 

"  And  what  shall  assure  me  that,  when  I  return — if  return 
I  ever  shall — I  may  not  find  Minna  Troil  a  bride  or  a  spouse? 
No,  Minna,  I  will  not  trust  to  destiny  the  only  object  worth 
attaining  which  my  stormy  voyage  in  life  has  yet  offered  me." 

"  Hear  me,"  said  Minna.  "  1  will  bind  myself  to  you,  if 
you  dare  accept  such  an  engagement,  by  the  promise  of 
Odin,*  the  most  sacred  of  our  Northern  rites  which  are  yet 
practiced  among  us,  that  I  will  never  favor  another  until  you 
resign  the  pretensions  which  I  have  given  to  you.  Will  that 
satisfy  you?  for  more  I  cannot,  more  I  will  not  give." 

"  Then  with  that,"  said  Cleveland,  after  a  moment's  pause, 
"I  must  perforce  be  satisfied;  but  remember,  it  is  yourself 
that  throw  me  back  upon  a  mode  of  life  which  the  laws  of 
Britain  denounce  as  criminal,  and  which  the  violent  passions 
of  the  daring  men  by  whom  it  is  pursued  have  rendered  in- 
famous." 

"  But  I,"  said  ]\Iinna,  "  am  superior  to  such  prejudices.  In 
warring  with  England,  I  see  their  laws  in  no  other  light  than 
as  if  you  were  engaged  with  an  enemy  who,  in  fullness  of 
pride  and  power,  has  declared  he  will  give  his  antagonist  no 
quarter.  A  brave  man  will  not  fight  the  worse  for  this;  and, 
for  the  manners  of  your  comrades,  so  that  they  do  not  infecj; 
your  own,  why  should  their  evil  report  attach  to  you?" 

Cleveland  gazed  at  her  as  she  spoke  with  a  degree  of  won 
dering  admiration,  in  which,  at  the  same  time,  there  lurked 
a  smile  at  her  simplicity. 

"  I  could  not,"  he  said,  "  have  believed  that  such  high  cour- 
age could  have  been  found  united  with  such  ignorance  of  the 
world,  as  the  world  is  now  wielded.  For  my  manners,  they 
who  best  know  me  will  readily  allow  that  I  have  done  my 
best,  at  the  risk  of  my  popularity  and  of  my  life  itself,  to  miti- 
gate the  ferocity  of  my  mates;  but  how  can  you  teach 
humanity  to  men  burning  with  vengeance  against  the  world 
by  whom  they  are  proscribed,  or  teach  them  temperance  and 
moderation  in  enjoying  the  pleasures  which  chance  throws  in 

*  See  Note  30. 


THE  PIRATE.  239 

their  way,  to  vary  a  life  which  would  be  otherwise  one  con-. 
stant  scene  of  peril  and  hardship?     But  this  prumise,  Minna 
— this  promise,  which  is  all  I  am  to  receive  in  guerdon  for  my 
faithful  attachment — let  me  at  least  lose  no  time  in  claiming 
that." 

"  It  must  not  be  rendered  here,  but  in  Kirkwall.  We  must 
invoke,  to  witness  the  engagement,  the  spirit  which  presides 
over  the  ancient  Circle  of  Stennis.  But  perhaps  you  fear  to 
name  the  ancient  Father  of  the  Slain  too,  the  Severe,  the 
Terrible?" 

Cleveland  smiled. 

"  Do  me  the  justice  to  think,  lovely  Minna,  that  I  am  little 
subject  to  fear  real  causes  of  terror;  and  for  those  which  are 
visionar}^  I  have  no  s}Tnpathy  whatever." 

"  You  believe  not  in  them,  then?  "  said  Minna,  "  and  are 
so  far  better  suited  to  be  Brenda's  lover  than  mine." 

"  I  will  believe,"  replied  Cleveland,  "  in  whatever  you  be- 
lieve. The  whole  inhabitants  of  that  Valhalla  about  which 
you  converse  so  much  with  that  fiddling,  rhyming  fool,  Claud 
Halcro — all  these  shall  become  living  and  existing  things  to 
my  credulity.  But,  Minna,  do  not  ask  me  to  fear  any  of 
them." 

«  Fear! — no — not  to  fear  them,  surely,"  replied  the  maiden; 
"  for,  not  before  Thor  or  Odin,  when  they  approached  in  the 
fullness  of  their  terrors,  did  the  heroes  of  my  dauntless  race 
peld  one  foot  in  retreat.  Nor  do  I  own  them  as  deities;  a 
better  faith  prevents  so  foul  an  error.  But,  in  our  own  con- 
ception, they  are  powerful  spirits  for  good  or  evil.  And  when 
you  boast  not  to  fear  them,  betliink  you  that  you  defy  an 
enemy  of  a  kind  you  have  never  yet  encountered." 

"  Xot  in  these  northern  latitudes,"  said  the  lover,  with  a 
smile,  "  where  hitherto  I  have  seen  but  angels;  but  I  have 
faced,  in  my  time,  the  demons  of  the  equinoctial  line,  which 
we  rovers  suppose  to  be  as  powerful  and  as  malignant  as  those 
of  the  North." 

"  Have  you,  then,  witnessed  those  wonders  that  are  beyond 
the  visible  world?"  said  Minna,  with  some  degree  of  awe. 

Cleveland  composed  his  countenance,  and  replied:  "  A  short 
while  before  my  fathers  death,  I  came,  though  then  very 
young,  into  the"^  command  of  a  sloop,  manned  with  thirty  as 
desperate  fellows  as  ever  handled  a  musket.  We  cruised  for 
a  long  while  with  bad  success,  taking  nothing  but  wretched 
small  craft,  which  were  destined  to  catch  turtle,  or  otherwise 
loaded  with  coarse  and  worthless  trumpery.     1  had  much  ado 


340  WA  VERLE  T  NO  VELS. 

to  prevent  my  comrades  from  avengmg  upon  the  crews  of 
those  baubling  shallops  the  disappointment  which  they  had 
occasioned  to  us.  At  length  we  grew  desperate,  and  made  a 
descent  on  a  village  where  we  were  told  we  should  intercept 
the  mules  of  a  certain  Spanish  governor,  laden  with  treasure. 
We  succeeded  in  carrying  the  place;  but  while  I  endeavored 
to  save  the  inhabitants  from  the  fury  of  my  followers,  the 
muleteers,  with  their  precious  cargo,  escaped  into  the  neigh- 
boring woods.  This  filled  up  the  measure  of  my  unpopularity. 
My  people,  who  had  been  long  discontented,  became  openly 
mutinous.  I  was  deposed  from  my  command  in  solemn 
council,  and  condemned,  as  having  too  little  luck  and  too 
much  humanity  for  the  profession  I  had  undertaken,  to  be 
marooned,  as  the  phrase  goes,  on  one  of  those  little  sandy, 
bushy  islets  which  are  called,  in  the  West  Indies,  keys,  and 
which  are  frequented  only  by  turtle  and  by  sea-fowl.  Many 
of  them  are  supposed  to  be  haunted — some  by  the  demons 
worshiped  by  the  old  inhabitants;  some  by  caziques  and 
others,  whom  the  Spaniards  had  put  to  death  by  torture, 
to  compel  them  to  discover  their  hidden  treasures;  and  others 
by  the  various  specters  in  which  sailors  of  all  nations  have 
implicit  faith.  My  place  of  banishment,  called  Coffin  Key,* 
about  two  leagues  and  a  half  to  the  southeast  of  Bermudas, 
was  so  infamous  as  the  resort  of  these  supernatural  inhabi- 
tants that  I  believe  the  wealth  of  Mexico  would  not  have  per- 
suaded the  bravest  of  the  scoundrels  who  put  me  ashore  there 
to  have  spent  an  hour  on  the  islet  alone,  even  in  broad 
daylight;  and  when  they  rowed  off,  they  pulled  for  the  ship 
like  men  that  dared  not  cast  their  eyes  behind  them.  And 
there  they  left  me,  to  subsist  as  I  might  on  a  speck  of  unpro- 
ductive sand,  suiTounded  by  the  boundless  Atlantic,  and 
haunted,  as  they  supposed,  by  malignant  demons." 

"  And  what  M^as  the  consequence?  "  said  Minna  eagerly 

"  I  supported  life,"  said  the  adventurer,  "  at  the  expense  of 
such  sea-fowl,  aptly  called  boobies,  as  were  silly  enough  to 
let  me  approach  so  near  as  to  knock  them  down  with  a  stick; 
and  by  means  of  turtle-eggs,  when  these  complacent  birds 
became  better  acquainted  with  the  mischievous  disposition  of 
the  human  species,  and  more  shy  of  course  of  my  advances." 

"  And  the  demons  of  whom  you  spoke?  "  continued  Minna. 

"  I  had  my  secret  apprehensions  upon  their  account,"  said 
Cleveland.  "  In  open  daylight,  or  in  absolute  darkness,  I  did 
not  crroatly  apprehend  their  approach;  but  in  the  misty  dawn 

♦See  Note  31. 


TEE  PIRATE.  241 

of  the  morning,  or  when  evening  was  about  to  fall,  I  saw,  for 
the  first  week  of  my  abode  on  the  key,  many  a  dim  and  unde- 
fined specter,  now  resembling  a  Spaniard,  with  his  'capa' 
wrapped  around  him,  and  his  huge  '  sombrero,'  as  large  as  an 
umbrella,  upon  his  head;  now  a  Dutch  sailor,  with  his  rough 
cap  and  trunk-hose;  and  now  an  Indian  eazique,  with  his 
feathery  crown  and  long  lance  of  cane." 

"Did  you  not  approach  and  address  them?"  said  Minna. 

"  I  always  approached  them,"  replied  the  seaman;  "  but — 
I  grieve  to  disappoint  your  expectations,  my  fair  friend — 
whenever  I  drew  near  them,  the  phantom  changed  into  a 
bush,  or  a  piece  of  driftw^ood,  or  a  wreath  of  mist,  or  some 
such  cause  of  deception,  until  at  last  1  was  taught  by  experi- 
ence to  cheat  myself  no  longer  with  such  visions,  and  con- 
tinued a  solitary  inhabitant  of  Coffin  Key,  as  little  alarmed 
by  visionary  terrors  as  I  ever  was  in  the  great  cabin  of  a  stout 
vessel,  with  a  score  of  companions  around  me." 

"  You  have  cheated  me  into  listening  to  a  tale  of  nothing," 
said  Minna;  "  but  how  long  did  you  continue  on  the  island?  " 

"  Four  weeks  of  wretched  existence,"  said  Clevelan  1, 
"  when  I  was  relieved  by  the  crew  of  a  vessel  which  came 
thither  a-turtling.  Yet  my  miserable  seclusion  was  not 
entirely  useless  to  me;  for  on  that  spot  of  barren  sand  I  found, 
or  rather  forged,  the  iron  mask  which  has  since  been  my  chief 
security  against  treason  or  mutiny  of  my  followers.  It  was 
there  I  formed  the  resolution  to  seem  no  softer-hearted  nor 
better-instructed,  no  more  humane  and  no  more  scrupulous, 
than  those  with  whom  fortune  had  leagued  me.  I  thought 
over  my  former  story,  and  saw  that  seeming  more  brave, 
skillful,  and  enterprising  than  others  had  gained  me  command 
and  respect,  and  that  seeming  more  gently  nurtured  and  more 
civilized  than  they  had  made  them  envy  and  hate  me  as  a 
being  of  another  species.  I  bargained  with  myself  then,  that, 
since  I  could  not  lay  aside  my  superiority  of  intellect  and 
education,  I  would  do  my  best  to  disguise,  and  to  sink  in  the 
rude  seaman,  all  appearance  of  better  feeling  and  better  ac- 
complishments. I  foresaw  then  what  has  since  happenerl, 
that,  under  the  appearance  of  daring  obduracy,  I  should  ac- 
quire such  a  habitual  command  over  my  followers  that  I 
might  use  it  for  the  insurance  of  discipline,  and  for  relieving 
the  distress  of  the  wretches  who  fell  under  our  power.  I  saw, 
in  short,  that  to  attain  authority  I  must  assume  the  external 
semblance,  at  least,  of  those  over  whom  it  was  to  be  exercised. 
The  tidings  of  my  father's  fate,  while  il  excited  me  to  wrath 


242  WAVEBLEr  NOVELS. 

and  to  revenge,  confirmed  the  resolution  I  had  adopted.  He 
also  had  fallen  a  victim  to  his  superiority  of  mind,  morals,  and 
manners  above  those  whom  he  commaiided.  They  were  wont 
to  call  him  the  Gentleman;  and,  unquestionably,  they  thought 
he  waited  some  favorable  opi)ortunity  to  reconcile  himself, 
perhaps  at  their  expense,  to  those  existing  forms  of  society 
his  habits  seemed  best  to  suit  with,  and,  even  therefore,  they 
murdered  him.  Nature  and  justice  alike  called  on  me  for 
revenge.  I  was  soon  at  the  head  of  a  new  body  of  the  ad- 
venturers who  are  so  numerous  in  those  islands.  I  sought  not 
after  those  by  whom  I  had  been  myself  marooned,  but  after 
the  ^vretches  who  had  betrayed  my  father;  and  on  them  L 
took  a  revenge  so  severe  that  it  was  of  itself  sufficient  to 
stamp  me  with  the  character  of  that  inexorable  ferocity  which 
I  was  desirous  to  be  thought  to  possess,  and  which,  perhaps, 
was  gradually  creeping  on  my  natural  disposition  in  actual 
earnest.  My  manner,  speech,  and  conduct  seemed  so  totally 
changed  that  those  who  formerly  knew  me  were  disposed  to 
ascribe  the  alteration  to  my  intercourse  with  the  demons  who 
haunted  the  sands  of  Coffin  Key;  nay,  there  were  some  super- 
stitious enough  to  believe  that  I  had  actually  formed  a  league 
with  them." 

"  I  tremble  to  hear  the  rest!  "  said  Minna;  "  did  you  not 
become  the  monster  of  courage  and  cruelty  whose  character 
you  assumed  ?  " 

"  If  I  have  escaped  being  so,  it  is  to  you,  Minna,"  replied 
Cleveland,  "  that  the  wonder  must  be  ascribed.  It  is  true,  I 
have  always  endeavored  to  distinguish  myself  rather  by  acts 
of  adventurous  valor  than  by  schemes  of  revenge  or  of  plun- 
der, and  that  at  length  I  could  save  lives  by  a  rude  Jest,  and 
sometimes,  by  the  excess  of  the  measures  which  I  myself  pro- 
posed, could  induce  those  under  me  to  intercede  in  favor  of 
prisoners;  so  that  the  seeming  severity  of  my  character  has 
better  serv^ed  the  cause  of  humanity  than  had  I  appeared  di- 
rectly devoted  to  it." 

He  ceased,  and,  as  Minna  replied  not  a  word,  both  remained 
silent  for  a  little  space,  when  Cleveland  again  resumed  the 
discourse. 

"  You  are  silent,"  he  said,  "  Miss  Troil,  and  I  have  injured 
myself  in  your  opinion  by  the  frankness  with  which  1  have 
laid  my  character  before  you.  I  may  truly  say  that  my  natu- 
ral disposition  has  been  controlled,  but  not  altered,  by  the 
untoward  circumstances  in  which  I  am  placed." 

"  I  am  uncertain,"  said  Minna,  after  a  moment's  considera- 


THE  PIRATE.  243 

tion,  "  whether  you  had  been  thus  candid  liad  you  not  known 
I  should  soon  see  your  comrades,  and  discover,  from  their 
conversation  and  their  manners,  what  you  would  otherwise 
gladly  have  concealed." 

"You  do  me  injustice,  Minna — cruel  injustice.  From  the 
instant  that  you  knew  me  to  be  a  sailor  of  fortune,  an  ad- 
venturer, a  buccanier,  or,  if  you  will  have  the  broad  word,  a 
PIKATE,  what  had  you  to  expect  less  than  what  1  have  told 
you?" 

"  You  speak  too  truly,"  said  Minna :  "  all  this  I  might  have 
anticipated,  and  I  know  not  how  I  should  have  expected  it 
otherwise.  But  it  seemed  to  me  that  a  war  on  the  cruel  and 
superstitious  Spaniards  had  in  it  something  ennobling — some- 
thing that  reliued  the  fierce  employment  to  which  you  have 
just  now  given  its  true  and  dreaded  name.  I  thought  that 
the  independent  warriors  of  the  ^Yestern  Ocean,  raised  up,  as 
it  were,  to  punish  the  wrongs  of  so  many  murdered  and 
plundered  tribes,  must  have  had  something  of  gallant  eleva- 
tion, Hke  that  of  the  Sons  of  the  North,  whose  long  gaPeys 
avenged  on  so  many  coasts  the  oppression  of  degenerate 
Home.  This  I  thought  and  this  I  dreamed;  I  grieve  that  T 
am  awakened  and  undeceived.  Yet  I  blame  you  not  for  the 
erring  of  my  own  fancy.     Farewell;  we  must  now  part." 

"  Say  at  least,"  said  Cleveland,  "  that  you  do  not  hold  me 
in  horror  for  having  told  you  the  truth." 

"  1  must  have  time  for  reflection,"  said  Minna — "  time  to 
weigh  what  you  have  said,  ere  I  can  fully  understand  my  own 
feehngs.  Thus  much,  however,  I  can  say  even  now,  that  he 
who  pursues  the  wicked  purpose  of  plunder  by  means  of  blood 
and  cruelty,  and  who  must  veil  his  remains  of  natural  re- 
morse under  an  affectation  of  superior  profligacy,  is  not,  can- 
not be,  the  lover  whom  Minna  Troil  expected  to  find  in  Cleve- 
land; and  if  she  still  love  him,  it  must  be  as  a  penitent  and  not 
as  a  hero." 

So  saying,  she  extricated  herself  from  his  grasp  (for  he  still 
endeavored  to  detain  her),  making  an  imperative  sign  to  him 
to  forbear  from  following  her.  "  She  is  gone,"  said  Cleve- 
land, looking  after  her;  "  wild  and  fanciful  as  she  is,  I  ex- 
pected not  this.  She  startled  not  at  the  name  of  my  perilous 
course  of  life,  yet  seems  totally  unprepared  for  the  evil  which 
must  necessarily  attend  it;  and  so  all  the  merit  I  have  gained 
by  my  resemblance  to  a  Norse  champion,  or  king  of  the  sea, 
is'  to  be  lost  at  once,  because  a  gang  of  pirates  do  not  prove  to 
be  a  choir  of  saints.    1  would  that  Rackam,  Hawkins,  and 


244  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

the  rest  had  been  at  the  bottom  of  the  Race  of  Portland — I 
would  the  Pentland  Firth  had  swept  them  to  hell  rather  than 
to  Orkney!  I  will  not,  however,  quit  the  chase  of  this  angel 
for  all  that  these  fiends  can  do.  I  will — I  must  to  Orkney 
before  the  Udaller  makes  his  voyage  thither;  our  meeting 
might  alarm  even  his  blunt  understanding,  although,  thank 
Heaven,  in  this  wild  country,  men  know  the  nature  of  our 
trade  only  by  hearsay,  through  our  honest  friends  the  Dutch, 
who  take  care  never  to  speak  very  ill  of  those  they  make 
money  by.  Well,  if  fortune  would  but  stand  my  friend  with 
this  beautiful  enthusiast,  I  would  pursue  her  wheel  no  far- 
ther at  sea,  but  set  myself  down  amongst  these  rocks,  as  happy 
as  if  they  were  so  manv  groves  of  bananas  and  palmettoes." 
With  these  and  such  thoughts  half  rolling  in  his  bosom, 
half  expressed  in  indistinct  hints  and  murmurs,  the  pirate 
Cleveland  returned  to  the  mansion  of  Burgh- Westra. 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

There  was  shaking  of  hands  and  sorrow  of  heart, 
For  the  hour  was  approaching  when  merry  folks  must  part; 
So  we  oall'd  for  our  horses,  and  ask"d  for  our  way, 
While  the  jolly  old  landlord  said,  "Nothing's  to  pay." 

— Lilliput,  a  Poem. 

We  do  not  dwell  upon  the  festivities  of  the  day,  which  had 
nothing  in  them  to  interest  the  reader  parlieularly.  The 
table  groaned  under  the  usual  plenty,  which  was  disposed  of 
by  the  guests  with  the  usual  appetite;  the  bowl  of  punch  was 
filled  and  emptied  with  the  same  celerity  as  usual;  the  men 
quaffed,  and  the  women  laughed;  Claud  Halcro  rhymed, 
punned,  and  praised  John  Dryden;  the  Udaller  bumpered  and 
sung  choruses;  and  the  evening  concluded,  as  usual,  in  the 
rigging-loft,  as  it  was  Magnus  Troil's  pleasure  to  term  the 
dancing-apartment. 

It  was  then  and  there  that  Cleveland,  approaching  Magnus, 
where  he  sat  betwixt  his  two  daughters,  intimated  his  inten- 
tion of  going  to  Kirkwall  in  a  small  brig  which  Bryce  Snails- 
foot,  who  had  disposed  of  his  goods  with  unprecedented 
celerity,  had  freighted  thither  to  procure  a  supply. 

Magnus  heard  the  sudden  proposal  of  his  guest  with  sur- 
prise, not  unmingled  with  displeasure,  and  demanded  sharply 
of  Cleveland  how  long  it  was  since  he  had  learned  to  prefer 
Bryce  Snailsfoot's  company  to  his  own?  Cleveland  answered, 
with  his  usual  bluntness  of  manner,  that  time  and  tide  tarried 
for  no  one,  and  that  he  had  his  own  particular  reasons  for 
making  his  trip  to  Kirkwall  sooner  than  the  Udaller  proposed 
to  set  sail;  that  he  hoped  to  meet  with  him  and  his  daughters 
at  the  great  fair  which  was  now  closely  approaching,  and 
might  perhaps  find  it  possible  to  return  to  Zetland  along  with 
them. 

While  he  spoke  this,  Brenda  kept  her  eye  as  much  upon 
her  sister  as  it  was  possible  to  do  without  exciting  general 
observation.  She  remarked,  that  Minna's  pale  cheek  became 
yet  paler  while  Cleveland  spoke,  and  that  she  seemed,  by  com- 
pressing her  lips  and  slightly  knitting  her  brows,  to  be  in  the 
act  of  repressing  the  effects  of  strong  interior  emotion.  But 
she  spoke  not;  and  when  Cleveland,  having  bidden  adieu  to 
the  Udaller,  approached  to  salute  her,  as  was  then  the  custom, 

MS 


246  WAVEELEY  NOVELS. 

she  received  his  farewell  without  trusting  herself  to  attempt  a 
reply. 

Brenda  had  her  own  trial  approaching;  for  Mordaunt  Mer- 
toun,  once  so  much  loved  by  her  father,  was  now  in  the  act  of 
making  his  cold  parting  from  him,  without  receiving  a  single 
look  of  friendly  regard.  There  was,  indeed,  sarcasm  in  the 
tone  with  which  Magnus  wished  the  youth  a  good  journey, 
and  recommended  to  him,  if  he  met  a  bonny  lass  by  the  way, 
not  to  dream  that  she  was  in  love  because  she  chanced  to  jest 
with  him.  Mertoun  colored  at  what  he  felt  as  an  insult, 
though  it  was  but  half  intelligible  to  him;  but  he  remembered 
Brenda,  and  suppressed  every  feeling  of  resentment.  He 
proceeded  to  take  his  leave  of  the  sisters.  Minna,  whose 
heart  was  considerably  softened  toward  him,  received  his  fare- 
well with  some  degree  of  interest;  but  Brenda's  grief  was  so 
visible  in  the  kindness  of  her  manner  and  the  moisture  which 
gathered  in  her  eye,  that  it  was  noticed  even  by  the  Udaller, 
who  exclaimed,  half-angrily,  "  Why,  aye,  lass,  that  may  be 
right  enough,  for  he  was  an  old  acquaintance;  but  mind!  I 
have  no  will  that  he  remain  one." 

Mertoun,  who  was  slowly  leaving  the  apartment,  half  over- 
heard this  disparaging  observation,  and  half  turned  round  to 
resent  it.  But  his  purpose  failed  him  when  he  saw  that 
Brenda  had  been  obliged  to  have  recourse  to  her  handkerchief 
to  hide  her  emotion,  and  the  sense  that  it  was  excited  by  his 
departure  obliterated  every  thought  of  her  father's  unkind- 
ness.  He  retired;  the  other  guests  followed  his  example;  and 
many  of  them,  like  Cleveland  and  himself,  took  their  leave 
over  night,  with  the  intention  of  commencing  their  home- 
ward journey  on  the  succeeding  morning. 

That  night,  the  mutual  sorrow  of  Minna  and  Brenda,  if  it 
could  not  wholly  remove  the  reserve  which  had  estranged  the 
sisters  from  each  other,  at  least  melted  all  its  frozen  and  un- 
kindly symptoms.  ,They  wept  in  each  other's  arms;  and 
though  neither  spoke,  yet  each  became  dearer  to  the  other; 
because  they  felt  that  the  grief  which  called  forth  these  drops 
had  a  source  common  to  them  both. 

It  is  probable  that,  though  Brenda's  tears  were  most  abun- 
dant, the  grief  of  Minna  was  most  deeply  seated;  for,  long 
after  the  younger  had  sobbed  herself  asleep,  like  a  child,  upon 
her  sister's  bosom,  Minna  lay  awake,  watching  the  dubious 
twilight,  while  tear  after  tear  slowly  gathered  in  her  eye,  and 
found  a  current  down  her  cheek,  as  soon  as  it  became  too 
heavy  to  be  supported  by  her  long  black  silken  eyelashes.     As 


THE  PIRATE.  247 

she  lay,  bewildered  among  the  sorrowful  thoughts  which  sup- 
plied these  tears,  she  was  surprised  to  distinguish,  beneath  the 
window,  the  sounds  of  music.  At  first  she  supposed  it  was 
some  freak  of  Claud  Halcro,  whose  fantastic  humor  some- 
times indulged  itself  in  such  serenades.  But  it  was  not  the 
"  gue  "  of  the  old  minstrel,  but  the  guitar,  that  she  heard — 
an  instrument  which  none  in  the  island  knew  how  to  touch 
except  Cleveland,  who  had  learned,  in  his  intercourse  with 
the  South-American  Spaniards,  to  play  on  it  with  superior 
execution.  Perhaps  it  was  in  those  climates  also  that  he  had 
learned  the  song,  which,  though  he  now  sung  it  under  the 
window  of  a  maiden  of  Thule,  had  certainly  never  been  com- 
posed for  the  native  of  a  climate  so  northerly  and  so  severe, 
since  it  spoke  of  productions  of  the  earth  and  skies  which  are 
there  unknown. 

"  Love  wakes  and  weeps 

While  beauty  sleeps  : 
0  for  music's  softest  uumbera, 

To  prompt  a  theme, 

For  beauty's  dream, 
Soft  as  the  pillow  of  her  slumbers! 

"  Through  groves  of  palm 

Sigh  gales  of  balm, 
Fire-flies  on  the  air  are  wheeling  ; 

While  through  the  gloom 

Comes  soft  perfume, 
The  distant  beds  of  flowers  revealing 

"  O  wake  and  live. 

No  dream  can  give 
A  shadow'd  bliss,  the  real  excelling; 

No  longer  sleep. 

From  lattice  peep, 
And  list  the  tale  that  Love  is  telling! " 

The  voice  of  Cleveland  was  deep,  rich,  and  manly,  and  ac- 
corded well  with  the  Spanish  air,  to  which  the  words,  prob- 
ably a  translation  from  the  same  language,  had  been  adapted. 
His  invocation  would  not  probably  have  been  fruitless,  could 
Minna  have  arisen  without  awaking  her  sister.  But  that  was 
impossible;  for  Brenda,  who,  as  we  have  already  mentioned, 
had  wept  bitterly  before  she  had  sunk  into  repose,  now  lay 
with  her  face  on  her  sister's  neck,  and  one  arm  stretched 
around  her,  in  the  attitude  of  a  child  which  has  cried  itself 
asleep  in  the  arms  of  its  nurse.  It  was  impossible  for  Minna 
to  extricate  herself  from  her  grasp  without  awaking  her;  and 
she  could  not,  therefore,  execute  her  hasty  purpose  of  donning 
her  gown  and  approaching  the  window  to  speak  with  Cleve- 
land, who,  she  had  no  doubt,  had  resorted  to  this  contrivance 


248  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

to  procure  an  interview.  The  restraint  was  sufficiently  pro- 
voking, for  it  was  more  than  probable  that  her  lover  came  to 
take  his  last  farewell;  but  that  J^renda,  inimical  as  she  seemed 
to  be  of  late  toward  Cleveland,  should  awake  and  witness  it 
was  a  thought  not  to  be  endured. 

There  was  a  short  pause,  in  which  Minna  endeavored  more 
than  once,  with  as  much  gentleness  as  possible,  to  unclasp 
Brenda's  arm  from  her  neck;  but  whenever  she  attempted  it, 
the  slumberer  muttered  some  little  pettish  sound,  like  a  child 
disturbed  in  its  sleep,  which  sufficiently  showed  that  perse- 
verance in  the  attempt  would  awaken  her  fully. 

To  her  great  vexation,  therefore,  Minna  was  compelled  to 
remain  still  and  silent;  when  her  lover,  as  if  determined  upon 
gaining  her  ear  by  music  of  another  strain,  sung  the  following 
fragment  of  a  sea-ditty: 

"Farewell!  farewell!  the  voice  you  hear 
Has  left  its  last  soft  tone  with  you; 
Its  next  must  join  the  seaward  cheer, 
And  shout  among  the  shouting  crew. 

"  The  accents  which  I  scarce  could  form, 
Beneath  your  frown's  controlling  check, 
Must  give  the  word,  above  the  storm, 
To  cut  the  mast  and  clear  the  wreck. 

"  The  timid  eye  I  dared  not  raise, 

The  hand  that  shook  when  pressed  to  thine 
Must  point  the  guns  upon  the  chase, 
Must  bid  the  deadly  cutlass  shine. 

"  To  all  I  love,  or  hope,  or  fear, 
Honor,  or  own,  a  long  adieu! 
To  all  that  life  has  soft  and  dear, 
Farewell!  save  memory  of  you  ! "  * 

He  was  again  silent;  and  again  she  to  whom  the  serenade 
was  addressed  strove  in  vain  to  arise  without  rousing  her  sis- 
ter. It  was  impossible;  and  she  had  nothing  before  her  but 
the  unhappy  thought  that  Cleveland  was  taking  leave  in  his 
desolation  without  a  single  glance  or  a  single  word.  He,  too, 
whose  temper  was  so  fiery,  yet  who  subjected  his  violent  mood 
with  such  sedulous  attention  to  her  will — could  she  but  have 
stolen  a  moment  to  say  adieu,  to  caution  him  against  new 
quarrels  with  Mertoun,  to  implore  him  to  detach  himself  from 
such  comrades  as  he  had  described — could  she  but  have  done 
this,  who  could  say  what  effect  such  parting  admonitions 
might  have  had  upon  his  character — nay,  upon  the  future 
events  of  his  life? 

*  I  cannot  suppress  the  pride  of  snyine,  that  these  lines  have  been  beautifully  set  to 
•riginal  music  by  Mrs.  Arkwright  of  Derbyshire. 


THE  PIRATE.  249 

Tantalized  by  such  thoughts,  Minna  was  about  to  make 
another  decisive  effort,  when  she  heard  voices  beneath  the 
window,  and  thought  she  could  distinguish  that  they  were 
those  of  Cleveland  and  Mertoun,  speaking  in  a  sharp  tone, 
which,  at  the  same  time,  seemed  cautiously  suppressed,  as  if 
the  speakers  feared  being  overheard.  Alarm  now  mingled 
with  her  former  desire  to  rise  from  bed,  and  she  accomplished 
at  once  the  purpose  which  she  had  so  often  attempted  in  vain. 
Brenda's  arm  was  unloosed  from  her  sister's  neck  without  the 
sleeper  receiving  more  alann  than  provoked  two  or  three  un- 
intelligible murmurs;  while,  with  equal  speed  and  silence, 
Minna  put  on  some  part  of  her  dress,  with  the  intention  to 
steal  to  the  window.  But,  ere  she  could  accomplish  this,  the 
sound  of  the  voices  without  was  exchanged  for  that  of  blows 
and  struggling,  which  terminated  suddenly  by  a  deep  groan. 

Terrified  at  this  last  signal  of  mischief,  Minna  sprung  to 
the  window  and  endeavored  to  open  it,  for  the  persons  were 
so  close  under  the  walls  of  the  house  that  she  could  not  see 
them  save  by  putting  her  head  out  of  the  casement.  The 
iron  hasp  was  stiff  and  rusted,  and,  as  generally  happens,  the 
haste  with  which  s'he  labored  to  undo  it  only  rendered  the 
task  more  difficult.  When  it  was  accomplished,  and  Minna 
had  eagerly  thrust  her  body  half  out  at  the  casement,  those 
who  had  erected  the  sounds  which  alarmed  her  were  become 
invisible,  excepting  that  she  saw  a  shadow  cross  the  moon- 
light, the  substance  of  which  must  have  been  in  the  act  of 
turning  a  comer,  which  concealed  it  from  her  sight.  The 
shadow  moved  slowly,  and  seemed  that  of  a  man  who  sup- 
ported another  upon  his  shoulders — an  indication  which  put 
the  climax  to  Minna's  agony  of  mind.  The  window  was  not 
above  eight  feet  from  the  ground,  and  she  hesitated  not  to 
throw  herself  from  it  hastily,  and  to  pursue  the  object  which 
had  excited  her  terror. 

But  when  she  came  to  the  comer  of  the  buildings  from 
which  the  shadow  seemed  to  have  been  projected,  she  dis- 
covered nothing  which  could  point  out  the  way  that  the 
figure  had  gone;  and,  after  a  moment's  consideration,  became 
sensible  that  all  attempts  at  pursuit  would  be  alike  wild  and 
fruitless.  Besides  all  the  projections  and  recesses  of  the 
many-angled  mansion  and  its  numerous  offices — besides  the 
various  cellars,  store-houses,  stables,  and  so  forth,  which  de- 
fied her  solitary  search,  there  was  a  range  of  low  rocks, 
stretching  down  to  the  haven,  and  which  were,  in  fact,  a  con- 
tinuation of  the  ridge  which  formed  its  pier.     These  rocks 


350  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

had  many  indentures,  hollows,  and  caverns,  into  any  one  of 
which  the  fip,ure  to  which  the  shadow  belonged  might  have 
retired  with  his  fatal  burden ;  for  fatal,  she  feared,  it  was  most 
likely  to  prove. 

A  moment's  reflection,  as  we  have  said,  convinced  Minna 
of  the  folly  of  further  pursuit.  Her  next  thought  was  to 
alarm  the  family;  but  what  tale  had  she  to  tell,  and  of  whom 
was  that  tale  to  be  told?  On  the  other  hand,  the  wounded 
man — if  indeed  he  were  wounded — alas,  if  indeed  he  were 
not  mortally  wounded! — might  not  be  past  the  reach  of 
assistance;  and,  with  this  idea,  she  was  about  to  raise  hex 
voice,  when  she  was  interrupted  by  that  of  Claud  Halcro,  who 
was  returning  apparently  from  the  haven,  and  singing,  in  his 
manner,  a  scrap  of  an  old  Norse  ditty,  wdiich  might  run  thus 
in  English: 

"  And  you  shall  deal  the  funeral  dole 
Aye,  deal  it,  mother  mine, 
To  weary  body,  and  to  heavy  soul, 
The  white  bread  and  the  wine. 

"  And  you  shall  deal  my  horses  of  pride; 
Aye,  deal  them,  mother  mine; 
And  you  shall  deal  my  lands  so  wide, 
And  deal  my  castles  nine. 

"  But  deal  not  vengeance  for  the  deed, 
And  deal  not  for  the  crime; 
The  body  to  its  place,  and  the  soul  to  Heaven's  grace, 
And  the  rest  in  God's  own  time." 

The  singular  adaptation  of  these  rhymes  to  the  situation  in 
which  she  found  herself  seemed  to  Minna  like  a  warning  from 
Heaven.  We  are  speaking  of  a  land  of  omens  and  supersti- 
tions, and  perhaps  ^\dll  scarce  be  understood  by  those  whose 
limited  imagination  cannot  conceive  how  strongly  these 
operate  upon  the  human  mind  during  a  certain  progress  of 
society.  A  line  of  Virgil,  turned  up  casually,  was  received  in 
the  seventeenth  century,  and  in  the  court  of  England,*  as  an 
intimation  of  future  events;  and  no  wonder  that  a  maiden  of 
the  distant  and  wild  isles  of  Zetland  should  have  considered 
as  an  injunction  from  Heaven  verses  which  happened  to  con- 
vey a  sense  analogous  to  her  present  situation. 

"  I  will  be  silent,"  she  muttered — "  I  will  seal  my  lips — 

"  The  body  to  its  place,  and  the  soul  to  Heaven's  grace. 
And  the  rest  in  God's  own  time." 

*  The  celebrated  "  eortes  Virgilianae  "  were  resorted  to  by  Charles  I.  and  hia  conr- 
tiers  as  a  mode  of  prying  into  futurity. 


THE  PIRATE.  251 

"Who  speaks  there?"  said  Claud  Halcro,  in  some  alarm, 
for  he  had  not,  in  his  travels  in  foreign  parts,  been  able  by  any 
means  to  rid  himself  of  his  native  superstitions.  In  the  con- 
dition to  which  fear  and  horror  had  reduced  her,  Minna  was 
at  first  unable  to  reply;  and  Halcro,  fixing  his  eyes  upon  the 
female  white  figure,  which  he  saw  indistinctly  (for  she  stood 
in  the  shadow  of  the  house,  and  the  morning  was  thick  and 
misty),  began  to  conjure  her  in  an  ancient  rhyme  which 
occurred  to  him  as  suited  for  the  occasion,  and  which  had  in 
its  gibberish  a  wild  and  unearthly  sound,  which  may  be  lost 
in  the  ensuing  translation: 

"  St.  Magnus  control  thee,  that  martyr  of  treason; 
St.  Ronan  rebuke  thee,  with  rhyme  and  with  reason; 
By  the  mass  of  St.  Martin,  the  might  of  St.  Mary, 
Be  thou  gone,  or  thy  weird  shall  be  worse  if  thou  tarrjl 

If  of  good,  go  hence  and  hallow  thee; 

If  of  ill,  let  the  earth  swallow  thee; 

If  thou'rt  of  air,  let  the  gray  mist  fold  thee; 

If  of  earth,  let  the  swart  miue  hold  thee; 

If  a  pixie,  seek  thy  ring; 

If  a  nixie,  seek  thy  spring; 

If  on  middle  earth  thou'st  been 

Slave  of  sorrow,  shame,  and  sin, 

Hast  eat  the  bread  of  toil  and  strife, 

And  dree'd  the  lot  which  men  call  life. 
Begone  to  thy  stone!  for  thy  coffin  is  scant  of  thee, 
The  worm,  thy  playfellow,  wails  for  the  want  of  thee; 
Hence,  houseless  ghost!  let  the  earth  hide  thee, 
Till  Michael  shall  blow  the  blast,  see  that  there  thou  bide  thee! 
Phantom,  fly  hence!  take  the  Cross  for  a  token. 
Hence  pass  "till  Hallowmass! — my  spell  is  spoken." 

"  It  is  I,  Halcro,"  muttered  Minna,  in  a  tone  so  thin  and 
low  that  it  might  have  passed  for  the  faint  reply  of  the  con- 
jured phantom. 

"  You  I — you!  "  said  Halcro,  his  tone  of  alarm  changing  to 
one  of  extreme  surprise;  "  by  this  moonlight,  which  is  waning, 
and  so  it  is!  Who  could  have  thought  to  find  you,  my  most 
lovely  Night,  wandering  abroad  in  your  own  element!  But 
you  saw  them.  I  reckon,  as  well  as  I?  bold  enough  in  you  to 
follow  them,  though." 

"  Saw  whom? — follow  whom?  "  said  Minna,  hoping  to  gain 
some  information  on  the  subject  of  her  fears  and  anxiety. 

"  The  corpse-lights  which  danced  at  the  haven,"  replied 
Halcro;  "they  bode  no  good,  I  promise  you:  you  wot  well 
what  the  old  rhyme  says: 

"  Where  corpse -light 
Dances  bright. 
Be  it  day  or  night, 
Be  it  by  light  or  dark. 
There  shall  corpse  lie  stiflf  and  stark. 


252  WAVERLE7  NOVELS. 

I  went  half  as  far  as  the  haven  to  look  after  them,  but  they 
had  vanished.  T  think  I  saw  a  boat  put  off,  however;  some 
one  bound  for  the  haaf,  I  suppose.  I  would  we  had  good 
news  of  this  fishing.  There  was  Noma  left  us  in  anger,  and 
then  these  corpse-lights!  Well,  God  help  the  while!  I  am 
an  old  man,  and  can  but  wish  that  all  were  well  over.  But 
how  now,  my  pretty  Minna,  tears  in  your  eyes!  And  now 
that  I  see  you  in  the  fair  moonlight,  barefooted,  too,  by  St. 
Magnus!  Were  there  no  stockings  of  Zetland  wool  soft 
enough  for  these  pretty  feet  and  ankles,  that  glance  so  white 
in  the  moonbeam?  What,  silent! — angry,  perhaps,"  he 
added,  in  a  more  serious  tone,  "  at  my  nonsense?  For  shame, 
silly  maiden!  Eemember  I  am  old  enough  to  be  your  father, 
and  have  always  loved  you  as  my  child." 

"  I  am  not  angry,"  said  Minna,  constraining  herself  to 
speak,  "  but  heard  you  nothing? — saw  you  nothing?  They 
must  have  passed  you." 

"  They!  "  said  Claud  Halcro;  "  what  mean  you  by  they? 
Is  it  the  corpse-lights?  No,  they  did  not  pass  by  me,  but  I 
think  they  have  passed  by  you,  and  blighted  you  with  their 
influence,  for  you  are  as  pale  as  a  specter.  Come — come, 
Minna,"  he  added,  opening  a  side-door  of  the  dwelling, 
"  these  moonlight  walks  are  fitter  for  old  poets  than  for  young 
maidens.  And  so  lightly  clad  as  you  are!  Maiden,  you 
should  take  care,  how  you  give  yourself  to  the  breezes  of  a 
Zetland  night,  for  they  bring  more  sleet  than  odors  upon 
their  wings.  But,  maiden,  go  in;  for,  as  glorious  John  says — 
or,  as  he  does  not  say,  for  I  cannot  remember  how  his  verse 
chimes — but,  as  I  say  myself,  in  a  pretty  poem,  written  when 
my  muse  was  in  her  teens: 

"  Menseful  maiden  ne'er  should  rise, 
Till  the  first  beam  tinge  the  skies; 
Silk-fringed  eyelids  still  should  close, 
I  Till  the  sun  has  kiss'd  the  rose; 

Maiden's  foot  we  should  not  view, 
Mark'd  with  tiny  print  on  dew, 
Till  the  opening  flowerets  spread 
Carpet  meet  for  beauty's  tread 

Stay,  what  comes  next  ? — let  me  see." 

When  the  spirit  of  recitation  seized  on  Claud  Halcro,  he 
forgot  time  and  place,  and  might  have  kept  his  companion  in 
the  cold  air  for  half  an  hour,  giving  poetical  reasons  why 
she  ought  to  have  been  in  bed.  But  she  interrupted  him  by 
the  question,  earnestly  pronounced,  yet  in  a  voice  which  was 
scarcely  articulate,  holding  Halcro,  at  the  same  time,  with  a 


THE  PIRATE.  253 

treml)ling  and  convulsive  grasp,  as  if  to  support  herself  from 
falling,  "  Saw  you  no  one  in  the  boat  which  put  to  sea  but 
now?" 

"  Nonsense,"  replied  Halcro;  "  how  could  I  see  anyone, 
when  light  and  distance  only  enabled  me  to  know  that  it  was 
a  boat,  and  not  a  grampus?  " 

"  But  there  must  have  been  someone  in  the  boat,"  repeated 
Minna,  scarce  conscious  of  what  she  said. 

"  Certainly,"  answered  the  poet,  "  boats  seldom  work  to 
windward  of  their  own  accord.  But  come,  this  is  all  folly; 
and  so,  as  the  queen  says  in  an  old  play,  which  was  revived 
for  the  stage  by  rare  Will  D'Avenant,  '  To  bed — to  bed — to 
bed! ' " 

They  separated,  and  Minna's  limbs  conveyed  her  with  diffi- 
culty, through  several  devious  passages,  to  her  own  chamber, 
where  she  stretched  herself  cautiously  beside  her  still  sleeping 
sister,  with  a  mind  harassed  with  the  most  agonizing  appre- 
hensions. That  she  had  heard  Cleveland,  she  was  positive; 
the  tenor  of  the  songs  left  her  no  doubt  on  that  subject.  If 
not  equally  certain  that  she  had  heard  young  Mertoun's  voice 
in  hot  quarrel  with  her  lover,  the  impression  to  that  elT'ect  was 
strong  on  her  mind.  The  groan  with  which  the  struggle 
seemed  to  terminate,  the  fearful  indication  from  which  it 
seemed  that  the  conqueror  had  borne  off  the  lifeless  body  of 
his  victim — all  tended  to  prove  that  some  fatal  event  had  con- 
cluded the  contest.  And  which  of  the  unhappy  men  had 
fallen?  which  had  met  a  bloody  death? — which  had 
achieved  a  fatal  and  a  bloody  victory?  These  were  questions 
to  which  the  still  small  voice  of  interior  conviction  answered, 
that  her  lover  Cleveland,  from  character,  temper,  and  habits, 
was  most  likely  to  have  been  the  survivor  of  the  fray.  She 
received  from  the  reflection  an  involuntary  consolation  which 
she  almost  detested  herself  for  admitting,  when  she  recol- 
lected that  it  was  at  once  darkened  with  her  lovers  guilt  and 
embittered  with  the  destruction  of  Brenda's  happiness  for- 
ever. 

"  Innocent,  unhappy  sister! "  such  were  her  reflections, 
"  thou  that  art  ten  times  better  than  I,  because  so  unpretend- 
ing— so  unassuming  in  thine  excellence!  How  is  it  possible 
that  I  should  cease  to  feel  a  pang  which  is  only  transferred 
from  my  bosom  to  thine?  " 

As  these  cruel  thoughts  crossed  her  mind,  she  could  not 
refrain  from  straining  her  sister  so  close  to  her  bosom  that, 
after  a  heavy  sigh,  Brenda  awoke. 


264  WAVUBLEY  NOVELS. 

"  Sister,"  she  said,  "  is  it  you?  I  dreamed  I  lay  on  one  of 
those  monuments  which  Claud  Halcro  described  to  us,  where 
the  effigy  of  the  inhabitant  beneath  lies  carved  in  stone  upon 
the  sepulcher.  I  dreamed  such  a  marble  form  lay  by  my 
side,  and  that  it  suddenly  acquired  enough  of  life  and  anima- 
tion to  fold  me  to  its  cold,  moist  bosom;  and  it  is  yours, 
Minna,  that  is  indeed  so  chilly.  You  are  ill,  my  dearest 
Minna!  for  God's  sake,  let  me  rise  and  call  Euphane  Fea. 
What  ails  you?     Has  Noma  been  here  again?  " 

"  Call  no  one  hither,"  said  Minna,  detaining  her;  "  noth- 
ing ails  me  for  which  anyone  has  a  remedy — nothing  but  ap- 
prehensions of  evil  worse  than  even  ISToma  could  prophesy. 
But  God  is  above  all,  my  dear  Brenda;  and  let  us  pray  to  Him 
to  turn,  as  He  only  can,  our  evil  into  good." 

They  did  jointly  repeat  their  usual  prayer  for  strength  and 
protection  from  on  high,  and  again  composed  themselves  to 
sleep,  suffering  no  word  save  "  God  bless  you!  "  to  pass  be- 
twixt them  when  their  devotions  were  finished;  thus  scrupu- 
lously dedicating  to  Heaven  their  last  waking  words,  if 
human  frailty  prevented  them  from  commanding  their  last 
waking  thoughts.  Brenda  slept  first,  and  Minna,  strongly 
resisting  the  dark  and  evil  presentiments  which  again 
began  to  crowd  themselves  upon  her  imagination,  was  at  last 
so  fortunate  as  to  slumber  also. 

The  storm  which  Halcro  had  expected  began  about  day- 
break— a  squall,  heavy  with  wind  and  rain,  such  as  is  often 
felt,  even  during  the  finest  part  of  the  season,  in  these  lati- 
tudes. At  the  whistle  of  the  wind  and  the  clatter  of  the  rain 
on  the  shingle-roofing  of  the  fishers'  huts,  many  a  poor  woman 
was  awakened,  and  called  on  her  children  to  hold  up  their 
little  hands  and  join  in  prayer  for  the  safety  of  the  dear  hus- 
band and  father  who  was  even  then  at  the  mercy  of  the 
disturbed  elements.  Around  the  house  of  Burgh-Westra, 
chimneys  howled  and  windows  clashed.  The  props  and 
rafters  of  the  higher  parts  of  the  building,  most  of  them 
formed  out  of  wreck-wood,  groaned  and  quivered,  as  fearing 
to  be  again  dispersed  by  the  tempest.  But  the  daughters  of 
Magnus  Troil  continued  to  sleep  as  softly  and  as  sweetly  as  if 
the  hand  of  Chantrey  had  formed  them  out  of  statuary 
marble.  The  squall  had  passed  away,  and  the  sunbeams,  dis- 
persing the  clouds  which  drifted  to  leeward,  shone  full 
through  the  lattice,  when  Minna  first  started  from  the  pro- 
found sleep  into  which  fatigue  and  mental  exhaustion  had 
lulled  her,  and,  raising  herself  on  her  arm,  began  to  recall 


THE  PIRATE.  255 

events,  which,  after  this  interval  of  profound  repose,  seemed 
almost  to  resemble  the  baseless  visions  of  the  night.  She 
almost  doubted  if  what  she  recalled  of  horror,  previous  to  her 
starting  from  her  bed,  was  not  indeed  the  fiction  of  a  dream, 
suggested,  perhaps,  by  some  external  sounds. 

''1  will  see  Claud  Halcro  instantly,"  she  said;  "he  may 
know  something  of  these  strange  noises,  as  he  was  stirring  at 
the  time." 

With  that  she  sprung  from  bed,  but  hardly  stood  upright 
on  the  floor  ere  her  sister  exclaimed,  "  Gracious  Heaven! 
Minna,  what  ails  your  foot — your  ankle?" 

She  looked  down,  and  saw  with  surprise,  which  amounted 
to  agony,  that  both  her  feet,  but  particularly  one  of  them,  was 
stained  mth  dark  crimson,  resembhng  the  color  of  dried 
blood. 

Without  attempting  to  answer  Brenda,  she  rushed  to  the 
window  and  cast  a  desperate  look  on  the  grass  beneath,  for 
there  she  knew  she  must  have  contracted  the  fatal  stain.  But 
the  rain,  which  had  fallen  there  in  treble  quantity,  as  well 
from  the  heavens  as  from  the  eaves  of  the  house,  had  washed 
away  that  guilty  witness,  if  indeed  such  had  ever  existed. 
All  was  fresh  and  fair,  and  the  blades  of  grass,  overcharged 
and  bent  with  raindrops,  glittered  like  diamonds  in  the  bright 
morning  sun. 

While  Minna  stared  upon  the  spangled  verdure,  with  her 
full  dark  eyes  fixed  and  enlarged  to  circles  by  the  intensity  of 
her  terror,  Brenda  was  hanging  about  her,  and  with  many  an 
eager  inquiry  pressed  to  know  whether  or  how  she  had  hurt 
herself? 

"  A  piec-e  of  glass  cut  through  my  shoe,"  said  lilinna,  be- 
thinking herself  that  some  excuse  was  necessar}'  to  her  sister; 
"  I  scarce  felt  it  at  the  time." 

"  And  yet  see  how  it  has  bled,"  said  her  sister.  "  Sweet 
Minna,"  she  added,  approaching  her  with  a  wetted  towel,  "  let 
me  wipe  the  blood  off — the  hurt  may  be  worse  than  you 
think  of." 

But  as  she  approached,  Minna,  who  saw  no  other  way  of 
preventing  discovery  that  the  blood  with  which  she  was 
stained  had  never  flowed  in  her  own  veins,  harshly  and  hastily 
repelled  the  profi^ered  kindness.  Poor  Brenda.  unconscious 
of  any  offense  which  she  had  given  to  her  sister,  drew  back 
two  or  three  paces  on  finding  her  service  thus  unkindly  re- 
fused, and  stood  gazing  at  Minna  with  looks  in  which  there 
was  more  of  surprise  and  mortified  affection  than  of  reaent- 


256  WA  VERIFY  NO VELS. 

mcnt,   but   which   had    yet  something   also   of   natural   dis- 
pleasure. 

"  Sister,"  said  she,  "  I  thought  we  had  agreed  hut  last  night 
that,  happen  to  us  what  might,  we  would  at  least  love  each 
other." 

''  Much  may  happen  betwixt  night  and  morning!  "  an- 
swered Minna,  in  words  rather  wrenched  from  her  by  her 
situation  than  flowing  forth  the  voluntary  intei-preters  of  her 
thoughts. 

"  Much  may  indeed  have  happened  in  a  night  so  stormy," 
answered  Brenda;  "  for  see  where  the  very  wall  around  Eu- 
phane's  plantie  cruive  has  been  blown  down;  but  neither  winl 
nor  rain,  nor  aught  else,  can  cool  our  affection.  Minna." 

"  But  that  may  chance,"  replied  Minna,  "  which  may  con- 
vert it  into " 

The  rest  of  the  sentence  she  muttered  in  a  tone  so  indis- 
tinct that  it  could  not  be  apprehended;  while,  at  the  same 
time,  she  washed  the  blood-stains  from  her  feet  and  left 
ankle.  Brenda,  who  still  remained  looking  on  at  some  dis- 
tance, endeavored  in  vain  to  assiime  some  tone  which  might 
re-establish  kindness  and  confidence  betwixt  them. 

"  You  were  right,"  she  said,  "  Minna,  to  suffer  no  one  to 
help  you  to  dress  so  simple  a  scratch;  standing  where  I  do,  it 
is  scarce  visible." 

"  The  most  cruel  wounds,"  replied  Minna,  "  are  those 
which  make  no  outward  show.  Are  you  sure  you  see  it  at 
all?" 

"•  Oh,  yes! "  replied  Brenda,  framing  her  answer  as  she 
thought  would  best  please  her  sister,  "  I  see  a  very  sHght 
scratch;  nay,  now  you  draw  on  the  stocking,  I  can  see 
nothing." 

"  You  do  indeed  see  nothing,"  answered  Minna,  somewhat 
wildly;  "  but  the  time  will  soon  come  that  all — aye,  all — will 
be  seen  and  known." 

So  saying,  she  hastily  completed  her  dress,  and  led  the  way 
to  breakfast,  where  she  assumed  her  place  amongst  the  guests; 
but  with  a  countenance  so  pale  and  haggard,  and  manners 
and  speech  so  altered  and  so  bewildered,  that  it  excited  the 
attention  of  the  whole  company,  and  the  utmost  anxiety  on 
the  part  of  her  father  Magnus  Troil.  Many  and  various  were 
the  conjectures  of  the  guests  concerning  a  distemperature 
which  seemed  rather  mental  than  corporeal.  Some  hinted 
that  the  maiden  had  been  struck  with  an  evil  eye,  and  some- 
thing they  muttered  about  Noma  of  the  Fitful  Head;  some 


THE  PIE  ATE.  257 

talked  of  the  departure  of  Captain  Cleveland,  and  murmured, 
"  It  was  a  shame  for  a  young  lady  to  take  on  so  after  a  land- 
louper of  whom  no  one  knew  anything  ";  and  this  contemptu- 
ous epithet  was  in  particular  bestowed  on  the  captain  by  Mis- 
tress Baby  Yellowley,  while  she  was  in  the  act  of  wrapping 
round  her  old  skinny  neck  the  very  handsome  "  owerlay,"  as 
she  called  it,  wherewith  the  said  captain  had  presented  her. 
The  old  Lady  Glowrowrum  had  a  system  of  her  own,  which 
she  hinted  to  Mistress  Yellowley,  after  thanking  God  that  her 
own  connection  with  the  Burgh-Westra  family  was  by  the 
lass's  mother,  who  was  a  canny  Scotswoman,  like  herself. 

"  For,  as  to  these  Trolls,  you  see,  Dame  Yellowley,  for  as 
high  as  they  hold  their  heads,  they  say  that  ken  (winking 
sagaciously)  that  there  is  a  bee  in  their  bonnet.  That  Noma, 
as  they  call  her,  for  it's  not  her  right  name  neither,  is  at 
whiles  far  beside  her  right  mind;  and  they  that  ken  the  cause 
say  the  Fowd  was  some  gate  or  other  linked  in  with  it,  for  he 
will  never  hear  an  ill  word  of  her.  But  I  was  in  Scotland 
then,  or  I  might  have  kenn'd  the  real  cause  as  weel  as  other 
folk.  At  ony  rate,  there  is  a  kind  of  wildness  in  the  blood. 
Ye  ken  very^  weel  daft  folk  dinna  bide  to  be  contradicted;  and 
I'll  say  that  for  the  Fowd,  he  likes  to  be  contradicted  as  ill  as 
ony  man  in  Zetland.  But  it  shall  never  be  said  that  I  said 
ony  ill  of  the  house  that  I  am  sae  nearly  connected  wi'.  Only 
ye  will  mind,  dame,  it  is  through  the  Sinclairs  that  we  are 
akin,  not  through  the  Troils;  and  the  Sinclairs  are  kenn'd  far 
and  wide  for  a  wise  generation,  dame.  But  I  see  there  is  the 
stirrup-cup  coming  round." 

"  I  wonder,"  said  Mistress  Baby  to  her  brother,  as  soon  as 
the  Lady  Glowrowrum  turned  from  her,  "  what  gars  that 
muckle  wife  'dame,  dame,  dame,'  that  gate  at  me?  She 
might  ken  the  blude  of  the  Clinkscales  is  as  gude  as  ony 
Glowrowrum's  amang  them." 

The  guests,  meanwhile,  were  fast  taking  their  departure, 
scarcely  noticed  by  Magnus,  who  was  so  much  engrossed  with 
Minna's  indisposition  that,  contrary  to  his  hospitable  wont, 
he  suffered  them  to  go  away  unsaluted.  And  thus  concluded, 
amidst  anxiety  and  illness,  the  festival  of  St.  John,  as  cele- 
brated on  that  season  at  the  house  of  Burgh- Wcstra,  adding 
another  caution  to  that  of  the  Emperor  of  Ethiopa — with 
how  little  security  man  can  reckon  upon  the  days  which  he 
destines  to  happiness. 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

But  this  sad  evil  which  doth  her  infest, 

Doth  course  of  natural  cause  far  exceed, 

And  housed  is  within  her  liollow  breast, 

That  either  seems  some  cursed  witch's  deed. 

Or  evill  spright  that  in  her  dotli  such  torment  breed. 

— Faery  Queene,  Book  III.  Canto  III. 

The  term  had  now  elapsed,  by  several  days,  when  jMordaunt 
Mertoiin,  as  he  had  promised  at  his  departure,  should  have 
returned  to  his  father's  abode  at  Jarlshof;  but  there  were  no 
tidings  of  his  arrival.  Such  delay  might,  at  another  time, 
have  excited  little  curiosity,  and  no  anxiety;  for  old  Swertha, 
who  took  upon  her  the  office  of  thinking  and  conjecturing 
for  the  little  household,  would  have  concluded  that  he  had 
remained  behind  the  other  guests  upon  some  party  of  sport  or 
pleasure.  But  she  knew  that  Mordaunt  had  not  been  lately 
in  favor  with  Magnus  Troil;  she  knew  that  he  proposed  his 
stay  at  Burgh- Westra  should  be  a  short  one,  upon  account  of 
his  father's  health,  to  whom,  notwithstanding  the  little  en- 
couragement which  his  filial  piety  received,  he  paid  uniform 
attention.  Swertha  knew  all  this,  and  she  became  anxious. 
She  watched  the  looks  of  her  master,  the  elder  Mertoun;  but, 
wrapped  in  dark  and  stem  uniformity  of  composure,  his 
countenance,  like  the  surface  of  a  midnight  lake,  enabled  no 
one  to  penetrate  into  what  was  beneath.  His  studies,  his  soli- 
tary meals,  his  lonely  walks,  succeeded  each  other  in  unvaried 
rotation,  and  seemed  undisturbed  by  the  least  thought  about 
Mordaunt's  absence. 

At  length  such  reports  reached  Swertha's  ear,  from  various 
quarters,  that  she  became  totally  unable  to  conceal  her  anx- 
iety, and  resolved,  at  the  risk  of  provoking  her  master  into 
fury,  or  perhaps  that  of  losing  her  place  in  his  household,  to 
force  upon  his  notice  the  doubts  which  affiicted  her  own 
mind.  Mordaunt's  good-humor  and  goodly  person  must  in- 
deed have  made  no  small  impression  on  the  withered  and 
selfish  heart  of  the  poor  old  woman,  to  induce  her  to  take  a 
course  so  desperate,  and  from  which  her  friend  the  Ranzel- 
man  endeavored  in  vain  to  deter  her.  Still,  however,  con- 
scious that  a  miscarriage  in  the  matter  would,  like  the  loss  of 
Trinculo's  bottle  in  the  horse-pool,  be  attended  not  only  with 

^    268 


THE  PIRATE.  250 

dishonor,  but  with  infinite  loss,  she  determined  to  proceed  on 
her  high  emprize  with  as  much  caution  as  was  consistent  with 
the  attempt. 

\Ye  have  already  mentioned,  that  it  seemed  a  part  of  the 
very  nature  of  this  reserved  and  unsocial  being,  at  least  since 
his  retreat  into  the  utter  solitude  of  Jarlshof,  to  endure  no 
one  to  start  a  subject  of  conversation,  or  to  put  any  question 
to  him,  that  did  not  arise  out  of  urgent  and  pressing  emer- 
gency. Swertha  was  sensible,  therefore,  that,  in  ordtir  to 
open  the  discourse  favorably  which  she  proposed  to  hold  with 
her  master,  she  must  contrive  that  it  should  originate  with 
himself. 

To  accomplish  this  purjDose,  while  busied  in  preparing  the 
table  for  Mr.  Mertoun's  simple  and  solitary  dinner-meal,  she 
formally  adorned  the  table  with  two  covers  instead  of  one, 
and  made  all  her  other  preparations  as  if  he  was  to  have  a 
guest  or  companion  at  dinner. 

The  artifice  succeeded;  for  Mertoun,  on  coming  from  his 
study,  no  sooner  saw  the  table  thus  arranged  than  he  asked 
Swertha,  who,  waiting  the  effect  of  her  stratagem  as  a  fisher 
watches  his  ground-baits,  was  fiddling  up  and  down  the  room, 
"Whether  Mordaunt  was  returned  from  Burgh-Westra?  " 

This  question  was  the  cue  for  Swertha,  and  she  answered 
in  a  voice  of  sorrowful  anxiety,  half-real,  half-affected,  "  Na — 
na!  nae  sic  divot  had  dunted  at  their  door.  It  wad  be  blithe 
news  indeed  to  ken  that  young  Maister  Mordaunt,  puir  dear 
bairn,  were  safe  at  hame." 

"  And  if  he  be  not  at  home,  why  should  you  lay  a  cover  for 
him,  you  doting  fool?"  replied  Mertoun,  in  a  tone  well  cal- 
culated to  stop  the  old  woman's  proceedings.  But  she  replied 
boldly,  "  That,  indeed,  somebody  should  take  thought  about 
Maister  Mordaunt;  a'  that  she  could  do  was  to  have  seat  and 
plate  ready  for  him  when  he  came.  But  she  thought  the 
dear  baim'^had  been  ower  lang  awa';  and,  if  she  maun  speak 
out,  she  had  her  ain  fears  when  and  whether  he  might  ever 
come  hame." 

"  Your  fears!  "  said  Mertoun,  his  eyes  flashing  as  they 
usuallv  did  when  his  hour  of  ungovernable  passion  ap- 
proached; "  do  you  speak  of  your  idle  fears  to  me,  who  know 
that  all  of  your  sex,  that  is  not  fickleness,  and  folly,  and  self- 
conceit,  and  self-will,  is  a  bundle  of  idiotical  fears,  vapors,  and 
tremors?  What  are  your  fears  to  me,  you  foolish  old  hag?  " 
It  is  an  admirable  quality  in  womankind  that,  when  a 
breach  of  the  laws  of  natui-al  affection  comes  under  tlieir 


260  WAVEELET  NOVELS. 

observation,  the  whole  sex  is  in  arms.  Let  a  rumor  arise  in 
the  street  of  a  parent  that  has  misused  a  child,  or  a  child  that 
has  insulted  a  parent — I  say  nothing  of  the  case  of  husband 
and  wife,  where  the  interest  may  be  accounted  for  in  sym- 
pathy— and  all  the  women  within  hearing  will  take  animated 
and  decided  part  with  the  sufferer.  Swertha,  notwithstand- 
ing her  greed  and  avarice,  had  her  share  of  the  generous  feel- 
ing which  does  so  much  honor  to  her  sex,  and  was,  on  this  oc- 
casion, so  much  carried  on  by  its  impulse  that  she  confronted 
her  master,  and  upbraided  him  with  his  hard-hearted  indif- 
ference, with  a  boldness  at  which  she  herself  was  astonished. 

"  To  be  sure,  it  wasna  her  that  suld  be  fearing  for  her 
young  maister,  Maister  Mordaunt,  even  although  he  was,  as 
she  might  weel  say,  the  very  sea-calf  of  her  heart;  but  ony 
other  father  but  his  honor  himsell  wad  have  had  speerings 
made  after  the  poor  lad,  and  him  gane  this  eight  daj^s  from 
Burgh-Westra,  and  naebody  kenn'd  when  or  where  he  had 
gane.  There  wasna  a  bairn  in  the  howff  but  was  maiuing 
for  him;  for  he  made  all  their  bits  of  boats  with  his  knife; 
there  wadna  be  a  dry  eye  in  the  parish  if  aught  worse  than 
weal  should  befall  him — na,  no  ane,  unless  it  might  be  his 
honor's  ain." 

Mertoun  had  been  much  struck,  and  even  silenced,  by  the 
insolent  volubility  of  his  insurgent  housekeeper;  but,  at  the 
last  sarcasm,  he  imposed  on  her  silence  in  her  turn  with  an 
audible  voice,  accompanied  with  one  of  the  most  terrific 
glances  which  his  dark  eye  and  stern  features  could  expres:-. 
But  Swertha,  who,  as  she  afterward  acquainted  the  Eanzel- 
man,  was  wonderfully  supported  during  the  whole  scene, 
would  not  be  controlled  by  the  loud  voice  and  ferocious  look 
of  her  master,  but  proceeded  in  the  same  tone  as  before. 

"  His  honor,"  she  said,  "  had  made  an  unco  wark  because 
a  wheen  bits  of  kists  and  duds,  that  naebody  had  use  for,  had 
been  gathered  on  the  beach  by  the  poor  bodies  of  the  town- 
ship; and  here  was  the  bravest  lad  in  the  country  lost,  and 
cast  away,  as  it  were,  before  his  een,  and  nae  ane  asking  what 
was  come  o'  him." 

"  What  should  come  of  him  but  good,  you  old  fool,"  an- 
swered Mr.  Mertoun,  "  as  far,  at  least,  as  there  can  be  good  in 
any  of  the  follies  he  spends  his  time  in?" 

This  was  spoken  rather  in  a  scornful  than  an  angry  tone, 
and  Swertha,  who  had  got  into  the  spirit  of  the  dialogue,  was 
resolved  not  to  let  it  drop,  now  that  the  fire  of  her  opponent 
seemed  to  slacken. 


THE  PIRATE.  261 

"  Oh,  aye,  to  be  sure  I  am  an  auld  fule;  but  if  Maister  Mor- 
daunt  should  have  settled  down  in  the  Roost,  as  mair  than  ae 
boat  had  been  lost  in  that  wearifu'  squall  the  other  morning 
— by  good  luck  it  was  short  as  it  was  sharp,  or  naething  could 
have  lived  in  it;  or  if  he  were  drowned  in  a  loch  coming  hame 
on  foot;  or  if  he  were  killed  by  miss  of  footing  on  a  craig — 
the  haill  island  kenn'd  how  venturesome  he  was — who,"  said 
Swertha,  "will  be  the  auld  fule  then?"  And  she  added  a 
pathetic  ejaculation,  that  "  God  would  protect  the  poor 
motherless  bairn!  for  if  he  had  had  a  mother,  there  would 
have  been  search  made  after  him  before  now." 

This  last  sarcasm  afTected  Mertoun  powerfully:  his  jaw 
quivered,  his  face  grew  pale,  and  he  muttered  to  Swertha  to 
go  into  his  study  (where  she  was  scarcely  ever  permitted  to 
enter)  and  fetch  him  a  bottle  which  stood  there. 

"  Oh,  ho!  "  quoth  Swertha  to  herself,  as  she  hastened  on 
the  commission,  "  my  master  knows  where  to  find  a  cup 
of  comfort  to  qualify  his  water  with  upon  fitting 
occa.-ions." 

There  was  indeed  a  case  of  such  bottles  as  were  usually 
employed  to  hold  strong  waters,  but  the  dust  and  cobwebs  in 
which  they  were  enveloped  showed  that  they  had  not  been 
touched  for  many  years.  With  some  difficulty  Swertha  ex- 
tracted the  cork  of  one  of  them  by  the  help  of  a  fork — for 
corkscrew  was  there  none  at  Jarlshof — and  having  ascer- 
tained by  smell,  and,  in  case  of  any  mistake,  by  moderate 
mouthful,  that  it  contained  wholesome  Barbadoes  waters,  she 
carried  it  into  the  room,  where  her  master  still  continued  to 
struggle  with  his  faintness.  She  then  began  to  pour  a  small 
quantity  into  the  nearest  cup  that  she  could  find,  wisely  judg- 
ing that,  upon  a  person  so  much  unaccustomed  to  the  use  of 
spirituous  liquors,  a  little  might  produce  a  strong  effect.  But 
the  patient  signed  to  her  impatiently  to  fill  the  cup,  which 
might  hold  more  than  the  third  of  an  English  pint  measure, 
up  to  the  very  brim,  and  swallowed  it  down  without  hesi- 
tation. 

"  Now  the  saunts  above  have  a  care  on  us! "  said  Swertha; 
"  he  will  be  drunk  as  weel  as  mad,  and  wha  is  to  guide  him 
then,  I  wonder?  " 

But  Mertoun's  breath  and  color  returned,  without  the 
slightest  symptom  of  intoxication;  on  the  contrary,  Swertha 
aiterward  reported  that,  "  Although  she  had  always  had  a 
firm  opinion  in  favor  of  a  dram,  yet  she  never  saw  one  work 
Buch  miracles:  he  spoke  mair  like  a  man  of  the  middle  world 


262  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

than  she  had  ever  heard  liim  since  she  had.  entered  his 
service." 

"  Swertha,"  he  said,  "  you  are  right  in  this  matter,  and  I 
was  wrong.  Go  down  to  the  Ranzelman  directly,  tell  him  to 
come  and  speak  with  me  without  an  instant's  delay,  and 
bring  me  special  word  what  boats  and  people  he  can  com- 
mand; I  will  employ  them  all  in  the  search,  and  they  shall  be 
plentifully  rewarded." 

Stimulated  by  the  spur  which  maketh  the  old  woman  pro- 
verbially to  trot,  Swertha  posted  down  to  the  hamlet  with  all 
the  speed  of  threescore,  rejoicing  that  her  sympathetic  feel- 
ings were  likely  to  achieve  their  own  reward,  having  given  rise 
to  a  quest  which  promised  to  be  so  lucrative,  and  in  the  profits 
whereof  she  was  determined  to  have  her  share,  shouting  out 
as  she  went,  and  long  before  she  got  within  hearing,  the 
names  of  Neil  Ronaldson,  Sweyn  Erickson,  and  the  other 
friends  and  confederates  who  were  interested  in  her  mission. 
To  say  the  truth,  notwithstanding  that  the  good  dame  really 
felt  a  deep  interest  in  Mordaunt  Mertoun,  and  was  mentally 
troubled  on  account  of  his  absence,  perhaps  few  things  would 
have  disappointed  her  more  than  if  he  had  at  tliis  moment 
started  up  in  her  path  safe  and  sound,  and  rendered  unneces- 
sary, by  his  appearance,  the  expense  and  the  bustle  of  search- 
ing after  him. 

Soon  did  Swertha  accomplish  her  business  in  the  village, 
and  adjust  with  the  senators  of  the  township  her  own  little 
share  of  percentage  upon  the  profits  likely  to  accrue  on  her 
mission;  and  speedily  did  she  return  to  Jarlshof,  with  Neil 
Eonaldson  by  her  side,  schooling  him  to  the  best  of  her  skill 
in  all  the  peculiarities  of  her  master. 

"  Aboon  a'  things,"  she  said,  "  never  make  him  wait  for 
an  answer;  and  speak  loud  and  distinct,  as  if  you  were  hail- 
ing a  boat,  for  he  downa  bide  to  say  the  same  thing  twice  over; 
and  if  he  asks  about  distance,  ye  may  make  leagues  for  miles, 
for  he  kens  naething  about  the  face  of  the  earth  tliat  he 
lives  upon;  and  if  he  speak  of  siller,  ye  may  ask  dollars  for 
shillings,  for  he  minds  them  nae  mair  than  sclate-stanes." 

Thvis  tutored,  Neil  Konaldson  was  introduced  into  the 
presence  of  ]\Iertoun,  but  was  utterly  confounded  to  find  that 
he  could  not  act  upon  the  system  of  deception  which  had 
been  projected.  When  he  attempted,  by  some  exaggeration 
of  distance  and  peril,  to  enhance  the  hire  of  the  boats  and  of 
the  men  (for  the  search  Avas  to  be  by  sea  and  land),  he  found 
himself  at  once  cut  short  by  Mertoun,  who  showed  not  only 


THE  PIRATE.  263 

the  most  perfect  knowledo;e  of  the  coimtr)^  but  of  distances, 
tides,  currents,  and  all  belonging  to  the  navigation  of  those 
seas,  although  these  were  topics  with  which  he  had  hitherto 
appeared  to  be  totally  unacquainted.  The  Kanzelman,  there- 
fore, trembled  when  they  came  to  spealc  of  the  recompense  to 
be  afforded  for  their  exertions  in  the  search;  for  it  was  not 
more  unlikely  that  Mertoun  should  be  well  informed  of  what 
was  just  and  proper  upon  this  head  than  upon  others;  and 
Neil  remembered  the  storm  of  his  iwvy  when,  at  an  early 
period  after  he  had  settled  at  Jarlshof,  he  drove  Swertha  and 
Sweyn  Erickson  from  his  presence.  As,  however,  he  stood 
hesitating  betwixt  the  opposite  fears  of  asking  too  much  or 
too  little,  ]Mertoun  stopped  his  mouth  and  ended  his  uncer- 
tainty by  promising  him  a  recompense  beyond  what  he  dared 
have  ventured  to  ask,  with  an  additional  gratuity  in  case  they 
returned  with  the  pleasing  intelligence  that  his  son  was  safe. 

When  this  great  point  was  settled,  Neil  Eonaldson,  like  a 
man  of  conscience,  began  to  consider  earnestly  the  various 
places  where  search  should  be  made  after  the  young  man;  and 
having  undertaken  f;nihfully  that  the  inquiry  should  be  prose- 
cuted at  all  the  houses  of  the  gentry,  both  in  this  and  the 
neighboring  islands,  he  added  that,  "  After  all,  if  his  honor 
would  not  be  angry,  there  was  ane  not  far  off  that,  if  anybody 
dared  speer  her  a  question,  and  if  she  liked  to  answer  it, 
could  tell  more  about  Maister  Mordaunt  than  anybody  else 
could.  Ye  will  ken  wha  I  mean,  Swertha?  Her  that  was 
down  at  the  haven  this  morning."  Thus  he  concluded,  ad- 
dressing himself  with  a  mysterious  look  to  the  housekeeper, 
which  she  answered  with  a  nod  and  a  wink. 

"How  mean  you?"  said  Mertoun;  "speak  out,  short  and 
open — whom  do  you  speak  of?" 

"  It  is  Noma  of  the  Fitful  Head,"  said  Swertha,  "  that  the 
Ranzelman  is  thinking  about;  for  she  has  gone  up  to  St. 
Ringan's  kirk  this  morning  on  business  of  her  own." 

"And  what  can  this  person  know  of  my  son?"  said  Mer- 
toun; "  she  is,  I  believe,  a  wandering  madwoman  or  impostor." 

"  If  she  wanders,"  said  Swertha,  "  it  is  for  nae  lack  of 
means  at  hame,  and  that  is  weel  known:  plenty  of  a' thing 
has  she  of  her  ain,  forbye  that  the  Fowd  himsell  would  let. 
her  want  naething." 

"  But  what  is  tliat  to  my  son?  "  said  Mertoun  impatiently. 

"  I  dinna  ken;  she  took  unco  pleasure  in  ]\Iaister  Mor- 
daunt from  the  time  she  first  saw  him,  and  mony  a  braw  thing 
she  gave  him  at  ae  time  or  another,  forbye  the  gowd  chain 


264  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

that  hangs  about  liis  bonny  craig.  Folk  say  it  is  of  fairy 
gold.  I  kenna  what  gold  it  is;  but  Bryce  Snailsfoot  says  that 
the  value  will  mount  to  an  hundred  pounds  English,  and  that 
is  nae  deaf  nuts." 

"  Go-,  Konaldson,"  said  Mertoun,  "  or  else  send  someone, 
to  seek  this  woman  out — if  you  think  there  be  a  chance  of  her 
knowing  anytliing  of  my  son." 

"  She  kens  a'thing  that  happens  in  tha,e  islands,"  said  Neil 
Eonaldson,  "  muckle  sooner  than  other  folk,  and  that  is 
Heaven's  truth.  But  as  to  going  to  the  kirk,  or  the  kirk- 
yard,  to  speer  after  her,  there  is  not  a  man  in  Zetland  will  do 
it,  for  meed  or  for  money,  and  that's  Heaven's  truth  as  weel 
as  the  other." 

"  Cowardly,  superstitious  fools! "  said  Mertoun.  "  But 
give  me  my  cloak,  Swertha.  This  woman  has  been  at  Burgh- 
Westra — she  is  related  to  Troll's  family — she  may  know 
something  of  Mordaunt's  absence  and  its  cause.  I  will  seek 
her  myself.     She  is  at  the  Cross  kirk,  you  say?  " 

"  No,  not  at  the  Cross  kirk,  but  at  the  auld  kirk  of  St. 
Eingan's.  It's  a  doA\de  bit,  and  far  frae  being  canny;  and  if 
your  honor,"  added  Swertha.,  "  wad  walk  by  my  rule,  I  wad 
wait  until  she  came  back,  and  no  trouble  her  when  she  may 
be  mair  busied  wi'  the  dead,  for  ony  thing  that  we  ken,  than 
she  is  wi'  the  living.  The  like  of  her  carena  to  have  other 
folks'  een  on  them  when  they  are,  gude  sain  us!  doing  their 
ain  particular  turns." 

Mertoun  made  no  answer,  but  throwing  his  cloak  loosely 
around  him  (for  the  day  was  misty,  with  passing  showers), 
and  leaving  the  decayed  mansion  of  Jarlshof,  he  walked  at  a 
pace  much  faster  than  was  usual  with  him,  taking  the  direc- 
tion of  the  ruinous  church,  which  stood,  as  he  well  knew, 
within  three  or  four  miles  of  his  dwelling. 

The  Ranzelman  and  Swertha  stood  gazing  after  him  in 
silence,  until  he  was  fairly  out  of  ear-shot,  when,  looking 
seriously  on  each  other,  and  shaking  their  sagacious  heads  in 
the  same  boding  degree  of  vibration,  they  uttered  their  re- 
marks in  the  same  breath. 

"  Fools  are  aye  fleet  and  fain,"  said  Swertha. 

"  Fey  folk  run  fast,"  added  the  Eanzelman;  "  and  the  thing 
that  we  are  bom  to,  we  cannot  win  by.  I  have  known  them 
that  tried  to  stop  folk  that  were  fey.  You  have  heard  of 
Helen  Emberson  of  Camsey,  how  she  stopped  all  the  boles  and 
windows  about  the  house,  that  her  gudeman  might  not  see 
daylight,  and  rise  to  the  haaf-fishing,  because  she  feared  foul 


THE  PIRATE.  265 

weather;  and  how  the  boat  he  should  have  sailed  in  was  lost 
in  the  Roost;  and  how  she  came  back,  rejoicing  in  her  gude- 
maii's  safety;  but  ne'er  may  care!  for  there  she  found  him 
drowned  in  his  own  masking-fat,  \\'ithin  the  wa's  of  his  ain 
biggin;  and  moreover " 

But  here  Swertha  reminded  the  Ranzelman  that  he  must 
go  down  to  the  haven  to  get  off  the  fishing-boats;  "  For  both 
that  my  heart  is  sair  for  the  bonny  lad,  and  that  I  ana  fear'd 
he  east  up  of  his  ain  accord  before  you  are  at  sea;  and,  as  I 
have  often  told  ye,  my  master  may  lead  but  he  winna  drive; 
and  if  ye  do  not  his  bidding  and  get  out  to  sea,  the  never  a 
boddle  of  boat-hire  will  ye  see." 

"  Weel — weel,  good  dame,"  said  the  Kanzelman,  "  we  will 
launch  as  fast  as  we  can;  and,  by  good  luck,  neither  Clawson's 
boat  nor  Peter  Grot's  is  out  to  the  haaf  this  morning,  for  a 
rabbit  ran  across  the  path  as  they  were  going  on  board,  and 
they  came  back  like  wise  men,  kenning  they  wad  be  called  to 
other  wark  this  day.  And  a  marvel  it  is  to  think,  Swertha, 
how  few  real  judicious  men  are  left  in  this  land.  There  is 
our  great  Udaller  is  weel  eneugh  when  he  is  fresih,  but  he 
makes  ower  mony  voyages  in  his  ship  and  his  yawl  to  be  lang 
sae;  and  now  they  say  his  daughter.  Mistress  Minna,  is  sair 
out  of  sorts.  Then  there  is  Noma  kens  muckle  mair  than 
other  folk,  but  wise  woman  ye  cannot  call  her.  Our  tacks- 
man here,  ]\raister  Mertoun,  his  wit  is  spnmg  in  the  bowsprit, 
I  doubt;  his  son  is  a  daft  gowk;  and  I  ken  few  of  consequence 
hereabouts — excepting  always  myself,  and  maybe  5^ou, 
Swertha — but  what  may,  in  some  sense  or  other,  be  called 
fules." 

"That  may  be,  Neil  Ronaldson,"  said  the  dame;  "but  if 
you  do  not  hasten  the  faster  to  the  shore,  you  will  lose  tide; 
and.  as  I  naid  to  my  master  some  short  time  syne,  wha  will 
bethefule  then?"       • 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

I  do  love  these  ancient  ruins. 
We  never  tread  upon  them  but  we  set 
Our  foot  upon  some  reverend  history; 
And,  questionless,  here,  in  this  open  court 
(Which  now  lies  naked  to  the  injuries 
Of  stormy  weather),  some  men  lie  interr'd, 
Loved  the  church  so  well,  and  gave  so  largely  to  it, 
They  thought  it  should  have  canopied  their  bones 
Till  doomsday;  but  all  things  have  their  end: 
Churches  and  cities,  which  have  diseases  like  to  men, 
Must  have  like  death  which  we  have. 

—Duchess  of  Half  y. 

The  ruinous  church  of  St.  ISTinian  had,  in  its  time,  enjoyed 
great  celebrity;  for  that  mighty  system  of  Roman  supersti- 
tion which  spread  its  roots  over  all  Europe  had  not  failed  to 
extend  them  even  to  this  remote  archipelago,  and  Zetland 
had,  in  the  Catholic  times,  her  saints,  her  shrines,  and  her 
relics,  which,  though  little  known  elsewhere,  attracted  the 
homage,  and  commanded  the  observance,  of  the  simple  in- 
habitants of  Thule.  Their  devotion  to  this  church  of  St. 
Ninian,  or,  as  he  was  provincially  tei-med,  St.  Ringan,  situ- 
ated, as  the  edifice  was,  close  to  the  sea-beach,  and  serving,  in 
many  points,  as  a  landmark  to  their  boats,  was  particularly 
obstinate,  and  was  connected  with  so  much  superstitious 
ceremonial  and  credulity  that  the  Reformed  clergy  thought 
it  best,  by  an  order  of  the  church  courts,  to  prohibit  all  spir- 
itual service  within  its  walls,  as  tending  to  foster  the  rooted 
faith  of  the  simple  and  rude  people  around  in  saint-worship 
and  other  erroneous  doctrines  of  the  Romish  Church. 

After  the  church  of  St.  Ninian  had  been  thus  denounced 
as  a  seat  of  idolatry,  and  desecrated  of  course,  the  public  wor- 
ship was  transferred  to  another  church;  and  the  roof,  with 
its  lead  and  its  rafters,  having  been  stripped  from  the  little 
rude  old  Gothic  building,  it  was  left  in  the  wilderness  to  the 
mercy  of  the  elements.  The  fury  of  the  uncontrolled  winds, 
which  howled  along  an  exposed  space  resembling  that  wliich 
we  have  described  at  Jarlshof,  very  soon  choked  up  nave  and 
aisle,  and  on  the  northwest  side,  which  was  chiefly  exposed  to 
the  wind,  hid  the  outside  walls  more  than  halfway  up  wiih 
mounds  of  drifted  sand,  over  which  the  gable-ends  of  the 
building,  with  the  little  belfry,  which  was  built  above  its  east- 
em  angle,  arose  in  ragged  and  shattered  nakedness  of  ruin. 


THE  PIRATE.  267 

Yet,  deserted  as  it  was,  the  kirk  of  St.  Ringan  still  retained 
some  semblance  of  the  ancient  homage  formerly  rendered 
there.  The  rude  and  ignorant  fishermen  of  Dunrossness  ob- 
served a  practice,  of  which  they  themselves  had  well-nigh  for- 
gotten the  origin,  and  from  which  the  Protestant  clergy  in 
vain  endeavored  to  deter  them.  When  their  boats  were  in 
extreme  peril,  it  was  common  amongst  them  to  propose  to 
vow  an  "  awmous,"  as  they  termed  it,  that  is,  an  alms,  to  St. 
Eingan;  and  when  the  danger  was  over,  they  never  failed  to 
absolve  themselves  of  their  vow  by  coming  singly  and 
secretly  to  the  old  church,  and  putting  off  their  shoes  and 
stockings  at  the  entrance  of  the  churchyard,  walking  thrice 
around  the  niins,  observing  that  they  did  so  in  the  course  of 
the  sun.  When  the  circuit  was  accomplished  for  the  third 
time,  the  votary  dropped  his  offering,  usually  a  small  silver 
coin,  through  the  mullions  of  a  .lanceolated  window,  which 
opened  into  a  side  aisle,  and  then  retired,  avoiding  carefully 
to  look  behind  him  till  he  was  beyond  the  precincts  which 
had  once  been  hallowed  ground;  for  it  was  believed  that  the 
skeleton  of  the  saint  received  the  offering  in  his  bony  hand, 
and  showed  Ms  ghastly  death's-head  at  the  window  into  which 
it  was  thrown. 

Indeed,  the  scene  was  rendered  more  appalling  to  weak  and 
ignorant  minds  because  the  same  stormy  and  eddying  winds 
which,  on  the  one  side  of  the  church,  threatened  to  bury  the 
ruins  with  sand,  and  had,  in  fact,  heaped  it  up  in  huge  quan- 
tities, so  as  almost  to  hide  the  side  wall  with  its  buttresses, 
seemed  in  other  places  bent  on  uncovering  the  graves  of 
those  who  had  been  laid  to  their  long  rest  on  the  southeastern 
quarter;  and,  after  an  unusually  hard  gale,  the  coffins,  and 
sometimes  the  very  corpses  of  those  who  had  been  interred 
\dthout  the  usual  cerements,  were  discovered,  in  a  ghastly 
manner,  to  the  eyes  of  the  living. 

It  was  to  this  desolated  place  of  worship  that  the  elder 
Mertoun  now  proceeded,  though  without  any  of  those  reli- 
gious or  superstitious  purposes  with  which  the  church  of  St. 
Eingan  was  usvially  approached.  He  was  totally  without  the 
superstitious  fears  of  the  country — nay,  from  the  sequestered 
and'  sullen  manner  in  which  he  lived,  withdrawing  liimself 
from  human  society  even  when  avssembled  for  worship,  it  was 
the  general  opinion  that  he  erred  on  the  more  fatal  side,  and 
believed  rather  too  little  than  too  much  of  that  which  the 
church  receives  and  enjoins  to  Christians. 

As  he  entered  the  little  bay,  on  the  shore,  and  almo&t  on 


268  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

the  beach,  of  which  the  ruins  are  situated,  he  could  not  help 
pausing  for  an  instant,  and  becoming  sensible  that  the  scene, 
as  calculated  to  operate  on  human  feelings,  had  been  selected 
with  much  judgment  as  the  site  of  a  religious  house.  In 
front  lay  the  sea,  into  which  two  headlands,  which  formed  the 
extremities  of  the  bay,  project-ed  their  gigantic  causeways  of 
dark  and  sable  rocks,  on  the  ledges  of  which  the  gulls, 
scouries,  and  other  sea-fowl  appeared  like  flakes  of  snow; 
while,  upon  the  lower  ranges  of  the  cliff,  stood  whole  lines  of 
cormorants,  drawn  up  alongside  of  each  other,  like  soldiers 
in  their  battle  array,  and  other  living  thing  was  there  none 
to  see.  The  sea,  although  not  in  a  tempestuous  state,  was 
disturbed  enough  to  rush  on  these  capes  with  a  sound  like 
distant  thunder,  and  the  billows,  which  rose  in  sheets  of 
foam  halfway  up  these  sable  rocks,  formed  a  contrast  of  color- 
ing equally  striking  and  awful. 

Betwixt  the  extremities,  or  capes,  of  these  projecting  head- 
lands, there  rolled,  on  the  day  when  Mertoun  visited  the 
scene,  a  deep  and  dense  aggregation  of  clouds,  through  which 
no  human  eye  could  penetrate,  and  which,  bounding  the 
vision,  and  excluding  all  view  of  the  distant  ocean,  rendered 
it  no  unapt  representation  of  the  sea  in  the  ''Vision  of  Mirza," 
whose  extent  was  concealed  by  vapors,  and  clouds,  and  storms. 
The  ground  rising  steeply  from  the  sea-beach,  permitting  no 
view  into  the  interior  of  the  country,  appeared  a  scene  of 
irretrievable  barrenness,  where  scrubby  and  stunted  heath, 
intermixed  with  the  long  bent,  or  coarse  grass,  which  first 
covers  sandy  soils,  were  the  only  vegetables  that  could  be 
seen.  Upon  a  natural  elevation,  which  rose  above  the  beach 
in  the  very  bottom  of  the  bay,  and  receded  a  little  from  the 
sea  so  as  to  be  without  reach  of  the  waves,  arose  the  half- 
buried  ruin  which  we  have  already  described,  surrounded  by 
a  wasted,  half-ruinous,  and  moldering  wall,  which,  breached 
in  several  places,  served  still  to  divide  the  precincts  of  the 
cemetery.  The  mariners  who  were  driven  by  accident  into 
this  solitary  bay  pretended  that  the  church  was  occasionally 
observed  to  be  full  of  lights,  and,  from  that  circumstance, 
were  used  to  prophesy  shipwrecks  and  deaths  by  sea. 

As  Mertoun  approached  near  to  the  chapel,  he  adopted, 
insensibly,  and  perhaps  without  much  premeditation,  meas- 
ures to  avoid  being  himself  seen  until  he  came  close  under 
the  walls  of  the  burial-ground,  which  he  approached,  as  it 
chanced,  on  that  side  where  the  sand  was  blowing  from  the 
graves  in  the  manner  we  have  described. 


TEE  PIRATE.  269 

Here,  looking  through  one  of  the  gaps  in  the  wall  which 
time  had  made,  he  beheld  the  person  whom  he  sought,  occu- 
pied in  a  manner  which  assorted  well  with  the  ideas  popularly 
entertained  of  her  character,  but  which  was  othenvise  suJB&- 
ciently  extraordinary. 

She  was  employed  beside  a  rude  monument,  on  one  side  of 
which  was  represented  the  rough  outline  of  a  cavalier,  or 
knight,  on  horseback,  while  on  the  other  appeared  a  shield, 
with  the  armorial  bearings  so  defaced  as  not  to  be  intelligible; 
which  escutcheon  was  suspended  by  one  angle,  contrary  to 
the  modern  custom,  which  usually  places  them  straight  and 
upright.  At  the  foot  of  this  pillar  was  believed  to  repose,  as 
Mertoun  had  formerly  heard,  the  bones  of  Eibolt  Troil,  one 
of  the  remote  ancestors  of  Magnus,  and  a  man  renowned  for 
deeds  of  valorous  emprize  in  the  fifteenth  centur}\  From  the 
grave  of  this  warrior  Noma  of  the  Fitful  Head  seemed  busied 
in  shoveling  the  sand,  an  easy  task  where  it  was  so  light  and 
loose;  so  that  it  seemed  plain  that  she  would  shortly  com- 
plete what  the  rude  winds  had  begun,  and  make  bare  the 
bones  which  lay  there  interred.  As  she  labored,  she  mut- 
tered her  magic  song;  for  without  the  Eunic  rhyme  no  form 
of  Northern  superstition  was  ever  performed.  We  have  per- 
haps preserved  too  many  examples  of  these  incantations;  but 
we  cannot  help  attempting  to  translate  that  which  follows: 

"  Champion,  famed  for  warlike  toil, 
Art  thy  silent,  Ribolt  Troil? 
Sand  and  dust,  and  pebbly  atones 
Are  leaving  bare  thy  giant  bones. 
Who  dared  touch  the  wild  bear's  skin 
Ye  slumber'd  on  while  life  was  in? 
A  woman  now,  or  babe,  may  come, 
And  cast  the  covering  from  thy  tomb. 

"  Yet  be  not  wrathful,  chief,  nor  blight 
Mine  eyes  or  ears  with  sound  or  sight! 
I  come  not,  with  unhallow'd  tread, 
To  wake  the  slumbers  of  the  dead, 
Or  lay  thy  giant  relics  bare; 
But  what  I  seek  thou  well  canst  spare. 
Be  it  to  my  hand  allow'd 
To  shear  a  merk's  weight  from  thy  shroud; 
Yet  leave  thee  sheeted  lead  enough 
To  shield  thy  bones  from  weather  rough. 

**  See,  I  draw  my  magic  knife; 
Never  while  thou  wert  in  life 
Laid'st  thou  still  for  sloth  or  fear, 
When  point  and  edge  were  glittering  near; 
See,  the  cerements  now  I  sever. 
Walien  now,  or  sleep  for  ever! 
Thou  wilt  not  wake?  the  deed  is  done!— 
The  prize  I  sought  is  fairly  won. 


^10  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

"  Thanks,  Ribolt,  thanks;  for  this  the  sea 
yhal'i  smooth  its  ruffled  crest  lor  thee, 
And  while  afar  its  billows  foam, 
Subside  to  peace  near  Kibolt's  tomb. 
Thanks,  llibolt,  thanks;  for  this  the  might 
Of  wild  winds  raging  at  their  height, 
When  to  thy  place  of  slumber  nigh, 
Shall  soften  to  a  lullaby. 

"  She,  the  dame  of  doubt  and  dread, 
Noma  of  the  Fitful  Head, 
Mighty  iu  her  own  despite, 
Miserable  in  her  might, 
In  despair  and  frenzj'  great, 
In  her  greatness  desolate, 
Wisest,  wickedest  wlio  lives, 
Well  can  keep  the  word  she  gives." 

While  Noma  chanted  the  first  part  of  this  rhyme,  she  com- 
pleted the  task  of  laying  bare  a  part  of  the  leaden  coffin  of  the 
ancient  warrior,  and  severed  from  it,  with  much  caution  and 
appai'ent  awe,  a  portion  of  the  metal.  She  then  reverentially 
threw  back  the  sand  upon  the  coffin;  and  by  the  time  she  had 
finished  her  song  no  trace  remained  that  the  secrets  of  the 
sepulcher  had  been  violated. 

Mertoun  remained  gazing  on  her  from  behind  the  church- 
yard wall  during  the  whole  ceremony,  not  from  any  impres- 
sion of  veneration  for  her  or  her  employment,  but  because  he 
conceived  that  to  interrupt  a  madwoman  in  her  act  of  mad- 
ness was  not  the  best  way  to  obtain  from  her  such  intelligence 
as  she  might  have  to  impart.  Meanwhile,  he  had  full  time  to 
consider  her  figure,  although  her  face  was  obscured  by  her 
disheveled  hair  and  by  the  hood  of  her  dark  mantle,  which 
permitted  no  more  to  be  visible  than  a  Druidess  would  prob- 
ably have  exhibited  at  the  celebration  of  her  mystical  rites. 
Mertoun  had  often  heard  of  jSTorna  before;  nay,  it  is  most 
probable  that  he  might  have  seen  her  repeatedly,  for  she  had 
been  in  the  vicinity  of  Jarlshof  more  than  once  since  his  resi- 
dence there.  But  the  absurd  stories  which  were  in  circula- 
tion respecting  her  prevented  his  paying  any  attention  to  a 
person  whom  he  regarded  as  either  an  impostor  or  a  mad- 
woman, or  a  compound  of  both.  Yet,  now  that  his  attention 
was  by  circumstances  involuntarily  fixed  upon  her  person  and 
deportment,  he  could  not  help  acknowledging  to  himself  that 
she  was  either  a  complete  enthusiast  or  rehearsed  her  part  so 
admirably  that  no  pythoness  of  ancient  times  could  have 
excelled  her.  The  dignity  and  solemnity  of  her  gesture,  the 
sonorous,  yet  impressive,  tone  of  voice  with  which  she  ad- 
dressed the  depai'ted  spirit  whose  mortal  relics  she  ventured  to 


THE  PIRATE.  371 

disturb,  were  such  as  failed  not  to  make  an  impreesion  upon 
him,  careless  iiid  indilt'erent  as  he  generally  appeared  to  all 
that  went  on  around  him.  But  no  sooner  was  her  singular 
occupation  terminated  than,  entering  the  churchyard  with 
some  difhculty  by  clambering  over  the  disjointed  ruins  of  the 
wall,  he  made  Noma  aware  of  his  presence.  Far  from  start- 
ing or  expressing  the  least  surprise  at  his  appearance  in  a 
place  so  solitary,  she  said,  in  a  tone  that  seemed  to  intimate 
that  he  had  been  expected,  "  So — you  have  sought  me  at 
last?" 

"  And  found  you,"  replied  Mertoun,  judging  he  would  best 
introduce  the  inquiries  he  had  to  make  by  assuming  a  tone 
which  corresponded  to  her  own. 

"  Yes!  "  she  replied,  "  found  me  you  have,  and  in  the  place 
where  all  men  must  meet — amid  the  tabernacles  of  the 
dead." 

"  Here  we  must,  indeed,  meet  at  last,"  replied  Mertoun, 
glancing  his  eyes  on  the  desolate  scene  around,  where  head- 
stones, half-covered  in  sand,  and  others,  from  which  the  same 
wind  had  stripped  the  soil  on  which  they  rested,  covered  with 
inscriptions,  and  sculptured  with  the  emblems  of  mortality, 
were  the  most  conspicuous  objects — "  here,  as  in  the  house  of 
death,  all  men  must  meet  at  length;  and  happy  those  that 
come  soonest  to  the  quiet  haven." 

"  He  that  dares  desire  this  haven,"  said  Noma,  "  must  have 
steered  a  steady  course  in  the  voyage  of  life.  /  dare  not  hope 
for  such  quiet  harbor.  Barest  thou  expect  it?  or  has  the 
course  thou  hast  kept  deserved  it?" 

"  It  matters  not  to  my  present  purpose,"  replied  Mertoun; 
"  I  have  to  ask  you  what  tidings  you  know  of  my  son,  Mor- 
daunt  Mertoun  ?  " 

"A  father,"  replied  the  sibyl,  "asks  of  a  stranger  what 
tidings  she  has  of  his  son!  How  should  I  know  aught  of 
him?  The  cormorant  says  not  to  the  mallard,  '  Where  is  my 
brood?'" 

"  Lay  aside  this  useless  affectation  of  mystery,"  said  Mer- 
toun: "with  the  vulgar  and  ignorant  it  has  its  effect,  but 
upon  me  it  is  thrown  away.  The  people  of  Jarlshof  have  told 
me  that  you  do  know,  or  may  know,  something  of  Alordaunt 
Mertoun,  who  has  not  returned  home  after  the  festival  of  St. 
John's,  held  in  the  house  of  your  relative,  Magnus  Troil. 
Give  me  such  information,  if  indeed  ye  have  it  to  give;  and  it 
shall  be  recompensed,  if  the  means  of  recompense  are  in  my 
power." 


272  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

"  The  wide  round  of  earth,"  replied  Noma,  "  holds  noth- 
ing that  I  would  call  a  recompense  for  the  slightest  word  that 
I  throw  away  upon  a  living  ear.  But  for  thy  son,  if  thou' 
wouldst  see  him  in  life,  repair  to  the  approaching  fair  of 
Kirkwall,  in  Orkney." 

"  And  wherefore  thither?  "  said  Mertoun;  "  I  know  he  had 
no  purpose  in  that  direction." 

"'  We  drive  on  the  stream  of  fate,"  answered  Noma,  "  with- 
out oar  or  rudder.  You  had  no  purpose  this  morning  of 
visiting  the  kirk  of  St.  Eingan,  yet  you  are  here;  you  had  no 
purpose  but  a  minute  hence  of  being  at  Kirkwall,  and  yet 
you  will  go  thither." 

"  Not  unless  the  cause  is  more  distinctly  explained  to  me. 
I  am  no  believer,  dame,  in  those  who  assert  your  supernatural 
powers." 

"  You  shall  believe  in  them  ere  we  part,"  said  Noma.  "  As 
yet  you  know  but  little  of  me,  nor  shall  you  know  more. 
But  I  know  enough  of  you,  and  could  convince  you  with  one 
word  that  I  do  so." 

"  Convince  me,  then,"  said  Mertoun;  "  for,  unless  I  am  so 
convinced,  there  is  little  chance  of  my  following  your  coun- 
sel." 

"  Mark,  then,"  said  Noma,  "  what  I  have  to  say  on  your 
son's  score,  else  what  I  shall  say  to  you  on  your  o^vn  will 
banish  every  other  thought  from  your  memory.  You  shall 
go  to  the  approaching  fair  at  Kirkwall;  and  on  the  tifth  day 
of  the  fair  you  shall  walk,  at  the  hour  of  noon,  in  the  outer 
aisle  of  the  cathedral  of  St.  Magnus,  and  there  you  shall  meet 
a  person  who  will  give  you  tidings  of  your  son." 

"  You  must  speak  more  distinctly,  dame,"  returned  Mer- 
toun scomfully,  "  if  you  hope  that  I  should  follow  your  coun- 
sel. I  have  been  fooled  in  my  time  by  women,  but  never  so 
grossly  as  you  seem  willing  to  gull  me." 

"  Hearken,  then!  "  said  the  old  woman.  "  The  word  which 
I  speak  shall  touch  the  nearest  secret  of  thy  life,  and  thrill 
thee  through  nerve  and  bone." 

So  saying,  she  whispered  a  word  into  Mertoun's  ear,  the 
effect  of  which  seemed  almost  magical.  He  remained  fixed 
and  motionless  with  surprise,  as,  waving  her  arm  slowly  aloft, 
with  an  air  of  superiority  and  triumph,  Norna  glided  from 
him,  turned  round  a  comer  of  the  ruins,  and  was  soon  out  of 
sight. 

Mertoun  offered  not  to  follow  or  to  trace  her.  "  We  flv 
from  our  fate  in  vain!  "  he  said,  as  he  began  to  recover  him- 


THE  PIRATE.  273 

self;  and  turning,  he  left  behind  him  the  desolate  ruins  with 
their  cemetery.  As  he  looked  back  from  the  ver}'  last  point 
at  which  the  church  was  visible,  he  saw  the  figure  of  Noma, 
muffled  in  her  mantle,  standing  on  the  very  summit  of  the 
ruined  tower,  and  stretching  out  in  the  sea-breeze  something 
which  resembled  a  white  pennon,  or  flag.  A  feeling  of  hor- 
ror, similar  to  that  excited  by  her  last  words,  again  thrilled 
through  his  bosom,  and  he  hastened  onward  with  unwonted 
speed,  until  he  had  left  the  church  of  St.  Ninian,  with  its  bay 
of  sand,  far  behind  him. 

Upon  his  arrival  at  Jarlshof,  the  alteration  in  his  counte- 
nance was  so  great  that  Swertha  conjectured  he  was  about  to 
fall  into  one  of  those  fits  of  deep  melancholy  which  she 
termed  his  dark  hour. 

"  And  what  better  could  be  expected,"  thought  Swertha, 
"  when  he  must  needs  go  visit  Noma  of  the  Fitful  Head  when 
she  was  in  the  haunted  kirk  of  St.  Ringan's?" 

But,  without  testifying  any  other  symptoms  of  an  aikn- 
ated  mind  than  that  of  deep  and  sullen  dejection,  her  master 
acquainted  her  with  his  intention  to  go  to  the  fair  of  Kirk- 
wall— a  thing  so  contrary'  to  his  usual  habits  that  the  house- 
keeper well-nigh  refused  to  credit  her  ears.  Shortly  after  he 
heard,  with  apparent  indifference,  the  accounts  returned  by 
the  different  persons  who  had  been  sent  out  in  que^t  of  Mor- 
daunt,  by  sea  and  land,  who  all  of  them  returne'd  without  any 
tidings.  The  equanimity  with  which  ]\Iertoun  heard  the  re- 
port of  their  bad  success  convinced  Swertha  still  more  firmly 
that,  in  his  interview  with  Noma,  that  issue  had  been  pre- 
dicted to  him  by  the  sibyl  whom  he  had  consulted. 

The  township  were  yet  more  surprised  when  their  tacks- 
man, Mr.  Mertoun,  as  if  on  some  sudden  resolution,  made 
preparations  to  visit  Kirkwall  during  the  fair,  athough  he  had 
hitherto  avoided  sedulously  all  such  places  of  public  resort. 
Swertha  puzzled  herself  a  good  deal,  without  being  able  to 
penetrate  this  mystery;  and  vexed  herself  still  more  concern- 
ing the  fate  of  her  young  master.  But  her  concern  was  much 
softened  by  the  deposit  of  a  sum  of  money,  seeming,  however 
moderate  in  itself,  a  treasure  in  her  eyes,  which  her  master 
put  into  her  hands,  acquainting  her  at  the  same  time  that  he 
had  taken  his  passage  for  Kirkwall  in  a  small  bark  belonging 
to  the  proprietor  of  the  island  of  Mousa. 


CHAPTEK  XXVI. 

Nae  langer  she  wept,  her  tears  were  a'  spent; 
Despair  it  was  come,  and  she  thought  it  content; 
She  thought  it  content,  but  lier  cheek  it  grew  pale, 
And  she  droop'd,  like  a  lily  broke  down  by  the  hail. 

—  Continuation  of  Auld  Robin  Gray.* 

The  condition  of  Minna  much  resembled  that  of  the  vil- 
lage heroine  in  Lady  Ann  Lindsay's  beautiful  ballad.  Her 
natural  firmness  of  mind  prevented  her  from  sinking  under 
the  pressure  of  the  horrible  secret,  which  haunted  her  while 
awake,  and  was  yet  more  tormenting  during  her  broken  and 
hurried  slumbers.  There  is  no  grief  so  dreadful  as  that  which 
we  dare  not  communicate,  and  in  which  we  can  neither  ask 
nor  desire  sympathy;  and  when  to  this  is  added  the  burden 
of  a  guilty  mystery  to  an  innocent  bosom,  there  is  little  won- 
der that  Minna's  health  should  have  sunk  under  the  burden. 

To  the  friends  around,  her  habits  and  manners,  nay,  her 
temper,  seemed  altered  to  such  an  extraordinary  degree  that  it 
is  no  wonder  that  some  should  have  ascribed  the  change  to 
witchcraft,  and  some  to  incipient  madness.  She  became  un- 
able to  bear  the  solitude  in  which  she  formerly  delighted  to 
spend  her  time;  yet,  when  she  hurried  into  society,  it  was 
without  either  joining  in,  or  attending  to,  what  passed.  Gen- 
erally she  appeared  wrapped  in  sad,  and  even  sullen,  abstrac- 
tion, until  her  attention  was  suddenly  roused  by  some  casual 
mention  of  the  name  of  Cleveland  or  of  Mordaunt  Mertoun, 
at  which  she  started,  with  the  horror  of  one  who  sees  the 
lighted  match  applied  to  a  charged  mine,  and  expects  to  be 
instantly  involved  in  the  effects  of  the  explosion.  And  when 
she  observed  that  the  discovery  was  not  yet  made,  it  was  so 
far  from  being  a  consolation,  that  she  almost  wished  the  worst 
were  known,  rather  than  endure  the  continued  agonies  of 
suspense. 

Her  conduct  toward  her  sister  was  so  variable,  yet  ujii- 
formly  so  painful  to  the  kind-hearted  Brenda,  that  it  seemed 
to  all  around  one  of  the  strongest  features  of  her  malady. 
Sometimes  Minna  was  impelled  to  seek  her  sister's  company, 
as  if  by  the  consciousness  that  they  were  common  sufferers 

*  See  Motto  ta  Chap.  xxvi.    Note  32. 
S74 


THE  PIRATE.  21  o 

by  a  misfortune  of  which  she  herself  alone  could  grasp  the  ex- 
tent; and  then  suddenly  the  feeling  of  the  injury  which 
Brenda  had  received  through  the  supposed  agency  of  Cleve- 
land made  her  unable  to  bear  her  presence,  and  still  less  to 
endure  the  consolation  which  her  sister,  mistaking  the  nature 
of  her  malady,  vainly  endeavored  to  administer.  Frequently, 
also,  did  it  happen  that,  while  Brenda  was  imploring  her  sis- 
ter to  take  comfort,  she  incautiously  tov;ched  upon  some  sub- 
ject which  thrilled  to  the  very  center  of  her  soul;  so  that,  un- 
able to  conceal  her  agony,  Minna  would  rush  hastily  from  the 
apartment.  All  these  different  moods,  tliough  they  too  much 
resembled,  to  one  who  knew  not  their  real  source,  the  caprices 
of  unkind  estrangement,  Brenda  endured  with  such  prevail- 
ing and  unruffled  gentleness  of  disposition  that  Minna  was 
frequently  moved  to  shed  floods  of  tears  upon  her  neck;  and, 
perhaps,  the  moments  in  which  she  did  so,  though  embit- 
tered by  the  recollection  that  her  fatal  secret  concerned  the 
destruction  of  Brenda's  happiness  as  well  as  her  own,  were 
still,  softened  as  they  were  by  sisterly  affection,  the  most  en- 
durable moments  of  this  most  miserable  period  of  her  life. 

The  effects  of  the  alternations  of  moping  melancholy,  fear- 
ful agitation,  and  bursts  of  nervous  feeling  were  soon  visible 
on  the  poor  young  woman's  face  and  person.  She  became 
pale  and  emaciated;  her  eye  lost  the  steady,  quiet  look  of 
happiness  and  innocence,  and  was  alternately  dim  and  wild, 
as  she  was  acted  upon  by  a  general  feeling  of  her  own  distress- 
ful condition,  or  by  some  quicker  and  more  poignant  sense  of 
agony.  Her  very  features  seemed  to  change,  and  become 
sharp  and  eager,  and  her  voice,  which,  in  its  ordinary  tones, 
was  low  and  placid,  now  sometimes  sunk  in  indistinct  mut- 
terings,  and  sometimes  was  raised  beyond  the  natural  key,  in 
hasty  and  abrupt  exclamations.  When  in  company  wdth 
others,  she  was  sullenly  silent,  and,  w^hen  she  ventured  into 
solitude,  was  observed  (for  it  was  now  thought  very  proper  to 
watch  her  on  such  occasions)  to  speak  much  to  herself. 

The  pharmacy  of  the  islands  was  in  vain  resorted  to  by 
Minna's  anxious  father.  Sages  of  both  sexes,  who  knew  the 
virtues  of  every  herb  which  drinks  the  dew,  and  augmented 
those  virtues  by  words  of  might,  used  while  they  prepared  and 
applied  the  medicines,  were  attended  with  no  benefit;  and 
Magnus,  in  the  utmost  anxiety,  was  at  last  induce<l  to  have 
recourse  to  the  advice  of  his  kinswoman,  Noma  of  the  Fit- 
ful Head,  although,  owing  to  circumstances  noticed  in  the 
cx>urse  of  the  story,  there  was  at_thia  time  some  eetrangement 


276  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

between  them.  His  first  application  was  in  vain.  Noma 
was  then  at  her  usual  place  of  residence  upon  the  sea-coast, 
near  the  headland  from  which  she  usually  took  her  designa- 
tion; but,  although  Eric  Scambester  himself  brought  the  mes- 
sage, she  refused  positively  to  see  him  or  to  return  any  answer. 

Magnus  was  angry  at  the  slight  put  upon  his  messen- 
ger and  message;  but  his  anxiety  on  Minna's  account,  as  well 
as  the  respect  which  he  had  for  Noma's  real  misfortunes  and 
imputed  wdsdom  and  power,  prevented  him  from  indulging, 
on  the  present  occasion,  his  usual  irritability  of  disposition. 
On  the  contraiy,  he  determined  to  make  an  application  to  his 
kinswoman  in  his  own  person.  He  kept  his  purpose,  how- 
ever, to  himself,  and  only  desired  his  daughters  to  be  in  readi- 
ness to  attend  him  upon  a  visit  to  a  relation  whom  he  had  not 
seen  for  some  time,  and  directed  them,  at  the  same  time,  to 
carry  some  provisions  along  with  them,  as  the  Journey  was 
distant,  and  they  might  perhaps  find  their  friend  unprovided. 

Unaccustomed  to  ask  explanations  of  his  pleasure,  and  hop- 
ing that  exercise  and  the  amusement  of  such  an  excursion 
might  be  of  service  to  her  sister,  Brenda,  upon  whom  all 
household  and  family  charges  now  devolved,  caused  the  neces- 
sary preparations  to  be  made  for  the  expedition;  and,  on  the 
next  morning,  they  were  engaged  in  tracing  the  long  and 
tedious  course  of  beach  and  of  moorland  which,  only  varied 
by  occasional  patches  of  oats  and  barley,  where  a  little  ground 
had  been  selected  for  cultivation,  divided  Burgh-Westra  from 
the  northwestern  extremity  of  the  Mainland  (as  the  principal 
island  is  called),  which  terminates  in  the  cape  called  Fitful 
Head,  as  the  southwestern  point  ends  in  the  cape  of  Sum- 
burgh. 

On  they  went,  through  wild  and  over  wold,  the  Udaller 
bestriding  a  strong,  square-made,  well-barreled  palfrey,  of 
Norwegian  breed,  somewhat  taller,  and  yet  as  stout,  as  the 
ordinary  ponies  of  the  country;  while  Minna  and  Brenda, 
famed,  amongst  other  accomplishments,  for  their  horseman- 
ship, rode  two  of  those  hardy  animals,  which,  bred  and  reared 
with  more  pains  than  is  usually  bestowed,  showed,  both  by  the 
neatness  of  their  form  and  their  activity,  that  the  race,  so 
much  and  so  carelessly  neglected,  is  capable  of  being  im- 
proved into  beauty  without  losing  anything  of  its  spirit  or 
vigor.  They  were  attended  by  two  servants  on  hoi'seback 
and  two  on  foot,  secure  that  the  last  circumstance  would  be 
no  delay  to  their  journey,  because  a  great  part  of  the  way 
was  so  rugged,  or  so  marshy,  that  the  horses  could  only  move 


THE  PIRATE.  277 

at  a  foot-pace;  and  that,  whenever  they  met  with  any  con- 
siderable tract  of  hard  and  even  ground,  they  had  only  to 
borrow  from  the  nearest  herd  of  ponies  the  use  of  a  couple 
for  the  accommodation  of  these  pedestrians. 

The  journey  was  a  melancholy  one,  and  little  conversation 
passed,  except  when  the  Udaller,  pressed  by  impatience  and 
vexation,  urged  his  pony  to  a  quick  pace,  and  again,  recol- 
lecting Minna's  weak  state  of  health,  slackened  to  a  walk,  and 
reiterated  inquiries  how  she  felt  herself,  and  whether 
the  fatigue  was  not  too  much  for  her.  At  noon  the  party 
halted  and  partook  of  some  refreshment,  for  which  they  had 
made  ample  provision,  beside  a  pleasant  spring,  the  pureness 
of  whose  waters,  however,  did  not  suit  the  Udaller's  palate, 
until  qualified  by  a  liberal  addition  of  right  Xantz.  x\fter  he 
had  a  second,  yea,  and  a  third,  time  filled  a  large  silver  travel- 
ing-cup, embossed  with  a  German  Cupid  smoking  a  pipe  and 
a  German  Bacchus  emptying  his  flask  down  the  throat  of  a 
bear,  he  began  to  become  more  talkative  than  vexation  had 
permitted  him  to  be  during  the  early  part  of  their  journey, 
and  thus  addressed  his  daughters: 

"  Well,  children,  we  are  within  a  league  or  two  of  Noma's 
dwelling,  and  we  shall  soon  see  how  the  old  spell-mutterer 
will  receive  us." 

^Minna  interrupted  her  father  with  a  faint  exclamation, 
while  Brenda,  surprised  to  a  great  degi-ee,  exclaimed,  "Is  it 
then  to  Noma  that  we  are  to  make  this  visit?  Heaven 
forbid!  " 

"  And  wherefore  should  Heaven  forbid?  "  said  the  Udaller, 
knitting  his  brows;  "  wherefore,  I  would  gladly  know,  should 
Heaven  forbid  me  to  visit  my  kinswoman,  whose  skill  may  be 
of  use  to  your  sister,  if  any  woman  in  Zetland,  or  man  either, 
can  be  of  service  to  her?  You  are  a  fool,  Brenda;  your 
sister  has  more  sense.  Cheer  up,  Minna!  thou  wert  ever  wont 
to  like  her  songs  and  stories,  and  used  to  hang  about  her  neck, 
when  little  Brenda  cried  and  ran  from  her  like  a  Spanish 
merchantman  from  a  Dutch  caper." 

"  I  wish  she  may  not  frighten  me  as  much  to-day,  father," 
replied  Brenda,  desirous  of  indulging  Minna  in  her  taci- 
turnity, and  at  the  same  time  to  amuse  her  father  by  sustain- 
ing the  conversation:  "  I  have  heard  so  much  of  her  dwelling, 
that  I  am  rather  alamied  at  the  thought  of  going  there 
uninvited." 

"  Thou  art  a  fool,"  said  Magnus.  "  to  think  that  a  visit  from 
her  kinsfolk  can  ever  come  amiss  to  a  kind,  hearty,  Hialtland 


878  WA  VERLEY  NO VELS. 

heart  like  my  cousin  Noma's.  And^  now  I  think  on't,  I  will 
be  sworu  that  is  the  reason  why  she  would  not  receive  Eric 
Scanibester!  It  is  many  a  long  day  since  1  have  seen  her 
chimney  smoke,  and  1  have  never  cari'ied  you  thither.  She 
hath  indeed  some  right  to  call  me  unkind.  But  1  will  tell 
her  the  truth;  and  that  is,  that,  though  such  be  the  fashion,  I 
do  not  think  it  is  fair  or  honest  to  eat  up  the  substance  of 
lone  women-folks,  as  we  do  that  of  our  brother  udallers,  when 
we  roll  about  from  house  to  house  in  the  winter  season,  until 
we  gather  like  a  snowball,  and  eat  up  all  wherever  we  come." 

"  There  is  no  fear  of  our  putting  Noma  to  any  distress  just 
now,"  replied  Brenda,  "'  for  I  have  ample  provision  of  every- 
thing that  we  can  possibly  need — fish,  and  bacon,  and  salted 
mutton,  and  dried  geese^ — more  than  we  could  eat  in  a  week, 
besides  enough  liquor  for  you,  father." 

"Eight — right,  my  girl!"  said  the  Udaller:  "a  well- 
found  ship  makes  a  merry  voyage;  so  we  shall  only  want  the 
kindness  of  Noma's  roof  and  a  little  bedding  for  you;  for,  as 
to  myself,  my  sea-cloak  and  honest  dry  boards  of  Norway 
deal  suit  me  better  than  your  eider-down  cushions  and  mat- 
tresses. So  that  Noma  will  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  us 
without  having  a  stiver's  worth  of  trouble." 

"  I  wish  she  may  think  it  a  pleasure,  sir,"  replied  Brenda. 

"  Why,  what  does  the  girl  mean,  in  the  name  of  the 
Martyr?  "  replied  Magnus  Troil;  "  dost  thou  think  my  kins- 
woman is  a  heathen,  who  will  not  rejoice  to  see  her  own  flesh 
and  blood?  I  would  I  were  as  sure  of  a  good  year's  fishing! 
No — no!  I  only  fear  we  may  find  her  from  home  at  present, 
for  she  is  often  a  wanderer,  and  all  with  thinking  over  much 
on  what  can  never  be  helped." 

Minna  sighed  deeply  as  her  father  spoke,  and  the  Udaller 
went  on: 

"Dost  thou  sigh  at  that,  my  girl?  "Why,  'tis  the  fault  of 
half  the  world;  let  it  never  be  thine  own,  Minna." 

Another  suppressed  sigh  intimated  that  the  caution  came 
too  late. 

"  I  believe  you  are  afraid  of  my  cousin  as  well  as  Brenda 
is,"  said  the  Udaller,  gazing  on  her  pale  countenance;  "  if 
so,  speak  the  word,  and  we  will  return  back  again  as  if  we 
had  the  wind  on  our  quarter,  and  were  running  fifteen  knots 
by  the  line." 

"  Do,  for  Heaven's  sake,  sister,  let  us  return! "  said 
Brenda  imploringly;  "  you  know — you  remember — you  must 
be  well  aware  that  Noma  can  do  naught  to  help  you." 


( 


THE  PIRATE.  279 

"It  is  but  too  true,"  said  Minna,  in  a  subdued  voice;  "  but 
I  know  not — she  may  answer  a  question — ^a  question  that  only 
the  miserable  dare  ask  of  the  miserable." 

"  Nay,  my  kinswoman  is  no  miser,"  answered  the  Udaller, 
who  only  heai'd  the  beginning  of  the  word.  "  A  good  income 
she  has,  both  in  Orkney  and  here,  and  many  a  fair  lispund  of 
butter  is  paid  to  her.  But  the  poor  have  the  best  share  of  it, 
and  shame  fall  the  Zetlander  who  begrudges  them;  the  rest 
she  spends,  I  wot  not  how,  in  her  journeys  through  the 
islands.  But  you  will  laugh  to  see  her  house,  and  Nick 
Strumpfer,  whom  she  calls  Pacolet.  Many  folks  think  Nick 
is  the  devil;  but  he  is  flesh  and  blood,  like  any  of  us — his 
father  lived  in  Graemsay.     I  shall  be  glad  to  see  Nick  again." 

While  the  Udaller  thus  ran  on,  Breuda,  who,  in  recompense 
for  a  less  portion  of  imagination  than  her  sister,  was  gifted 
with  sound  common  sense,  was  debating  with  herself  the 
probable  effect  of  this  visit  on  her  sister's  health.  She  came 
finally  to  the  resolution  of  speaking  with  her  father  aside, 
upon  the  first  occasion  which  their  Journey  should  afford.  To 
him  she  determined  to  communicate  the  whole  particulars  of 
their  nocturnal  interview  with  Noma,  to  which,  among  other 
agitating  causes,  she  attributed  the  depression  of  Minna's 
spirits,  and  then  make  himself  the  judge  whether  he  ought 
to  persist  in  his  visit  to  a  person  so  singular,  and  expose  his 
daughter  to  all  the  shock  which  her  nerves  might  possibly 
receive  from  the  interview. 

Just  as  she  had  arrived  at  this  conclusion,  her  father,  dash- 
ing the  crumbs  from  his  laced  waistcoat  with  one  hand  and 
receiving  with  the  other  a  fourth  cup  of  brandy  and  water, 
drank  devoutly  to  the  success  of  their  voyage,  and  ordered 
all  to  be  in  readiness  to  set  forward.  Wliilst  they  were  sad- 
dling their  ponies,  Brenda,  with  some  difficulty,  contrived 
to  make  her  father  understand  she  \nshed  to  speak  with  him 
in  private — no  small  surprise  to  the  honest  Udaller,  who, 
though  secret  as  the  grave  in  the  very  few  things  where  he 
considered  secrecy  as  of  importance,  was  so  far  from  practic- 
ing mystery  in  general,  that  his  most  important  affairs  were 
often  discussed  by  him  openly  in  presence  of  his  whole  family, 
servants  included. 

But  far  greater  was  his  astonishnaent  when,  remaining  pur- 
posely with  his  daughter  Brenda,  a  little  in  the  wake,  as  he 
termed  it,  of  the  other  riders,  he  heard  the  whole  account  of 
Noma's  visit  to  Burgh-Westra,  and  of  the  communication 
with  which  she  had  then  astonished  his  daughters.     For  a 


280  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

long  time  he  could  utter  nothing  but  interjections,  and  ended 
with  a  thousand  curses  on  his  kinswoman's  folly  in  telling  his 
daughters  such  a  history  of  horror. 

"  I  have  often  heard,"  said  the  Udaller,  "  that  she  was  quite 
mad,  with  all  her  wisdom  and  all  her  knowledge  of  the  sea- 
sons; and,  by  the  bones  of  my  namesake  the  Martyr,  I  begin 
now  to  believe  it  most  assuredly!  I  know  no  more  how  to 
steer  than  if  I  had  lost  my  compass.  Had  I  known  this  be- 
fore we  set  out,  I  think  I  had  remained  at  home;  but  now 
that  we  have  come  so  far,  and  that  Noma  expects  us " 

"  Expects  us,  father!  "  said  Brenda;  "  how  can  that  be  pos- 
sible?" 

"  Why,  that  I  know  not;  but  she  that  can  tell  how  the 
wind  is  to  blow  can  tell  which  way  we  are  designing  to  ride. 
She  must  not  be  provoked;  perhaps  she  has  done  my  family 
this  ill  for  the  words  I  had  with  her  about  that  lad  Mordaunt 
Mertonn,  and  if  so,  she  can  undo  it  again;  and  so  she  shall, 
or  I  will  know  the  cause  wherefore.  But  I  will  try  fair  words 
first." 

Finding  it  thus  settled  that  they  were  to  go  forward, 
Brenda  endeavored  next  to  learn  from  her  father  whether 
Noma's  tale  was  founded  in  reality.  He  shook  his  head, 
groaned  bitterly,  and,  in  a  few  words,  acknowledged  that  thj 
whole,  so  far  as  concerned  her  intrigue  with  a  stranger  and 
her  father's  death,  of  which  she  became  the  accidental  and 
most  innocent  cause,  was  a  matter  of  sad  and  indisputable 
truth.  "  For  her  infant,"  he  said,  "  he  could  never,  by  any 
means,  leam  what  became  of  it." 

"  Her  infant!  "  exclaimed  Brenda;  "  she  spoke  not  a  word 
of  her  infant!  " 

"  Then  I  wish  my  tongue  had  been  blistered,"  said  the 
Udaller,  "  when  I  told  you  of  it!  I  see  that,  young  and  old,  a 
man  has  no  better  chance  of  keeping  a  secret  from  you  women 
than  an  eel  to  keep  himself  in  his  hold  when  he  is  sniggled 
with  a  loop  of  horse-hair:  sooner  or  later  the  fisher  teases  him 
out  of  his  hole,  when  he  has  once  the  noose  round  his  neck." 

"  But  the  infant,  my  father,"  said  Brenda,  still  insisting  on 
the  particulars  of  this  extraordinary  story,  "  what  became 
of  it?" 

"  Carried  off,  I  fancy,  by  the  blackguard  Vaughan,"  an- 
swered the  Udaller,  with  a  gruff  accent,  which  plainly  be- 
tokened how  weary  he  was  of  the  subject. 

"By  Vaughan!"  said  Brenda,  "the  lover  of  poor  Noma 
doubtless!     What  sort  of  a  man  was  he,  father?  " 


THE  PIRATE.  281 

"  Why,  much  like  other  men,  I  fancy,"  answered  the 
Udaller.  "  I  never  saw  him  in  my  life.  He  kept  company 
with  the  Scottish  families  at  Kirkwall,  and  1  with  the  good 
old  Norse  folk.  Ah!  if  Xorna  had  dwelt  always  amongst  her 
own  kin,  and  not  kept  company  with  her  Scottish  acquaint- 
ance, she  would  have  known  nothing  of  Vaughan,  and  things 
might  have  been  otherwise.  But  then  I  should  have  known 
nothing  of  your  blessed  mother,  Brenda;  and  that,"  he  said, 
his  large  blue  eyes  shining  with  a  tear,  "  would  have  saved 
me  a  short  joy  and  a  long  sorrow." 

"  Xorna  could  but  ill  have  supplied  my  mother's  place 
to  you,  father,  as  a  companion  and  a  friend — that  is, 
judging  from  all  I  have  heard,"  said  Brenda,  with  some  hesi- 
tation. 

But  Magnus,  softened  by  recollections  of  his  beloved  wife, 
answered  her  with  more  indulgence  than  she  expected.  "  I 
would  have  been  content,"  he  said,  "  to  have  wedded  Noma 
at  that  time.  It  would  have  been  the  soldering  of  an  old 
quarrel — the  healing  of  an  old  sore.  All  our  blood  relations 
wished  it,  and,  situated  as  I  was,  especially  not  having  seen 
your  blessed  mother,  I  had  little  will  to  oppose  their  counsels. 
You  must  not  judge  of  Noma  or  of  me  by  such  an  appear- 
ance as  we  now  present  to  you.  She  was  young  and  beau- 
tiful, and  I  gamesome  as  a  Highland  buck,  and  little  caring 
what  haven  I  made  for,  having,  as  I  thought,  more  than  one 
under  my  lee.  But  Noma  preferred  tliis  man  Vaughan,  and, 
as  I  told  you  before,  it  was,  perhaps,  the  best  kindness  she 
could  have  done  to  me." 

"  Ah,  poor  kinswoman!  "  said  Brenda.  "  But  believe  you, 
father,  in  the  high  powers  which  she  claims — in  the  mysteri- 
ous vision  of  the  dwarf — in  the " 

She  was  inten-upted  in  these  questions  by  Magnus,  to  whom 
they  were  obviously  displeasing. 

"  I  believe,  Brenda,"  he  said,  "  according  to  the  belief  of 
my  forefathers.  I  pretend  not  to  be  a  wiser  man  than  they 
were  in  their  time;  and  they  all  believed  that,  in  cases  of  great 
worldly  distress.  Providence  opened  the  eyes  of  the  mind  and 
afforded  the  sufferers  a  vision  of  futurity.  It  was  but  a  trim- 
ming of  the  boat,  with  reverence  " — here  he  touched  his  hat 
reverentially;  "and,  after  all  the  shifting  of  ballast,  poor 
Noma  is  as  hea^dly  loaded  in  the  bows  as  ever  was  an  Orknev- 
man's  yawl  at  the  dog-fishing:  she  has  more  than  affliction 
enough  on  board  to  balance  whatever  gifts  she  may  have  had 
in  the  midst  of  her  calamity.     They  are  as  painful  to  her, 


283  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

poor  soul,  as  a  crown  of  thorns  would  be  to  her  brows,  thougli 
it  were  the  badge  of  the  empire  of  Denmark.  And  do  not 
you,  Brenda,  seek  to  be  wiser  than  your  fathers.  Your  sister 
Minna,  before  she  was  so  ill,  had  as  much  reverence  for  what- 
ever was  produced  in  Norse  as  if  it  had  been  in  the  Pope's 
bull,  which  is  all  written  in  pure  Latin." 

"  Poor  Noma!  "  repeated  Brenda;  "  and  her  child — was  it 
never  recovered  ?  " 

"  What  do  I  know  of  her  child,"  said  the  Udaller,  more 
gruffly  than  before,  "  except  that  she  was  very  ill,  both  before 
and  after  the  birth,  though  we  kept  her  as  merry  as  we  could 
with  pipe  and  harp,  and  so  forth.  The  child  had  come  be- 
fore its  time  into  this  bustling  world,  so  it  is  likely  it  has  been 
long  dead.  But  you  know  nothing  of  all  these  matters, 
Brenda;  so  get  along  for  a  foolish  girl,  and  ask  no  more 
questions  about  what  it  does  not  become  you  to  inquire 
into." 

So  saying,  the  Udaller  gave  his  sturdy  little  palfrey  the 
spur,  and  cantering  forward  over  rough  and  smooth,  while  the 
pony's  accuracy  and  tirmness  of  step  put  all  difficulties  of  the 
path  at  secure  defiance,  he  placed  himself  soon  by  the  side 
of  the  melancholy  Minna,  and  permitted  her  sister  to  have 
no  farther  share  in  his  conversation  than  as  it  was  addressed 
to  them  Jointly.  She  could  but  comfort  herself  with  the  hop? 
that,  as  Minna's  disease  appeared  to  have  its  seat  in  the  im- 
agination, the  remedies  recommended  by  Noma  might  have 
some  chance  of  being  effectual,  since,  in  all  probability,  they 
would  be  addressed  to  the  same  faculty. 

Their  way  had  hitherto  held  chiefly  over  moss  and  moor, 
varied  occasionally  by  the  necessity  of  making  a  circuit  around 
the  heads  of  those  long  lagoons,  called  voes,  which  run  up 
into  and  indent  the  country  in  such  a  manner  that,  though 
the  Mainland  of  Zetland  may  be  thirty  miles  or  more  in 
length,  there  is,  perhaps,  no  part  of  it  which  is  more  than 
three  miles  distant  from  the  salt  water.  But  they  had  now 
approached  the  northwestern  extremity  of  the  isle,  and 
traveled  along  the  top  of  an  immense  ridge  of  rocks,  which 
had  for  ages  withstood  the  rage  of  the  Northern  Ocean,  and 
of  all  the  winds  by  which  it  is  buffeted. 

At  length  exclaimed  Magnus  to  his  daughters,  "  There  is 
Noma's  dwelling!  Look  up,  Minna,  my  love;  for  if  this  does 
not  mate  you  laugh,  nothing  will.  Saw  you  ever  anything 
but  an  osprey  that  would  have  made  such  a  nest  for  herself  as 
that  is?     By  my  namesake's  bones,  there  is  not  the  like  of  it 


THE  PIRATE.  283 

that  living  thing  ever  dwelt  in,  having  no  wings  and  the  use 
of  reason,  unless  it  chanced  to  be  the  P>awa  Stack  *  off  Papa, 
where  the  king's  daughter  of  Xorway  was  shut  up  to  keep  her 
from  her  lovers;  and  all  to  little  purpose,  if  the  tale  be  true: 
for,  maidens,  I  would  have  you  to  wot  that  it  is  hard  to  keep 
fl&x  from  the  lowe." 

*  S«e  Note  3S. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Thrice  from  the  cavern's  darksome  womb 

Her  groaning  voice  arose; 
And  come,  my  daughter,  fearless  come, 

And  fearless  tell  thy  woes! 

— Meikle. 

The  dwelling  of  Noma,  though  none  but  a  native  of  Zet- 
land, familiar,  during  his  whole  life,  with  every  variety  of  rock- 
scenery,  could  have  seen  anything  ludicrous  in  this  situa- 
tion, was  not  unaptly  compared  by  Magnus  Troil  to  the  eyrie 
of  the  osprey,  or  sea-eagle.  It  was  very  small,  and  had  been 
fabricated  out  of  one  of  those  dens  which  are  called  burghs  * 
and  Picts-houses  in  Zetland,  and  duns  on  the  mainland  of 
Scotland  and  the  Hebrides,  and  which  seem  to  be  the  first 
effort  at  architecture — the  connecting  link  betwixt  a  fox's  hole 
in  a  cairn  of  loose  stones  and  an  attempt  to  construct  a  human 
habitation  out  of  the  same  materials,  without  the  use  of  lime 
or  cement  of  any  kind;  without  any  timber,  so  far  as  can  be 
seen  from  their  rematns;  without  any  knowledge  of  the  arch 
or  of  the  stair.  Such  as  they  are,  however,  the  numer- 
ous remains  of  these  dwellings — for  there  is  one  found  on 
every  headland,  islet,  or  point  of  vantage  which  could  afford 
the  inhabitants  additional  means  of  defense — tend  to  prove 
that  the  remote  people  by  whom  these  burghs  were  cooi- 
structed  were  a  numerous  race,  and  that  the  islands  had  then 
a  much  greater  population  than,  from  other  circumstances, 
we  might  have  been  led  to  anticipate. 

The  burgh  of  which  we  at  present  speak  had  been  altered 
and  repaired  at  a  later  period,  probably  by  some  petty  despot, 
or  sea-rover,  who,  tempted  by  the  security  of  the  situation, 
which  occupied  the  whole  of  a  projecting  point  of  rock,  and 
was  divided  from  the  mainland  by  a  rent  or  chasm  of  some 
depth,  had  built  some  additions  to  it  in  the  rudest  style  of 
Gothic  defensive  architecture;  had  plastered  the  inside  with 
lime  and  clay,  and  broken  out  windows  for  the  admission  of 
light  and  air;  and,  finally,  by  roofing  it  over,  and  dividing  it 
into  stories,  by  means  of  beams  of  wreck-wood,  had  converter! 
the  whole  into  a  tower,  resembling  a  pyramidical  dovecot, 
formed  by  a  double  wall,  still  containing  within  its  thickness 

*  See  Note  34. 
284 


I 


THE  PIRATE.  285 

that  set  of  circular  galleries,  or  concentric  rings,  which  is 
proper  to  all  the  forts  of  this  primitive  construction,  an  I 
which  seem  to  have  constituted  the  only  shelter  whicn  they 
were  originally  qualitied  to  afford  to  their  shivering  in- 
habitants. 

This  singular  habitation,  built  out  of  the  loose  stones  which 
lay  scattered  around,  and  exposed  for  ages  to  the  vicissitudes 
of  the  elements,  was  as  gray,  weather-beaten,  and  wasted  as 
the  rock  on  which  it  was  founded,  and  from  which  it  could 
not  easily  be  distinguished,  so  completely  did  it  resemble  in 
color,  and  so  little  did  it  differ  in  regularity  of  shape,  from  a 
pinnacle  or  fragment  of  the  cliff. 

Minna's  habitual  indifference  to  all  that  of  late  had  passed 
around  her  was  for  a  moment  suspended  by  the  sight  of  an 
abode  which,  at  another  and  happier  period  of  her  life,  would 
have  attracted  at  once  her  curiosity  and  her  wonder.  Even 
now  she  seemed  to  feel  interest  as  she  gazed  upon  this  singular 
retreat,  and  recollected  it  was  that  of  certain  misery  and  prob- 
able insanity,  connected,  as  its  inhabitant  asserted,  and 
Minna's  faith  admitted,  with  power  over  the  elements  and  the 
capacity  of  intercourse  with  the  invisible  world. 

''  Our  kinswoman,"  she  muttered,  "'  has  chosen  her  dwelling 
well,  with  no  more  of  earth  than  a  sea-fowl  might  rest  upon, 
and  all  around  sightless  tempests  and  raging  waves.  Despair 
and  magical  power  could  not  have  a  fitter  residence." 

Brencla,  on  the  other  hand,  shuddered  when  she  looked  on 
the  dwelling  to  which  they  were  advancing,  by  a  difficult, 
dangerous,  and  precarious  path,  which  sometimes,  to  her 
great  terror,  approached  to  the  verge  of  the  precipice;  so  that, 
Zetlander  as  she  was,  and  confident  as  she  had  reason  to  be, 
in  the  steadiness  and  sagacity  of  the  sure-footed  pony,  she 
could  scarce  suppress  an  inclination  to  giddiness,  especially 
at  one  point,  when,  being  foremost  of  the  party,  and  turning 
a  sharp  angle  of  the  rock,  her  feet,  as  they  projected  fi-om 
the  side  of  the  pony,  hung  for  an  instant  sheer  over  the  ledge 
of  the  precipice,  so  that  there  was  nothing  save  empty  space 
betwixt  the  sole  of  her  shoe  and  the  white  foam  of  the  vexed 
ocean,  which  dashed,  howled,  and  foamed  five  hundred  feet 
below.  What  would  have  driven  a  maiden  of  another  country 
into  delirium  gave  her  but  a  momentars'  uneasiness,  which  was 
instantly  lost  in  the  hope  that  the  impression  which  the  scene 
appeared  to  make  on  her  sister's  imagination  might  be  favor- 
able to  her  cure. 

She  could  not  help  looking  back  to  see  how  Minna  should 


286  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

pass  the  point  of  peril  wliicli  she  lierself  had  just  rounded; 
and  could  hear  the  strong  voice  o'f  the  Udaller,  though  to 
him  such  rough  paths  were  familiar  as  the  smooth  sea-beach, 
call,  in  a  tone  of  anxiety,  "  Take  heed,  jarto,"  as  j\linna,  with 
an  eager  look,  (lro])pod  her  bridle,  and  stretched  forward  her 
arms,  and  even  her  body,  over  the  precipice,  in  the  attitude  of 
the  wild  swan,  when,  balancing  itself  and  spreading  its  broad 
pinions,  it  prepares  to  launch  from  the  cliff  upon  the  bosom  of 
the  winds.  Brenda  felt  at  that  instajit  a  pang  of  unutterable 
terror,  which  left  a  strong  impression  on  her  nerves,  even 
when  relieved,  as  it  was  instantly  was,  by  her  sister  recover- 
ing herself  and  sitting  upright  on  her  saddle,  the  opportunity 
and  temptation  (if  she  felt  it)  passing  away,  as  the  quiet, 
steady  animal  which  supported  her  rounded  the  projecting 
angle,  and  turned  its  patient  and  firm  step  from  the  verge  of 
the  precipice. 

They  now  attained  a  more  level  and  open  space  of  ground, 
being  the  fiat  top  of  an  isthmus  of  projecting  rock,  narrow- 
ing again  toward  a  point  where  it  was  terminated  by  the 
chasm  which  separated  the  small  peak,  or  "  stack,"  occupied 
by  Noma's  habitation,  from  the  main  ridge  of  cliff  and  preci- 
pice. This  natural  fosse,  which  seemed  to  have  been  the 
work  of  some  convulsion  of  nature,  was  deep,  dark,  and 
irregular,  narrower  toward  the  bottom,  which  could  not  be 
distinctly  seen,  and  widest  at  top,  having  the  appeai'ance  as  if 
that  part  of  the  cliff  occupied  by  the  building  had  been  half 
rent  away  from  the  isthmus  which  it  terminated — an  idea 
favored  by  the  angle  at  which  it  seemed  to  recede  from  the 
land  and  lean  toward  the  sea,  with  the  building  which 
crowned  it. 

This  angle  of  projection  was  so  considerable,  that  it  re- 
quired recollection  to  dispel  the  idea  that  the  rock,  so  much 
removed  from  the  perpendicular,  was  about  to  prerijutato 
itself  seaward,  with  its  old  tower;  and  a  timorous  person  would 
have  been  afraid  to  put  foot  upon  it,  lest  an  addition  of 
weight  so  inconsiderable  as  that  of  a  human  body  should 
hasten  a  catastrophe  which  seemed  at  every  insta-nt  im- 
pending. 

Without  troubling  himself  about  such  fantasies,  the  Udaller 
rode  towards  the  tower,  and  there  dismounting,  along  with 
his  daughters,  gave  the  ponies  in  charge  to  one  of  their  do- 
mestics, with  directions  to  disencumber  them  of  their  burdens 
and  turn  them  out  for  rest  and  refreshment  upon  the  nearest 
heath.     This  done,  they  approached  the  gate,  which  seemed 


THE  PIRATE.  287 

formerly  to  have  been  connected  with  the  land  by  a  rude 
drawbridge,  some  of  the  apparatus  of  which  was  still  visible. 
But  the  rest  had  been  long  demolished,  and  was  replaced  by 
a  stationary  footbridge,  formed  of  baiTcl-staves  covered  with 
turf,  very  narrow  and  ledgeless,  and  supported  by  a  sort  of 
arch,  constructed  out  of  the  jaw-bones  of  the  whale.  Along 
this  "  brigg  of  dread  "  the  Udaller  stepped  with  his  usual 
portly  majesty  of  stride,  which  threatened  its  demolition  and 
his  own  at  the  same  time;  his  daughters  trode  more  lightly 
and  more  safely  after  him,  and  the  whole  party  stood  before 
the  low  and  rugged  portal  of  Noma's  habitation. 

"  If  she  should  be  abroad  after  all,"  said  Magnus,  as  he 
plied  the  black  oaken  door  with  repeated  blows;  "  but  if  so, 
we  will  at  least  lie  by  a  day  for  her  return,  and  make  Nick 
Strumpfer  pay  the  demurrage  in  bland  and  brandy." 

As  he  spoke,  the  door  opened  and  displayed,  to  the  alarm 
of  Brenda,  and  the  surprise  of  Minna  herself,  a  square-made 
dwarf,  about  four  feet  five  inches  high,  with  a  head  of  most 
portentious  size,  and  features  correspondent — namely,  a  huge 
mouth,  a  tremendous  nose,  with  large  black  nostrils,  which 
seemed  to  have  been  slit  upwards,  blubber  lips  of  an  uncon- 
scionable size,  and  huge  wall-eyes,  with  which  he  leered, 
sneered,  rinned,  and  goggled  on  the  Udaller  as  an  old  ac- 
quaintance, without  uttering  a  single  word.  The  young 
women  could  hardly  persuade  themselves  that  they  did  not 
see  before  their  eyes  the  very  demon  Trold  who  made  such  a 
distinguished  figure  in  Noma's  legend.  Their  father  went 
on  addressing  this  uncouth  apparition  in  terms  of  such  con- 
descending friendship  as  the  better  sort  apply  to  their  inferi- 
ors when  they  wish,  for  any  immediate  purpose,  to  conciliate 
or  coax  them— a  tone,  by  the  by,  which  generally  contains, 
in  its  very  familiarity,  as  much  offense  as  the  more  direct 
assumption  of  distance  and  superiority. 

"Ha,  Nick!— honest  Nick!"  said  the  Udaller,  "here  you 
are,  lively  and  lovely  as  St.  Nicholas,  your  namesake,  when  he 
is  carved  with  an  ax  for  the  head-piece  of  a  Dutch  dogger. 
How  dost  thou  do,  Nick,  or  Pacolet.  if  you  like  that  better? 
Nicholas,  here  are  my  two  daughters,  nearly  as  handsome  as 
thyself,  thou  seest." 

Nick  grinned,  and  did  a  clumsy  obeisance  by  way  of 
courtesy,  but  kept  his  broad,  misshapen  person  firmly  placed 
in  the  doorway. 

"  Daughters,"  continued  the  Udaller.  who  seemed  to  have 
his  reasons  for  speaking  this  Cerberus  fair,  at  least  according 


288  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

to  his  own  notions  of  propitiation — "  bhis  is  Nick  Strnmp- 
fer,  maidens,  whom  his  mistress  calls  Pacolet,  being  a  light- 
limbed  dwarf,  as  you  see,  like  him  that  wont  to  fly  about,  like 
a  scourie,  on  his  wooden  hobby-horse,  in  the  old  story-book 
of  '  Valentine  and  Orson,'  that  you,  Minna,  used  to  read 
whilst  you  were  a  child.  I  assure  you  he  can  Keep  his  mis- 
tress' counsel,  and  never  told  one  of  her  secrets  in  his  life — ha, 
ha,  ha!  " 

The  ugly  dwarf  grinned  ten  times  wider  than  before,  and 
showed  the  meaning  of  the  Udaller's  jest  by  opening  his  im- 
mense jaws  and  throwing  back  his  head,  so  as  to  discover  that, 
in  the  immense  cavity  of  his  mouth,  there  only  remained  the 
small  shriveled  remnant  of  a  tongue,  capable,  perhaps,  of 
assisting  him  in  swallowing  his  food,  but  unequal  to  the 
formation  of  articulate  sounds.  Whether  this  organ  had  been 
curtailed  by  cruelty  or  injured  by  disease  it  was  impossible  to 
guess;  but  that  the  unfortunate  being  had  not  been  originally 
dumb  was  evident  from  his  retaining  the  sense  of  hearing. 
Having  made  this  horrible  exhibition,  he  repaid  the  Udaller'^ 
mirth  with  a  loud,  horrid,  and  discordant  laugh,  which  had 
something  in  it  the  more  hideous  that  his  mirth  seemed  to  be 
excited  by  his  own  misery.  The  sisters  looked  on  each  othsr 
in  silence  and  fear,  and  even  the  Udaller  appeared  dis- 
concerted. 

"And  how  now?"  he  proceeded,  after  a  minute's  pause. 
"  When  didst  thou  wash  that  throat  of  thine,  that  is  about 
the  width  of  the  Pentland  Firth,  with  a  cup  of  brandy? 
Ha,  Nick!  I  have  that  with  me  which  is  sound  stuff, 
boy— ha!  " 

The  dwarf  bent  his  beetle  brows,  shook  his  misshapen  head, 
and  made  a  quick,  sharp  indication,  throwing  his  right  hand 
up  to  his  shoulder  with  the  thumb  pointed  backward. 

"  What!  my  kinswoman,"  said  the  Udaller,  comprehending 
the  signal,  "will  be  angry?  Well,  shalt  have  a  flask  to 
carouse  when  she  is  from  home,  old  acquaintance:  lips  and 
throats  may  swallow  though  they  cannot  speak." 

Pacolet  grinned  a  grim  assent. 

"  And  now,"  said  the  Udaller,  "  stand  out  of  the  way,  Paco- 
let, and  let  me  carry  my  daughters  to  see  their  kinswoman. 
By  the  bones  of  St.  Magnus,  it  shall  be  a  good  turn  in  thy 
way!  Nay,  never  shake  thy  head,  man;  for  if  thy  mistress  be 
at  home,  see  her  we  will." 

The  dwarf  again  intimated  the  impossibility  of  their  being 
admitted,  partly  by  signs,  partly  by  mumbling  some  uncouth 


THE  PIRATE.  289 

and  most  disagreeable  sounds,  and  the  Udaller's  mood  began 
to  arise. 

''Tittle  tattle,  man!"  said  he;  "trouble  not  me  with  thy 
gibberish,  but  stand  out  of  the  way,  and  the  blame,  if  there 
be  any,  shall  rest  with  me." 

So  saying,  Magnus  Troil  laid  his  sturdy  hand  upon  the 
collar  of  the  recusant  dwarf's  jacket  of  blue  wadmaal,  and 
with  a  strong,  but  not  a  violent,  grasp  removed  him  from  the 
doorway,  pushed  him  gently  aside,  and  entered,  followed  by 
his  two  daughters,  whom  a  sense  of  apprehension,  arising  out 
of  all  which  they  saw  and  heard,  kept  very  close  to  him.  A 
crooked  and  dusky  passage  through  which  Magnus  led  the 
way  was  dimly  enlightened  by  a  shot-hole  communicating 
with  the  interior  of  the  building,  and  originally  intended, 
doubtless,  to  command  the  entrance  by  a  hagbut  or  culverin. 
As  they  approached  nearer,  for  they  walked  slowly  and  with 
hesitation,  the  light,  imperfect  as  it  was,  was  suddenly  ob- 
scured; and,  on  looking  upward  to  discern  the  cause,  Brenda 
was  startled  to  observe  the  pale  and  obscurely  seen  counte- 
nance of  Noma  gazing  downward  upon  them,  without  speak- 
ing a  word.  There  was  nothing  extraordinary  in  this,  as 
the  mistress  of  the  mansion  might  be  naturally  enougli  look- 
ing out  to  see  what  guests  were  thus  suddenly  and  uncere- 
moniously intruding  themselves  on  her  presence.  Still,  how- 
ever, the  natural  paleness  of  her  features,  exaggerated  by  the 
light  in  which  they  were  at  present  exhibited;  the  immova- 
ble sternness  of  her  look,  which  showed  neither  kindness  nor 
courtesy  of  civil  reception;  her  dead  silence;  and  the  singu- 
lar appearance  of  everv^thing  about  her  dwelling,  augmented 
the  dismay  which  Brenda  had  already  conceived.  Magnus 
Troil  and  Minna  had  walked  slowly  forward,  without  observ- 
ing the  apparition  of  their  singular  hostess. 


CHAPTEE  XXVIII. 

The  witch  then  raised  her  wither'd  arm, 

And  waved  her  wand  on  high, 
And,  while  she  spolie  the  inutter'd  charm, 

Dark  lightning  fill'd  her  eye. 

— Meikle. 

"  This  should  be  the  stair,"  said  the  Udaller,  blundering  in 
the  dark  against  some  steps  of  irregular  ascent — ''  this  should 
be  the  stair,  unless  my  memory  greatly  fails  me;  aye,  and  there 
she  sits,"  he  added,  pausing  at  a  half^open  door,  "  with  all  her 
tackle  about  her  as  usual,  and  as  busy,  doubtless,  as  the  devil 
in  a  gale  of  wind." 

As  he  made  this  irreverent  comparison,  he  entered,  followed 
by  his  daughters,  the  darkened  apartment  in  which  Noma  was 
seated,  amidst  a  confused  collection  of  books  of  various  lan- 
guages, parchment  scrolls,  tablets  and  stones  inscribed  with 
the  straight  and  angular  characters  of  the  Runic  alphabet,  and 
similar  articles,  which  the  vulgar  might  have  connected  with 
the  exercise  of  the  forbidden  arts.  There  were  also  lying  in 
the  chamber,  or  hung  over  the  rude  and  ill-contrived  chimney, 
an  old  shirt  of  mail,  with  the  head-piece,  battle-ax,  and  lance 
which  had  once  belonged  to  it;  and  on  a  shelf  were  disposed, 
in  great  order,  several  of  those  curious  stone  axes,  formed  of 
green  granite,  which  are  often  found  in  those  islands,  whera 
they  are  called  thunderbolts  by  the  common  people,  who 
usually  preserve  them  as  a  chai-m  of  security  against  the 
effects  of  lightning.  There  was,  moreover,  to  be  seen  amid  the 
strange  collection  a  stone  sacrificial  knife,  used  perhaps  for 
immolating  human  victims,  and  one  or  tv/o  of  the  brazen 
implements  called  celts,  the  purpose  of  which  has  troubled 
the  repose  of  so  many  antiquaries.  A  variety  of  other  arti- 
cles, some  of  which  had  neither  name  nor  were  capable  of 
description,  lay  in  confusion  about  the  apartment;  and  in  one 
corner,  on  a  quantity  of  withered  seaweed,  reposed  what 
seemed,  at  first  view,  to  be  a  large,  unshapely  dog,  but,  when 
seen  more  closely,  proved  to  be  a  tame  seal,  which  it  had  been 
Noma's  amusement  to  domesticate. 

This  uncouth  favorite  bristled  up  in  its  comer,  upon  the 
arrival  of  so  many  strangers,  with  an  alertness  similar  to  that 
which  a  terrestrial  dog  would  have  displayed  on  a  similar 

«80 


THE  PIRATE.  2»1 

occasion;  but  Noma  remained  motionless,  seated  behind  a 
table  of  rough  granite,  propped  up  by  misshapen  feet  of  the 
same  material,  which,  besides  the  old  book  with  which  she 
seemed  to  be  busied,  sustained  a  cake  of  the  coarse  unleavened 
bread,  three  parts  oatmeal  and  one  the  sawdust  of  fir,  which 
is  used  by  the  poor  peasants  of  Xorway,  beside  which  stood  a 
jar  of  water. 

Magnus  Troil  remained  a  minute  in  silence  gazing  upon  his 
kinswoman,  while  the  singularity  of  her  mansion  inspired 
Brenda  with  much  fear,  and  changed,  though  but  for  a  mo- 
ment, the  melancholy  and  abstracted  mood  of  ]\Iinna  into  a 
feeling  of  interest  not  unmixed  with  awe.  The  silence  was 
interrupted  by  the  Udaller,  who,  unwilling  on  the  one  hand 
to  give  his  kinswoman  offense,  and  desirous  on  the  other  to 
show  that  he  was  not  daunted  by  a  reception  so  singular, 
opened  the  conversation  thus: 

"  I  give  you  good  e'en,  cousin  Xorna;  my  daughters  and  I 
have  come  far  to  see  you." 

Xorna  raised  her  eyes  from  her  volume,  looked  full  at  her 
visitors,  then  let  them  quietly  sink  down  on  the  leaf  with 
which  she  seemed  to  be  engaged. 

"  Nay,  cousin,"  said  Magnus,  "  take  your  own  time:  our 
business  with  you  can  wait  your  leisure.  See  here,  ]\Iinna, 
■what  a  fair  prospect  here  is  of  the  cape,  scarce  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  off;  you  may  see  the  billows  breaking  on  it  topmast 
high.  Our  kinswoman  has  got  a  pretty  seal,  too.  Here, 
sealchie,  my  man,  w-hew,  whew!  " 

The  seal  took  no  further  notice  of  the  Udaller's  advances 
to  acquaintance  than  by  uttering  a  low  growl. 

"  He  is  not  so  well  trained,"  continued  the  Udaller,  affect- 
ing an  air  of  ease  and  unconcern,  "  as  Peter  MacEaw's,*  the 
old  piper  of  Stornoway,  who  had  a  seal  that  flapped  its  tail  to 
the  tune  of  '  Caberfae,'  and  acknowledged  no  other  what- 
ever. Well,  cousin,"  he  concluded,  observing  that  Noma 
closed  her  book,  "  are  you  going  to  give  us  a  welcome  at  last, 
or  must  we  go  farther  than  our  blood  relation's  house  to  seek 
one,  and  that  when  the  evening  is  wearing  late  apace?  " 

"  Ye  dull  and  hard-hearted  generation,  as  deaf  as  the  adder 
to  the  voice  of  the  charmer,"  answered  Noma,  addressing 
them,  "  why  come  ye  to  me?  You  have  shghted  every  warn- 
ing I  could  give  of  the  coming  harm,  and  now  that  it  hath 
come  upon  you,  ye  seek  my  counsel  when  it  can  avail  you 
nothing." 

•  See  Note  35. 


292  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

"  Look  you,  kinswoman,"  said  the  Udaller,  with  his  usual 
frankness  and  boldness  of  manner  and  accent,  "  1  must  needs 
tell  you  that  your  courtesy  is  somethincj  of  the  coarsest  and 
the  coldest.  I  cannot  say  that  I  ever  saw  an  adder,  in  regard 
there  are  none  in  these  parts;  but  touching  my  own  thoughts 
of  what  such  a  thing  may  be,  it  cannot  be  termed  a  suitable 
comparison  to  me  or  to  my  daughters,  and  that  I  would  have 
you  to  know.  For  old  acquaintance,  and  certain  other  rea- 
sons, I  do  not  leave  your  house  upon  the  instant;  but  as  I 
came  hither  in  all  kindness  and  civility,  so  I  pray  vou  to  re- 
ceive me  with  the  like,  otherwise  we  will  depart,  and  leave 
shame  on  your  inhospitable  threshold." 

"  How,"  said  ISTorna,  "  dare  you  use  such  bold  language  in 
the  house  of  one  from  whom  all  men,  from  whom  you  your- 
self, came  to  solicit  counsel  and  aid?  They  who  speak  to  the 
Eeim-kennar  must  lower  their  voice  to  her  before  whom 
winds  and  waves  hush  both  blast  and  billow." 

"  Blast  and  billow  may  hush  themselves  if  they  wall,"  re- 
plied the  peremptory  Udaller,  "but  that  will  not  I.  I  speak  in 
the  house  of  my  friend  as  in  my  own,  and  strike  sail  to  none." 

"  And  hope  ye,"  said  Noma,  "  by  this  rudeness  to  compel 
me  to  answer  to  your  interrogatories?  " 

"  Kinswoman,"  replied  Magnus  Troil,  "  I  know  not  so 
much  as  you  of  the  old  Norse  sagas;  but  this  I  know,  that 
when  kempies  were  wont,  long  since,  to  seek  the  habitations 
of  the  galdragons  and  spae-women,  they  came  with  their  axes 
on  their  shoulders  and  their  good  swords  drawn  in  their 
hands,  and  compelled  the  power  whom  they  invoked  to  listen 
to  and  to  answer  them — aye,  were  it  Odin  himself." 

"  Kinsman,"  said  Noma,  arising  from  her  seat  and  com- 
ing forward,  "  thou  hast  spoken  well,  and  in  good  time  for 
thyself  and  thy  daughters;  for  hadst  thou  turned  from  my 
threshold  without  extorting  an  answer,  morning's  sun  had 
never  again  shone  upon  you.  The  spirits  who  serve  me  are 
jealous,  and  will  not  be  employed  in  aught  that  may  bene- 
fit humanity,  unless  their  service  is  commanded  by  the  un- 
daunted importunity  of  the  brave  and  the  free.  And  now 
speak,  what  wouldst  thou  have  of  me?" 

"  My  daughter's  health,"  replied  Magnus,  "  which  no  reme- 
dies have  been  able  to  restore." 

"  Thy  daughter's  health?  "  answered  Noma;  "  and  what  is 
the  maiden's  ailment?  " 

"  The  physician,"  said  Troil,  "  must  name  the  disease.  All 
that  I  can  tell  thee  of  it  is -" 


THE  PIRATE.  293 

*'.Be  silent,"  said  Noma,  intermptinfr  him,  "I  know  all 
thou  canst  tell  me,  and  more  than  thou  thyself  knowest.  Sit 
down,  all  of  you;  and  thou,  maiden,"  she  said,  addressing 
Minna,  "  sit  thou  in  that  chair,"  pointing  to  the  place  she  had 
just  left,  "  once  the  seat  of  Gien^ada,  at  whose  voice  the  stars 
hid  their  beams  and  the  moon  herself  grew  pale." 

Minna  moved  with  slow  and  tremulous  step  toward  the 
rude  seat  thus  indicated  to  her.  It  was  composed  of  stone, 
formed  into  some  semblance  of  a  chair  by  the  rough  and  un- 
skillful hand  of  some  ancient  Gothic  artist. 

Brenda,  creeping  as  close  as  possible  to  her  father,  seated 
herself  along  with  him  upon  a  bench  at  some  distance  from 
Minna,  and  kept  her  eyes,  ^\'ith  a  mixture  of  fear,  pity,  and 
anxiety,  closely  fixed  upon  her.  It  would  be  difficult  alto- 
gether to  decipher  the  emotions  by  which  this  amiable  and 
affectionate  girl  was  agitated  at  the  moment.  Deficient  in 
her  sister's  predominating  quality  of  high  imagination,  and 
little  credulous,  of  course,  to  the  marvelous,  she  could  not  but 
entertain  some  vague  and  indefinite  fears  on  her  own  account, 
concerning  the  nature  of  the  scene  which  was  soon  to  take 
place.  But  these  were  in  a  manner  swallowed  up  in  her  ap- 
prehensions on  the  score  of  her  sister,  who,  with  a  frame  so 
much  weakened,  spirits  so  much  exhausted,  and  a  mind  so 
susceptible  of  the  impressions  which  all  around  her  was  calcu- 
lated to  excite,  now  sat  pensively  resigned  to  the  agency  of 
one  whose  treatment  might  produce  the  most  baneful  effects 
upon  such  a  subject. 

Brenda  gazed  at  Minna,  who  sat  in  that  rude  chair  of  dark 
stone,  her  finely-formed  shape  and  limbs  making  the  strongest 
contrast  with  its  ponderous  and  irregular  angles,  her  cheek 
and  lips  as  pale  as  clay,  and  her  eyes  turned  upward,  and 
lighted  with  the  mixture  of  resignation  and  excited  enthusi- 
asm which  belonged  to  her  disease  and  her  character.  The 
younger  sister  then  looked  on  Noma,  who  muttered  to  her- 
self in  a  low,  monotonous  manner,  as,  gliding  from  one  place 
to  another,  she  collected  different  articles,  which  she  placed 
one  by  one  on  the  table.  And,  lastly,  Brenda  looked  anx- 
iously to  her  father,  to  gather,  if  possible,  from  his  counte- 
nance, whether  he  entertained  any  part  of  her  own  fears  for 
the  consequences  of  the  scene  which  was  to  ensue,  consider- 
ing the  state  of  ]\Iinna's  health  and  spirits.  But  Magnus 
Troil  seemed  to  have  no  such  apprehensions:  he  viewed  with 
stem  composure  Noma's  preparations,  and  appeared  to  wait 
the  event  with  the  composure  of  one  who,  confiding  in  the 


294  WAVEELEY  NOVELS. 

skill  of  a  medical  artist,  sees  him  preparing  to  enter  upon 
some  important  and  painful  operation,  in  the  issue  of  which 
he  is  interested  by  friendship  or  by  aifection. 

Noma,  ineanwhile,  went  onward  with  her  preparations, 
until  she  had  placed  on  the  stone  table  a  variety  of  miscel- 
laneous articles,  and  among  the  rest  a  small  chafing-dish  full 
of  charcoal,  a  crucible,  and  a  piece  of  thin  sheet-lead.  She 
then  spoke  aloud — "  It  is  well  that  I  was  aware  of  your  com- 
ing hither — aye,  long  before  you  yourself  had  resolved  it — 
how  should  I  else  have  been  prepared  for  that  which  is  now 
to  be  done?  Maiden,"  she  continued,  addressing  Minna, 
"  where  lies  thy  pain?  " 

The  patient  answered  by  pressing  her  hand  to  the  left  side 
of  her  bosom. 

"  Even  so,"  replied  Noma — "  even  so,  'tis  the  site  of  weal  or 
woe.  And  you,  her  father  and  her  sister,  think  not  this  the 
idle  speech  of  one  who  talks  by  guess:  if  I  can  tell  thee  ill,  it 
may  be  that  I  shall  be  able  to  render  that  less  severe  which 
may  not,  by  any  aid,  be  wholly  amended.  The  heart — aye, 
the  heart!  touch  that,  and  the  eye  grows  dim,  the  pulse  fails, 
the  wholesome  stream  of  our  blood  is  choked  and  troubled, 
our  limbs  decay  like  sapless  seaweed  in  a  summer's  sun,  our 
better  views  of  existence  are  past  and  gone;  what  remains  is 
the  dream  of  lost  happiness  or  the  fear  of  inevitable  evil.  But 
the  Eeim-kennar  must  to  her  work;  well  it  is  that  I  have  pre- 
pared the  means." 

She  threw  off  her  long,  dark-colored  mantle,  and  stood  be- 
fore them  in  her  short  Jacket  of  light  blue  wadmaal,  with  its 
skirt  of  the  same  stuff,  fancifully  embroidered  with  black  vel- 
vet, and  bound  at  the  waist  with  a  chain  or  girdle  of  silver, 
formed  into  singular  devices.  Noma  next  undid  the  fillet 
which  bound  her  grizzled  hair,  and  shaking  her  head  wildly, 
caused  it  to  fall  in  disheveled  abundance  over  her  face  and 
around  her  shoulders,  so  as  almost  entirely  to  hide  her  fea- 
tures. She  tfien  placed  a  small  crucible  on  the  chafing-dish 
already  mentiomed,  dropped  a  few  drops  from  a  vial  on  the 
charcoal  below,  pointed  toward  it  her  wrinkled  forefinger, 
which  she  had  previously  moistened  with  liquid  from  another 
small  bottle,  and  said  \\dth  a  deep  voice,  "  Fire,  do  thy  duty  "; 
and  the  words  were  no  sooner  spoken  than,  probably  by  some 
chemical  combination  of  which  the  spectators  were  not  aware, 
the  charcoal  which  was  under  the  crucible  became  slowly 
ignited;  while  Noma,  as  if  impatient  of  the  delay,  threw 
hastily  back  her  disordered  tresseS;,  and,  while  her  features  re- 


THE  PIRATE.  996 

fleeted  the  sparkles  and  red  light  of  the  fire,  and  her  eyes 
flashed  from  amongst  her  hair  like  those  of  a  wild  animal 
from  its  cover,  blew  fiercely  till  the  whole  was  in  an  intense 
glow.  She  paused  a  moment  from  her  toil,  and  muttering 
that  the  elemental  spirit  must  be  thanked,  recited,  in  her 
usual  monotonous,  yet  wild,  mode  of  chanting,  the  following 
verses:  * 

"  Thou  so  needful,  yet  so  dread. 
With  cloudy  crest  and  wing  of  red — 
Thou,  without  whose  genial  breath 
The  North  would  sleep  the  sleep  of  death, 
Who  deign'st  to  warm  the  cottage  hearth, 
Yet  hurl'st  proud  palaces  to  earth, — 
Brightest,  keenest  of  the  powers. 
Which  form  and  rule  this  world  of  ours, 
With  my  rhyme  of  Runic,  I 
Thank  thee  for  thy  agency." 

She  then  severed  a  portion  from  the  small  mass  of  sheet- 
lead  which  lay  upon  the  table,  and,  placing  it  in  the  crucible, 
subjected  it  to  the  action  of  the  lighted  charcoal,  and,  as  it 
melted,  she  sung: 

"  Old  Eeim-kennar,  to  thy  art 
Mother  Hertha  sends  her  part; 
She,  whose  gracious  bounty  gives 
Needful  food  for  all  that  lives. 
From  the  deep  mine  of  the  North 
Came  the  mystic  metal  forth, 
Doom'd.  amidst  disjointed  stones, 
Long  to  cere  a  champion's  bones, 
Disinhumed  my  charms  to  aid — 
Mother  Earth,  my  thanks  are  paid." 

She  then  poured  out  some  water  from  the  jar  into  a  large 
cup,  or  goblet,  and  sung  once  more,  as  she  slowly  stirred  it 
round  with  the  end  of  her  staff: 

"  Girdle  of  our  islands  dear, 
Element  of  water,  hear. 
Thou  whose  power  can  overwhelm 
Broken  mounds  and  riiin'd  realm 

On  the  lowly  Belgian  strand, 
All  thy  fiercest  rage  can  never 
Of  our  soil  a  furlong  sever 

From  our  rock-defended  land; 
Play  then  gently  thou  thy  part. 
To  assist  old  Noma's  art." 

She  then,  with  a  pair  of  pincers,  removed  the  crucible  from 
the  chafing-dish,  and  poured  the  lead,  now  entirely  melted, 
into  the  bowl  of  water,  repeating  at  the  same  time: 

"  Elements,  each  other  greeting. 
Gifts  and  powers  attend  your  meeting  !  " 

•  See  Noma's  Spells.    Note  36. 


296  \VA  7ERLEY  NO  VEL8. 

The  melted  lead,  spattering  as  it  fell  into  the  water,  formed, 
of  eoui'se,  the  usual  combination  of  irregular  forms  which  is 
familiar  to  all  who  in  childhood  have  made  the  experiment, 
and  from  which,  according  to  our  childish  fancy,  we  may 
have  selected  portions  bearing  some  resemblance  to  domestic 
articles,  the  tools  of  mechanics,  or  the  like.  Noma  seemed 
to  busy  herself  in  some  such  researches,  for  she  examined  the 
mass  of  lead  with  scrupulous  attention,  and  detached  it  into 
different  portions,  without  apparently  being  able  to  find  a 
fragment  in  the  form  which  she  desired. 

At  length,  she  again  muttered,  rather  as  speaking  to  herself 
than  to  her  guests,  "  He,  the  Viewless,  will  not  be  omitted:  he 
will  have  his  tribute  even  in  the  work  to  which  he  gives  noth- 
ing. Stern  compeller  of  the  clouds,  thou  also  shalt  hear  the 
voice  of  the  Eeim-kennar." 

Thus  speaking,  Noma  once  more  threw  the  lead  into  the 
crucible,  where,  hissing  and  spattering  as  the  wet  metal 
touched  the  sides  of  the  red-hot  vessel,  it  was  soon  again  re- 
duced into  a  state  of  fusion.  The  sibyl  meantime  turned  to 
a  corner  of  the  apartment,  and  opening  suddenly  a  window 
which  looked  to  the  northwest,  let  in  the  fitful  radiance  of  the 
sun,  now  lying  almost  level  upon  a  great  mass  of  red  clouds, 
which,  boding  future  tempests,  occupied  the  edge  of  the 
horizon,  and  seemed  to  brood  over  the  billows  of  the  boundless 
sea.  Turning  to  this  quarter,  from  which  a  low  hollow 
moaning  breeze  then  blew.  jSToma  addressed  the  Spirit  of  the 
Winds,  in  tones  which  seemed  to  resemble  his  own: 

"  Thou,  that  over  billows  dark 
Safely  send'st  the  fisher's  bark, 
Giving  him  a  path  and  motion 
Through  the  wilderness  of  ocean — 
Thou,  that  when  the  billows  brave  ye, 
O'er  the  shelves  canst  drive  the  navy, 
Did'st  thou  chafe  as  one  neglected, 
While  thy  bretlii-en  were  respected? 
To  appease  thee,  see,  I  tear 
This  full  grasp  of  grizzled  hair. 
Oft  thy  breath  hath  through  it  sung, 
Softening  to  my  magic  tongue; 
Now,  'tis  thine  to  Ind  it  fly 
Through  the  wide  expanse  of  sky, 
'Mid  the  countless  swarms  to  sail 
Of  wild-fowl  wheeling  on  thy  gale. 
Take  thy  portion  and  rejoice; 
Spirit,  thou  hast  heard  my  voice!  " 

ISTorna  accompanied  these  words  with  the  action  which  they 
described,  tearing  a  handful  of  hair  with  vehemence  from  her 
head,  and  strewing  it  upon  the  wind  as  she  continued  her 


THE  PIRATE.  297 

recitation.  She  then  shut  the  casement,  and  again  involved 
the  chamber  in  the  dubious  twilight  which  best  suited  her 
character  and  occupation.  The  melted  lead  was  once  more 
emptied  into  the  water,  and  the  various  whimsical  conforma- 
tions which  it  received  from  the  operation  were  examined  with 
great  care  by  the  sibyl,  who  at  length  seemed  to  intimate  by 
voice  and  gesture  that  her  spell  had  been  successful.  She 
selected  from  the  fused  metal  a  piece  about  the  size  of  a  small 
nut,  bearing  in  shape  a  close  resemblance  to  that  of  the  human 
heart,  and  approaching  Minna,  again  spoke  in  song: 

"  She  who  sits  by  haunted  well 
Is  subject  to  tlie  uixie's  spell; 
She  who  walks  on  lonely  beach 
To  the  meriiiaid"s  charmed  speech; 
She  who  walks  round  ring  of  green, 
Offends  the  peevish  fairy  queen; 
And  she  who  takes  rest  in  the  dwarfie's  cave, 
A  weary  weird  of  woe  shall  have. 

"By  ring,  by  spring,  by  cave,  by  shore, 
Minna  Troil  has  braved  all  this  and  more: 
And  yet  hath  the  root  of  her  sorrow  and  ill 
A  source  that's  more  deep  and  more  mystical  still." 

Minna,  whose  attention  had  been  latterly  something  dis- 
turbed by  reflections  on  her  own  secret  sorrow,  now  suddenly 
recalled  it,  and  looked  eagerly  on  jSTorna.  as  if  she  expected 
to  learn  from  her  rhymes  something  of  deep  interest.  The 
Northern  sibyl  meanwhile  proceeded  to  pierce  the  piece  of 
lead,  which  bore  the  form  of  a  heart,  and  to  fix  in  it  a  piece  of 
gold  wire,  by  which  it  might  be  attached  to  a  chain  or  neck- 
lace.    She  then  proceeded  in  her  rhyme: 

"  Thou  art  within  a  demon's  hold, 
More  wise  than  Heims,  more  strong  than  Trold; 
No  siren  sings  so  sweet  as  he. 
No  fay  springs  lighter  on  the  lea; 
No  eliin  power  hath  half  the  art 
To  soothe,  to  move,  to  wring  the  heart, 
Life-blood  from  the  cheek  to  drain. 
Drench  the  eye,  and  dry  the  vein. 
Maiden,  ere  we  farther  go, 
Dost  thou  note  me,  aye  or  no?  " 

Minna  replied  in  the  same  rhythmical  manner,  which,  in 
jest  and  earnest,  was  frequently  used  by  the  ancient  Scandi- 
navians: 

"  I  mark  thee,  my  motlier,  both  word,  look,  and  sign; 
Speak  on  with  the  riddle — to  read  it  be  mine." 


908  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

"Now,  Heaven  and  every  saint  be  praised!  "  said  Magnus; 
"they  are  the  first  words  to  the  purpose  which  she  hath 
spoken  these  many  days." 

"  And  they  are  the  last  w^hich  she  shall  speak  for  many  a 
month,"'  said  Noma,  incensed  at  the  interruption,  "  if  you 
again  break  the  progress  of  my  spell.  Turn  your  faces  to  the 
wall,  and  look  not  hitherward  again,  under  penalty  of  my 
severe  displeasure.  You,  Magnus  Troil,  from  hard-hearted 
audacity  of  spirit,  and  you,  Brenda,  from  wanton  and  idle  dis- 
belief in  that  which  is  beyond  your  bounded  comprehension, 
are  unworthy  to  look  on  this  mystic  work;  and  the  glance  of 
your  eyes  mingles  with  and  weakens  the  spell;  for  the  powers 
cannot  brook  distrust." 

Unaccustomed  to  be  addressed  in  a  tone  so  peremptory 
Magnus  would  have  made  some  angry  reply;  but  reflecting 
that  the  health  of  Minna  was  at  stake,  and  considering  that 
she  who  spoke  was  a  woman  of  many  sorrows,  he  suppressed 
his  anger,  bowed  his  head,  shrugged  his  shoulders,  assumed 
the  prescribed  posture,  averting  his  head  from  the  table  and 
turning  toward  the  wall.  Brenda  did  the  same,  on  receiving 
a  sign  from  her  father,  and  both  remained  profoundly  silent. 

Noma  then  addressed  Minna  once  more: 


"  Mark  me!  for  the  word  I  speak 
Shall  bring  the  color  to  thy  cheek. 
This  leaden  heart,  so  light  of  cost, 
The  symbol  of  a  treasure  lost, 
Thou  shalt  wear  iu  hope  and  in  peace, 
That  the  cause  of  yonr  sickness  and  sorrow  may  oeas?, 
When  crimson  foot  meets  crimson  hand 
In  the  Martyr's  aisle,  and  in  Orkney-land." 


Minna  colored  deeply  at  the  last  couplet,  intimating,  as  she 
failed  not  to  interpret  it,  that  Noma  was  completely  ac- 
quainted with  the  secret  cause  of  her  sorrow.  The  same  con- 
viction led  the  maiden  to  hope  in  the  favorable  issue  which 
the  sibyl  seemed  to  prophesy;  and  not  venturing  to  express 
her  feelings  in  any  manner  more  intelligible,  she  pressed 
Noma's  withered  hand  with  all  the  warmth  of  affection,  first 
to  her  breast  and  then  to  her  bosom,  bedewing  it  at  the  same 
time  with  her  tears. 

With  more  of  human  feeling  than  she  usually  exhibited, 
Noma  extricated  her  hand  from  the  grasp  of  the  poor  girl, 
whose  tears  now  flowed  freely,  and  then,  with  more  tender- 
ness of  manner  than  slie  had  yet  shown,  she  knotted  the 


THE  PIRATE.  299 

leaden  heart  to  a  chain  of  gold,  and  hung  it  around  Minna's 
neck,  singing,  as  she  performed  that  last  branch  of  the  spell: 

"  Be  patient,  be  patient,  for  patience  hath  power 
To  ward  ns  in  danger,  like  mantle  in  shower. 
A  fairy  gift  yon  best  may  hold 
In  a  chain  of  fairy  gold; 

The  chain  and  the  gift  are  each  a  true  token, 
That  not  without  warrant  old  Noma  has  spoken; 
But  thy  nearest  and  dearest  nnist  never  beliold  them, 
Till  time  shall  accomplish  the  truths  I  have  told  tlieni." 

The  verses  being  concluded,  Noma  carefully  arranged  the 
chain  around  her  patient's  neck  so  as  to  hide  it  in  her  bosom, 
and  thus  ended  the  spell — a  spell  which,  at  the  moment  I 
record  these  incidents,  it  is  known  has  been  lately  practiced  in 
Zetland,  where  any  decline  of  health,  without  apparent  cause, 
is  imputed  by  the  lower  orders  to  a  demon  having  stolen  the 
heart  from  the  body  of  the  patient,  and  where  the  experiment 
of  supplying  the  deprivation  by  a  leaden  one,  prepared  in  the 
manner  described,  has  been  resorted  to  within  these  few  years. 
In  a  metaphorical  sense,  the  disease  may  be  considered  as  a 
general  one  in  all  parts  of  the  world;  but,  as  this  simple  and 
original  remedy  is  peculiar  to  the  isles  of  Thule,  it  were  un- 
pardonable not  to  preserve  it  at  length,  in  a  narrative  con- 
nected with  Scottish  antiquities. 

A  second  time  Xorna  reminded  her  patient  that,  if  she 
showed,  or  spoke  of,  the  fairy  gifts,  their  virtue  would  be  lost 
— a  belief  so  common  as  to  be  received  into  the  superstitions 
of  all  nations.  Lastly,  unbuttoning  the  collar  which  she  had 
just  fastened,  she  showed  her  a  link  of  the  gold  chain,  which 
Minna  instantly  recognized  as  that  formerly  given  by  ISTorna 
to  Mordaunt  Mertoun.  This  seemed  to  intimate  he  w>is  yet 
alive,  and  under  Noma's  protection;  and  she  gazed  on  her 
with  the  most  eager  curiosity.  But  the  sibyl  imposed  her 
finger  on  her  lips  in  token  of  silence,  and  a  second  time  in- 
volved the  chain  in  those  folds  which  modestly  and  closely 
veiled  one  of  the  most  beautiful,  as  well  as  one  of  the  kindest, 
bosoms  in  the  world. 

Noma  then  extinguished  the  lighted  charcoal,  and.  as  the 
water  his,sed  upon  the  glowing  embers,  commanded  Magnus 
and  Brenda  to  look  aro'und  and  behold  her  task  accomplished. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

See  yonder  woman,  whom  our  swains  revere, 

And  dread  in  secret,  while  they  take  her  counsel 

When  sweetheart  shall  be  kind,  or  when  cross  dame  shall  die; 

Where  lurks  the  thief  who  stole  the  silver  tankard, 

And  how  the  pestilent  murrain  may  be  cured. 

This  sage  adviser's  mad,  stark  mad,  my  friend; 

Yet,  in  her  madness  hath  the  art  and  cunning 

To  wring  fools'  secrets  from  their  inmost  bosoms, 

And  pay  inquirers  with  the  coin  they  gave  her. 

—  Old  Play. 

It  seemed  as  if  Noma  had  indeed  full  right  to  claim  the 
gratitude  of  the  Udaller  for  the  improved  condition  of  his 
daughter's  health.  She  once  more  threw  open  the  ^,vindow, 
and  Minna,  drying  her  eyes  and  advancing  with  affectionate 
confidence,  threw  herself  on  her  father's  neck,  and  asked  his 
forgiveness  for  the  trouble  she  had  of  late  occasioned  to  him. 
It  is  unnecessary  to  add  that  this  was  at  once  granted,  with 
a  full,  though  rough,  burst  of  parental  tenderness,  and  as 
many  close  embraces  as  if  his  child  had  been  just  rescued 
from  the  jaws  of  death.  When  Magnus  had  dismissed  Minna 
from  his  arms,  to  throw  herself  into  those  of  her  sister,  and 
express  to  her,  rather  by  kisses  and  tears  than  in  words,  the 
regret  she  entertained  for  her  late  wayward  conduct,  the 
Udaller  thought  proper,  in  the  meantime,  to  pay  his  thanks 
to  their  hostess,  whose  skill  had  proved  so  efficacious.  But 
scarce  had  he  come  out  with,  "  ]\Iuch  respected  kinswoman, 

I  am  but  a  plain  old  Norseman "  when  she  interrupted 

him  by  pressing  her  finger  on  her  lips. 

"  There  are  those  around  us,"  she  said,  "  who  must  hear  no 
mortal  voice,  witness  no  sacrifice  to  mortal  feelings:  there  are 
times  when  they  mutiny  even  against  me,  their  sovereign  mis- 
tress, because  I  am  still  shrouded  in  the  flesh  of  humanity. 
Fear,  therefore,  and  be  silent.  I,  whose  deeds  have  raised 
me  from  the  low-sheltered  valley  of  life,  where  dwell  its  social 
wants  and  common  charities — I,  who  have  bereft  the  giver 
of  the  gift  which  he  gave,  and  stand  alone  on  a  cliff  of  im- 
measurable height,  detached  from  earth,  save  from  the  small 
portion  that  supports  my  miserable  tread — I  alone  am  fit  to 
cope  with  those  sullen  mates.  Fear  not,  therefore,  but  yet 
be  not  too  bold,  and  let  this  night  to  you  be  one  of  fasting 
and  of  prayer." 

30Q 


THE  PIRATE.  801 

If  the  Udaller  had  not,  before  the  commencement  of  the 
operation,  been  disposed  to  dispute  the  commands  of  the 
sibyl,  it  may  be  well  believed  he  was  less  so  now  that  it  had 
terminated  to  all  appearance  so  fortunately.  So  he  sat  down 
in  silence,  and  seized  upon  a  volume  which  lay  neai'  him  as  a 
sort  of  desperate  effort  to  divert  "■  ennui,"  for  on  no  other 
occasion  had  Magnus  been  known  to  have  recourse  to  a  book 
for  that  purpose.  It  chanced  to  be  a  book  much  to  his  mind, 
being  the  well-known  work  of  Olaus  Magnus,  upon  the  man- 
ners of  the  ancient  Northern  nations.  The  book  is  unluckily 
in  the  Latin  language,  and  the  Danske  or  Dutch  were,  either 
of  them,  much  more  familiar  to  the  Udaller.  But  then  it 
was  the  fine  edition  published  in  1555,  which  contains  repre- 
sentations of  the  war-chariots,  fishing  exploits,  warlike  exer- 
cises, and  domestic  employments  of  the  Scandinavians,  exe- 
cuted on  copper-plates;  and  thus  the  information  which  the 
work  refused  to  the  understanding  was  addressed  to  the  eye, 
which,  as  is  well  known  both  to  old  and  young,  answers  the 
purpose  of  amusement  as  well,  if  not  better. 

Meanwhile  the  two  sisters,  pressed  as  close  to  each  other  as 
two  flowers  on  the  same  stalk,  sat  with  their  arms  reciprocally 
passed  over  each  other's  shoulder,  as  if  they  feared  some  new 
and  unforeseen  cause  of  coldness  was  about  to  separate  them, 
and  interrupt  the  sister-like  harmony  which  had  been  but  just 
restored.  Noma  sat  opposite  to  them,  sometimes  revolving 
the  large  parchment  volume  with  which  they  had  found  her 
employed  at  their  entrance,  and  sometimes  gazing  on  the 
sisters' with  a  fixed  look,  in  which  an  interest  of  a  kind  un- 
usually tender  seemed  occasionally  to  disturb  the  stern  and 
rigorous  solemnity  of  her  countenance.  All  was  still  and 
silent  as  death,  and  the  subsiding  emotions  of  Brenda  had 
not  yet  pennitted  her  to  wonder  whether  the  remaining  hours 
of  the  evening  were  to  be  passed  in  the  same  manner,  when 
the  scene  of  tranquillity  was  suddenly  interrupted  by  the 
entrance  of  the  dwarf  Pacolet,  or,  as  the  Udaller  called  him, 
Nicholas  Stnimpfer. 

Noma  darted  an  angry  glance  on  the  intrader,  who  seemed 
to  deprecate  her  resentment  by  holding  up  his  hands  and 
uttering  a  babbling  sound;  then,  instantly  resorting  to  his 
usual  mode  of  conversation,  he  expressed  himself  by  a  variety 
of  signs  made  rapidly  upon  his  fingers,  and  as  rapidly  an- 
swered by  his  mistress,  so  that  the  young  women,  who  had 
never  heard  of  such  an  art,  and  now  saw  it  practiced  by  two 
beings  so  singular,  almost  conceived  their  mutual  intelligence 


302  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

the  work  of  enchantment.  When  they  had  ceased  their  in- 
tercourse, Noma  turned  to  Magnus  Troil  with  much  haughti- 
ness and  said,  "  How,  my  kinsman,  have  you  so  far  forgot 
yourself  as  to  bring  earthly  food  into  the  house  of  the  Reim- 
kennar,  and  make  preparations  in  the  dwelling  of  power  and 
of  despair  for  refection,  and  wassail,  and  revelry?  Speak 
not — answer  not,'*'  she  said;  "  the  duration  of  the  cure  which 
was  wrought  even  now  depends  on  your  silence  and  obedi- 
ence; bandy  but  a  single  look  or  word  with  me,  and  the  latter 
condition  of  that  maiden  shall  be  worse  than  the  first!  " 

This  threat  was  an  effectual  charm  upon  the  tongue  of  the 
Udaller,  though  he  longed  to  indulge  it  in  vindication  of  his 
conduct. 

"  Follow  me,  all  of  you,"  said  Noma,  striding  to  the  door 
of  the  apartment,  "  and  see  that  no  one  looks  backward;  we 
leave  not  this  apartment  empty,  though  we,  the  children  of 
mortality,  be  removed  from  it." 

She  went  out,  and  the  Udaller  signed  to  his  daughters  to 
follow  and  to  obey  her  injunctions.  The  sibyl  moved  swifter 
than  her  guests  down  the  rude  descent  (such  it  might  rather 
be  termed  than  a  proper  staircase)  which  led  to  the  lower 
apartment.  Magnus  and  his  daughters,  when  they  entered 
the  chamber,  found  their  own  attendants  aghast  at  the  pres- 
ence and  proceedings  of  Noma  of  the  Fitful  Head. 

They  had  been  previously  employed  in  arranging  the  pro- 
visions which  they  had  brought  along  with  them,  so  as  to 
present  a  comfortable  cold  meal  as  soon  as  the  appetite  of  the 
Udaller,  which  was  as  regular  as  the  return  of  tide,  should 
induce  him  to  desire  some  refreshment;  and  now  they  stood 
staring  in  fear  and  surprise,  while  Noma.,  seizing  upon  one 
article  after  another,  and  well  supported  by  the  zealous 
activity  of  Pacelot,  flung  their  whole  preparations  out  of  the 
rude  aperture  which  served  for  a  window,  and  over  the  cliif, 
from  which  the  ancient  burgh  arose,  into  the  ocean,  which 
raged  and  foamed  beneath.  "  Yifda "  (dried  beef),  hams, 
and  pickled  pork  flew  after  each  other  into  empty  space, 
smoked  geese  were  restored  to  the  air,  and  cured  fish  to  the 
sea,  their  native  elements  indeed,  but  which  they  were  no 
longer  capable  of  traversing;  and  the  devastation  proceeded 
so  rapidly  that  the  Udaller  could  scarce  secure  from  the 
wreck  his  silver  drinking-cup;  while  the  large  leathern  flask 
of  brandy  which  was  destined  to  supply  his  favorite  beverage 
was  sent  to  follow  the  rest  of  the  supper  by  the  hands  of 
Pacelot,  who  regarded,  at  the  same  time,  the  disappointed 


TEE  PIRATE.  308 

Udaller  Avith  a  malicious  grin,  as  if,  notwithstanding  his  own 
natural  taste  for  the  liquor,  he  enjoyed  the  disappointment 
and  surprise  of  Magnus  Troil  still  more  than  he  would  have 
relished  sharing  his  enjoyment. 

The  destruction  of  the  brandy  flask  exhausted  the  patience 
of  Magnus,  who  roared  out,  in  a  tone  of  no  small  displeasure, 
"  Why,  kinswoman,  this  is  wasteful  madness;  where,  and  on 
what,  would  you  have  us  sup  ?  " 

"Where  you  will,"  answered  Noma,  "and  on  what  you 
will ;  but  not  in  my  dwelling,  and  not  on  the  food  with  which 
you  have  profaned  it.  Vex  my  spirit  no  more,  but  begone 
every  one  of  you!  You  have  been  here  too  long  for  my  good, 
perhaps  for  your  own." 

"  How,  kinswoman,"  said  Magnus,  "  would  you  make  out- 
casts of  us  at  this  time  of  night,  when  even  a  Scotchman 
would  not  turn  a  stranger  from  the  door?  Bethink  you, 
dame,  it  is  shame  on  our  lineage  forever  if  this  squall  of 
yours  should  force  us  to  slip  cables  and  go  to  sea  so  scantily 
provided." 

"  Be  silent,  and  depart,"  said  Noma;  "  let  it  suffice  you 
have  got  that  for  which  you  came.  I  have  no  harborage  for 
mortal  guests,  no  provision  to  relieve  human  wants.  There 
is  beneath  the  cliff  a  beach  of  the  finest  sand,  a  stream  of 
water  as  pure  as  the  well  of  Kildinguie,  and  the  rocks  bear 
dulse  as  wholesome  as  that  of  Guiodin;  and  well  you  wot 
that  the  well  of  Kildinguie  and  the  dulse  of  Guiodin  will 
cure  all  maladies  save  Black  Death."  * 

"And  well  I  wot,"  said  the  Udaller,  "that  I  would  eat 
corrapted  seaweeds  like  a  starling,  or  salted  seal's  flesh  like 
the  men  of  Burraforth,  or  wilks,  buckles,  and  lampits,  like 
the  poor  sneaks  of  Stroma,  rather  than  break  wheat  bread  and 
drink  red  wine  in  a  house  where  it  is  begmdged  me.  And 
yet,"  he  said,  checking  himself,  "  I  am  wrong— ver}'  wrong, 
my  cousin,  to  speak  thus  to  you,  and  I  should  rather  thank 
you  for  what  you  have  done  than  upbraid  you  for  following 
your  own  ways.  But  I  see  you  are  impatient — we  will  be  all 
under  wav  presently.  And  you,  ye  knaves,"  addressing  his 
servants.  "  that  were  in  such  huny  \\Mh.  your  service  before 
it  was  lacked,  get  out  of  doors  with  you  presently,  and  man- 
age to  catch  the  ponies;  for  I  see  we  must  make  for  another 
harbor  to-night,  if  we  would  not  sleep  with  an  empty 
stomach  and  on  a  hard  bed." 

The  domestics  of  Magnus,  already  sufficiently  alamied  at 

♦  So  at  least  says  an  Orkney  proverb. 


304  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

the  violence  of  Noma's  conduct,  scarce  waited  the  imperious 
command  of  their  master  to  evacuate  her  dwelhng  with  all 
dispatch;  and  the  ITdaller,  with  a  daughter  on  each  arm,  was 
in  the  act  of  following  them,  when  ISTorna  said  emphatically, 
"Stop!"  They  obeyed,  and  again  turned  toward  her.  She 
held  out  her  hand  to  Magnus,  which  the  placable  Udaller 
instantly  folded  in  his  own  ample  palm. 

"  Magnus,"  she  said,  "  we  part  by  necessity,  but,  I  trust, 
not  in  anger?  " 

"  Surely  not,  cousin,"  said  the  warm-hearted  Udaller,  well- 
nigh  stammering  in  his  hasty  disclamation  of  all  unkindness 
— "  most  assuredly  not.  1  never  bear  ill-will  to  anyone,  much 
less  to  one  of  my  own  blood,  and  who  has  piloted  me  with 
her  advice  through  many  a  rough  tide,  as  I  would  pilot  a  boat 
betwixt  Swona  and  Stroma,  through  all  the  waws,  wells,  and 
swelchies  of  the  Pentland  Firth." 

"  Enough,"  said  Noma,  "  and  now  farewell,  with  such  a 
blessing  as  I  dare  bestow — not  a  word  more!  Maidens,"  she 
added,  "  draw  near  and  let  me  kiss  your  brows." 

The  sibyl  was  obeyed  by  Minna  with  awe,  and  by  Brenda 
with  fear;  the  one  overmastered  by  the  warmth  of  her  imag- 
ination, the  other  by  the  natural  timidity  of  her  constitution. 
Noma  then  dismissed  them,  and  in  two  minutes  afterwards 
they  found  themselves  beyond  the  bridge,  and  standiu'j  upon 
the  rocky  platform  in  front  of  the  ancient  Pictish  burgh 
which  it  was  the  pleasure  of  this  sequestered  female  to  in- 
habit. The  night,  for  it  was  now  fallen,  was  unusually 
serene.  A  bright  twilight,  which  glimmered  far  over  the 
surface  of  the  sea,  supplied  the  brief  absence  of  the  summer's 
sun;  and  the  waves  seemed  to  sleep  under  its  influence,  so 
faint  and  slumberous  was  the  sound  with  which  one  after 
another  rolled  on  and  burst  against  the  foot  of  the  cliff  on 
which  they  stood.  In  front  of  them  stood  the  rugged  for- 
tress, seeming,  in  the  uniform  grayness  of  the  atmosphere,  as 
aged,  as  shapeless,  and  as  massive  as  the  rock  on  which  it  was 
founded.  There  was  neither  sight  nor  sound  that  indicnted 
human  habitation,  save  that  from  one  nide  shot-hole  glim- 
mered the  flame  of  the  feeble  lamp  by  which  the  sibyl  was 
probably  pursuing  her  mystical  and  nocturnal  studies,  shoot- 
ing upon  the  twilight,  in  which  it  was  soon  lost  and  con- 
founded, a  single  line  of  tiny  light;  bearing  the  same 
proportion  to  that  of  the  atmosphere  as  the  aged  woman  and 
her  serf,  the  sole  inhabitants  of  that  desert,  did  to  the  solitude 
vvith  which  they  were  surrounded. 


THE  PIRATE.  305 

For  several  minutes  the  party,  thns  siulrlenly  and  unex- 
pectedly expelled  from  the  shelter  where  they  had  reckoned 
upon  spending  the  night,  stood  in  silence,  each  wrapt  in  their 
own  separate  reflections.  Minna,  her  thoughts  fixed  on  the 
mystical  consolation  which  she  had  received,  in  vain  en- 
deavored to  extract  from  the  words  of  Xoma  a  more  distinct 
and  intelligible  meaning;  and  the  Udaller  had  not  yet  recov- 
ered his  surprise  at  the  extrusion  to  which  he  had  been  thus 
whimsically  subjected,  under  circumstances  that  proliibited 
him  from  resenting  as  an  insult  treatment  which,  in  all  other 
respects,  was  so  shocking  to  the  genial  hospitality  of  his 
nature  that  he  still  felt  like  one  disposed  to  be  angry,  if  he 
but  knew  how  to  set  about  it.  Brenda  ^vas  the  first  who 
brought  matt-ers  to  a  point  by  asking  whither  they  were  to 
go,  and  how  they  ^vere  to  spend  the  night.  The  question, 
which  was  asked  in  a  tone  that,  amidst  its  simplicity,  had 
something  dolorous  in  it,  entirely  changed  the  train  of  her 
father's  ideas;  and  the  unexpected  perplexity  of  their  situa- 
tion now  striking  him  in  a  comic  point  of  view,  he  laughed 
till  his  very  eyes  ran  over,  while  every  rock  around  him  rang, 
and  the  sleeping  sea-fowl  were  startled  from  their  repose  by 
the  loud,  hearty  explosions  of  his  obstreperous  hilarity. 

The  Udaller's  daughters,  eagerly  representing  to  their 
father  the  risk  of  displeasing  Xorna  by  this  unlimited  indul- 
gence of  his  mirth,  united  their  efforts  to  drag  him  to  a 
farther  distance  from  her  dwelling.  Magnus,  yielding  to 
their  strength,  which,  feeble  as  it  was,  his  own  fit  of  laughter 
rendered  him  incapable  of  resisting,  suffered  himself  to  be 
pulled  to  a  considerable  distance  from  the  burgh,  and  then 
escaping  from  their  hands,  and  sitting  down,  or  rather  suffer- 
ink'  himself  to  drop,  upon  a  large  stone  which  lay  conven- 
ientlv  bv  the  wayside,  he  again  laughed  so  long  and  lustily 
that  his  vexed  and  anxious  daughters  became  afraid  that  there 
was  something  more  than  natural  in  these  repeated  con- 
vulsions. 

At  length,  his  mirth  exhausted  both  itself  and  the  Udaller's 
strength.  He  groaned  heavily,  wiped  his  eyes,  and  said,  not 
without  feeling  some  desire  to  renew  his  obstreperous 
cnchinnation,  "  Xow,  by  the  bones  of  St.  :NTagnus,  my  ances- 
tor and  namesake,  oneVould  imagine  that  being  turned  out 
of  doors  at  this  time  of  night  was  nothing  short  of  an  abso- 
lutely exquisite  jest;  for  I  have  shaken  my  sides  at  it  till  they 
ache!  There  we  sat,  made  snug  for  the  night,  and  1  made 
as  sure  of  a  good  supper  and  a  can  as  ever  I  had  been  of 


306  WAVEIiLEY  NOVELS. 

either;  and  here  we  are  all  taken  aback!  and  then  poor  Bren- 
da's  doleful  voice,  and  melancholy  question  of,  "  What  is  to  be 
done,  and  where  are  we  to  sleep? '  In  good  faith,  unless  one 
of  those  knaves,  who  must  needs  torment  the  poor  woman 
by  their  trencher-work  before  it  was  wanted,  can  make 
amends  by  telling  us  of  some  snug  port  under  our  lee,  we 
have  no  other  course  for  it  but  to  steer  through  the  twilight 
on  the  bearing  of  Burgh- Westra,  and  rough  it  out  as  well  as 
we  can  by  the  way.  I  am  sorry  but  for  you,  girls;  for  many 
a  cruise  have  I  been  upon  when  we  were  on  shorter  allow- 
ance than  we  are  like  to  have  now;  I  would  I  had  but  secured 
a  morsel  for  you  and  a  drop  for  myself,  and  then  there  had 
been  but  little  to  complain  of." 

Both  sisters  hastened  to  assure  the  Udaller  that  they  felt 
not  the  least  occasion  for  food. 

"  Why,  that  is  well,"  said  Magnus,  "  and  so  being  the  case, 
I  will  not  complain  of  my  own  appetite,  though  it  is  sharper 
than  convenient.  And  the  rascal,  Nicholas  Strumpfer — 
what  a  leer  the  villain  gave  me  as  he  started  the  good  Natz 
into  the  salt-water!  He  grinned,  the  knave,  like  a  seal  on 
a  skerry.  Had  it  not  been  for  vexing  my  poor  kinswoman. 
Noma,  I  would  have  sent  his  misgotten  body  and  misshapen 
jolterhead  after  my  bonny  flask,  as  sure  as  St.  Magnus  lies 
at  Kirkwall!" 

By  this  time  the  ser^^ants  returned  with  the  ponies,  which 
they  had  very  soon  caught;  these  sensible  animals  finding 
nothing  so  captivating  in  the  pastures  where  they  had  been 
suffered  to  stray  as  inclined  them  to  resist  the  invitation  again 
to  subject  themselves  to  saddle  and  bridle.  The  prospects  of 
the  party  were  also  considerably  improved  by  learning  that 
the  contents  of  their  sumpter  pony's  burden  had  not  been 
entirely  exhavisted — a  small  basket  having  fortunately  es- 
caped the  rage  of  Noma  and  Pacelot  by  the  rapidity  with 
which  one  of  the  servants  had  caught  up  and  removed  it. 
The  same  domestic,  an  alert  and  ready-witted  fellow,  had 
observed  upon  the  beach,  not  above  three  miles  distant  from 
the  burgh,  and  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  off  their  straight 
path,  a  deserted  "  skeo,"  or  fisherman's  hut,  and  suggested 
that  they  should  occupy  it  for  the  rest  of  the  night,  in  order 
that  the  ponies  might  be  refreshed,  and  the  young  ladies 
spend  the  night  under  cover  from  the  raw  evening  air. 

When  we  are  delivered  from  great  and  serious  dangers,  our 
mood  is,  or  ought  to  be,  grave  in  proportion  to  the  peril  we 
have  escaped  and  the  gratitude  due  to  protecting  Providence. 


THE  PIRATE.  307 

But  few  things  raise  the  spirits  more  naturally  or  more  harm- 
lessly than  when  means  of  extrication  from  any  of  the  lesser 
embarrassments  of  life  axe  suddenly  presented  to  us;  and  such 
was  the  case  in  the  present  instance.  The  Udaller,  relieved 
from  the  apprehensions  for  his  daughters'  suffering  from 
fatigue,  and  himself  from  too  much  appetite  and  too  little 
food,  caroled  Norse  ditties,  as  he  spurred  Bergen  through 
the  twilight,  \nth  as  much  glee  and  gallantry  as  if  the  night- 
ride  had  been  entirely  a  matter  of  his  own  free  choice. 
Brenda  lent  her  voice  to  some  of  his  choruses,  which  were 
echoed  in  ruder  notes  by  the  servants,  who,  in  that  simple 
state  of  society,  were  not  considered  as  guilty  of  any  breach 
of  respect  by  mingling  their  voices  with  the  song.  Minna, 
indeed,  was  as  yet  unequal  to  such  an  effort;  but  she  com- 
pelled herself  to  assume  some  share  in  the  general  hilarity  of 
the  meeting;  and,  contrary  to  her  conduct  since  the  fatal 
morning  which  concluded  the  festival  of  St.  John,  she  seemed 
to  take  her  usual  interest  in  what  was  going  on  around  her, 
and  answered  with  kindness  and  readiness  the  repeated  in- 
quiries concerning  her  health  with  which  the  Udaller  every 
now  and  then  inteiTupted  his  carol.  And  thus  they  pro- 
ceeded by  night,  a  happier  party  by  far  than  they  had  been 
when  they  traced  the  same  route  on  the  preceding  [that 
same]  morning,  making  light  of  the  difficulties  of  the  way, 
and  promising  themselves  shelter  and  a  comfortable  night's 
rest  in  the  deserted  hut  which  they  were  now  about  to  ap- 
proach, and  which  they  expected  to  find  in  a  state  of  dark- 
ness and  solitude. 

But  it  was  the  lot  of  the  Udaller  that  day  to  be  deceived 
more  than  once  in  his  calculations. 

"  And  which  way  lies  this  cabin  of  yours,  Laurie?  "  said 
the  Udaller,  addressing  the  intelligent  domestic  of  whom  we 
just  spoke. 

"  Yonder  it  should  be,"  said  Laurence  Scholey,  "  at  the 
head  of  the  voe;  but,  by  my  faith,  if  it  be  the  place,  there  are 
folk  there  before  us.  God  and  St.  Ronan  send  that  they  be 
canny  company!  " 

In"  truth  there  was  a  light  in  the  deserted  hut,  strong 
enough  to  glimmer  through  every  chink  of  the  shingles  and 
wreck-wood  of  which  it  was  constructed,  and  to  give  the  whole 
cabin  the  appearance  of  a  smithy  seen  by  night.  The  uni- 
Yersal  superstition  of  the  Zetlanders  seized  upon  Magnus  and 
his  escort. 

"  They  are  trows/'  said  one  voice. 


808  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

"  They  are  witches,"  murmured  another. 

"  They  are  mermaids/'  muttered  a  third;  "  only  hear  their 
wild  singing!  " 

All  stopped;  and,  in  effect,  some  notes  of  music  were  audi- 
ble, which  Brenda,  with  a  voice  that  quivered  a  little,  but 
yet  had  a  turn  of  arch  ridicule  in  its  tone,  pronounced  to  be 
the  sound  of  a  fiddle. 

"  Fiddle  or  fiend,"  said  the  Udaller,  who,  if  he  believed  in 
such  nightly  apparitions  as  had  struck  terror  into  his  retinue, 
certainly  feared  them  not — "  fiddle  or  fiend,  may  the  devil 
fetch  me  if  a  witch  cheats  me  out  of  supper  to-night  for  the 
second  time!  " 

So  saying,  he  dismounted,  clenched  his  trusty  truncheon 
in  his  hand,  and  advanced  toward  the  hut,  followed  by  Lau- 
rence alone;  the  rest  of  his  retinue  continuing  stationary  on 
the  beach  beside  his  daughters  and  the  ponies. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

What  ho,  my  jovial  mates!  come  on!  we'll  frolic  it 
Like  fairies  frisking  in  the  merry  moonshine, 
Seen  by  the  cnrtal  fiiar,  who,  from  some  christening 
Or  some  blithe  bridal,  hies  belated  cell-ward; 
He  starts,  and  rh,-ui<;es  his  bold  bottle  swaj^ger 
To  churchman's  pace  professional,  and  ransacking 
His  treacherous  memory  for  some  holy  hymn, 
Finds  but  the  roundel  of  the  midnight  catch. 

—  Old  Play. 

The  stride  of  the  Udaller  relaxed  nothing  of  its  length  oi 
of  its  firmness  as  he  approached  the  glimmering  cabin,  from 
which  he  now  heard  distinctly  the  sound  of  the  fiddle.  But, 
if  still  long  and  firm,  his  steps  succeeded  each  other  rather 
more  slowly  than  usual:  for,  like  a  cautious,  though  a  brave, 
general,  Magnus  was  willing  to  reconnoiter  his  enemy  before 
assailing  him. 

The  trusty  Laurence  Scholey,  who  kept  close  behind  his 
master,  now  whispered  into  his  ear,  "  So  help  me,  sir,  as  I 
beliere  that  the  ghaist,  if  ghaist  it  be,  that  plays  so  bravely 
on  the  fiddle,  must  be  the  ghaist  of  ]\Iaister  Claud  Halcro, 
or  his  wraith  at  least;  for  never  was  bow  drawn  across  thairm 
which  brought  out  the  gude  auld  spring  of  '  Fair  and  Lucky  ' 
so  like  his  ain." 

Magnus  was  himself  much  of  the  same  opinion;  for  he 
knew  the  blithe  minstrelsy  of  the  spirited  little  old  man,  and 
hailed  the  hut  with  a  hearty  halloo,  which  was  immediately 
replied  to  by  the  cheer}'  note  of  his  ancient  messmate,  and 
Halcro  himself  presently  made  his  appearance  on  the  beach. 

The  L''daller  now  signed  to  his  retinue  to  come  up,  while  he 
asked  his  friend,  after  a  kind  greeting  and  much  shaking  of 
hands,  "  How  the  devil  he  came  to  sit  there,  playing  old 
tunes  in  so  desolate  a  place,  like  an  owl  whooping  to  the 
moon?  " 

"And  tell  me  rather,  Fowd,"  said  Claud  Halcro,  "how 
you  came  to  be  within  hearing  of  me?  aye,  by  my  word,  and 
with  your  bonny  daughters,  too?  Jarto  Minna  and  Jarto 
Brenda.  I  bid  you  welcome  to  these  yellow  sands;  and  there, 
shake  hands,  as  glorious  John,  or  some  other  body,  says  upon 
the  same  occasion.     And  how  came  you  here  like  two  fair 

309 


310  WAVEELET  NOVELS. 

swans,  making  day  out  of  twilight,  and  turning  all  you  step 
upon  to  silver?  " 

"  You  shall  know  all  about  them  presently,"  answered 
Magnus;  "  but  what  messmates  have  you  got  in  the  hut  with 
you?     I  think  I  liear  someone  speaking." 

"  None,"  replied  Claud  Halcro,  "  but  that  poor  creature,  the 
factor,  and  my  imp  of  a  boy,  Giles.  I — but  come  in — come 
in;  here  you  will  find  us  stai'ving  in  comfort — not  so  much 
as  a  mouthful  of  sour  sillocks  to  be  had  for  love  or  money." 

"  That  may  be  in  a  small  part  helped,"  said  the  Udaller; 
"  for,  though  the  best  of  our  supper  is  gone  over  the  Fitful 
Crags  too  the  sealchies  and  the  dog-fish,  yet  we  have  got 
something  in  the  kit  still.  Here,  Laurie,  bring  up  the 
'  vifda.' " 

"'Jokul — Jokul!'"  was  Laurence's  joyful  answer;  and  he 
hastened  for  the  basket. 

"  By  the  bicker  of  St.  Magnus,"  *  said  Halcro,  "  and  the 
burliest  bishop  that  ever  quaffed  it  for  luck's  sake,  there  is 
no  finding  your  locker  empty,  Magnus!  I  believe  sincerely 
that,  ere  a  friend  wanted,  you  could,  like  old  Luggie,t  the 
warlock,  fish  up  boiled  and  roasted  out  of  the  pool  of 
Kibister." 

"  You  are  wrong  there,  Jarto  Claud,"  said  Magnus  Troil, 
"  for,  far  from  helping  me  to  a  supper,  the  foul  fiend,  I  be- 
lieve, has  earned  off  great  part  of  mine  this  blessed  evening; 
but  you  are  welcome  to  share  and  share  of  what  is  left."  This 
was  said  while  the  party  entered  the  hut. 

Here,  in  a  cabin  which  smelled  strongly  of  dried  fish,  and 
whose  sides  and  roof  were  jet  black  with  smoke,  they  found 
the  unhappy  Triptolemus  Yellowley  seated  beside  a  fire  made 
of  dried  seaweed,  mingled  ^vith  some  peats  and  wreck-wood; 
his  sole  companion  a  bare-footed,  yellow-haired  Zetland  boy, 
who  acted  occasionally  as  a  kind  of  page  to  Claud  Halcro, 
bearing  his  fiddle  on  his  shoulder,  saddling  his  pony,  and 
rendering  him  similar  duties  of  kindly  observance.  The  dis- 
consolate agriculturist,  for  such  his  visage  betokened  him, 
displayed  little  surprise,  and  less  animation,  at  the  arrival  of 
the  Udaller  and  his  companions,  until,  after  the  party  had 
drawn  close  to  the  fire  (a  neighborhood  which  the  dampness 
of  the  night  air  rendered  far  from  disagreeable),  the  pannier 
was  opened,  and  a  tolerable  siipply  of  barley-bread  and  hung 
beef,  besides  a  flask  of  brandy  (no  doubt  smaller  than  that 
which  the  relentless  hand  of  Pacelot  had  emptied  into  the 
*  See  Note  37.  +  See  Note  38. 


THE  PIRATE.  311 

ocean),  gave  assurances  of  a  tolerable  supper.  Then,  indeed, 
the  worthy  factor  grinned,  chuckled,  nibbed  his  hands,  and 
inquired  after  all  friends  at  Burg-h-Westra. 

When  tliey  had  all  partaken  of  this  needful  refreshment, 
the  Udaller  repeated  his  inquiries  of  Halcro,  and  more  par- 
ticularly of  the  factor,  how  they  came  to  be  nestled  in  such 
a  remote  corner  at  such  an  hour  of  night. 

"  Maister  Magnus  Troil,"  said  Triptolemus,  when  a  second 
cup  had  given  him  spirits  to  tell  his  tale  of  woe,  "  I  would 
not  have  you  think  that  it  is  a  little  thing  that  disturbs  me. 
I  came  of  that  grain  that  takes  a  sair  wind  to  shake  it.  I 
have  seen  many  a  ^lai'tinmas  and  many  a  Wliitsunday  in  my 
day,  whilk  are  the  times  peculiarly  grievous  to  those  of  my 
craft,  and  I  could  aye  bide  the  bang;  but  I  tliink  I  am  like 
to  be  dung  ower  a'thegither  in  this  damned  country  of  yours. 
Gude  forgie  me  for  swearing;  but  evil  communication  cor- 
rupteth  good  manners." 

"  Xow,  Heaven  guide  us,"  said  the  Udaller,  "  what  is  the 
matter  with  the  man?  Why,  man,  if  jou  will  put  your 
plow  into  new  land,  you  must  look  to  have  it  hank  on  a 
stone  now  and  then.  You  must  set  us  an  example  of  patience, 
seeing  you  come  here  for  our  improvement." 

"  And  the  deil  was  in  my  feet  when  I  did  so,"  said  the 
factor;  "  I  had  better  have  set  myself  to  improve  the  cairn 
on  Cloch-naben." 

"  But  what  is  it,  after  aJl,"  said  the  Udaller,  "  that  has 
befallen  you?  what  is  it  that  you  complain  of?" 

"  Of  everv-thing  that  has  chanced  to  me  since  I  landed  on 
this  island,  which  I  believe  was  accursed  at  the  very  creation," 
said  the  agriculturist,  "  and  assigned  as  a  fitting  station  for 
sorners,  thieves,  whores — I  beg  the  ladies'  pardon — witches, 
bitches,  and  all  e^^l  spirits!  " 

"By  my  faith,  a  goodly  catalogue!"  said  Magnus;  "and 
there  has  been  the  day  that,  if  I  had  heard  you  give  out  the 
half  of  it,  I  should  have  turned  improver  myself,  and  have 
tried  to  amend  your  manners  with  a  cudgel." 

"  Bear  with  me,"  said  the  factor,  "  Maister  Fowd,  or  Maister 
Udaller,  or  whatever  else  they  may  call  you,  and  as  you  are 
strong  be  pitiful,  and  consider  the  luckless  lot  of  any  inex- 
perienced person  who  lights  upon  this  earthly  paradise  of 
yours.  He  asks  for  drink,  they  bring  him  sour  whey — no 
disparagement  to  your  brandy,  Fowd,  which  is  excellent. 
You  ask  for  meat,  and  they  bring  you  sour  sillocks  that  Satan 
might  choke  upon.     You  call  your  laborers  togetlier,  and 


312  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

bid  them  work;  it  proves  St.  Magnus'  day,  or  St.  Ronan's 
day,  or  some  infernal  saint  or  other's;  or  else,  perhaps,  they 
have  come  out  of  bed  with  the  wrong  foot  foremost,  or  they 
have  seen  an  owl,  or  a  rabbit  has  crossed  their  path,  or  they 
have  dreamed  of  a  roasted  horse — in  short,  nothing  is  to  be 
done.  Give  them  a  spade,  and  they  work  as  if  it  burned  their 
fingers;  but  set  them  to  dancing,  and  see  when  they  will  tire 
of  funking  and  flinging!  " 

"  And  why  should  they,  poor  bodies,"  said  Claud  Halcro, 
*'  as  long  as  there  are  good  fiddlers  to  play  for  them?  " 

"  Aye — aye,"  said  Triptoleraus,  shaking  his  head,  "  you  are 
a  proper  person  to  uphold  them  in  such  a  humor.  Well,  to 
proceed.  I  till  a  piece  of  my  best  ground;  down  comes  a 
sturdy  beggar  that  wants  a  kail-yard,  or  a  plantie  cruive,  as 
you  call  it,  and  he  claps  down  an  inclosure  in  the  middle  of 
my  bit  shot  of  corn,  as  lightly  as  if  he  was  baith  laird  and 
tenant;  and  gainsay  him  wha  likes,  there  he  dibbles  in  his 
kail-plants!  I  sit  down  to  my  sorrowful  dinner,  thinking  to 
have  peace  and  quietness  there  at  least,  when  in  comes  one, 
two,  three,  four,  or  half  a  dozen  of  skelping  long  lads,  from 
some  foolery  or  anither,  misca'  me  for  barring  my  ain  door 
against  them,  and  eat  up  the  best  half  of  what  my  sister's 
providence — and  she  is  not  over  bountiful — has  allotted  for 
my  dinner!  Then  enters  a  witch,  with  an  ell-wand  in  her 
hand,  and  she  raises  the  wind  or  lays  it,  whichever  she  likes, 
majors  up  and  down  my  house  as  if  she  was  mistress  of  it, 
and  I  am  bounden  to  thank  Heaven  if  she  carries  not  the 
broadside  of  it  away  with  her! " 

"  Still,"  said  the  Fowd,  "  this  is  no  answer  to  my  question 
— how  the  foul  fiend  I  come  to  find  you  at  moorings  here?  " 

"  Have  patience,  worthy  sir,"  replied  the  afilicted  factor, 
"  and  listen  to  what  I  have  to  say,  for  I  fancy  it  will  be  as 
well  to  tell  you  the  whole  matter.  You  must  know,  I  once 
thought  that  I  had  gotten  a  small  godsend,  that  might  have 
made  all  these  matters  easier." 

"How!  a  godsend!  Do  you  mean  a  wreck.  Master  Fac- 
tor? "  exclaimed  Magnus;  "  shame  upon  you,  that  should 
have  set  example  to  others!  " 

."  It  was  no  wreck,"  said  the  factor;  "  but,  if  you  must 
needs  know,  it  chanced  that,  as  I  raised  an  hearthstane  in  one 
of  the  old  chambers  at  Stourburgh — for  my  sister  is  minded 
that  there  is  little  use  in  mair  fireplaces  about  a  house  than 
one,  and  I  wanted  the  stane  to  knock  bear  upon — when  what 
should  I  light  on  but  a  horn  full  of  old  coins,  silver  the  maist 


THE  PIRATE.  313 

feck  of  them,  but  wi'  a  bit  sprinkling  of  gold  amang  them 
too.*  Weel,'  I  thought  this  was  a  dainty  windfa',  and  so 
thought  Baby,  and  we  were  the  mair  willing  to  put  up  with 
a  place  where  there  were  siccan  braw  nest-eggs;  and  we  slade 
down  the  stane  cannily  over  the  horn,  which  seemed  to  me 
to  be  the  very  cornucopia,  or  horn  of  abundance;  and  for 
furtJier  security  Baby  wad  visit  the  room  maybe  twenty  times 
in  the  day,  and  mysell  at  an  orra  time,  to  the  boot  of  a'  that." 

"  On  my  word,  and  a  very  pretty  amusement,"  said  Claud 
Halcro,  "  to  look  over  a  horn  of  one's  own  siller.  I  question 
if  glorious  John  Dryden  ever  enjoyed  such  a  pastime  in  his 
life;  I  am  very  sure  I  never  did." 

"  Yes,  but  you  forget,  Jarto  Claud,"  said  the  Udaller, 
"  that  the  factor  was  only  counting  over  the  money  for  my 
lord  the  chamberlain.  As  he  is  so  keen  for  his  lordship's 
rights  in  whales  and  wrecks,  he  would  not  surely  forget  him 
in  treasure-trove." 

"A-hem!  a-hem!  a-he — he — hem!"  ejaculated  Triptole- 
mus,  seized  at  the  moment  with  an  awkward  fit  of  coughing; 
"  no  doubt,  my  lord's  right  in  the  matter  would  have  been 
considered,  being  in  the  hand  of  one,  though  I  say  it,  as  just 
as  can  be  found  in  Angusshire,  let  alone  the  Meams.  But 
mark  what  happened  of  late?  One  day,  as  I  went  up  to  see 
that  all  was  safe  and  snug,  and  just  to  count  out  the  share 
that  should  have  been  his  lordship's — for  surely  the  laborer, 
as  one  may  call  the  finder,  is  worthy  of  his  hire — nay,  some 
learned  men  say  that,  when  the  finder,  in  point  of  trust  and 
in  point  of  power,  representeth  the  '  dominus,'  or  lord 
superior,  he  taketh  the  whole;  but  let  that  pass,  as  a  kittle 
question  '  in  apicibus  juris,'  as  we  wont  to  say  at  St.  Andrews 
— well,  sir  and  ladies,  when  I  went  to  the  upper  chamber, 
what  should  I  see  but  an  ugsome,  ill-shaped,  and  most  un- 
couth dwarf,  that  wanted  but  hoofs  and  horns  to  have  made 
an  utter  devil  of  him,  counting  over  the  very  hornful  of 
siller!  I  am  no  timorous  man,  ]\Iaster  Fowd,  but,  judging 
that  I  should  proceed  with  caution  in  such  a  matter — for 
I  had  reason  to  believe  that  there  was  devilr}^  in  it — T  accosted 
him  in  Latin — whilk  it  is  maist  becoming  to  speak  to  aught 
whilk  taketh  upon  it  as  a  goblin — and  conjured  him  '  in 
nomine,'  and  so  forth,  with  such  words  as  my  poor  learning 
could  furnish  of  a  suddenty.  whilk,  to  say  truth,  were  not  so 
many,  nor  altogether  so  purely  latineezed,  as  might  have 

*  See  Antique  Coins  found  in  Zetland.    Note  89. 


314  WAVE  RLE  Y  NOVELS. 

been  had  I  not  been  few  years  at  college  and  many  at  the 
plengh.  Well,  sirs,  he  started  at  first,  as  one  that  heareth 
that  which  he  expects  not;  but  presently  recovering  himself, 
he  wawls  on  me  with  his  gray  een,  like  a  wild  cat,  and  opens 
his  mouth,  wliilk  resembled  the  mouth  of  an  oven,  for  the 
deil  a  tongue  he  had  in  it,  that  I  could  spy,  and  took  upon 
his  ugly  self  altogether  the  air  and  bearing  of  a  bull-dog, 
whilk  I  have  seen  loosed  at  a  fair  upon  a  mad  staig;  where- 
upon I  was  something  daunted,  and  withdrew  myself  to  call 
upon  sister  Baby,  who  fears  neither  dog  nor  devil  when  there 
is  in  question  the  little  penny  siller.  And  truly  she  raise 
to  the  fray  as  I  hae  seen  the  Lindsays  and  Ogilvies  bristle 
up,  when  Donald  MacDonnoch,  or  the  like,  made  a  start 
down  frae  the  Highlands  on  the  braes  of  Islay.  But  an  auld 
useless  carline,  called  Tronda  Dronsdaughter — they  might 
call  her  Drone  the  sell  of  her,  mthout  farther  addition — 
flung  herself  right  in  my  sister's  gate,  and  yelloched  and 
skirled,  that  you  would  have  thought  her  a  whole  generation 
of  hounds;  whereupon  I  judged  it  best  to  make  ae  yoking 
of  it,  and  stop  the  pleugh  until  I  got  my  sister's  assistan.ce; 
whilk  when  I  had  done,  and  we  mounted  the  stair  to  the 
apartment  in  which  the  said  dwarf,  devil,  or  other  apparition 
was  to  be  seen,  dwarf,  horn,  and  siller  were  as  clean  gane  as 
if  the  cat  had  licket  the  place  where  I  saw"  them." 

Here  Triptolemus  paused  in  his  extraordinary  narration, 
while  the  rest  of  the  party  looked  upon  each  other  in  sur- 
prise, and  the  Udaller  muttered  to  Claud  Halcro:  "By  all 
tokens,  this  must  have  been  either  the  devil  or  Nicholas 
Strumpfer;  and,  if  it  were  him,  he  is  more  of  a  goblin  than 
e'er  I  gave  him  credit  for,  and  shall  be  apt  to  rate  him  as 
such  in  future."  Then  addressing  the  factor,  he  inquired: 
"  Saw  ye  naught  how  this  dwarf  of  yours  parted  company?  " 

"  As  I  shall  answer  it,  no,"  replied  Triptolemus,  with  a 
cautious  look  around  him,  as  if  daunted  by  the  recollection; 
"  neither  I  nor  Baby,  who  had  her  wits  more  about  her,  not 
having  seen  this  unseemly  vision,  could  perceive  any  way  by 
whilk  he  made  evasion.  Only  Tronda  said  she  saw  him  flee 
forth  of  the  window  of  the  west  roundel  of  the  auld  house 
upon  a  dragon,  as  she  averred.  But,  as  the  dragon  is  held  a 
fabulous  animal,  I  suld  pronounce  her  averment  to  rest  upon 
*  deceptio  visus.' " 

"  But,  may  we  not  ask  farther,"  said  Brenda,  stimulated  by 
curiosity  to  know  as  much  of  her  cousin  Noma's  family  as 
was  possible,  "  how  all  this  operated  upon  Master  Yellowley 


THE  PIRATE.  315 

8o  as  to  occasion  his  being  in  this  place  at  so  unseasonable  an 
hour?  " 

"  Seasonable  it  must  be,  Mistress  Brenda,  since  it  brought 
us  into  your  sweet  company,"  answered  Claud  Halcro,  whose 
mercurial  brain  far  outstripped  the  slow  conceptions  of  the 
agriculturist,  and  who  became  impatient  of  being  so  long 
silent.  "  To  say  the  truth,  it  was  I,  :Mistress  Brenda,  who  rec- 
ommended to  our  friend  the  factor,  whose  house  I  chanced 
to  call  at  just  after  this  mischance — and  where,  by  the  way, 
owing  doubtless  to  the  hurry  of  their  spirits,  I  was  but  poorly 
received — to  make  a  visit  to  our  other  friend  at  Fitful  Head, 
well  judging  from  certain  points  of  the  story,  at  which  mv 
other  and  more  particular  friend  than  either  (looking  at  Mag- 
nus) may  chance  to  form  a  guess,  that  they  who  break  a  head 
are  the  best  to  find  a  plaster.  And  as  our  friend  the  factor 
scrupled  traveling  on  horseback,  in  respect  to  some  tumbles 
from  our  ponies " 

"  Which  are  incarnate  devils,"  said  Triptolemus  aloud, 
muttering  under  his  breath,  "  like  every  live  thing  that  I 
have  found  in  Zetland." 

"  Well,  Fowd,"  continued  Halcro,  "  I  undertook  to  carr}' 
him  to  Fitful  Head  in  my  little  boat,  which  Giles  and  I  can 
manage  as  if  it  were  an  admiral's  barge  full  manned;  and 
Master  Triptolemus  Yellowley  will  tell  you  how  seaman-like 
I  piloted  him  to  the  little  haven,  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of 
Noma's  dwelling." 

"  I  wish  to  heaven  you  had  brought  me  as  safe  back  again," 
said  the  factor. 

"  Why,  to  be  sure,"  replied  the  minstrel,  "  I  am,  as  glorious 
John  says: 

"  A  daring  pilot  in  extremity, 
Pleased  with  the  danger  when  the  waves  go  high. 
I  seek  the  fitfirni;  but,  for  a  calm  unfit, 
Will  steer  too  near  the  sands,  to  show  my  wit." 

"  I  showed  little  wit  in  entrusting  myself  to  your  charge," 
said  Triptolemus;  "  and  you  still  less  when  you  upset  the  boat 
at  the  throat  of  the  voe,  as  you  call  it,  when  even  the  poor 
bairn,  that  was  mair  than  half  drowned,  told  you  that  you 
were  carrying  too  much  sail;  and  then  ye  wad  fasten  the  rape 
to  the  bit  stick  on  the  boat-side,  that  ye  might  have  time  to 
play  on  the  fiddle." 

"Wliat!"  said  the  Udaller,  "make  fast  the  sheets  to  the 
thwart?  a  most  unseasonable  practice,  Clnud  Halcro." 

"And  sae  canae  of  it,"  replied  the  agriculturist;  "for  the 


316  WA  VERLEY  NO  VELS. 

neist  blast — and  we  are  never  lang  without  ane  in  these  parts 
— whomled  us  as  a  gudewife  would  whomle  a  bowie,  and  ne'er 
a  thing  wad  Maister  Halero  save  but  his  fiddle.  The  puir 
bairn  swam  out  like  a  water-spaniel,  and  I  swattered  hard  for 
my  life,  wi'  the  help  of  ane  of  the  oars;  and  here  we  are,  com- 
fortless creatures,  that,  till  a  good  wind  blew  you  here,  had 
naething  to  eat  but  a  mouthful  of  Norway  rusk,  that  has  mair 
sawdust  than  rye-meal  in  it,  and  tastes  liker. turpentine  than 
anything  else." 

"  I  thought  we  heard  you  very  merry,"  said  Brenda,  "  as  we 
came  along  the  beach." 

"  Ye  heard  a  fiddle.  Mistress  Brenda,"  said  the  factor;  ''  and 
maybe  ye  may  think  there  can  be  nae  dearth,  miss,  where  that 
is  skirling.  But  then  it  was  Maister  Claud  Halcro's  fiddle, 
whilk,  I  am  apt  to  think,  wad  skirl  at  his  father's  death-Led, 
or  at  his  ain,  sae  lang  as  his  fingers  could  pinch  the  thainn. 
And  it  was  nae  sma'  aggravation  to  my  misfortune  to  have 
him  bumming  a'  sorts  of  springs — Norse  and  Scots,  Highland 
and  Lawland,  English  and  Italian,  in  my  lug,  as  if  nothing 
had  happened  that  was  amiss,  and  we  all  in  such  stress  and 
perplexity." 

"  Why,  I  told  you  sorrow  would  never  right  the  boat,  fac- 
tor," said  the  thoughtless  minstrel,  "  and  I  did  my  best  to 
make  you  merry;  if  I  failed,  it  was  neither  my  fault  nor  my 
fiddle's.  I  have  drawn  the  bow  across  it  before  glorious  John 
Dryden  himself." 

"  I  will  hear  no  stories  about  glorious  John  Drv'den,"  an- 
swered the  Udaller,  who  dreader  Halcro's  narratives  as  much 
as  Triptolemus  did  his  music — "  I  will  hear  naught  of  him, 
but  one  story  to  every  three  bowls  of  punch — it  is  our  old 
paction,  you  know.  But  tell  me,  instead,  what  said  Noma 
to  you  about  your  errand?  " 

"Aye,  there  was  anither  fine  upshot,"  said  Master  Yellow' ey. 
"  She  wadna  look  at  us  or  listen  to  us;  only  she  bothered  our 
acquaintance,  Master  Halero  here,  who  thought  he  could  have 
sae  much  to  say  wi'  her,  with  about  a  score  of  questions  about 
your  family  and  household  estate.  Master  ]\Iagnus  Troil;  and 
when  she  had  gotten  a'  she  wanted  out  of  him,  I  thought  she 
wad  hae  dung  him  ower  the  craig,  like  an  empty  peacod." 

"  And  for  yourself?  "  said  the  Udaller. 

"  She  wadna  listen  to  my  stor\\  nor  hear  sae  much  as  a  word 
that  I  had  to  say,"  answered  Triptolemus;  "  and  sae  much  for 
them  that  seek  to  witches  and  familiar  spirits!  " 

"  You  needed  not  to  have  had  recourse  to  Noma's  wisdom. 


77:?^  PIRATE.  317 

Master  Factor,"  said  Minna,  not  unwillinjz:,  perhaps,  to  stop 
his  railing  against  the  friend  who  had  so  hitely  rendered  her 
service:  "  the  youngest  child  in  Orkney  could  have  told  you 
that  fairy  treasures,  if  they  are  not  wisely  employed  for  the 
good  of  others,  as  well  as  of  those  to  whom  they  are  im- 
parted, do  not  dwell  long  with  their  possessors." 

"  Your  humble  servant  to  command.  Mistress  Minnie,"  said 
Triptolemus;  "  I  thank  ye  for  the  hint,  and  I  am  blithe  that 
you  have  gotten  your  wits — I  beg  pardon,  I  meant  your 
health — into  the  barn-yard  again.  For  the  treasure,  I  neither 
used  nor  abused  it — they  that  live  in  the  house  with  my  sist.  r 
Baby  wad  find  it  hard  to  do  either! — and  as  for  speaking  of  it, 
whifk  they  say  muckle  offends  them  whom  we  in  Scotland  call 
Good  Neighbors,  and  you  call  Drows,  the  face  of  the  auld 
Norse  kings  on  the  coins  themselves  might  have  spoken  as 
much  about  it  as  ever  I  did." 

"  The  factor,"  said  Claud  Halcro,  not  unwilling  to  seize  the 
opportunity  of  revenging  himself  on  Triptolemus  for  disgrac- 
ing his  seamanship  and  disparaging  his  music — "  the  factor 
was  so  scrupulous  as  to  keep  the  thing  quiet  even  from  his 
master,  the  Lord  Chamberlain;  but,  now  that  the  matter  has 
ta'en  \nnd,  he  is  likely  to  have  to  account  to  his  master  for 
that  which  is  no  longer  in  his  possession;  for  the  Lord  Cham- 
berlain will  be  in  no  hurry,  I  think,  to  believe  the  story  of 
the  dwarf.  Neither  do  I  (winking  to  the  Udaller)  that  Noma 
gave  credit  to  a  word  of  so  odd  a  story;  and  I  dare  say  that  was 
the  reason  that  she  received  us,  I  must  needs  say,  in  a  very 
dry  manner.  I  rather  think  she  knew  that  Triptolemus,  our 
friend  here,  had  found  some  other  hiding-hole  for  the  money, 
and  that  the  story  of  the  goblin  was  al)  his  own  invention. 
For  my  part,  I  will  never  believe  there  was  such  a  dwarf  to  be 
seen  as  the  creature  Master  Yellowley  describes  until  I  set  my 
own  eyes  on  him." 

"  Then  you  may  do  so  at  this  moment,"  said  the  factor; 

"  for,  by "  he  muttered  a  deep  asseveration  as  he  sprung 

on  his  feet  in  great  horror,  "  there  the  creature  is!  " 

All  turned  their  eyes  in  the  direction  in  which  he  pointed, 
and  saw  the  hideous,  misshapen  figure  of  Pacolet.  with  his 
eyes  fixed  and  glaring  at  them  through  the  smoke.  He  had 
stolen  upon  their  conversation  unperceived,  until  the  factor  s 
eye  lighted  upon  him  in  the  manner  we  have  described. 
There  was  something  so  ghastly  in  his  sudden  and  unex- 
pected appearance  that  even  the  Udaller.  to  whom  his  form 
was  familiar,  could  not  help  starting.     Neither  pleased  with 


318  WA  VEBLET  NO  VELS. 

himself  for  having  testified  this  degree  of  emotion,  however 
slight,  nor  with  the  dwarf  who  had  given  cause  to  it,  Magnus 
asked  him  sharply  what  was  his  business  there.  Pacolet  re- 
plied by  producing  a  letter,  which  he  gave  to  the  Udaller, 
uttering  a  sound  resembling  the  word  ''  shogh," 

"  That  is  the  liighlandman's  language,"  said  the  Udaller; 
"didst  thou  learn  that,  Nicholas,  when  you  lost  your  own?  " 

Pacolet  nodded,  and  signed  to  him  to  read  his  letter. 

"  That  is  no  such  easy  matter  by  firelight,  my  good  friend," 
replied  the  Udaller;  "  but  it  may  concern  Minna,  and  we  must 
try." 

Brenda  offered  her  assistance,  but  the  Udaller  answered, 
"  No — no,  my  girl;  Noma's  letters  must  be  read  by  those  they 
are  written  to.  Give  the  knave,  Strumpfer,  a  drop  of  brandy 
the  while,  though  he  little  deserves  it  at  my  hands,  consider- 
ing the  grin  with  which  he  sent  the  good  Nantz  down 
the  crag  this  morning,  as  if  it  had  been  as  much  ditch- 
water." 

"  Will  you  be  this  honest  gentleman's  cup-bearer — his 
Ganymede,  friend  Yellowley,  or  shall  I?"  said  Claud  Halcro 
aside  to  the  factor;  while  Magnus  Troil,  having  carefully 
wiped  his  spectacles,  which  he  produced  from  a  large  copper 
case,  had  disposed  them  on  his  nose  and  was  studying  the 
epistle  of  Noma. 

"  I  would  not  touch  him,  or  go  near  him,  for  all  the  Carse 
of  Gowrie,"  said  the  factor,  whose  fears  were  by  no  means 
entirely  removed,  though  he  saw  that  the  dwarf  was  received 
as  a  creature  of  flesh  and  blood  by  the  rest  of  the  company: 
"  but  I  pray  you  to  ask  him  what  he  has  done  with  my  horn 
of  coins?  " 

The  dwarf,  who  heard  the  question,  threw  back  his  head 
and  displayed  liis  enormous  throat,  pointing  to  it  with  his 
finger. 

"  Nay,  if  he  has  swallowed  them,  there  is  no  more  to  be 
said,"  replied  the  factor;  "  only  I  hope  he  will  thrive  on  them 
as  a  cow  on  wet  clover.  He  is  dame  Noma's  servant,  it's  like 
— such  man,  such  mistress!  But  if  theft  and  witchcraft  are 
to  go  unpunished  in  this  land,  mv  lo-rd  must  find  another 
factor;  for  I  have  been  used  to  live  in  a  country  where  men's 
worldly  gear  was  keepit  from  infang  and  outfang  thief,  as 
well  as  their  immortal  souls  from  the  claws  of  the  deil  and  his 
cummers — sain  and  save  us!  " 

The  agriculturist  was  perhaps  the  less  reserved  in  express- 
ing his  complaints  that  the  Udaller  was  for  the  present  out 


THE  PIRATE.  319 

of  hearing,  having  drawn  Claud  Halcro  apart  into  another 
corner  of  the  liut. 

"  And  tell  me,"  said  he,  "  friend  Halcro,  what  errand  took 
thee  to  Suniburgh,  since  I  reckon  it  was  scarce  the  mere  pleas- 
ure of  sailing  in  partnership  with  yonder  barnacle?  " 

"  In  faith,  Fowd,"  said  the  bard,  "  and  if  you  will  have  the 
truth,  I  went  to  speak  to  Noma  on  your  affairs." 

"  On  my  afEairs?  "  replied  the  Udaller;  "  on  what  affairs  of 
mine?  " 

"  Just  touching  your  daughter's  health.  I  heard  that 
Noma  refused  your  message,  and  would  not  see  Eric  Scam- 
bester.  '  Now,'  said  I  to  myself,  '  1  have  scarce  joyed  in 
meat,  or  drink,  or  music,  or  aught  else,  since  Jarto  Minna  has 
been  so  ill;  and  I  may  say,  literally  as  well  as  figuratively,  that 
my  day  and  night  have  been  made  sorrowful  to  me.'  In 
short,  I  thought  I  might  have  some  more  interest  with  old 
Noma  than  another,  as  Scalds  and  wise  women  were  always 
accounted  something  akin;  and  I  undertook  the  journey  vdWx 
the  hope  to  be  of  some  use  to  my  old  friend  and  his  lovely 
daughter." 

"  And  it  was  most  kindly  done  of  you,  good,  warm-hearted 
Claud,"  said  the  Udaller,  shaking  him  warmly  by  the  hand: 
"  I  ever  said  y.ou  showed  the  good  old  Norse  heart  amongst  all 
thy  fiddling  aMd  thy  folly.  Tut,  man,  never  wince  for  the 
matter,  but  be  bHthe  that  thy  heart  is  better  than  thy  head. 
Well — and  I  warrant  3'ou  got  no  answer  from  Noma?  " 

"  None  to  purpose,"  replied  Claud  Halcro;  "  but  she  held 
me  close  to  question  about  Minna's  illness,  too;  and  I  told  her 
how  I  had  met  her  abroad  the  other  morning  in  no  very  good 
weather,  and  how  her  sister  Brenda  said  she  had  hurt  her  foot 
— in  short,  I  told  her  all  and  ever}'thing  I  knew." 

"  And  something  more  besides,  it  would  seem."  said  the 
Udaller;  "  for  I,  at  least,  never  heard  before  that  Minna  had 
hurt  herself." 

"  Oh,  a  scratch! — a  mere  scratch!  "  said  the  old  man;  "  but 
I  was  startled  about  it — terrified  lest  it  had  been  the  bite  of 
a  dog,  or  some  hurt  from  a  venomous  thing.  I  told  all  to 
Noma,  however." 

"  And  w-hat,"  answerer  the  Udaller,  "  did  she  say,  in  the 
way  of  reply?  " 

"  She  bade  me  begone  about  my  business,  and  told  me  that 
the  issue  would  be  known  at  the  Kirkwall  fair;  and  said  just 
the  like  to  this  noodle  of  a  factor;  it  was  all  that  either  of  u« 
got  for  our  labor,"  said  Halcro. 


320  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

"  That  is  strange,"  said  Magnus.  ""  My  kinswoman  writer 
me  in  this  letter  not  to  fail  going  thither  with  my  daughters. 
This  fair  runs  strongly  in  her  head;  one  would  think  she  in- 
tended to  lead  the  market,  and  yet  she  has  nothing  to  buy  or 
to  sell  there  that  I  know  of.  And  so  you  came  away  as  wise 
as  you  went,  and  swamped  your  boat  at  the  mouth  of  the 
voe?" 

"  Why,  how  could  I  help  it?  "  said  the  poet.  "  I  had  set  the 
boy  to  steer,  and  as  the  flaw  came  suddenly  off  shore,  I  could 
not  let  go  the  tack  and  play  on  the  fiddle  at  the  same  time. 
But  it  is  well  enough — salt-water  never  harmed  Zetlander, 
so  as  he  could  get  out  of  it,  and,  as  Heaven  would  have  it,  we 
were  within  man's  depth  of  the  shore,  and  chancing  to  find 
this  skeo,  we  should  have  done  well  enough,  with  shelter  and 
fire,  and  are  much  better  than  well  with  your  good  cheer  and 
good  company.  But  it  wears  late,  and  Night  and  Day  must  be 
both  as  sleepy  as  old  Midnight  can  make  them.  There  is  an 
inner  crib  here,  where  the  fishers  slept — somewhat  fragrant 
with  the  smell  of  their  fish,  but  that  is  wholesome.  They 
shall  bestow  themselves  there,  with  the  help  of  what  cloaks 
you  have,  and  then  we  will  have  one  cup  of  brandy,  and  one 
stave  of  glorious  John,  or  some  little  trifle  of  my  own,  and 
so  sleep  as  sound  as  cobblers." 

"  Two  glasses  of  brandy,  if  you  please,"  said  the  Udaller, 
"  if  our  stores  do  not  run  dry;  tjut  not  a  single  stave  of  glori- 
ous John,  or  anyone  else,  to-night." 

And  this  being  arranged  and  executed  agreeably  to  the  per- 
emptory pleasure  of  the  Udaller,  the  whole  party  consigned 
themselves  to  slumber  for  the  night,  and  on  the  next  day  de- 
parted for  their  several  habitations,  Claud  Halcro  having  pre- 
viously arranged  with  the  Udaller  that  he  would  accompany 
him  and  his  daughters  on  their  proposed  visit  to  Kirkwall. 


CHAPTER   XXXI. 

By  this  hand,  thou  thiiik'st  me  as  far  in  the  devil's  book  as  thou  and  Fal- 
staff,  for  obduracy  and  perbi.steucy.  Let  the  end  try  tlie  man.  .  .  Albeit  I 
could  tell  to  thee  (as  to  one  it  pleases  me,  for  fault  of  a  better,  to  call  my 
frieud),  I  could  be  sad,  and  sad  indeed  too.— Henry  IV.  Part  II. 

"We  must  now  change  the  scene  from  Zetland  to  Orkney, 
and  request  our  readers  to  accompany  us  to  the  ruins  of  an 
elegant,  though  ancient,  structure  called  the  Earl's  Palace. 
These  remains,  though  much  dilapidated,  still  exist  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  massive  and  venerable  pile  which  Nor- 
wegian devotion  dedicated  to  St.  Magnus  the  Martyr,  and, 
being  contiguous  to  the  Bishop's  Palace,  which  is  also  ruin- 
ous, the  place  is  impressive,  as  exhibiting  vestiges  of  the 
mutations  both  in  church  and  state  which  have  affected 
Orkney,  as  well  as  countries  more  exposetl  to  such  convul- 
sions. Several  parts  of  these  ruinous  buildings  might  be 
selected  (under  suitable  modifications)  as  the  model  of  a 
Gothic  mansion,  provided  architects  would  be  contented 
rather  to  imita'te  what  is  really  beautiful  in  that  species  of 
building  than  to  make  a  medley  of  the  caprices  of  the  order, 
confounding  the  military,  ecclesiastical,  and  domestic  styles 
of  all  ages  at  random,  ^^ith  additional  fantasies  and  combi- 
nations of  their  own  device,  "  all  formed  out  of  the  builder's 
brain." 

The  Earl's  Palace  forms  three  sides  of  an  oblong  square, 
and  has,  even  in  its  ruins,  the  air  of  an  elegant  yet  massive 
structure,  uniting,  as  was  usual  in  the  residence  of  feudal 
princes,  the  character  of  a  palace  and  of  a  castle.  A  great 
banqueting  hall,  communicating  with  several  large  rounds,  or 
projecting  turret  rooms,  and  having  at  either  end  an  immense 
chimney,  testifies  the  ancient  Northern  hospitality  of  the 
Earls  of  Orkney,  and  communicates,  almost  in  the  modern 
fashion,  with  a  gallery  or  withdrawing  room  of  corresjiondins: 
dimensions,  and  having,  like  the  hall,  its  projecting  turrets. 
The  lordly  hall  itself  is  lighted  by  a 'fine  Gothic  window  of 
shafted  stone  at  one  end.  and  is  entered  by  a  spacious  and 
elegant  staircase,  consisting  of  three  flights  of  stone  steps. 
The  exterior  ornaments  and  proportions  of  the  ancient  build- 


322  WAVEELET  NOVELS. 

ing  are  also  very  handsome;  but,  being  totally  unprotected, 
this  remnant  of  the  pump  and  grandeur  of  earls,  who  assumed 
the  license  as  well  as  the  dignity  of  petty  sovereigns,  is  now 
fast  crumbling  to  decay,  and  has  suffered  considerably  since 
the  date  of  our  story. 

With  folded  arms  and  downcast  looks,  the  pirate  Cleveland 
was  pacing  slowly  the  ruined  hall  which  we  have  just  described 
— a  place  of  retirement  which  he  had  probably  chosen  because 
it  was  distant  from  public  resort.  His  dress  was  consider- 
ably altered  from  that  which  he  usually  wore  in  Zetland,  and 
seemed  a  sort  of  uniform,  richly  laced,  and  exhibiting  no 
small  quantity  of  embroidery;  a  hat  with  a  plume,  and  a  small 
sword  very  handsomely  mounted,  then  the  constant  com- 
panion of  everyone  who  assumed  the  rank  of  a  gentleman, 
showed  his  pretensions  to  that  character.  But  if  his  ex- 
terior was  so  far  improved,  it  seemed  to  be  otherwise  with  his 
health  and  spirits.  He  was  pale,  and  had  lost  both  the  firo 
of  his  eye  and  the  vivacity  of  his  step,  and  his  whole  appear- 
ance indicated  melancholy  of  mind,  or  suffering  of  body,  or  a 
combination  of  both  evils. 

As  Cleveland  thus  paced  these  ancient  ruins,  a  young  man, 
of  a  light  and  slender  form,  whose  showy  dress  seemed  to  have 
been  studied  with  care,  yet  exhibited  more  extravagance  than 
judgment  or  taste,  whose  manner  was  a  jaunty  affectation  of 
the  free  and  easy  rake  of  the  period,  and  the  expression  of 
whose  countenance  was  lively,  with  a  cast  of  effrontery, 
tripped  up  the  staircase,  entered  the  hall,  and  presented  him- 
self to  Cleveland,  who  merely  nodded  to  him,  and  pulling 
his  hat  deeper  over  Ms  brows,  resumed  his  solitary  and  dis- 
contented promenade. 

The  stranger  adjusted  his  own  hat,  nodded  in  return,  took 
snuff,  with  the  air  of  a  "  petit  maitre,"  from  a  richly  chased 
gold  box,  offered  it  to  Cleveland  as  he  passed,  and  being  re- 
pulsed rather  coldly,  replaced  the  box  in  his  pocket,  folded 
his  arms  in  his  turn,  and  stood  looking  with  fixed  attention 
on  his  motions  whose  solitude  he  had  interrupted.  At  length 
Cleveland  stopped  short,  as  if  impatient  of  being  longer  the 
subject  of  his  observation,  and  said  abruptly,  ''  Why  can  I 
not  be  left  alone  for  half  an  hour,  and  what  the  devil  is  it  yon 
want?  " 

"  I  am  glad  you  spoke  first,"  answered  the  stranger  care- 
lessly; "  I  was  determined  'to  know  whether  you  were  Clement 
Cleveland  or  Cleveland's  ghost,  and  they  say  ghosts  never 
take  the  first  word,  so  I  now  set  it  down  for  yourself  in  life 


THE  PIRATE.  323 

and  limb;  and  here  is  a  fine  old  hurly-house  you  have 
found  out  for  an  owl  to  hide  himsolf  in  at  midday,  or  a  ghost 
to  revisit  the  pale  glimpses  of  the  moon,  as  the  divine  Shaks- 
pere  says." 

''  Well — well/'  answered  Cleveland  abruptly,  "  your  jest  is 
made,  and  now  let  us  have  your  earnest." 

'"  In  earnest,  then,  Captain  Cleveland,"  replied  his  com- 
panion, "  I  think  you  know  me  for  your  friend." 

"  I  am  content  to  suppose  so,"  said  Cleveland. 

"  It  is  more  than  supposition,"  replied  the  young  man:  "  I 
have  proved  it — proved  it  both  here  and  elsewhere." 

"  Well — well,"  answered  Cleveland,  "  I  admit  you  have 
been  always  a  friendly  fellow — and  what  then?" 

"Well,  well — and  what  then!"  rephed  the  other;  "this 
is  but  a  brief  way  of  thanking  folk.  Look  you,  captain, 
here  is  Benson,  Barlowe,  Dick  Fletcher,  and  a  few  others 
of  us  who  wished  you  well,  have  kept  your  old  com- 
rade Captain  Goffe  in  these  seas  upon  the  lookout  for  you, 
when  he  and  Hawkins,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  ship's 
company,  would  fain  have  been  do^vTi  on  the  Spanish  Main, 
and  at  the  old  trade." 

"  And  I  wish  to  God  that  you  had  all  gone  about  your 
business,"  said  Cleveland,  "  and  left  me  to  my  fate." 

"  Which  would  have  been  to  be  informed  against  and 
hanged,  captain,  the  first  time  that  any  of  these  Dutch  or 
English  rascals  whom  you  have  lightened  of  their  cargoes 
came  to  set  their  eyes  upon  you;  and  no  place  more  likely  to 
meet  with  seafaring  men  than  in  these  islands.  And  here, 
to  screen  you  from  such  a  risk,  we  have  been  wasting  our 
precious  time,  till  folk  are  grown  very  peery;  and  when  we 
have  no  more  goods  or  money  to  spend  amongst  them,  the 
fellows  will  be  for  grabbing  the  ship." 

"  Well,  then,  why  do  you  not  sail  off  without  me?  "  said 
Cleveland.  "  There  has  been  fair  partition,  and  all  have  hiil 
their  share;  let  all  do  as  they  like.  I  have  lost  my  ship,  and 
having  been  once  a  captain,  I  will  not  go  to  sea  under  com- 
mand of  Goffe  or  any  other  man.  Besides,  you  know  well 
enough  that  both  Hawkins  and  he  bear  me  ill-will  for 
keeping  them  from  sinking  the  Spanish  brig,  with  the  poor 
devils  of  negroes  on  board." 

"  Why,  what  the  foul  fiend  is  the  matter  with  thee?  "  said 
his  companion.  "  Are  you  Clement  Cleveland,  our  own  old 
true-hearted  Clem  of  the  Cleugh,  and  do  you  talk  of  being 
afraid  of  Hawkins  and  Groffe,  and  a  score  of  such  fellows, 


JJ24  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

when  yon  have  myself,  and  Barlowe,  and  Dick  Fletcher  at 
your  back?  When  was  it  we  deserted  you,  either  in  council 
or  in  fight,  that  you  should  be  afraid  of  our  flinching  now? 
And  as  for  serving  tinder  Goffe,  I  hope  it  is  no  new  thing  for 
gentlemen  of  fortune  who  are  going  on  the  account  to  change 
a  captain  now  and  then?  Let  us  alone  for  that — captain  you 
shall  be;  for  death  rock  me  asleep  if  I  serve  under  that  fel- 
low Goffe,  who  is  as  very  a  bloodhound  as  ever  sucked  bitch! 
No,  no,  I  thank  you — my  captain  must  have  a  little  of  the 
gentleman  about  himj  howsoever.  Besides,  you  know,  it  was 
you  who  first  dipped  ray  hands  in  the  dirty  water  and  turned 
me  from  a  stroller  by  land  to  a  rover  by  sea." 

"Alas,  poor  Bunce! '*  said  Cleveland,  "you  owe  me  little 
thanks  for  that  service." 

"  That  is  as  you  take  it,"  replied  Bunce;  "  for  my  part,  T 
see  no  harm  in  levying  contributions  on  the  public  either  o-e 
way  or  t'other.  But  I  wish  you  would  forget  that  name  of 
Bunce  and  call  me  Altamont,  as  I  have  often  desired  you  t ) 
do.  I  hope  a  gentleman  of  the  roving  trade  has  as  good  a 
right  to  have  an  '  alias '  as  a  stroller,  and  I  never  stepped  on 
the  boards  but  what  I  was  Altamont  at  the  least." 

"  Well,  then,  Jack  Altamont,"  replied  Cleveland,  "  since 
Altamont  is  the  word " 

"  Yes,  but,  captain,  Jack  is  not  the  word,  though  Altamont 
be  so.  Jack  Altamont!  why,  'tis  a  velvet  coat  with  paper 
lace.  Let  it  be  Frederick,  captain:  Frederick  Altamont  is  all 
of  a  piece." 

"  Frederick  be  it,  then,  with  all  my  heart,"  said  Cleveland; 
"  and  pray  tell  me,  which  of  your  names  will  sound  best  at  the 
head  of  the  '  Last  Speech,  Confession,  and  Dying  Words  of 
John  r)unce,  alias  Frederick  Altamont,  who  was  this  morning 
hansred  at  Execution  Dock  for  the  crime  of  Piracy  upon  the 
High  Seas'?" 

"  Faith,  I  cannot  answer  that  question  without  another 
can  of  grog,  captain;  so,  if  you  will  go  down  with  me  to  Bet 
Haldane'svon  the  quay,  I  will  bestow  some  thought  on  the 
matter,  with  the  help  of  a  right  pipe  of  Trinidado.  We  will 
have  the  gallon  bowl  filled  with  the  best  stuff  you  ever  tasted, 
and  I  know  some  smart  wenches  who  will  help  us  to  drain  it. 
But  you  shake  your  head — you're  not  i'  the  vein?  Well, 
then,  I  will  stay  with  you;  for,  by  this  hand.  Clem,  you  shift 
me  not  off.  Only  I  will  ferret  you  out  this  burrow  of  old 
stones,  and  carry  you  into  sunshine  and  fair  air.  Where  shall 
we  go  ?  " 


THE  PIRATE.  325 

"  Where  you  will,"  said  Cleveland,  "  so  that  you  keep  out 
of  the  way  of  our  own  rascals  and  all  others." 

"  Why,  then,"  replied  Bunce,  "  you  and  I  will  go  up  to  the 
Hill  of  Whitford,  which  overlooks  the  town,  and  walk  to- 
gether as  gravely  and  honestly  as  a  pair  of  well-employed 
attorneys." 

As  they  proceeded  to  leave  the  niinous  castle,  Bunce,  turn- 
ing back  to  look  at  it,  thus  addressed  his  companion: 

"  Plark  ye,  captain,  dost  thou  know  who  last  inhabited  this 
old  cockloft?" 

"  An  earl  of  the  Orkneys,  they  say,"  replied  Cleveland. 

"  And  are  you  advised  what  death  he  died  of?  "  said  Bunce; 
"  for  I  have  heard  that  it  was  of  a  tight  neck-collar — a 
hempen  fever,  or  the  like." 

"  The  people  here  do  say,"  replied  Cleveland,  "  that  his 
lordship,  some  hundred  years  ago,  had  the  mishap  to  become 
acquainted  with  the  nature  of  a  loop  and  a  leap  in  the  air." 

"  Why,  la  ye  there  now!  "  said  Bunce;  "  there  was  some 
credit  in  being  hanged  in  those  days,  and  in  such  worshipful 
company.  And  what  might  his  lordship  have  done  to  de- 
serve such  promotion?" 

"  Plundered  the  liege  subjects,  they  say,"  replied  Cleveland; 
"  slain  and  wounded  them,  fired  upon  his  Majesty's  flag,  and 
so  forth." 

"  Near  akin  to  a  gentleman  rover,  then,"  said  Bunce,  mak- 
ing a  theatrical  bow  toward  the  old  building;  "  and,  therefore, 
my  most  potent,  grave,  and  reverend  Signior  Earl,  I  crave 
leave  to  call  you  my  loving  cousin,  and  bid  you  most  heartily 
adieu.  I  leave  you  in  the  good  company  of  rats  and  mice,  and 
so  forth,  and  I  carry  with  me  an  honest  gentleman,  who.  hav- 
ing of  late  had  no  more  heart  than  a  mouse,  is  now  desirous 
to  run  away  from  his  profession  and  friends  like  a  rat,  and 
would  therefore  be  a  most  fitting  denizen  of  your  earlship's 
palace." 

"  I  would  advise  3'ou  not  to  speak  so  loud,  my  good  friend 
Frederick  Altamont,  or  John  Bunce,"  said  Cleveland;  "  when 
you  were  on  the  stage,  you  might  safely  rant  as  loud  as  you 
listed;  but,  in  your  present  profession,  of  which  you  are  so 
fond,  every  man  speaks  under  correction  of  the  yard-arm  and 
a  running  noose." 

The  comrades  left  the  little  town  of  Kirkwall  in  silence, 
and  ascended  the  Hill  of  Whitford,  which  raises  its  brow  of 
dark  heath,  uninterrupted  by  inclosures  or  cultivation  of  any 
kind,  to  the  northward  of  the  ancient  burgh  of  St.  Magnus. 


326  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

The  plain  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  was  already  occupied  by 
numbers  of  persons  who  were  engaged  in  making  preparations 
for  the  fair  of  St,  011a,  to  be  held  upon  the  ensuing  day,  and 
which  forms  a  general  rendezvous  to  all  the  neighboring 
islands  of  Orkney,  and  is  even  frequented  by  many  persons 
from  the  more  distant  archipelago  of  Zetland.  It  is,  in  the 
words  of  the  proclamation,  "  x\  free  mercat  and  fair,  holden 
at  the  good  burgh  of  Kirkwall  on  the  third  of  August,  being 
St.  Olla's  day,"  and  continuing  for  an  indefinite  space  there- 
after, extending  from  three  days  to  a  week  and  upwards. 
The  fair  is  of  great  antiquity,  and  derives  its  name  from 
Olaus,  Olave,  Ollaw,  the  celebrated  monarch  of  Norway,  who, 
rather  by  the  edge  of  his  sword  than  any  milder  argument, 
introduced  Christianity  into  those  isles,  and  was  respected  as 
the  patron  of  Kirkwall  some  time  before  he  shared  that  honor 
with  St.  Magnus  the  Martyr. 

It  was  no  part  of  Cleveland's  purpose  to  mingle  in  the 
busy  scene  which  was  here  going  on;  and,  turning  their  route 
to  the  left,  they  soon  ascended  into  undisturbed  solitude,  save 
where  the  grouse,*  more  plentiful  in  Orkney,  perhaps,  than 
in  any  other  part  of  the  British  dominions,  rose  in  covey,  and 
went  off  before  them.  Having  continued  to  ascend  till  they 
had  well-nigh  reached  the  summit  of  the  conical  hill,  both 
turned  round,  as  with  one  consent,  to  look  at  and  admire  the 
prospect  beneath. 

The  lively  bustle  which  extended  between  the  foot  of  the 
hill  and  the  town  gave  life  and  variety  to  that  part  of  the 
scene;  then  was  seen  the  town  itself,  out  of  which  arose,  like 
a  great  mass,  superior  in  proportion  as  it  seemed  to  the  whole 
burgh,  the  ancient  cathedral  of  St.  Magnus,  of  the  heaviest 
order  of  Gothic  architecture,  but  grand,  solemn,  and  stately, 
the  work  of  a  distant  age  and  of  a  powerful  hand.  The  quay, 
with  the  shipping,  lent  additional  vivacity  to  the  scene;  and 
not  only  the  whole  beautiful  bay,  which  lies  betwixt  the 
promontories  of  Inganess  and  Quanteraess,  at  the  bottom  of 
which  Kirkwall  is  situated,  but  all  the  sea,  so  far  as  visible, 
and  in  particular  the  whole  strait  bet\vixt  the  island  of  Shap- 
insha  and  that  called  Pomona,  or  the  Mainland,  was  covered 
and  enlivened  by  a  variety  of  boats  and  small  vessels, 
freighted  from  distant  islands  to  convey  passengers  or 
merchandise  to  the  fair  of  St.  Olla. 

Having  attained  the  point  by  which  this  fair  and  busy  pros- 
pect was  most  completely  commanded,  each  of  the  strangers, 

*  See  Note  40. 


THE  PIRATE.  327 

in  seaman  fashion,  had  recourse  to  his  spyglass,  to  assist  the 
naked  eye  in  considering  the  Bay  of  Kirkwall  and  the  numer- 
ous vessels  by  which  it  was  traversed.  But  the  attention  of 
the  two  companions  seemed  to  be  arrested  by  different  objects. 
That  of  Bunce,  or  Altamont,  as  he  chose  to  call  himself,  was 
riveted  to  the  amied  sloop,  where,  conspicuous  by  her  square 
rigging  and  length  of  beam,  with  the  English  jack  and  pen- 
non, which  they  had  the  precaution  to  keep  flying,  she  lay 
among  the  merchant  vessels,  as  distinguished  from  them  by 
the  trim  neatness  of  her  appearance  as  a  trained  soldier 
amongst  a  crowd  of  clowns. 

"  Yonder  she  lies,"  said  Bunce;  "  I  wish  to  God  she  was  in 
the  Bay  of  Honduras — you  captain,  on  the  quarter  deck,  I 
your  lieutenant,  and  Fletcher  quartermaster,  and  fifty  stout 
fellows  under  us — I  should  not  wish  to  see  these  blasted 
heaths  and  rocks  again  for  a  while!  And  captain  you  shall 
soon  be.  The  old  brute  Goffe  gets  drunk  as  a  lord  every-  day, 
sw-aggers,  and  shoots,  and  cuts  among  the  crew,  and,  besides, 
he  has  quarreled  with  the  people  here  so  damnably  that  they 
will  scarce  let  water  or  provisions  go  on  board  of  us,  and  we 
expect  an  open  breach  every  day." 

As  Bunce  received  no  answer,  he  turned  short  round  on 
his  companion,  and,  perceiving  his  attention  otherwise  en- 
gaged, exclaimed:  ''What  the  devil  is  the  matter  with  you? 
or  w^hat  can  you  see  in  all  that  trumper}^  of  small  craft,  which 
is  only  loaded  with  stock-fish,  and  ling,  and  smoked  geese, 
and  tubs  of  butter  that  is  worse  than  tallow? — the  cargoes  of 
the  whole  lumped  together  would  not  be  worth  the  flash  of  a 
pistol.  No — no,  give  me  such  a  chase  as  we  might  see  from 
the  mast-head  off  the  island  of  Trinidado.  Your  Don,  roll- 
ing as  deep  in  the  water  as  a  grampus,  deep-loaden  with  rum, 
sugar,  and  bales  of  tobacco,  and  all  the  rest  ingots,  moidores, 
and  gold  dust;  then  set  all  sail,  clear  the  deck,  stand  to 
quarters,  up  with  the  Jolly  Eoger;  *  we  near  her — we  make 
her  out  to  be  well  manned  and  armed " 

"  Twenty  guns  on  her  lower  deck,"  said  Cleveland. 

"  Forty,  if  you  will,"  retorted  Bunce,  "  and  we  have  but  ten 
mounted — never  mind.  The  Don  blazes  away — never  mind 
yet,  my  brave  lads — run  her  alongside,  and  on  board  with 
you — to  work,  with  your  grenadoes,  your  cutlasses,  pole-axes, 
and  pistols.  The  Don  cries  '  Misericordia,'  and  we  share  the 
cargo  without  '  co  licencio.  Seignior  '!  " 

*  The  pirates  gave  this  nnme  to  Uie  black  flag,  which,  with  many  horrible  devices  to 
enhance  its  terrJrs,  was  their  favorite  euBigu. 


328  WAVERLET  NOVELS, 

"  By  my  faitli,"  said  Cleveland,  "  thou  takest  so  kindly  to 
the  trade  that  all  the  world  may  see  that  no  honest  man  was 
spoiled  when  you  were  made  a  pirate.  But  you  shall  not  pre- 
vail on  me  to  go  farther  in  the  devil's  road  with  you;  for  you 
know  yourself  that  what  is  got  over  his  back  is  spent — you 
wot  how.  In  a  week,  or  a  month  at  most,  the  rum  and  the 
sugar  are  out,  the  bales  of  tobacco  have  become  smoke,  the 
moidores,  ingots,  and  gold  dust  have  got  out  of  our  hands  into 
tliose  of  the  quiet,  honest,  conscientious  folks  who  dwell  at 
Port  Eoyal  and  elsewhere,  wink  hard  on  our  trade  as  long  as 
we  have  money,  but  not  a  jot  beyond.  Then  we  have  cold 
looks,  and  it  may  be  a  hint  is  given  to  the  judge  marshal;  for, 
when  our  pockets  are  worth  nothing,  our  konest  friends, 
rather  than  want,  will  make  money  upon  our  heads.  Then 
comes  a  high  gallows  and  a  short  halter,  and  so  dies  the  gen- 
tleman rover.  I  tell  thee,  I  will  leave  this  trade;  and,  when 
I  turn  my  glass  from  one  of  these-  barks  and  boats  to  another, 
there  is  not  the  worst  of  them  which  I  would  not  row  for  life 
rather  than  continue  to  be  what  I  have  been.  These  poor 
men  make  the  sea  a  means  of  honest  livelihood  and  friendly 
communication  between  shore  and  shore,  for  the  mutual  bene- 
fit of  the  inhabitants;  but  we  have  made  it  a  road  to  the  ruin 
of  others  and  to  our  own  destruction  here  and  in  eternity.  I 
am  determined  to  turn  honest  man  and  use  this  life  no 
longer!  " 

"■  And  where  will  your  honesty  take  up  its  abode,  if  it  please 
you?"  said  Bunce.  "You  have  broken  the  laws  of  eveiy 
nation,  and  the  hand  of  the  law  will  detect  and  crush  you 
wherever  you  may  take  refuge.  Cleveland,  I  speak  to  you 
more  seriously  than  I  am  wont  to  do.  I  have  had  my  re- 
flections, too;  and  they  have  been  bad  enough,  though  they 
lasted  but  a  few  minutes,  to  spoil  me  weeks  of  joviality.  But 
here  is  the  matter — what  can  we  do  but  go  on  as  we  have 
done,  unless  we  have  a  direct  purpose  of  adorning  the  yard- 
arm?" 

"  We  may  claim  the  benefit  of  the  proclamation  to  those  of 
our  sort  who  come  in  and  surrender,"  said  Cleveland. 

"Umph!"  answered  his  companion  dryly;  "the  date  of 
that  day  of  grace  has  been  for  some  time  over,  and  they  may 
take  the  penalty  or  grant  the  pardon  at  their  pleasure.  Were 
I  you,  I  would  not  put  my  neck  in  such  a  venture." 

"  Why,  others  have  been  admitted  but  lately  to  favor,  and 
why  should  not  I?"  said  Cleveland. 

"  Aye,"  replied  his  associate,   "  Harry   Gla&by  and  some 


THE  PIRATE.  329 

others  have  been  spared;  but  Glasby  did  what  was  called  good 
service  in  betraying  his  comrades  and  retaking  the  '  Jolly 
Fortune ';  and  that  I  think  you  would  scorn,  even  to  be  re- 
venged of  the  brute  Gofi'e  yonder." 

"  I  would  die  a  thousand  times  sooner,"  said  Cleveland. 

"  I  will  be  sworn  for  it,"  said  Bunce;  "  and  the  others  were 
forecastle  fellows — petty  larceny  rogues,  scarce  worth  the 
hemp  it  would  have  cost  to  hang  them.  But  your  name  has 
stood  too  high  amongst  the  gentlemen  of  fortune  for  you  to 
get  off  so  easily.  You  are  the  prime  buck  of  the  herd,  and 
will  be  marked  accordingly." 

"And  why  so,  I  pray  you?"  said  Cleveland;  "you  know 
well  enough  my  aim.  Jack." 

"  Frederick,  if  you  please,"  said  Bunce. 

"  The  devil  take  your  folly!  Prithee  keep  thy  wit,  and  let 
(is  be  grave  for  a  moment." 

"  For  a  moment — be  it  so,"  said  Bunce;  "  but  I  feel  the 
spirit  of  Altamont  coming  fast  upon  me.  I  have  been  a  grave 
man  for  ten  minutes  already." 

"  Be  so  then  for  a  little  longer,"  said  Cleveland.  "  I  know, 
Jack,  that  you  really  love  me;  and,  since  we  have  come  thus 
far  in  this  talk,  I  will  trust  you  entirely.  Now  tell  me,  why 
should  I  be  refused  the  benefit  of  this  gracious  proclamation? 
I  have  borne  a  rough  outside,  as  thou  knowest;  but,  in  time  of 
need,  I  can  show  the  numbers  of  lives  wdiich  I  have  been  the 
means  of  saving,  the  property  which  I  have  restored  to  those 
who  owned  it,  when,  without  my  intercession,  it  would  have 
be€n  wantonly  destroyed.     In  short,  Bunce,  I  can  show " 

"  That  you  were  as  gentle  a  thief  as  Eobin  Hood  himself," 
said  Bunce;  "  and,  for  that  reason,  I,  Fletcher,  and  the  better 
sort  among  us,  love  you,  as  one  who  saves  the  character  of  us 
gentlemen  rovers  from  utter  reprobation.  Well,  suppose  your 
pardon  made  out,  what  are  you  to  do  next? — what  c'a-s  in 
society  will  receive  you? — with  whom  will  you  associate? 
Old  Drake,  in  Queen  Bess'  time,  could  plunder  Peru  and  Mex- 
ico without  a  line  of  commission  to  show  for  it,  and,  blessed 
be  her  memory!  he  was  knighted  for  it  on  his  return.  And 
there  was  Hal  Morgan,  the  "Welshman,  nearer  our  time,  in  the 
days  of  merry  King  Charles,  brought  all  his  gettings  home, 
had  his  estate  and  his  country  house,  and  who  but  he?  But 
that  is  all  ended  now:  once  a  pirate,  and  an  outcast  forever. 
The  poor  devil  may  go  and  live,  shunned  and  despised  by 
evervone,  in  some  secure  seaport,  with  such  part  of  his  guilty 
earnings  as  the  courtiers  and  clerks  leave  him — for  pardons 


330  WAVEBLET  NOVELS. 

do  not  pass  the  seals  for  nothing — and,  when  he  takes  his 
walk  along  the  pier,  if  a  stranger  asks  who  is  the  down-look- 
ing, swarthy,  melancholy  man  for  whom  all  make  way,  as  if 
he  brought  the  plague  in  his  person,  the  answer  shall  be,  that 
is  such  a  one,  tL  pardoned  pirate!  No  honest  man  will 
speak  to  him,  no  woman  of  repute  will  give  him  her 
hand." 

"  Your  picture  is  too  highly  colored,  Jack,"  said  Cleveland, 
suddenly  interrupting  his  friend:  "  there  are  women — there  is 
one  at  least,  that  would  be  true  to  her  lover,  even  if  he  were 
what  you  have  described." 

Bunco  was  silent  for  a  space,  and  looked  fixedly  at  his 
friend.  "  By  my  soul!  "  he  said,  at  length,  "  I  begin  to  think 
myself  a  conjurer.  Unlikely  as  it  all  was,  I  could  not  help 
suspecting  from  the  beginning  that  there  was  a  girl  in  the 
ease.  Why,  this  is  worse  than  Prince  Volscius  in  love — ha! 
ha!  ha!  " 

"  Laugh  as  you  will,"  said  Cleveland,  "  it  is  true:  there  is 
a  maiden  who  is  contented  to  love  me,  pirate  as  I  am;  and  I 
will  fairly  own  to  you.  Jack,  that  though  I  have  often  at 
times  detested  our  roving  life,  and  myself  for  following  it, 
yet  I  doubt  if  I  could  have  found  resolution  to  make  the  break 
which  I  have  now  resolved  on  but  for  her  sake." 

"  Why,  then,  God-a-mercy!  "  replied  Bunce,  "  there  is  no 
speaking  sense  to  a  madman;  and  love  in  one  of  our  trade, 
captain,  is  little  better  than  lunacy.  The  girl  must  be  a  rare 
creature,  for  a  wise  man  to  risk  hanging  for  her.  But,  hark 
ye,  may  she  not  be  a  little  touched,  as  well  as  yourself?  and 
is  it  not  sympathy  that  has  done  it?  She  cannot  be  one  of 
our  ordinary  cockatrices,  but  a  girl  of  conduct  and  character." 

"  Both  are  as  undoubted  as  that  she  is  the  most  beautiful 
^nd  bewitching  creature  whom  the  eye  ever  opened  upon," 
answered  Cleveland. 

"  And  she  loves  thee,  knowing  thee,  most  noble  captain,  to 
be  a  commander  among  those  gentlemen  of  fortune  whom  the 
vulgar  call  pirates?  " 

"  Even  so — I  am  assured  of  it,"  said  Cleveland. 

"  Why,  then,"  answered  Bunce,  "  she  is  either  mad  in  good 
earnest,  as  I  said  before,  or  she  does  not  know  wh;i  a  pirate 
is." 

"  You  are  right  in  the  last  point,"  replied  Cleveland. 
"  She  has  been  bred  in  such  remote  simplicity,  and  utter  igno- 
rance of  what  is  evil,  that  she  compares  our  occupation  with 
that  of  the  old  Norsemen,  who  swept  sea  and  haven  with 


THE  PIRATE.  831 

their  victorious  galleys,  established  colonies,  conquered  coun- 
tries, and  took  the  name  of  sea-kings." 

"And  a  better  one  it  is  than  that  of  pirate,  and  comes 
much  to  the  same  purpose,  I  dare  say,"  said  Bunce.  "  But 
this  must  be  a  mettled  wench!  Why  did  you  not  bring  her 
aboard?     Methinks  it  was  pity  to  balk  her  fancy." 

"  And  do  not  think,"  said  Cleveland,  "•  that  I  could  so 
utterly  play  the  part  of  a  fallen  spirit  as  to  avail  myself  of  her 
enthusiastic  error,  and  bring  an  angel  of  beauty  and  inno- 
cence acquainted  with  such  a  hell  as  exists  on  board  of  yon- 
der infernal  ship  of  ours?  I  tell  you,  my  friend,  that,  were 
all  my  former  sins  doubled  in  weight  and  in  dye,  such  a  vil- 
lainy would  have  outglared  and  outweighed  them  all." 

"  Why,  then,  Captain  Cleveland,"  said  his  confidant,  "  me- 
thinks it  was  but  a  fool's  part  to  come  hither  at  all.  The 
news  must  one  day  have  gone  abroad  that  the  celebrated  pirate 
Captain  Cleveland,  with  his  good  ship  the  '  Eevenge,'  had 
been  lost  on  the  Mainland  of  Zetland,  and  all  hands  perished: 
so  you  would  have  remained  hid  both  from  friend  -and  enemy, 
and  might  have  married  your  pretty  Zetlander,  and  converted 
your  sash  and  scarf  into  fishing-nets,  and  your  cutlass  into  a 
harpoon,  and  swept  the  seas  for  fish  instead  of  florins." 

"  And  so  I  had  detei'mined,"  said  the  captain;  "  but  a  jag- 
ger,  as  they  call  them  here,  like  a  meddling,  peddling  thief  as 
he  is,  brought  down  intelligence  to  Zetland  of  your  lying  here, 
and  I  was  fain  to  set  off,  to  see  if  you  were  the  consort  of 
whom  I  had  told  them,  long  before  I  thought  of  leaving  the 
roving  trade." 

"  Aye,"  said  Bunce,  "  and  so  far  you  judged  well.  For,  as 
you  had  heard  of  our  being  at  Kirkwall,  so  we  should  have 
soon  learned  that  you  were  at  Zetland;  and  some  of  us  for 
friendship,  some  for  hatred,  and  some  for  fear  of  your  playing 
Harry  Glasby  upon  us,  would  have  come  down  for  the  pur- 
pose of  getting  you  into  our  company  again." 

"  I  suspected  as  much,"  said  the  captain,  "  and  therefore 
was  fain  to  decline  the  courteous  offer  of  a  friend  who  pro- 
posed to  bring  me  here  about  this  time.  Besides,  Jack,  I 
recollected  that,  as  you  say,  my  pardon  will  not  pass  the 
seals  without  money;  my  own  was  waxing  low — no  wonder, 
thou  know  est  I  was  never  a  churl  of  it;  and  so " 

"  And  so  you  came  for  your  share  of  the  cobs?  "  replied 
his  friend.  "  It  was  wisely  done;  and  we  shared  honorably; 
so  far  Goffe  has  acted  up  to  articles,  it  must  be  allowed.  But 
keep  your  purpose  of  leaving  him  close  in  your  breast,  for  I 


332  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

dread  his  pla5dng  you  some  dog's  trick  or  other;  for  he  cer- 
tainly thought  himself  sure  of  your  share,  and  wall  hardly 
forgive  your  coming  alive  to  disappoint  him." 

"  I  fear  him  not,"  said  Cleveland,  "  and  he  knows  that  well. 
I  would  I  were  as  well  clear  of  the  consequences  of  having 
been  his  comrade  as  I  hold  myself  to  be  of  all  those  which  may 
attend  his  ill-will.  Another  unhappy  job  I  may  be  troubled 
with:  I  hurt  a  young  fellow  who  has  been  my  plague  for 
some  time,  in  an  unhappy  brawl  that  chanced  the  morning 
I  left  Zetland." 

"  Is  he  dead?  "  asked  Bunce.  "  It  is  a  more  serious  ques- 
tion here  than  it  would  be  on  the  Grand  Caimains  or  the 
Bahama  Isles,  where  a  brace  or  two  of  fellows  may  be  shot  in 
a  morning,  and  no  more  heard  of,  or  asked  about,  them  than 
if  they  were  so  many  wood-pigeons.  But  here  it  may  be 
otherwise;  so  I  hope  you  have  not  made  your  friend 
immortal." 

"  I  hope  not,"  said  the  captain,  "  though  my  anger  has  been 
fatal  to  those  who  have  given  me  less  provocation.  To  say 
the  truth,  I  was  sorry  for  the  lad  notwithstanding,  and  espe- 
cially as  I  was  forced  to  leave  him  in  mad  keeping." 

"  In  mad  keeping!  "  said  Bunce;  "  why,  what  means  that?  " 
"  You  shall  hear,"  replied  his  friend.  "  In  the  tirst  place, 
you  are  to  know,  this  young  man  came  suddenly  on  me  while 
I  was  trying  to  gain  Minna's  ear  for  a  private  interview^  be- 
fore I  set  sail,  that  I  might  explain  my  purpose  to  her.  Now, 
to  be  broken  in  on  by  the  accursed  rudeness  of  this  young 

fellow  at  such  a  moment " 

"  The  interruption  deserv^ed  death,"  said  Bunce,  "  by  all 
the  laws  of  love  and  honor!  " 

"  A  truce  with  your  ends  of  plays,  Jack,  and  listen  one 
moment.  The  brisk  youth  thought  proper  to  retort,  when  I 
commanded  him  to  be  gone.  I  am  not,  thou  knowest,  very 
patient,  and  enforced  my  commands  with  a  blow,  which  he 
returned  as  roundly.  We  struggled,  till  I  became  desiro-us 
that  w^e  should  part  at  any  rate,  w^hich  I  could  only  effect  by 
a  stroke  of  my  poniard,  wiiich,  according  to  old  use,  I  have, 
thou  knowest,  always  about  me.  I  had  scarce  done  this  wken 
I  repented;  but  there  was  no  time  to  think  of  anything  save 
escape  and  concealment,  for,  if  the  house  rose  on  me,  I  was 
lost:  as  the  fiery  old  man,  who  is  head  of  the  family,  would 
have  done  Justice  on  me  had  I  been  his  brother.  I  took  the 
body  hastily  on  my  shoulders  to  carry  it  dow^n  to  the  sea- 
shore, with  the  purpose  of  throwing;  it  into  a  riva,  as  they  call 


THE  PIRATE.  833 

them,  or  chasm  of  great  depth,  where  it  wuuld  have  hcen  long 
enough  in  being  discovered.  This  done,  1  intended  to  jump 
into  the  boat  which  I  had  l}dng  ready,  and  set  sail  for  Kirk- 
wall. But,  as  I  was  walking  hastily  toward  the  beach  with  my 
burden,  the  poor  young  fellow  groaned,  and  so  apprised  me 
that  the  wound  had  not  been  instantly  fatal.  I  was  by  this 
time  well  concealed  amongst  the  rocks,  and,  far  from  desiring 
to  complete  my  crime,  I  laid  the  young  man  on  the  ground, 
and  was  doing  what  I  could  to  stanch  the  blood,  when  sud- 
denly an  old  woman  stood  before  me.  She  was  a  person 
whom  I  had  frequently  seen  while  in  Zetland,  and  to  whom 
they  ascribe  the  character  of  a  sorceress,  or,  as  the  negroes 
say,  an  Obi  woman.  She  demanded  the  wounded  man  of  me, 
and  I  was  too  much  pressed  for  time  to  hesitate  in  complying 
with  her  request.  More  she  was  about  to  say  to  me,  when  we 
heard  the  voice  of  a  silly  old  man,  belonging  to  the  family, 
sin^ng  at  some  distance.  She  then  pressed  her  finger  on  her 
lip  as  a  sign  of  secrecy,  whistled  ver\^  low,  and  a  shapeless, 
deformed  brute  of  a  dwarf  coming  to  her  assistance,  they  car- 
ried the  wounded  man  into  one  of  the  caverns  with  which  the 
place  abounds,  and  I  got  to  my  boat  and  to  sea  with  all  ex- 
pedition. If  that  old  hag  be,  as  they  say,  connected  with  the 
King  of  the  Air,  she  favored  me  that  morning  with  a  turn  of 
her  calling;  for  not  even  the  West  Indian  tornadoes,  which  we 
have  weathered  together,  made  a  wilder  racket  than  the  squall 
that  drove  me  so  far  out  of  our  course  that,  without  a  pocket- 
compass,  which  I  chanced  to  have  about  me,  I  should  never 
have  recovered  the  Fair  Isle,  for  which  we  run,  and  where  I 
found  a  brig  which  brought  me  to  this  place.  But,  whether 
the  old  woman  meant  me  weal  or  woe,  here  we  came  at  length 
in  safety  from  the  sea,  and  here  I  remain  in  doubts  and  diffi- 
culties of  more  kinds  than  one." 

"  Oh,  the  devil  take  the  Sumburgh  Head,"  said  Bunce,  "  or 
whatever  they  call  the  rock  that  you  knocked  our  clever  little 
'  Revenge '  against!  " 

"  Do  not  say  /  knocked  her  on  the  rock,"  said  Cleveland; 
"  have  I  not  told  you  fifty  times,  if  the  cowards  had  not  taken 
to  their  boats,  though  I  sliowcd  them  the  danger,  and  told 
them  they  would  all  be  swamped,  which  happened  the  instant 
they  cast  off  the  painter,  she  would  have  been  afloat  at  this 
moment?  Had  they  stood  by  me  and  the  ship,  their  lives 
would  have  been  saved;  had  I  gone  with  them,  mine  would 
have  been  lost;  who  can  say  which  is  for  the  best?" 

"  Well/'  replied  his  friend,  "  I  know  your  case  now,  and  can 


334  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

the  better  help  and  advise.  I  will  be  true  to  you,  Clement,  as 
the  blade  to  the  hilt;  but  I  cannot  think  that  you  should  leave 
us.  As  the  old  Scottish  song  says,  '  Wae's  my  heart  that  we 
should  sunder! '  But  come,  you  will  aboard  with  us  to-day, 
at  any  rate?  " 

"  I  have  no  other  place  of  refuge,"  said  Cleveland,  with  a 
sigh. 

He  then  once  more  ran  his  eyes  over  the  bay,  directing  his 
spyglass  upon  several  of  the  vessels  which  traversed  its  sur- 
face, in  hopes,  doubtless,  of  discerning  the  vessel  of  Magnus 
Troil,  and  then  followed  his  companion  down  the  hill  in 
silence. 


CHAPTEE  XXXII. 

X  strive  like  to  the  vessel  in  the  tide-way, 

Which,  lacking  favoring  breeze,  hath  not  the  power 

To  stem  the  powerful  current.     Even  so, 

Resolving  daily  to  forsake  my  vices, 

Habits,  strong  ciicunistance,  renew'd  temptation, 

Sweep  me  to  sea  again.     O  heavenly  breath, 

FiU  thou  my  sails,  and  aid  the  feeble  vessel, 

Which  ne'er  can  reach  the  blessed  port  without  thee! 

— '  Tis  Odds  wfien  Evens  mttt. 

Cleveland,  with  his  friend  Bunce,  descended  the  hill  for 
a  time  in  silence,  until  at  length  the  latter  renewed  their  con- 
versation. 

"  You  have  taken  this  fellow's  wound  more  on  your  con- 
science than  you  need,  captain:  I  have  known  you  do  more, 
and  think  less  on't." 

"  Not  on  such  slight  provocation.  Jack,"  replied  Cleveland. 
"  Besides,  the  lad  saved  my  life;  and,  say  that  1  requited  him 
the  favor,  still  we  should  not  have  met  on  such  evil  terms; 
but  I  trust  that  he  may  receive  aid  from  that  woman,  who 
has  certainly  strange  skill  in  simples." 

"  And  over  simpletons,  captain,"  said  his  friend,  "  in  which 
class  I  must  e'en  put  you  down,  if  you  think  more  on  this 
subject.  That  you  should  be  made  a  fool  of  by  a  young 
woman,  why  it  is  many  an  honest  man's  case;  but  to  puzzle 
your  pate  about  the  mummeries  of  an  old  one  is  far  too  great 
a  folly  to  indulge  a  friend  in.  Talk  to  me  of  your  Minna, 
since  you  so  call  her,  as  much  as  you  will;  but  you  have  no 
title  to  trouble  your  faithful  squire-errant  with  your  old 
mumping  magician.  And  now  here  we  are  once  more 
amongst  the  booths  and  tents  which  these  good  folk  are  pitch- 
ing; let  us  look,  and  see  whether  we  may  not  find  some  fun 
and  frolic  amongst  them.  In  merry  England,  now,  you  would 
have  seen,  on  such  an  occasion,  two  or  three  bands  of  strollers, 
as  many  fire-eaters  and  conjurers,  as  many  shows  of  wild 
beasts;  but,  amongst  these  grave  folk,  there  is  nothing  but 
what  savors  of  business  and  of  commodity — no,  not  so  much 
as  a  single  squall  from  my  merry-  gossip  Punch  and  his  rib 
Joan."  ^ 

As  Bunce  thus  spoke,  Cleveland  cast  his  eyes  on  some  very 
gay  clothes,  which,  with  other  articles,  hung  out  upon  one  of 

385 


336  WA  VERLEY  NO  VELS. 

the  booths,  that  had  a  good  deal  more  of  ornament  and  ex- 
terior decoration  than  the  rest.  There  was  in  front  a  small 
sign  of  canvas  painted,  announcing  the  variety  of  goods 
which  the  owner  of  the  booth,  Bryce  Snailsfoot,  had  on  sale, 
and  the  reasonable  prices  at  which  he  proposed  to  offer  them 
to  the  public.  For  the  further  gratification  of  the  spectator, 
the  sign  oore  on  the  opposite  side  an  emblematic  device  re- 
sembling our  first  parents  in  their  vegetable  garments,  with 
this  legend: 

Poor  sinners  whom  the  snake  deceives 
Are  fain  to  cover  them  vrith  leaves. 
Zetland  hath  no  leaves,  'tis  true, 
Because  that  trees  are  none,  or  few; 
But  we  have  flax  and  taits  of  woo', 
For  linen  cloth  and  wadmaal  blue; 
And  we  have  many  of  foreign  knacks 
Of  finer  waft  than  woo'  or  flax. 
Ye  gallanty  Lambmas  lads,*  appear, 
J  And  bring  your  Lambmas  sisters  here, 

Bryce  Snailsfoot  spares  not  cost  or  care 
To  pleasure  every  gentle  pair. 

While  Cleveland  was  perusing  these  goodly  rhymes,  which 
brought  to  his  mind  Claud  Halcro,  to  whom,  as  the  poet 
laureate  of  the  island,  ready  with  his  talent  alike  in  the  serv- 
ice of  the  great  and  small,  they  probably  owed  their  origin, 
the  worthy  proprietor  of  the  booth,  having  cast  his  eye  upon 
him,  began  with  hasty  and  trembling  hand  to  remove  some  of 
the  garments,  which,  as  the  sale  did  not  commence  till  the 
ensuing  day,  he  had  exposed  either  for  the  purpose  of  airing 
them  or  to  excite  the  admiration  of  the  spectators. 

"  By  my  word,  captain,"  whispered  Bunce  Cleveland,  "  you 
must  have  had  that  fellow  under  your  clutches  one  day,  and 
he  remembers  one  gripe  of  your  talons  and  fears  another. 
See  how  fast  he  is  packing  his  wares  out  of  sight,  so  soon  as 
he  set  eyes  on  you!  " 

"His  wares!"  said  Cleveland,  on  looking  more  attentively 
at  his  proceedings.  "  By  Heaven,  they  are  my  clothes  which 
I  left  in  a  chest  at  Jarlshof  when  the  '  Revenge '  was  lost 
there.  Why,  Bryce  Snailsfoot,  thou  thief,  dog,  and  villain, 
what  means  this?  Have  you  not  made  enough  of  us  by  cheap 
buying  and  dear  selling,  that  you  have  seized  on  my  trunk 
and  wearing  apparel  ?  " 

Bryce  Snailsfoot,  who  probably  would  otherwise  not  have 
been  willing  to  see  his  friend  the  captain,  was  now  by  the 
vivacity  of  his  attack  obliged  to  pay  attention  to  him.     He 

*  See  Note  41. 


THE  PIRATE.  837 

jSrst  whispered  to  his  little  foot-page,  by  whom,  as  we  have 
already  noticed,  he  was  usually  attended,  "  Run  to  the  town- 
council-house,  jarto,  and  tell  the  provost  and  bailies  they 
maun  send  some  of  their  officers  speedily,  for  here  is  like  to  be 
wild  wark  in  the  fair." 

So  having  said,  and  having  seconded  his  commands  by  a 
push  on  the  shoulder  of  his  messenger,  which  sent  him  spin- 
ning out  of  the  shop  as  fast  as  heels  could  caiTy  him,  Br}'ce 
Snailsfoot  turned  to  his  old  acquaintance,  and,  with  ihat 
amplification  of  words  and  exaggeration  of  manner  which  in 
Scotland  is  called  "making  a  phrase,"  he  ejaculated:  "The 
Lord  be  gude  to  us!  the  worthy  Captain  Cleveland,  that  we 
were  all  sae  grieved  about,  returned  to  relieve  our  hearts 
again!  Wat  have  my  cheeks  been  for  you  (here  Bryce  wiped 
his  eyes),  and  blithe  am  I  now  to  see  you  restored  to  your  sor- 
rowing friends!  " 

"My  sorrowing  friends,  you  rascal!"  said  Cleveland;  "I 
will  give  you  better  cause  for  sorrow  than  ever  you  had  on  my 
account,  if  you  do  not  tell  me  instantly  where  you  stole  all 
my  clothes." 

"Stole!"  ejaculated  Brj^ce,  casting  up  his  eyes;  "now  the 
Powers  be  gude  to  us! — the  poor  gentleman  has  lost  his  rea- 
son in  that  weary  gale  of  \nnd." 

"Why,  you  insolent  rascal!"  said  Cleveland,  grasping  the 
cane  which  he  carried,  "  do  you  think  to  bamboozle  me  with 
your  impudence?  As  you  would  have  a  whole  head  on  your 
shoulders,  and  your  bones  in  a  whole  skin,  one  minute 
longer,  tell  me  where  the  devil  you  stole  my  wearing 
apparel  ?  " 

Bryce  Snailsfoot  once  more  ejaculated  a  repetition  of  the 
word  "  Stole!  Now  Heaven  be  gude  to  us!  "  but  at  the  same 
time,  conscious  that  the  captain  was  likek  to  be  sudden  in 
execution,  cast  an  anxious  look  to  the  town,  to  see  the  loiter- 
ing aid  of  the  civil  power  advance  to  his  rescue. 

"  I  insist  on  an  instant  answer,"  said  the  captain,  with  up- 
raised weapon,  "  or  else  I  will  iDcat  you  to  a  mummy,  and 
throw  out  all  your  frippery  upon  the  common!  " 

Meanwhile,  Master  John  Bunce.  who  considered  the  whole 
affair  as  an  excellent  good  jest,  and  not  the  worse  one  that  it 
made  Cleveland  very  angrs',  seized  hold  of  the  captain's  arm. 
and,  without  any  idea  of  ultimately  preventing  him  from  exe- 
cuting his  threats,  interfered  just  so  much  as  was  necessary 
to  protract  a  discussion  so  amusing. 

"  Nay,  let  the  honest  man  speak,"  he  said,  "  messmate;  he 


338  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

has  as  fine  a  cozening  face  as  ever  stood  on  a  knavish  pair  of 
shoulders,  and  his  are  the  true  flourishes  of  eloquence,  in  the 
course  of  which  men  snip  the  cloth  an  inch  too  short.  Now, 
I  wish  you  to  consider  that  you  are  both  of  a  trade:  he  meas- 
ures bales  by  the  yard,  and  you  by  the  sword;  and  so  I  will  not 
have  him  chopped  up  till  he  has  had  a  fair  chase." 

"You  are  a  fool!"  said  Cleveland,  endeavoring  to  shake 
his  friend  off.  "  Let  me  go!  for,  by  Heaven,  I  will  be  foul  of 
him! " 

"  Hold  him  fast,"  said  the  peddler — "  good,  dear,  merry 
gentleman,  hold  him  fast!  " 

"  Then  say  something  for  yourself,"  said  Bunce:  "  use  your 
gob-box,  man;  patter  away,  or,  by  my  soul,  I  will  let  him 
loose  on  you!  " 

"  He  says  I  stole  these  goods,"  said  Bryce,  who  now  saw 
himself  run  so  close  that  pleading  to  the  charge  became  in- 
evitable. "  Now,  how  could  I  steal  them  when  they  are  mine 
by  fair  and  lawful  purchase?  " 

"  Purchase!  you  beggarly  vagrant!  "  said  Cleveland;  "  from 
whom  did  you  dare  to  buy  my  clothes?  or  who  had  the  im- 
pudence to  sell  them?" 

"  Just  that  worthy  professor  Mrs.  Swertha,  the  housekeeper 
at  Jarlshof,  who  acted  as  your  executor,"  said  the  peddler; 
"  and  a  grieved  heart  she  had." 

"  And  so  she  was  resolved  to  make  a  heavy  pocket  of  it,  I 
suppose,"  said  the  captain;  "  but  how  did  she  dare  to  sell  the 
things  left  in  her  charge  ?  " 

"  Why,  she  acted  all  for  the  best,  good  woman!  "  said 
the  peddler,  anxious  to  protract  the  discussion  until  the 
arrival  of  succors;  "  and,  if  you  will  but  hear  reason,  I 
am  ready  to  account  with  you  for  the  chest  and  all  that  it 
holds." 

"  Speak  out,  then,  and  let  us  have  none  of  thy  damnable 
evasions,"  said  Captain  Cleveland;  "  if  you  show  ever  so  little 
purpose  of  being  somewhat  honest  for  once  in  thy  life,  I  will 
not  beat  thee." 

"  Why,  you  see,  noble  captain,"  said  the  peddler,  and  then 
muttered  to  himself,  "  Plague  on  Pate  Paterson's  crippled 
knee,  they  will  be  waiting  for  him,  hirpling,  useless  body!  " 
— ^then  resumed  aloud — "  the  country,  you  see,  is  in  great  per- 
plexity— great  perplexity,  indeed — much  perplexity,  truly. 
There  was  your  honor  missing,  that  was  loved  by  great  and 
small — clean  missing — nowhere  to  be  heai'd  of — a  lost  man — 
umquhile — dead — defunct!  " 


THE  PIE  ATE.  339 

"  You  shall  find  me  alive  to  your  cost,  you  scoundrel!  "  said 
the  irritated  captain. 

"  Weel,  but  take  patience,  ye  will  not  hear  a  body  speak," 
said  the  jagger.  "  Then  there  was  the  lad  Mordaunt  Mer- 
toun ''' 

"  Ha!  "  said  the  captain,  "  what  of  him?  " 

"  Cannot  be  heard  of,"  said  the  peddler;  "  clean,  and  clear 
tint — a  gone  youth — fallen,  it  is  thought,  from  the  craig  into 
the  sea:  he  was  aye  venturous.  I  have  had  dealings  with  him 
for  furs  and  feathers,  whilk  he  swapped  against  powder  and 
shot,  and  the  like;  and  now  he  has  worn  out  from  among  us 
— clean  retired — utterly  vanished,  like  the  last  puff  of  an  auld 
wife's  tobacco  pipe." 

"  But  what  is  all  this  to  the  captain's  clothes,  my  dear 
friend?"  said  Bunco.  "I  must  presently  beat  you  myself 
unless  you  come  to  the  point." 

"  Weel,  weel — patience,  patience,"  said  Bryce,  waving  his 
hand;  "  you  will  get  all  time  enough.  Weel,  there  are  two 
folks  gane,  as  I  said,  forbye  the  distress  at  Burgh- Westra 
about  Mistress  Minna's  sad  ailment " 

"  Bring  not  her  into  your  buffoonery,  sirrah,"  said  Cleve- 
land, in  a  tone  of  anger,  not  so  loud,  but  far  deeper  and  more 
concentrated  than  he  had  hitherto  used;  "  for,  if  you  name 
her  with  less  than  reverence,  I  will  crop  the  ears  out  of  your 
head  and  make  you  swallow  them  on  the  spot!  " 

"  He,  he,  he!  "  faintly  laughed  the  jagger;  ''  that  were  a 
pleasant  jest!  you  are  pleased  to  be  witty.  But,  to  say  nae- 
thing  of  Burgh- Westra,  there  is  the  carle  at  Jarlshof,  he  that 
was  the  auld  Mertoun,  j\Iordaunt's  father,  whom  men  thought 
as  fast  bound  to  the  place  he  dwelt  in  as  the  Sumburgh  Head 
itsell,  naething  maun  serve  him  but  he  is  lost  as  weel  as  the 
lave  about  whom  I  have  spoken.  And  there's  Magnus  Troil 
— wi'  favor  be  he  named — taking  horse;  and  there  is  pleas- 
ant Maister  Claud  Halcro  taking  boat,  whilk  he  steers  worst 
of  any  man  in  Zetland,  his  head  running  on  rambling  rhymes; 
and  the  factor  body  is  on  the  stir — the  Scots  factor,  him  that 
is  aye  speaking  of  dikes  and  dehdng,  and  such  unprofitable 
wark,  which  has  naething  of  merchandise  in  it,  and  he  is  on 
the  lang  trot,  too;  so  that  ye  might  say,  upon  a  manner,  the 
tae  half  of  the  Mainland  of  Zetland  is  lost,  and  the  other  is 
running  to  and  fro  seeking  it — awfu'  times!  " 

Captain  Cleveland  had  subdued  his  passion  and  listened  to 
this  tirade  of  the  worthy  man  of  merchandise,  with  impa- 
tience indeed,  yet  not  without  the  hope  of  hearing  some- 


340  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS. 

thing  that  might  concern  him.  But  his  companion  was  now 
become  impatient  in  his  turn.  "  The  clothes!  "  he  exclaimed 
— "  the  clothes — the  clothes — the  clothes!  "  accompanying 
each  repetition  of  the  words  with  a  flourish  of  his  cane,  the 
dexterity  of  which  consisted  in  coming  mighty  near  the  jag- 
gers  ears  without  actually  touching  them. 

The  Jagger,  shrinking  from  each  of  these  demonstrations; 
continued  to  exclaim,  "  Nay,  sir — good  sir — worthy  sir — for 
the  clothes — I  found  the  worthy  dame  in  great  distress  on  ac- 
count of  her  old  maister,  and  on  account  of  her  young  maister, 
and  on  account  of  worthy  Captain  Cleveland,  and  because 
of  the  distress  of  the  worthy  fowd's  family,  and  the  trouble  of 
the  great  fowd  himself,  and  because  of  the  factor,  and  in  re- 
spect of  Claud  Halcro,  and  on  other  accounts  and  respects. 
Also  we  mingled  our  sorrows  and  our  tears  with  a  bottle,  as 
the  holy  text  hath  it,  and  called  in  the  Eanzelman  to  our 
council,  a  w^orthy  man,  Neil  Ronaldson  by  name,  who  hath  a 
good  reputation.'" 

Here  another  flourish  of  the  cane  came  so  very  near  that 
it  partly  touched  his  ear.  The  jagger  started  back,  and  the 
tnith,  or  that  which  he  desired  should  be  considered  as  such, 
bolted  from  him  without  more  circumlocution;  as  a  cork,  after 
much  unnecessary  buzzing  and  fizzing,  springs  forth  from  a 
bottle  of  spruce  beer. 

"  In  brief,  what  the  deil  mair  would  you  have  of  it?  The 
woman  sold  me  the  kist  of  clothes:  they  are  mine  by  purchase, 
and  that  is  what  I  will  live  and  die  upon." 

"  In  other  words,"  said  Cleveland,  "  this  greedy  old  hag  had 
the  impudence  to  sell  what  was  none  of  hers;  and  you,  honest 
Bryce  Snailsfoot,  had  the  assurance  to  be  the  purchaser?" 

"  Ou  dear,  captain,"  said  the  conscientious  peddler.  "  what 
wad  ye  hae  had  twa  poor  folk  to  do?  There  was  yoursell  gane 
that  aught  the  things,  and  Maister  Mordaunt  was  gane  that 
had  them  in  keeping,  and  the  things  were  but  damply  jiut  up, 
where  they  were  rotting  with  moth  and  mold,  and " 

"  And  so  this  old  thief  sold  them,  and  you  bought  tbem,  I 
suppose,  just  to  keep  them  from  spoiling?"  said  Cleveland. 

"  Weel  then,"  said  the  merchant,  "  I'm  thinking,  noble  cap- 
tain, that  wad  be  just  the  gate  of  it." 

"  Well  then,  hark  ye,  you  impudent  scoundrel,"  said  the 
captain,  "  I  do  not  wish  to  dirty  my  fingers  with  you,  or  to 
make  any  disturbance  in  this  place " 

"Good  reason  for  that,  captain — aha!"  said  the  jagger 

slyly. 


THE  PIRATE.  341 

"  I  vdW  break  your  bones  if  you  speak  another  word,"  re- 
plied Cleveland.  "  Take  notice — I  offer  you  fair  terms:  give 
me  back  the  black  leathern  pocket-book  with  the  lock  upon 
it,  and  the  purse  with  the  doubloons,  with  some  few  of  the 
clothes  I  wajit,  and  keep  the  rest  in  the  devil's  name! " 

"  Doubloons!  !  !  "  exclaimed  the  jagger,  with  an  exaltation 
of  voice  intended  to  indicate  the  utmost  extremity  of  surprise. 
"  What  do  I  ken  of  doubloons?  my  dealing  was  for  doublets, 
and  not  for  doubloons.  If  there  were  doubloons  in  the  kist, 
doubtless  Swertha  ^dll  have  them  in  safe  keeping  for  your 
honor;  the  damp  wouldna  harm  the  gold,  ye  ken." 

"  Give  me  back  my  pocket-book  and  my  goods,  you  rascally 
thief,"  said  Cleveland,  "  or  without  a  word  more  I  will  beat 
your  brains  out!  " 

The  wily  jagger,  casting  eye  around  him,  saw  that  succor 
was  near,  in  the  shape  of  a  party  of  officers,  six  in  number; 
for  several  rencounters  with  the  crew  of  the  pirate  had  taught 
the  magistrates  of  Kirkwall  to  strengthen  their  police  parties 
when  these  strangers  were  in  question. 

"  Ye  had  better  keep  the  thief  to  suit  yoursell,  honored 
captain,"  said  the  jagger,  emboldened  by  the  approach  of  the 
civil  power;  "  for  wha  kens  how  a'  these  fine  goods  and  bonny 
dies  were  come  by?  " 

This  was  uttered  with  such  provoking  slyness  of  look  and 
tone,  that  Cleveland  made  no  further  delay,  but,  seizing  upon 
the  jagger  by  the  collar,  dragged  him  over  his  temporary 
counter,  which  was,  with  all  the  goods  displayed  thereon, 
overset  in  the  scuffle;  and,  holding  him  with  one  hand,  in- 
flicted on  him  with  the  other  a  severe  beating  with  his  cane. 
All  this  was  done  so  suddenly  and  with  such  energy  that 
Bryce  Snailsfoot,  though  rather  a  stout  man,  was  totally  sur- 
prised by  the  vivacity  of  the  attack,  and  made  scarce  any 
other  effort  at  extricating  himself  than  by  roaring  for  assist- 
ance like  a  bull-calf.  The  "  loitering  aid  "  having  at  lengtli 
come  up,  the  officers  made  an  effort  to  seize  on  Cleveland, 
and  by  their  united  exertions  succeeded  in  compelling  him  to 
quit  hold  of  the  peddler  in  order  to  defend  liimself  from  their 
assault.  This  he  did  with  infinite  strength,  resolution,  and 
dexterity,  being  at  the  same  time  well  seconded  by  his  friend 
Jack  Bunce,  who  had  seen  with  glee  the  drubbing  sustained 
by  the  peddler,  and  now  combated  tightly  to  save  his  com- 
panion from  the  consequences.  But,  as  there  had  been  for 
some  time  a  gro^^nng  feud  between  the  townspeople  and  the 
crew  of  the  rover,  the  former,  provoked  by  the  insolent  de- 


3*2  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

portment  of  the  seamen,  had  resolved  to  stand  by  each  other, 
and  to  aid  the  civil  power  upon  such  occasions  of  riot  as 
should  occur  in  future;  and  so  many  assistants  came  up  to  the 
rescue  of  the  constables,  that  Cleveland,  after  fighting  most 
manfully,  was  at  length  brought  to  the  ground  and  made 
prisoner.  His  more  fortunate  companion  had  escaped  by 
speed  of  foot,  as  soon  as  he  saw  that  the  day  must  needs  be 
determined  against  them. 

The  proud  heart  of  Cleveland,  which,  even  in  its  per- 
version, had  in  its  feelings  something  of  original  nobleness, 
was  like  to  burst  when  he  felt  himself  borne  down  in  this  un- 
worthy brawl,  dragged  into  the  to\vTi  as  a  prisoner,  and  hur- 
ried through  the  streets  toward  the  council-house,  where  the 
magistrates  of  the  burgh  were  then  seated  in  council.  The 
probability  of  imprisonment,  with  all  its  consequences,  rushed 
also  upon  his  mind,  and  he  cursed  an  hundred  times  the  folly 
which  had  not  rather  submitted  to  the  peddler's  knavery  than 
involved  him  in  so  perilous  an  embarrassment. 

But,  just  as  they  approached  the  door  of  the  council-house, 
which  is  situated  in  the  middle  of  the  little  town,  the  face  of 
matters  was  suddenly  changed  by  a  new  and  unexpected 
incident. 

Bunce,  who  had  designed,  by  his  precipitate  retreat,  to 
serve  as  well  his  friend  as  himself,  had  hied  him  to  the  haven, 
where  the  boat  of  the  rover  was  then  lying,  and  called  the 
coxswain  and  boat's  crew  to  the  assistance  of  Cleveland. 
They  now  appeared  on  the  scene^ — fierce  desperadoes,  as  be- 
came their  calling,  with  features  bronzed  by  the  tropical  sun 
under  which  they  had  pursued  it.  They  rushed  at  once 
amongst  the  crowd,  laying  about  them  with  their  stretchers; 
and,  forcing  their  way  up  to  Cleveland,  speedily  delivered 
him  from  the  hands  of  the  officers,  who  were  totally  unpre- 
pared to  resist  an  attack  so  furious  and  so  sudden,  and  carried 
him  off  in  triumph  toward  the  quay — two  or  three  of  their 
number  facing  about  from  time  to  time  to  keep  back  the 
crowd,  whose  efforts  to  recover  the  prisoner  were  the  less  vio- 
lent that  most  of  the  seamen  were  armed  with  pistols  and  cut- 
lasses, as  well  as  with  the  less  lethal  weapons  which  alone  they 
had  as  yet  made  use  of. 

They  gained  their  boat  in  safety,  and  jumped  into  it.  carry- 
ing along  with  them  Cleveland,  to  whom  circumstances 
seemed  to  offer  no  other  refuge,  and  pushed  off  for  their  ves- 
sel, singing  in  chorus  to  their  oars  an  old  ditty,  of  which  the 
natives  of  Kirkwall  <^uld  only  hear  the  first  stanza: 


THE  PIRATE.  848 

"  Robin  Rover 

Said  to  his  crew, 
'  Up  with  the  black  flag, 

Dowu  with  the  blue! 
Fire  on  the  main-top, 

Fire  on  the  bow, 
Fire  on  the  gun-deck, 

Fire  down  below! '  " 

The  wild  chorus  of  their  voices  was  heard  long  after  the 
words  ceased  to  be  intelligible.  And  thus  was  the  pirate 
Cleveland  again  thrown  almost  involuntarily  amongst  those 
desperate  associates  from  whom  he  had  so  often  resolved  to 
detach  himself. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

Parental  love,  my  friend,  has  power  o'er  wisdom, 
And  is  the  charm  which,  like  the  falconer's  lure, 
Can  bring  from  heaven  the  highest  soaring  spirits. 
So,  when  famed  Prosper  dotf'd  his  magic  robe, 
It  was  Miranda  pluck'd  it  from  his  shoulders. 

—Old  Play. 

Our  wandering  narrative  must  now  return  to  Mordaunt 
Mertoun.  We  left  him  in  the  perilous  condition  of  one  who 
has  received  a  severe  wound,  and  we  now  find  him  in  the  con- 
dition of  a  convalescent — pale,  indeed,  and  feeble  from  the 
loss  of  much  blood  and  the  effects  of  a  fever  which  had  fol- 
lowed the  injury,  but  so  far  fortunate,  that  the  weapon,  hav- 
ing glanced  on  the  ribs,  had  only  occasioned  a  great  effusion 
of  blood,  without  touching  any  vital  part,  and  was  now  well- 
nigh  healed;  so  efficacious  were  the  vulnerary  plants  and 
salves  with  which  it  had  been  treated  by  the  sage  Noma  of 
Fitful  Head. 

The  matron  and  her  patient  now  sat  together  in  a  dwelling 
in  a  remote  island.  He  had  been  transported,  during  his 
illness,  and  ere  he  had  perfect  consciousness,  first  to  her  sin- 
gular habitation  near  Fitful  Head  and  thence  to  her  present 
abode,  by  one  of  the  fisliing-boats  on  the  station  of  Burgh- 
Westra.  For  such  M^as  the  command  possessed  by  Noma  over 
the  superstitious  character  of  her  countrymen,  that  she  never 
failed  to  find  faithful  agents  to  execute  her  commands,  what- 
ever these  happened  to  be;  and,  as  her  orders  were  generally 
given  under  injunctions  of  the  strictest  secrecy,  men  recip- 
rocally wondered  at  occurrences  which  had  in  fact  bt'cn  pro- 
duced by  their  own  agency  and  that  of  their  neighbors,  and  in 
which,  had  they  communicated  freely  with  each  other,  no 
shadow  of  the  marvelous  would  have  remained. 

Mordaunt  was  now  seated  by  the  fire,  in  an  apartment  in- 
differently well  furnished,  having  a  book  in  his  hand,  which 
he  looked  upon  from  time  to  time  with  signs  of  "  ennui  "  and 
impatience — feelings  which  at  length  so  far  overcame  him 
that,  flinging  the  volume  on  the  table,  he  fixed  his  eyes  on  th(^ 
fire,  and  assumed  the  attitude  of  one  who  is  engaged  in  un- 
pleasant meditation. 

Noma,  who  sat  opposite  to  him,  and  appeared  busy  in  the 


THE  PIRATE.  845 

composition  of  some  drug  or  unguent,  anxiously  left  her  seat, 
and,  approaching  Mordaunt,  felt  his  pulse,  making  at  the 
same  time  the  most  affectionate  inquiries  whether  he  felt  any 
sudden  pain,  and  where  it  was  seated.  The  manner  in  which 
Mordaunt  replied  to  these  earnest  inquiries,  although  worded 
so  as  to  express  gratitude  for  her  kindness,  while  he  dis- 
claimed any  feeling  of  indisposition,  did  not  seem  to  give 
satisfaction  to  the  pythoness. 

"Ungrateful  boy!"  she  said,  "for  whom  I  have  done  so 
much;  you  whom  1  have  rescued,  by  my  power  and  skill,  from 
the  very  gates  of  death — are  you  already  so  weary  of  me,  that 
you  cannot  refrain  from  shoeing  how  desirous  you  are  to 
spend  at  a  distance  from  me  the  ver}'  first  intelligent  days  of 
the  life  which  I  have  restored  to  you?" 

"  You  do  me  injustice,  my  kind  preserver,"  replied  Mor- 
daunt: "  I  am  not  tired  of  your  society;  but  I  have  duties 
which  recall  me  to  ordinary  life." 

"  Duties!  "  repeated  Xorna;  "  and  what  duties  can  or  ought 
to  interfere  with  the  gratitude  which  you  owe  to  me?  Duties! 
Your  thoughts  are  on  the  use  of  your  gun,  or  on  clambering 
among  the  rocks  in  quest  of  sea-fowl.  For  these  exercises 
your  strength  doth  not  yet  fit  you;  and  yet  these  are  the  duties 
to  which  you  are  so  anxious  to  return!  " 

"  Not  so,  my  good  and  kind  mistress,"  said  Mordaunt. 
"  To  name  one  duty,  out  of  many,  which  makes  me  seek  to 
leave  you,  now  that  my  strength  permits,  let  me  mention  that 
of  a  pon  to  his  father." 

"  To  your  father!  "  said  Noma,  with  a  laugh  that  had  some- 
thing in  it  almost  frantic.  "  Oh!  you  know  not  how  we  can, 
in  these  islands,  at  once  cancel  such  duties!  And,  for  your 
father,"  she  added,  proceeding  more  calmly,  "  what  has  he 
done  for  you,  to  deserve  the  regard  and  duty  3"ou  speak  of? 
Is  he  not  the  same  who,  as  you  have  long  since  told  me,  left 
you  for  so  many  years  poorly  nourished  among  strangers, 
without  inquiring  whether  you  were  alive  or  dead,  and  only 
sending,  from  time  to  time,"^  supplies  in  such  fashion  as  men 
relieve  the  leprous  wretch  to  whom  they  fling  alms  from  a  dis- 
tance? And,  in  these  later  years,  when  he  had  made  you  the 
companion  of  his  misery,  he  has  been  by  starts  yoiu-  peda- 
gogue, by  starts  your  tormentor,  but  never,  Mordaunt — never 
your  father." 

"Something  of  truth  there  is  in  what  you  say,"  replipf! 
Mordaunt.  "My  father  is  not  fond;  but  be  is,  and  has  ever 
been,  effectively  kind.     Men  have  not  their  affections  in  tlieir 


846  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

power;  and  it  is  a  child's  duty  to  be  grateful  for  the  bene- 
fits which  he  receives,  even  when  coldly  bestowed.  My 
father  has  conferred  instruction  on  me,  and  I  am  convinced 
he  loves  me.  He  is  unfortunate;  and,  even  if  he  loved  me 
not " 

"  And  he  does  not  love  you,"  said  Noma  hastily;  "  he  never 
loved  anything,  or  anyone,  save  himself.  He  is  unfortunate, 
but  well  are  his  misfortunes  deserved.  Oh,  Mordauiit,  you 
have  one  parent  only — one  parent,  who  loves  you  as  the  drops 
of  the  heart-blood!  " 

"I  know  I  have  but  one  parent,"  replied  Mordaunt:  "my 
mother  has  been  long  dead.  But  your  words  contradict  each 
other." 

"  They  do  not — they  do  not,"  said  Noma,  in  a  paroxysm  of 
the  deepest  feeling;  "  you  have  but  one  parent.  Your  un- 
happy mother  is  not  dead — I  would  to  God  that  she  were! — 
but  she  is  not  dead.  Thy  mother  is  the  only  parent  that  loves 
thee;  and  I — I,  Mordaunt,"  throwing  herself  on  his  neck, 
"  am  that  most  unhappy,  yet  most  happy,  mother." 

She  closed  him  in  a  strict  and  convulsive  embrace;  and 
tears,  the  first,  perhaps,  which  she  had  shed  for  many  years, 
burst  in  torrents  as  she  sobbed  on  his  neck.  Astonished  at 
what  he  heard,  felt,  and  saw,  moved  by  the  excess  of  her 
agitation,  yet  disposed  to  ascribe  this  burst  of  passion  to  in- 
sanity, Mordaunt  vainly  endeavored  to  tranquillize  the  mind 
of  this  extraordinary  person. 

"Ungrateful  boy!"  she  said,  "who  but  a  mother  would 
have  watched  over  thee  as  I  have  watched?  From  the  in- 
stant I  saw  thy  father,  when  he  little  thought  by  whom  he 
was  observed,  a  space  now  many  years  back,  I  knew  him  well; 
and,  under  his  charge,  I  saw  you,  then  a  stripling;  while 
nature,  speaking  loud  in  my  bosom,  assured  me  thou  wert 
blood  of  my  blood  and  bone  of  my  bone.  Think  how  often 
you  have  wondered  to  see  me,  when  least  expected,  in  your 
places  of  pastime  and  resort!  Think  how  often  my  eye  has 
watched  you  on  the  giddy  precipices,  and  muttered  those 
charms  which  subdue  the  evil  demons,  who  show  themselves 
to  the  climber  on  the  giddiest  point  of  his  path,  and  force  him 
to  quit  his  hold!  Did  I  not  hang  around  thy  neck,  in  pledge 
of  thy  safety,  that  chain  of  gold,  which  an  elfin  king  gave  to 
the  founder  of  our  race?  Would  I  have  given  that  dear  gift 
to  any  but  to  the  son  of  my  bosom?  Mordaunt.  my  power 
has  done  that  for  thee  that  a  mere  mortal  mother  would  dread 
to  think  of.     I  have  conjured  the  mermaid  at  midniglit,  that 


THE  PIRATE.  347 

thy  bark  might  be  prosperous  on  the  haaf!  I  have  hushed 
the  winds,  and  navies  have  flapped  their  empty  sails  against 
the  mast  in  inactivity,  that  you  might  safely  indulge  your 
sport  upon  the  crags!  " 

Mordaunt,  perceiving  that  she  was  growing  yet  wilder  in 
her  talk,  endeavored  to  frame  an  answer  which  should  be  at 
once  indulgent,  soothing,  and  calculated  to  allay  the  rising 
warmth  of  her  imagination. 

"  Dear  Noma,"  he  said,  "  I  have  indeed  many  reasons  to 
call  you  mother,  who  have  bestowed  so  many  benelits  upon 
me;  and  from  me  you  shall  ever  receive  the  affection  and  duty 
of  a  child.  But  the  chain  you  mentioned — it  has  vanished 
from  my  neck:  I  have  not  seen  it  since  the  rulHan  stabbed 
me." 

"  Alas!  and  can  you  think  of  it  at  this  moment?  "  said 
Noma,  in  a  sorrowful  accent.  "  But  be  it  so;  and  know,  it 
was  I  took  it  from  thy  neck,  and  tied  it  around  the  neck  of 
her  who  is  dearest  to  you;  in  token  that  the  union  betwixt 
you,  which  has  been  the  only  earthly  wish  which  I  have  had 
the  power  to  form,  shall  yet — even  yet.  be  accomplished — aye, 
although  hell  should  open  to  forbid  the  banns!  " 

"Alas!"  said  Mordaunt,  with  a  sigh,  "you  remember  not 
the  difference  betwixt  our  situation — her  father  is  wealthy, 
and  of  ancient  birth." 

"  Not  more  wealthy  than  will  be  the  heir  of  Noma  of  Fit- 
ful Head,"  answered  the  p}^honesp;  "  not  of  better  or  more 
ancient  blood  than  that  which  flows  in  thy  veins,  derived  from 
thy  mother,  the  descendant  of  the  same  jarls  and  sea-kings 
from  whom  Magnus  boasts  his  origin.  Or  dost  thou  think, 
hke  the  pedant  and  fanatic  strangers  who  have  come  amongst 
us,  that  thy  blood  is  dishonored  because  my  union  with  thy 
father  did  not  receive  the  sanction  of  a  priest?  Know,  that 
we  were  wedded  after  the  ancient  manner  of  the  Norse:  our 
hands  were  clasped  ^Wthin  the  circle  of  Odin,  with  such  deep 
vows  of  eternal  fidelitv  as  even  the  laws  of  these  usurping 
Scots  would  have  sanctioned  as  equivalent  to  a  blessing  before 
the  altar.  To  the  offspring  of  such  a  union,  :Magnus  has 
naught  to  object.  It  was  weak,  it  was  criminal,  on  my  part, 
but  it  conveyed  no  infamy  to  the  birth  of  my  son." 

The  composed  and  collected  manner  in  which  Norna 
axgued  these  points  began  to  impose  upon  Mordaunt  an  in- 
cipient belief  in  the  truth  of  what  she  said:  and,  indeed,  she 
added  so  manv  circumstances,  satisfactorily  and  rationally 
connected  with  each  other,  as  seemed  to  confute  the  notion 


348  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

that  her  story  was  altogether  the  delusion  of  that  insanity 
which  sometimes  showed  itself  in  her  speech  and  actions.  A 
thousand  confused  ideas  rushed  upon  him,  when  he  supposed 
it  possible  that  tlie  unhappy  person  before  him  might  actually 
have  a  right  to  claim  from  him  the  respect  and  affection  due 
to  a  parent  from  a  son.  He  could  only  surmount  them  by 
turning  his  mind  to  a  different,  and  scarce  less  interesting, 
topic,  resolving  within  himself  to  take  time  for  farther  in- 
quiry and  mature  consideration  ere  he  either  rejected  or  ad- 
mitted the  claim  which  Noma  preferred  upon  his  affection 
and  duty.  His  benefactress,  at  least,  she  undoubtedly  was, 
and  he  could  not  err  in  paying  her,  as  such,  the  respect  and 
attention  due  from  a  son  to  a  mother;  and  so  far,  therefore, 
he  might  gratify  Noma  without  otherwise  standing  com- 
mitted. 

"  And  do  you  then  really  think,  my  mother — since  so  you 
bid  me  term  you,"  said  Mordaunt,  "  that  the  proud  Magnus 
Troil  may,  by  any  inducement,  be  prevailed  upon  to  relin- 
quish the  angry  feelings  which  he  has  of  late  adopted  to- 
ward me,  and  to  permit  my  addresses  to  his  daughter 
Brenda?" 

"  Brenda!  "  repeated  Noma — "  who  talks  of  Brenda?  it  was 
of  Minna  that  I  spoke  to  you." 

"  But  it  was  of  Brenda  that  I  thought,"  replied  Mordaunt, 
"  of  her  that  I  now  think,  and  of  her  alone  that  I  will  ever 
think." 

"  Impossible,  my  son!  "  replied  Noma.  "  You  cannot  be  so 
dull  of  heart,  so  poor  of  spirit,  as  to  prefer  the  idle  mirth  and 
housewife  simplicity  of  the  younger  sister  to  the  deep  feeling 
and  high  mind  of  the  noble-spirited  Minna?  Who  would 
stoop  to  gather  the  lowly  violet  that  might  have  the  rose 
for  stretching  out  his  hand?  " 

"  Some  think  the  lowliest  flowers  are  the  sweetest,"  replied 
Mordaunt,  "  and  in  that  faith  will  I  live  and  die." 

"  You  dare  not  tell  me  so!  "  answered  Noma  fiercely;  then, 
instantly  changing  her  tone,  and  taking  his  hand  in  the  most 
affectionate  manner,  she  proceeded :  "  You  must  not — you  will 
not  tell  me  so,  my  dear  son:  you  will  not  break  a  mother's 
heart  in  the  very  first  hour  in  which  she  has  embraced  her 
child!  Nay,  do  not  answer,  but  hear  me.  You  must  wed 
Minna;  I  have  bound  around  her  neck  a  fatal  amulet,  on 
which  the  happiness  of  both  depends.  The  labors  of  my  life 
have  for  years  had  this  direction.  Thus  it  must  be,  and  not 
otherwise:  Minna  must  be  the  bride  of  my  son!" 


THE  PIRATE.  349 

"But  is  not  Brenda  equally  near,  equally  dear  to  you?" 
replied  Mordaunt. 

"  As  near  in  blood,"  said  Xoma,  "  but  not  so  dear — no,  not 
half  so  dear,  in  affection.  Minna's  mild,  yet  high  and  con- 
templative, spirit  renders  her  a  comj)anion  meet  for  one  \vho.~e 
ways,  like  mine,  are  beyond  the  ordinary  ptitlis  of  this  world. 
Brenda  is  a  thing  of  common  and  ordinary  life,  an  idle 
laugher  and  scoffer,  who  would  level  art  with  ignorance,  and 
reduce  power  to  weakness,  by  disbelieving  and  turning  into 
ridicule  whatever  is  beyond  the  grasp  of  her  own  shallow 
intellect." 

"  She  is,  indeed,"  answered  Mordaunt,  ''  neither  super- 
stitious nor  enthusiastic,  and  I  love  her  the  better  for  it.  Re- 
member also,  my  mother,  that  she  returns  my  alfection.  and 
that  Minna,  if  she  loves  anyone,  loves  the  stranger  Cleveland." 

"  She  does  not — she  dares  not,"  answered  Xorna,  '*  nor 
dares  he  pursue  her  farther.  I  told  him  when  first  he  came 
to  Burgh-Westra,  that  I  destined  her  for  you." 

"  And  to  that  rash  annunciation,"  said  Mordaunt,  "  I  owe 
this  man's  persevering  enmity,  my  wound,  and  well-nigh  ih? 
loss  of  my  life.  See,  my  mother,  to  what  point  your  intrigues 
have  already  conducted  us,  and,  in  Heaven's  name,  prosecute 
them  no  farther!  " 

It  seemed  as  if  this  reproach  struck  Noma  with  the  force 
at  once  and  vivacity  of  lightning;  for  she  struck  her  forehead 
with  her  hand,  and  seemed  about  to  drop  from  her  seat.  ]\lor- 
daunt,  greatly  shocked,  hastened  to  catch  her  in  his  arms, 
and,  though  scarce  knowing  what  to  say,  attempted  to  utter 
some  incoherent  expressions. 

"  Spare  me,  Heaven — spare  me! "  were  the  first  words 
which  she  muttered;  "  do  not  let  my  crime  be  avenged  by  hi.= 
means!  Yes,  young  man,"  she  said,  after  a  pause,  "  you  have 
dared  to  tell  what  I  dared  not  tell  myself.  You  have  pressed 
that  upon  me  which,  if  it  be  truth,  I  cannot  believe  and 
yet  continue  to  live!  " 

Mordaunt  in  vain  endeavored  to  interrupt  her  with  prot- 
estations of  his  ignorance  how  he  had  offended  or  grieved 
her,  and  of  his  extreme  regret  that  he  had  unintentionally 
done  either.  She  proceeded,  while  her  voice  trembled  wildly, 
with  vehemence. 

"  Yes!  you  have  touched  on  that  dark  suspicion  which  poi- 
sons the  consciousness  of  my  power — the  sole  boon  which  was 
given  me  in  exchange  for  innocence  and  for  peace  of  mind! 
Your  voice  joins  that  of  the  demon  which,  even  while  the 


350  WAVEELEY  NOVELS. 

elements  confess  me  their  mistress,  whispers  to  me,  '  Noma, 
this  is  but  delusion:  your  power  rests  but  in  the  idle  behef  of 
the  ignorant,  supported  by  a  thousand  petty  artifices  of  your 
own.'  Tliis  is  what  Breuda  says — this  is  what  you  would 
say;  and  false,  scandalously  false,  as  it  is,  there  are  rebellious 
thoughts  in  this  wild  brain  of  mine  (touching  her  forehead 
with  her  finger  as  she  spoke)  that,  like  an  insurrection  in  an 
invaded  country,  arise  to  take  part  against  their  distressed 
sovereign.  Spare  me,  my  son!  "  she  continued,  in  a  voice  of 
supplication — "spare  me!  the  sovereignty  of  which  your 
words  would  deprive  me  is  no  enviable  exaltation.  Few 
would  covet  to  rule  over  gibbering  ghosts,  and  howling  winds, 
and  raging  currents.  My  throne  is  a  cloud,  my  scepter  a 
meteor,  my  realm  is  only  peopled  with  fantasies;  but  1  must 
either  cease  to  be,  or  continue  to  be  the  mightiest  as  well  as 
the  most  miserable  of  beings!  "  *  * 

"  Do  not  speak  thus  mournfully,  my  dear  and  unhappy 
benefactress,"  said  Mordaunt,  much  affected;  "  I  will  think 
of  your  power  whatever  you  would  have  me  believe.  But, 
for  your  own  sake,  view  the  matter  otherwise.  Turn  your 
thoughts  from  such  agitating  and  mystical  studies — from 
such  wild  subjects  of  contemplation,  into  another  and  a  bettef 
channel.  Life  will  again  have  charms,  and  religion  will  have 
comforts,  for  you." 

She  listened  to  him  with  some  composure,  as  if  she  weighed 
his  counsel,  and  desired  to  be  guided  by  it;  but,  as  he  ended, 
she  shook  her  head,  and  exclaimed: 

"  It  cannot  be.  I  must  remain  the  dreaded — the  mysti- 
cal— the  Keim-kennar — the  controller  of  the  elements,  or  I 
must  be  no  more!  I  have  no  alternative,  no  middle  station. 
My  post  must  be  high  on  yon  lofty  headland,  where  never 
stood  human  foot  save  mine,  or  I  must  sleep  at  the  bottom  of 
the  unfathomable  ocean,  its  white  billows  booming  over  my 
senseless  corpse.  The  parricide  shall  never  also  be  denounced 
as  the  impostor!  " 

"  The  parricide! "  echoed  Mordaunt,  stepping  back  in 
horror. 

"  Yes,  my  son!  "  answered  Noma,  with  a  stem  composure 
even  more  frightful  than  her  former  impetuosity,  "  within 
these  fatal  walls  my  father  met  his  death  by  my  means.  In 
yonder  chamber  was  he  found  a*  livid  and  lifeless  corpse.  Be- 
ware of  filial  disobedience,  for  such  are  its  fruits! " 

So  saying,  she  arose  and  left  the  apartment,  where  Mor- 

♦  See  Character  of  Norna.    Note  42, 


THE  PIRATE.  351 

daunt  remained  alone  to  meditate  at  leisure  upon  the  extraor- 
dinary communication  which  he  had  received.  He  himself 
had  been  taught  by  his  father  a  disbelief  in  the  ordinary 
superstitions  of  Zetland;  and  he  now  saw  that  Noma,  however 
ingenious  in  duping  others,  could  not  altogether  impose  on 
herself.  This  was  a  strong  circumstance  in  favor  of  her 
sanity  of  intellect;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  her  imputing  to 
herself  the  guilt  oi  parricide  seemed  so  wild  and  improbable 
as,  in  Mordaunt's  opinion,  to  throw  much  doubt  upon  her 
other  assertions. 

He  had  leisure  enough  to  make  up  liis  mind  on  these  par- 
ticulars, for  no  one  approached  the  solitary  dw^elling,  of  which 
Noma,  her  dwarf,  and  he  himself  were  the  sole  inhabi- 
tants. The  Hoy  Island  in  which  it  stood  is  rude,  bold,  and 
lofty,  consisting  entirely  of  three  hills,  or  rather  one  huge 
mountain  divided  into  three  summits,  with  the  chasms,  rents, 
and  valleys  which  descend  from  its  summit  to  the  sea,  while 
its  crest,  rising  to  great  height,  and  shivered  into  rocks 
which  seem  almost  inaccessible,  intercepts  the  mists  as  they 
drive  from  the  Atlantic,  and,  often  obscured  from  the  human 
eye,  forms  the  dark  and  unmolested  retreat  of  hawks,  eagles, 
and  other  birds  of  prey.* 

The  soil  of  the  island  is  wet,  mossy,  cold,  and  unproduc- 
tive, presenting  a  sterile  and  desolate  appearance,  excepting 
w^here  the  sides  of  small  rivulets,  or  mountain  ravines,  are 
fringed  with  dwarf  bushes  of  birch,  hazel,  and  wild  currant, 
some  of  them  so  tall  as  to  be  denominated  trees  in  that  bleak 
and  bare  country. 

But  the  view  of  the  sea-beach,  which  was  Mordaunt's  favor- 
ite w^alk,  when  his  convalescent  state  began  to  permit  him  to 
take  exercise,  had  charms  which  compensated  the  wild  appear- 
ance of  the  interior.  A  broad  and  beautiful  sound,  or  strait, 
divides  this  lonely  and  mountainous  island  from  Pomona,  and 
in  the  center  of  that  sound  lies,  like  a  tablet  composed  of 
emerald,  the  beautiful  and  verdant  little  island  of  Graemsay. 
On  the  distant  Mainland  is  seen  the  town  or  village  of  Strom- 
ness,  the  excellence  of  whose  haven  is  generally  evinced  by  a 
considerable  number  of  shipping  in  the  roadstead,  and,  from 
the  bay  growing  narrower  and  lessening  as  it  recedes,  runs 
inland  into  Pomona,  where  its  tide  fills  the  fine  sheet  of  water 
called  the  Loch  of  Stennis. 

On  this  beach  Mordaunt  was  wont  to  wander  for  hours, 
with  an  eye  not  insensible  to  the  beauties  of  the  view,  though 

♦  8eeNotf43. 


862  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

his  thoughts  were  agitated  with  the  most  embarrassing  medi- 
tations on  his  own  situation.  He  was  resolved  to  leave  the 
island  as  soon  as  the  establishment  of  his  health  should  per- 
mit him  to  travel;  yet  gratitude  to  Noma,  of  whom  he  was  at 
least  the  adopted,  if  not  the  real,  son,  would  not  allow  him  to 
depart  without  her  permission,  even  if  he  could  obtain  jneans 
of  conveyance,  of  which  he  saw  little  possibility.  It  was  only 
by  importunity  that  he  extorted  from  his  hostess  a  promise 
that,  if  he  would  consent  to  regulate  his  motions  according 
to  her  directions,  she  would  herself  convey  him  to  the  capital 
of  the  Orkney  Islands,  when  the  approaching  fair  of  St.  OUa 
should  take  place  there. 


CHAPTER   XXXIV. 

Hark  to  the  insult  lowd,  the  bitter  sneer. 
The  fierce  threat  answering  to  the  brutal  jeer; 
Oaths  fly  like  pistol-shots,  and  vengeful  word* 
Clash  with  each  other  like  conflicting  sworda. 
The  robber's  quarrel  by  such  sounds  is  shown, 
And  true  men  have  some  chance  to  gain  their  own. 

—  Captivity,  a  Poem. 

"\Vhex  Cleveland,  borne  off  in  triumph  from  his  assailants 
in  Kirkwall,  found  himself  once  more  on  board  the  pirate 
ve.^sel.  his  arrival  was  hailed  with  hearty  cheers  by  a  con- 
siderable part  of  the  crew,  who  rushed  to  shake  hands  with 
him  and  offer  their  congratulations  on  his  return;  for  the 
situation  of  a  buccanier  captain  raised  him  ver}^  little  above 
the  level  of  the  lowest  of  his  crew.  who.  in  all  social  inter- 
course, claimed  the  privilege  of  being  his  equal. 

When  his  faction,  for  so  these  clamorous  friends  might  be 
termed,  had  expressed  their  own  greetings,  they  hurried 
Cleveland  forward  to  the  stern,  where  Goffe,  their  present 
commander,  was  seated  on  a  gun,  listening  in  a  sullen  and 
discontented  mood  to  the  shout  which  announced  Cleveland's 
welcome.  He  was  a  man  betwixt  forty  and  fifty,  rather  under 
the  middle  size,  but  so  ver}'  strongly  made  that  his  crew  used 
to  compare  him  to  a  sixty-four  cut  down.  Black-haired,  bull- 
necked,  and  beetle-browed,  his  clumsy  strength  and  ferocious 
countenance  contrasted  strongly  with  the  manly  figure  and 
open  countenance  of  Cleveland,  in  which  even  the  practice  of 
his  atrocious  profession  had  not  been  able  to  eradicate  a  natu- 
ral grace  of  motion  and  generosity  of  expression.  The  two 
piratical  captains  looked  upon  each  other  for  some  time  in 
silence,  while  the  partisans  of  each  gathered  around  him. 
The  elder  part  of  the  crew  were  the  principal  adherents  of 
Goffe,  while  the  young  fellows,  among  whom  Jack  Bunce  was 
a  principal  leader  and  agitator,  were  in  general  attached  to 
Cleveland. 

At  length  Goffe  broke  silence:  "You  are  welcome  aboard, 
Captain  Cleveland.     Smash  my  taffrail!  I  suppose  you  think 

yourself  commodore  yet!  but  that  was  over,  by  G ,  when 

you  lost  your  ship,  and  be  d d! " 

.\nf"'  b.ere.  once  for  all,  we  may  take  notice  that  it  was  the 

353 


854  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

gracious  custom  of  this  commander  to  mix  his  words  and 
oaths  in  nearly  equal  proportions,  which  he  was  wont  to  call 
"shotting  "  his  discourse.  As  we  delight  not,  however,  in  the 
discharge  of  such  artillery,  we  shall  only  indicate  by  a  space 

like  this the  places  in  which  these  expletives  occurred: 

and  thus,  if  the  reader  will  pardon  a  very  poor  pun,  we  will 
reduce  Captain  Goffe's  volley  of  sharp-shot  into  an  explosion 
of  blank  cartridges.  To  his  insinuations  that  he  was  come  on 
board  to  assume  the  chief  command,  Cleveland  replied,  that 
he  neither  desired  nor  would  accept  any  such  promotion,  but 
would  only  ask  Captain  Goffe  for  a  cast  of  the  boat  to  put 
him  ashore  in  one  of  the  other  islands,  as  he  had  no  wish 
either  to  command  Goffe  or  to  remain  in  a  vessel  under  his 
orders. 

"  And   why  not  under  my   orders,   brother? "    demanded 

Goffe  very  austerely;  " are  you  too  good  a 

man, with  your  cheese-toaster  and  your  jib 

there, to  serve  under  my  orders,  and  be  d d  to 

you,  where  there  are  so  many  gentlemen  that  are  elder  and 
better  seamen  than  yourself?" 

"  I  wonder  which  of  these  capital  seamen  it  was,"  said 
Cleveland  coolly,  "that  laid  the  ship  under  the  fire  of  yon 
six-gun  battery,  that  could  blow  her  out  of  the  water,  if  they 
had  a  mind,  before  you  could  either  cut  or  slip?  Elder  and 
better  sailors  than  I  may  like  to  serve  under  such  a  lubber, 
but  I  beg  to  be  excused  for  my  own  share,  captain — that's  all 
I  have  got  to  tell  you." 

"  By  G ,  I  think  you  are  both  mad!  "  said  Hawkins,  the 

boatswain:  "  a  meeting  with  sword  and  pistol  may  be  devilish 
good  fun  in  its  way  when  no  better  is  to  be  had;  but  who  the 
devil  that  had  common  sense  amongst  a  set  of  gentlemen  in 
our  condition  would  fall  a-quarreling  with  each  other,  to  let 
these  duck-winged,  web-footed  islanders  have  a  chance  of 
knocking  us  all  upon  the  head?  " 

"  Well  said,  old  Hawkins!  "  observed  Derrick,  the  quarter- 
master, who  was  an  officer  of  very  considerable  importance 
among  these  rovers;  "  I  say,  if  the  two  captains  won't  agree 
to  live  together  quietly,  and  club  both  heart  and  head  to  de- 
fend the  vessel,  why,  d n  me,  depose  them  both,  say  I,  and 

choose  another  in  their  stead!  " 

"  Meaning  yourself,  I  suppose,  Master  Quartermaster!  "  said 
Jack  Bunce;  "but  that  cock  won't  fight.  He  that  ir-  to  com- 
mand gentlemen  should  be  a  gentleman  himself,  I  think:  and 
I  give  my  vote  for  Captain  Cleveland,  as  spirited  and  as  gen- 


THE  PIRATE.  355 

tleman-like  a  man  as  ever  daffed  the  world  aside  and  bid  it 
pass!  " 

•'  What!  you  call  yourself  a  gentleman,  I  warrant!  "  re- 
torted Derrick;  '*  why, your  eyes!  a  tailor  would  make  a 

better  out  of  the  worst  suit  of  rags  in  your  strolling  wardrobe! 
It  is  a  shame  for  men  of  spirit  to  have  such  a  Jack-a-dandy 
scarecrow  on  board!  " 

Jack  Bunee  was  so  incensed  at  these  base  comparisons  that, 
without  more  ado,  he  laid  his  hand  on  his  sword.  The  car- 
penter, however,  and  boatswain  interfered,  the  former  brand- 
ishing his  broad  ax,  and  swearing  he  would  put  the  skull  of 
the  first  who  should  strike  a  blow  past  clouting,  and  the  latter 
reminding  thim  that,  by  their  articles,  all  quarreling,  striking, 
or  more  especially  fighting,  on  board  was  sthctly  prohibited; 
and  that,  if  any  gentlemen  had  a  quarrel  to  settle,  they  were 
to  go  ashore  and  decide  it  with  cutlass  and  pistKDl  in  pres- 
ence of  two  of  their  messmates. 

"  I  have  no  quarrel  with  anyone, !  "  said 

Goffe   sullenly.     "  Captain    Cleveland    has    wandered   about 

among  the  islands  here,  amusing  himself, ! 

and  we  have  wasted  our  time  and  property  in  waiting  for  him, 
when  we  might  have  been  adding  twenty  or  thirty  thousand 
dollars  to  the  stock-purse.     However,  if  it  pleases  the  rest  of 

the  gentlemen-adventurers, !  why,  I  shall  not 

grumble  about  it." 

"  I  propose,"  said  the  boatswain,  "  that  there  should  be  a 
general  council  called  in  the  great  cabin,  according  to  our 
articles,  that  we  may  consider  what  course  we  are  to  hold  in 
this  matter." 

A  general  assent  followed  the  boatswain's  proposal;  for 
everyone  found  his  own  account  in  these  general  councils,  in 
which  each  of  the  rovers  had  a  free  vote.  By  far  the  greater 
part  of  the  crew  only  valued  this  franchise  as  it  allowed  them, 
upon  such  solemn  occasions,  an  unlimited  quantity  of  liquor 
— a  right  which  they  failed  not  to  exercise  to  the  uttermost — 
by  way  of  aiding  their  deliberations.  But  a  few  amongst  the 
adventurers,  who  united  some  degree  of  judgment  with  the 
daring  and  profligate  character  of  their  profession,  were  wont. 
at  such  periods,  to  limit  themselves  within  the  bounds  of 
comparative  sobriety,  and  by  these,  under  the  a])parent  form 
of  a  vote  of  the  general  council,  all  things  of  moment  relating 
to  the  voyage  and  undertakings  of  the  pirates  were  in  fact  de- 
termined. "The  rest  of  the  crew,  when  they  recovered  from 
their  intoxication,  were  easily  persuaded  that  the  resolution 


366  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS. 

adopted  had  been  the  legitimate  effort  of  the  combined  wis 
dom  of  the  whole  senate. 

Upon  the  present  occasion  the  debauch  had  proceeded  until 
the  greater  part  of  the  crew  were,  as  usual,  displaying  inebria- 
tion in  all  its  most  brutal  and  disgraceful  shapes:  swearing 
empty  and  unmeaning  oaths;  venting  the  most  horrid  impre- 
cations in  the  mere  gayety  of  their  heart;  singing  songs,  the 
ribaldry  of  which  was  only  equaled  by  their  profaneness;  and, 
from  the  middle  of  this  earthly  hell,  the  two  captains,  together 
with  one  or  two  of  their  principal  adherents,  as  also  the  car- 
penter and  boatswain,  who  always  took  a  lead  on  such  occa- 
sions, had  drawn  together  into  a  pandemonium,  or  privy 
council,  of  their  own,  to  consider  what  was  to  be  done;  for,  as 
the  boatswain  metaphorically  obseiwed,  they  were  in  a  narrow 
channel,  and  behoved  to  keep  sounding  the  tide-way. 

When  they  began  their  consultations,  the  friends  of  Goffe 
remarked,  to  their  great  displeasure,  that  be  had  not  observed 
the  wholesome  rule  to  which  we  have  just  alluded;  but  that, 
in  endeavoring  to  drown  his  mortification  at  the  sudden  ap- 
pearance of  Cleveland,  and  the  reception  he  met  with  from 
the  crew,  the  elder  captain  had  not  been  able  to  do  so  without 
overflowing  his  reason  at  the  same  time.  His  natural  sullen 
taciturnity  had  prevented  this  from  being  observed  until  the 
council  began  its  deliberations,  when  it  proved  impossible  to 
hide  it. 

The  first  person  who  spoke  was  Cleveland,  who  said  that, 
so  far  from  wishing  the  command  of  the  vessel,  he  desired  no 
favor  at  anyone's  hand,  except  to  land  him  upon  some  island 
or  holm  at  a  distance  from  Kirkwall,  and  leave  him  to  shift 
for  himself. 

The  boatswain  remonstrated  strongly  against  this  resolu- 
tion. "  The  lads,"  he  said,  "  all  knew  Cleveland,  and  could 
trust  his  seamanship,  as  well  as  his  courage;  besides,  he  never 
let  the  grog  get  quite  uppermost,  and  was  always  in  proper 
trim,  either  to  sail  the  ship  or  to  fight  the  ship,  whereby  she 
was  never  without  someone  to  keep  her  course  when  he  was  on 
board.  And  as  for  the  noble  Captain  Goffe,"  continued  the 
mediator,  "  he  is  as  stout  a  heart  as  ever  broke  biscuit,  and 
that  I  will  uphold  him;  but  then,  when  he  has  his  grog  aboard 

— I  speak  to  his  face — he  is  so  d d  funny  with  his  cranks 

and  his  Jests,  that  there  is  no  living  with  him.  You  all  re- 
member how  nigh  he  had  run  the  ship  on  that  cursed  Horse 
of  Copinsha,  as  they  call  it.  just  by  wav  of  frolic:  and  then 
you  know  how  he  fired  off  his  pistol  under  the  table  when  we 


THE  PIRATE.  357 

w^re  at  the  great  council,  and  shot  Jack  Jenkins  in  the  knee, 
and  cost  the  poor  devil  his  leg  ^v^th  his  pleasantry."* 

•'  Jack  Jenkins  was  not  a  chip  the  worse,"  said  the  carpen- 
ter. "  I  took  the  leg  off  with  my  saw  as  well  as  any  loblolly- 
boy  in  the  land  could  have  done,  heated  my  broad  ax,  and 

seared  the  stump — aye,  by !  and  made  a  jury-leg  that  he 

shambles  about  with  as  well  as  ever  he  did;  for  Jack  could 
never  cut  a  feather." 

"  You  are  a  clever  fellow,  carpenter,"  replied  the  boats- 
wain— "a  d d  clever  fellow!  but  I  had  rather  you  tried 

your  saw  and  red-hot  ax  upon  the  ship's  knee-timbers  than  on 
mine,  sink  me!  But  that  here  is  not  the  case.  The  question 
is,  if  we  shall  part  with  Captain  Cleveland  here,  who  is  a 
man  of  thought  and  action,  whereby  it  is  my  belief  it  would 
be  heaving  the  pilot  overboard  when  the  gale  is  blowing  on  a 
lee-shore.  And,  I  must  say,  it  is  not  the  part  of  a  true  heart 
to  leave  his  mates,  who  have  been  here  waiting  for  him  till 
they  have  missed  stays.  Our  water  is  well-nigh  out,  and  we 
have  junketed  till  provisions  are  low  with  us.  "We  cannot  sail 
without  provisions;  we  cannot  get  provisions  without  the 
good-will  of  the  Kirkwall  folks.  If  we  remain  here  longer, 
the  '  Halcyon '  frigate  will  be  down  upon  us — she  was  seen 
off  Peterhead  two  days  since — and  we  shall  hang  at  the  yard- 
arm  to  be  sun-dried.  Now,  Captain  Cleveland  will  get  us  out 
of  the  hobble,  if  any  can.  He  can  play  the  gentleman  with 
these  Kirkwall  folks,  and  knows  how  to  deal  with  them  on 
fair  terms,  and  foul  too,  if  there  be  occasion  for  it." 

"  And  so  you  would  turn  honest  Captain  Goffe  a-grazing, 
would  ye?  "  said  an  old  weather-beaten  pirate,  who  had  but 
one  eye;  "  what  though  he  has  his  humors,  and  made  my  eye 
douse  the  glim  in  his  fancies  and  frolics,  he  is  as  honest  a 

man  as  ever  walked  a  quarter-deck,  for  all  that;  and  d n 

me  but  I  stand  by  him  so  long  as  t'other  lantern  is  lit!  " 

"  Why,  you  would  not  hear  me  out,"  said  Hawkins:  "  a  man 
might  as  well  talk  to  so  many  negers!  I  tell  you,  I  propose 
that  Cleveland  shall  only  be  captain  from  one  '  post 
meridiem '  to  five  a.  m.,  during  which  time  Goffe  is  alwavs 
drunk." 

The  captain  of  whom  he  last  spoke  gave  sufficient  jiroof  of 
the  truth  of  his  words  by  uttering  an  inarticulate  prowl,  and 
attempting  to  present  a  pistol  at  the  mediator  Hawkins. 

"  Why,  look  ye  now!  "  said  Derrick,  "  there  is  all  the  sense 

♦  See  Avery's  Pleasantry.    Note  44. 


358  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

he  has,  to  get  drunk  on  council-day,  like  one  of  these  poor, 
silly  fellows! " 

"  Aye,"  said  Bunce,  "  drunk  as  Davy's  sow,  in  the  face  of 
the  field,  the  fray,  and  the  senate!  " 

"  But,  nevertheless,"  continued  Derrick,  "  it  will  never  do 
to  have  two  captains  in  the  same  day.  I  think  week  about 
might  suit  better;  and  let  Cleveland  take  the  first  turn." 

"  There  are  as  good  here  as  any  of  them,"  said  Hawkins; 
"  howsomdever,  I  object  nothiiig  to  Captain  Cleveland,  and  I 
think  he  may  help  us  into  deep  water  as  well  as  anotlier." 

"  Aye,"  exclaimed  Bunce,  "  and  a  better  figure  he  will  make 
at  bringing  these  Kirkwallers  to  order  than  his  sober  prede- 
cessor!    So  Captain  Cleveland  forever!  " 

"  Stop,  gentlemen,"  said  Cleveland,  w^ho  had  hitherto  been 
silent;  "  I  hope  you  will  not  choose  me  captain  without  my 
own  consent  ?  " 

"  Aye,  by  the  blue  vault  of  heaven  ^\t.11  we,"  said  Bunce, 
*'  if  it  be  '  pro  bono  publico  '!  " 

"  But  hear  me,  at  least,"  said  Cleveland.  "  I  do  consent 
to  take  command  of  the  vessel,  since  you  wish  it,  and  because 
I  see  you  will  ill  get  out  of  the  scrape  without  me." 

"  Why,  then,  1  say,  Cleveland  forever,  again !  "  shouted 
Bunce. 

"Be  quiet,  prithee,  dear  Bunce! — honest  Altamont!  "  said 
Cleveland.  "  I  undertake  the  business  on  this  condition — 
that  when  I  have  got  the  ship  cleared  for  her  voyage,  with 
provisions  and  so  forth,  you  will  be  content  to  restore  Cap- 
tain Goffe  to  the  command,  as  I  said  before,  and  put  me 
ashore  somewhere,  to  shift  for  myself.  You  will  then  be  sure 
it  is  impossible  I  can  betray  you,  since  I  will  remain  with  you 
to  the  last  moment." 

"  Aye,  and  after  the  last  moment,  too,  by  the  blue  vault! 
or  I  mistake  the  matter,"  muttered  Bunce  to  liimself. 

The  matter  was  now  put  to  the  vote;  and  so  confident  were 
the  crew  in  Cleveland's  superior  address  and  management, 
that  the  temporary  deposition  of  Gofie  found  little  resistance 
even  among  his  own  partisans,  who  reasonably  enough  ob- 
served, "  He  might  at  least  have  kept  sober  to  look  after  hi= 
own  business.  E'en  let  him  put  it  to  rights  again  himself 
next  morning,  if  he  will." 

But  when  the  next  morning  came,  the  drunken  part  of  the 
crew,  being  informed  of  the  issue  of  the  deliberations  of  the 
council,  to  whicli  thf^y  were  virtually  held  to  have  assented, 
showed  such  a  superioi'  sense  of  Cleveland's  merits,  that  Goife, 


THE  PIRATE.  359 

pulky  and  malcontent  as  he  was,  judged  it  wisest  for  the  pres- 
ent to  suppress  his  feelings  of  resentment,  until  a  safer  oppor- 
tunity for  suffering  them  to  ex])lode,  and  to  submit  to  the 
degradation  which  so  frequently  took  place  among  a  piratical 
crew. 

Cleveland,  on  his  part,  resolved  to  take  upon  him,  with 
spirit  and  without  loss  of  time,  the  task  of  extricating  his 
ship's  company  from  their  perilous  situation.  For  this  pur- 
pose, he  ordered  the  boat,  with  the  purpose  of  going  ashore 
in  person,  carrying  ^nth  him  twelve  of  the  stoutest  and  best 
men  of  the  crew,  all  very  handsomely  appointed  (for  the  suc- 
cess of  their  nefarious  profession  had  enabled  the  pirates  to 
assume  nearly  as  gay  dresses  as  their  oflicers),  and  above  all, 
each  man  being  sufficently  armed  with  cutlass  and  pistols,  and 
several  having  pole-axes  and  poniards. 

Cleveland  himself  was  gallantly  attired  in  a  blue  coat,  lined 
with  crimson  silk,  and  laced  wilh  gold  very  richly,  crimson 
damask  waistcoat  and  breeches,  a  velvet  cap,  richly  em- 
broidered, with  a  white  feather,  white  silk  stockings,  and  red- 
heeled  shoes,  which  were  the  extremity  of  finery  among  the 
gallants  of  the  day.  He  had  a  gold  chain  several  times  folded 
round  his  neck,  which  sustained  a  whistle  of  the  same  metal, 
the  ensign  of  his  authority.  Above  all,  he  wore  a  decoration 
peculiar  to  those  daring  depredators,  who,  besides  one,  or  per- 
haps two,  brace  of  pistols  at  their  belt,  had  usually  two  ad- 
ditional brace,  of  the  finest  mounting  and  workmanship,  sus- 
pended over  their  shoulders  in  a  sort  of  sling  or  ^carf  of  crim- 
son ribbon.  The  hilt  and  mounting  of  the  captain's  sword 
corresponded  in  value  to  the  rest  of  his  appointments,  and  his 
natural  good  mien  was  so  well  adapted  to  the  whole  equip- 
ment that,  when  he  appeared  on  deck,  he  was  received  with 
a  general  shout  by  the  crew,  who,  as  in  other  popular  societies, 
judged  a  great  deal  by  the  eye. 

Cleveland  took  with  him  in  the  boat,  amongst  others,  his 
predecessor  in  office,  Goffe,  who  was  also  very  richly  dressed, 
but  who,  not  having  the  advantage  of  such  an  exterior  as 
Cleveland's,  looked  like  a  boorish  clown  in  the  dress  of  a 
courtier,  or  rather  like  a  vulgar-faced  footpad  decked  in  the 
spoils  of  someone  whom  he  has  murdered,  and  whose  claim 
to  the  property  of  his  garments  is  rendered  doubtful  in  the 
eyes  of  all  who  look  upon  him  by  the  mixture  of  awkward- 
ness, remorse,  cruelty,  and  insolence  which  clouds  his  counte- 
nance. Cleveland  probably  chose  to  take  Goffe  ashore  with 
him  to  prevent  his  having  any  opportunity,  daring  his  ab- 


360  WA  VERLE  Y  NO  VELS. 

sence,  to  debauch  the  crew  from  their  allegiance.  In  thid 
guise  they  left  the  ship,  and,  singing  to  their  oars,  while  the 
water  foamed  higher  at  the  chorus,  soon  reached  the  qua}'  of 
Kirkwall. 

The  command  of  the  vessel  was  in  the  meantime  intrusted 
to  Bunce,  upon  whose  allegiance  Cleveland  knew  that  he 
might  perfectly  depend,  and,  in  a  private  conversation  with 
him  of  some  length,  he  gave  him  directions  how  to  act  in 
Buch  emergencies  as  might  occur. 

These  arrangements  being  made,  and  Bunce  having  been 
repeatedly  charged  to  stand  upon  his  guard  alike  against  the 
adherents  of  Goffe  and  any  attempt  from  the  shore,  the  boat 
put  off.  As  she  approached  the  harbor,  Cleveland  displayed 
a  white  tlag,  and  could  observe  that  their  appearance  seemed 
to  occasion  a  good  deal  of  bustle  and  alarm.  People  were 
seen  running  to  and  fro,  and  some  of  them  appeared  to  bo 
getting  under  arms.  The  battery  was  manned  hastily,  and 
the  English  colors  displayed.  These  were  alarming  symp- 
toms, the  rather  that  Cleveland  knew  that,  though  there  were 
no  artillerymen  in  Kirkwall,  yet  there  were  many  sailors  per- 
fectly competent  to  the  management  of  great  guns,  and  will- 
ing enough  to  undertake  such  service  in  case  of  need. 

Noting  these  hostile  preparations  with  a  heedful  eye,  but 
suffering  nothing  like  doubt  or  anxiety  to  appear  on  his  coun- 
tenance, Cleveland  ran  the  boat  right  for  the  quay,  on  which 
several  people,  armed  with  muskets,  rifles,  and  fowling-pieces, 
and  others  with  half-pikes  and  whaling-knives,  were  now 
assembled,  as  if  to  oppose  his  landing.  Apparently,  however, 
they  had  not  positively  determined  what  measures  they  were 
to  pursue;  for,  when  the  boat  reached  the  quay,  those  imme- 
diately opposite  bore  back,  and  suffered  Cleveland  and  his 
party  to  leap  ashore  without  hinderance.  They  immediately 
drew  up  on  the  quay,  except  two,  who,  as  their  captain  had 
commanded,  remained  in  the  boat,  which  they  put  off  to  a 
little  distance — a  maneuver  which,  while  it  placed  the  boat 
(the  only  one  belonging  to  the  sloop)  out  of  danger  of  being 
seized,  indicated  a  sort  of  careless  confidence  in  Cleveland  and 
his  party,  which  was  calculated  to  intimidate  their  opponents. 

The  Kirkwallers,  however,  showed  the  old  Northern  blood, 
put  a  manly  face  upon  the  matter,  and  stood  upon  the  quay, 
with  their  anus  shouldered,  directly  opposite  to  the  rovers, 
and  blocking  up  agaiust  them  the  street  which  leads  to  the 
town. 

Cleveland  was  the  first  who  spoke,  as  the  parties  stood  thus 


777^  PIRATE.  361 

looking  upon  ea^h  other.  "  How  is  this,  gentlemen  burgh- 
ers?" he  said;  "are  you  Orkney  folks  turned  Ilighlandmen, 
that  you  are  all  under  arms  so  early  this  morning;  or  have  you 
manned  the  quay  to  give  me  the  honor  of  a  salute,  upon  tak- 
ing the  command  of  my  ship?" 

The  burghers  looked  on  each  other,  and  one  of  them  replied 
to  Cleveland:  "We  do  not  know  who  you  are;  it  was  that 
other  man,"  pointing  to  Goffe,  "  who  used  to  come  ashore  as 
captain." 

"  That  other  gentleman  is  my  mate,  and  commands  in  my 
absence,"  said  Cleveland;  "  but  what  is  that  to  the  purpose? 
I  wish  to  speak  with  your  lord  mayor,  or  whatever  you  call 
him." 

"  The  provost  is  sitting  in  council  with  the  magistrates," 
answered  the  spokesman. 

"  So  much  the  better,"  replied  Cleveland.  "  Where  do 
their  worships  meet?  " 

"  In  the  council-house,"  answered  the  other. 

"  Then  make  way  for  us,  gentlemen,  if  you  please,  for  my 
people  and  I  are  going  there." 

There  was  a  whisper  among  the  townspeople;  but  several 
were  unresolved  upon  engaging  in  a  desperate,  and  perhaps 
an  unnecessary,  conflict  with  desperate  men;  and  the  more 
determined  citizens  formed  the  hasty  reflection  that  th.? 
strangers  might  be  more  easily  mastered  in  the  house,  or  per- 
haps in  the  narrow  streets  which  they  had  to  traverse,  than 
when  they  stood  drawn  up  and  prepared  for  battle  ujion  the 
quay.  They  suffered  them,  therefore,  to  jiroceed  unmolested; 
and  Cleveland,  moving  very  slowly,  keeping  his  people  clo-e 
together,  suffering  no  one  to  press  upon  the  flanks  of  his  little 
detachment,  and  making  four  men,  who  constituted  his  rear- 
guard, turn  round  and  face  to  the  rear  from  time  to  time, 
rendered  it,  by  his  caution,  a  very  dangerous  task  to  make 
any  attempt  upon  them. 

In  this  manner  they  ascended  the  narrow  street,  and 
reached  the  council-house,  where  the  magistrates  were  actu- 
ally sitting,  as  the  citizen  had  informed  Cleveland.  Here  the 
inhabitants  began  to  press  forward,  with  the  purpose  of  ming- 
ling with  the  pirates,  and  availing  themselves  of  the  crowd  in 
the  narrow  entrance  to  secure  as  many  as  they  could,  without 
allowing  them  room  for  the  free  use  of  their  weapons.  But 
thi=  also  had  Cleveland  foreseen,  and,  ere  entering  the  council- 
room,  ho  caused  the  entrance  to  bo  cleared  and  scoured,  com- 
manding four  of  Ms  men  to  face  down  the  street,  and  as  many 


362  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

to  confront  the  crowd  who  were  thrusting  each  other  from 
above.  The  burghers  recoiled  back  from  the  ferocious, 
swarthy,  and  sunburned  countenances,  as  well  as  the  leveled 
arms,  of  these  desperadoes,  and  Cleveland,  with  the  rest  of  his 
party,  entered  the  council-room,  where  the  magistrates  wer^^ 
sitting  in  council,  with  very  little  attendance.  These  gen- 
tlemen were  thus  separated  effectually  from  the  citizens,  who 
looked  to  them  for  orders,  and  were  perhaps  more  completely 
at  the  mercy  of  Cleveland  than  he,  with  his  little  handful  of 
men,  could  be  said  to  be  at  that  of  the  multitude  by  whom 
they  were  surrounded. 

The  magistrates  seemed  sensible  of  their  danger;  for  they 
looked  upon  each  other  in  some  confusion,  when  Cleveland 
thus  addressed  them: 

"  Good-morrow,  gentlemen;  I  hope  there  is  no  unkindness 
betwixt  us.  I  am  come  to  talk  with  you  about  getting  sup- 
plies for  my  ship  yonder  in  the  roadstead;  we  cannot  sail  ^\dth- 
out  them." 

"  Your  ship,  sir!  "  said  the  provost,  who  was  a  man  of  sense 
and  spirit;  "  how  do  we  know  that  you  are  her  captain?  " 

"  Look  at  me,"  said  Cleveland,  "  and  you  will,  I  think, 
scarce  ask  the  question  again." 

The  magistrate  looked  at  him,  and  accordingly  did  not 
think  proper  to  pursue  that  part  of  the  inquiry,  but  proceeded 
to  say:  "  And  if  you  are  her  captain,  whence  comes  she,  and 
where  is  she  bound  for?  You  look  too  much  like  a  man-of  • 
war's-man  to  be  master  of  a  trader,  and  we  know  that  you  do 
not  belong  to  the  British  navy." 

"  There  are  more  men-of-war  on  the  sea  than  sail  under  the 
British  flag,"  replied  Cleveland;  "  but  say  that  I  were  com- 
mander of  a  free-trader  here,  willing  to  exchange  tobacco, 
brandy,  gin,  and  such-like  for  cured  fish  and  hides,  why,  I 
do  not  think  I  deserve  so  very  bad  usage  from  the  merchants 
of  Kirkwall  as  to  deny  me  provisions  for  my  money?  " 

"  Look  you,  captain,"  said  the  town-clerk,  ''  it  is  not  that 
we  are  so  very  strait-laced  neither;  for,  when  gentlemen  of 
your  cloth  come  this  way,  it  is  as  weel,  as  I  tauld  the  provost, 
just  to  do  as  the  collier  did  when  he  met  the  devil;  and  that 
is,  to  have  naething  to  say  to  them,  if  they  have  naething  to 
say  to  us;  and  there  is  the  gentleman,"  pointing  to  Goffe, 
"  that  was  captain  before  you,  and  may  be  captain  after  you 
— ("  The  cuckold  speaks  truth  in  that,"  muttered  Goffe) — he 
knows  well  how  handsomely  we  entertained  him,  till  he  and 
his  men  took  upon  them  to  run  through  the  town  like  belli- 


THE  PIRATE.  8G3 

cat  devils.  I  see  one  of  them  there!  that  ^v'as  the  very  fellow 
that  stopped  my  servant-wench  on  the  street,  as  she  carried 
the  lantern  home  before  me,  and  insulted  her  before  mv 
face! " 

"  If  it  please  your  noble  mayorship's  honor  and  glory,"  said 
Derrick,  the  fellow  at  whom  the  town-clerk  jjoinled,  *'  it  was 
not  I  that  brought-to  the  bit  of  a  tender  that  carried  the 
lantern  in  the  poop:  it  was  quite  a  different  sort  of  a 
person." 

*'  Who  was  it,  then,  sir?  "  said  the  provost. 

"  Whv,  please  your  majesty's  worship,"  said  Derrick,  mak- 
ing several  sea  bows,  and  describing  as  nearly  as  he  could  the 
exterior  of  the  worthy  magistrate  himself,  "  he  was  an  elderly 
gentleman,  Dutch-built,  round  in  the  stern,  with  a  white  wig 
and  a  red  nose — very  like  your  majesty,  I  think  ";  tlien,  turn- 
ing to  a  comrade,  he  added,  "  Jack,  don't  you  think  the  fellow 
that  wanted  to  kiss  the  pretty  girl  with  the  lantern  t'other 
night  was  very  like  his  worship?" 

"By  G ,  Tom  Derrick,"  answered  the  party  appealed 

to,  "  I  believe  it  is  the  very  man!  " 

"  This  is  insolence  which  we  can  make  you  repent  of,  gen- 
tlemen," said  the  magistrate,  justly  irritated  at  their  elfront- 
ery;  "  you  have  behaved  in  this  town  as  if  you  were  in  an 
Indian\dllage  at  Madagascar.  You  yourself,  captain,  if  cap- 
tain you  be,  were  at  the  head  of  another  riot  no  longer  since 
.than  yesterday.  We  will  give  you  no  provisions  till  we  know 
better  whom  we  are  supplying.  And  do  not  think  to  bully 
us;  when  I  shake  this  handkerchief  out  at  the  window  which 
is  at  my  elbow,  your  ship  goes,  to  the  bottom.  Remember  she 
lies  under  the  guns  of  our  battery." 

"And  how  many  of  these  guns  are  honeycombed,  Mr. 
Mayor?"  said  Cleveland.  He  put  the  question  by  chance; 
but  instantly  perceived,  from  a  sort  of  confusion  which  the 
provost  in  vain  endeavored  to  hide,  that  the  artillery  of  Kirk- 
wall was  not  in  the  best  order.  "  Come— come,  Mr.  Mayor," 
he  said,  "  bullying  will  go  down  \nth  us  as  little  as  with  you. 
Your  guns  yonder  will  do  more  harm  to  the  poor  old  sailors 
who  are  to  work  them  than  to  our  sloop;  and  if  we  bring  a 
broadside  to  bear  on  the  town,  why,  your  wives'  crockery  will 
be  in  some  clanger.  And  then  to  talk  to  us  of  seamen  being 
a  little  frolicsome  ashore,  why,  when  are  they  otherwise? 
You  have  the  Greenland  whalers  playing  the  devil  among  yon 
every  now  and  then;  and  the  very  Dutchmen  cut  capers  in  the 
Btreets  of  Ivirkwall,  like  porpoises  before  a  gale  of  wind.     I 


364  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS. 

am  told  you  are  a  man  of  sense,  and  I  am  sure  you  and  I  could 
settle  this  matter  in  the  course  of  a  five  minutes'  palaver." 

"  Well,  sir,"  said  the  provost,  "  I  will  hear  what  you  have 
to  say,  if  you  will  walk  this  way." 

Cleveland  accordingly  followed  him  into  a  email  interior 
apartment,  and,  when  there,  addressed  the  provost  thus:  "  I 
will  lay  aside  my  pistols,  sir,  if  you  are  afraid  of  them." 

"  I) n  your  pistols!  "  answered  the  provost;  "  I  have 

served  the  king,  and  fear  the  smell  of  powder  as  little  as  vou 
do!  " 

"  So  much  the  better,"  said  Cleveland,  "  for  you  will  hear 
me  the  more  coolly.  Now,  sir,  let  us  be  what  perhaps  you 
suspect  us,  or  let  us  be  anything  else,  what,  in  the  name  of 
Heaven,  can  you  get  by  keeping  us  here  but  blows  and  blood- 
shed? for  which,  believe  me,  we  are  much  better  provided  than 
you  can  pretend  to  be.  The  point  is  a  plain  one:  you  are  de- 
sirous to  be  rid  of  us,  we  are  desirous  to  be  gone.  Let  us 
have  the  means  of  departure,  and  we  will  leave  you  instantly." 

"  Look  ye,  captain,"  said  the  provost,  "  I  thirst  for  no  man'? 
blood.  You  are  a  pretty  fellow,  as  there  were  many  among 
the  buccaniers  in  my  time;  but  there  is  no  harm  in"  wishing 
you  a  better  trade.  You  should  have  the  stores  and  welcome, 
for  your  money,  so  you  would  make  these  seas  clear  of  you. 
But  then,  here  lies  the  rub.  The  '  Halcyon '  frigate  is  ex- 
pected here  in  these  parts  immediately;  when  she  hears  of 
you  she  will  be  at  you;  for  there  is  nothing  the  white  lapello 
loves  better  than  a  rover:  you  are  seldom  without  a  cargo  of 
dollars.     Well,  he  comes  down,  gets  you  under  his  stern " 

"  Blows  us  into  the  air,  if  you  please,"  said  Cleveland. 

"  Nay,  that  must  be  as  you  please,  captain,"  said  the  prov- 
ost; "  but  then,  what  is  to  come  of  the  good  town  of  Kirk- 
wall, that  has  been  packing  and  peeling  with  the  king's  ene- 
mies? The  burgh  will  be  laid  under  a  round  fine,  and  it  may 
be  that  the  provost  may  not  come  off  so  easily." 

"  Well,  then,"  said  Cleveland,  "  I  see  where  your  pinch  lies. 
Now,  suppose  that  I  run  round  this  island  of  yours,  and  get 
into  the  roadstead  at  Stromness?  We  could  get  what  we  want 
put  on  board  there,  without  Kirkwall  or  the  provost  seeming 
to  have  any  hand  in  it;  or,  if  it  should  be  ever  questioned, 
your  want  of  force  and  our  superior  strength  will  make  a 
sufficient  apology." 

"That  may  be."  said  the  provost;  "but,  if  I  suffer  you  to 
leave  your  present  station  and  go  elsewhere,  I  must  have  some 
security  that  you  will  not  do  harm  to  the  countr}'." 


THE  PIRATE.  365 

"  And  we,"  said  Cleveland,  ''  must  have  some  sccurily,  on 
otir  side,  that  you  will  not  detain  us,  by  dribbling  out  our 
time,  till  the  '  Halcyon  '  is  on  the  coast.  Now,  I  am  myself 
perfectly  willing  to  continue  on  shore  as  a  hostage,  on  the 
one  side,  provided  you  will  give  me  your  word  not  to  betray 
me,  and  send  some  magistrate,  or  some  person  of  con- 
sequence, aboard  the  sloop,  where  his  safety  will  be  a  guar- 
antee for  mine." 

The  jirovost  shook  his  liead.  and  intimated  it  would  be  diffi- 
cult to  find  a  person  willing  to  place  himself  as  hostage  in 
such  a  perilous  condition;  but  said  he  would  propose  the 
arrangement  to  such  of  the  council  as  were  fit  to  be  trusted 
with  a  matter  of  such  weight. 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 

I  left  my  poor  plow  to  go  plowing  the  deep! 

— DiBDIN. 

When  the  provost  and  Cleveland  had  returned  into  the 
public  council-room,  the  former  retired  a  second  time  with 
such  of  his  brethren  as  he  thought  proper  to  advise  with; 
and,  while  they  were  engaged  in  discussing  Cleveland's  pro- 
posal, refreshments  were  offered  to  him  and  his  party.  These 
the  captain  permitted  his  people  to  partake  of,  but  with  the 
greatest  precaution  against  surprisal,  one  party  relieving  the 
guard  whilst  the  others  were  at  their  food. 

He  himself,  in  the  meanwhile,  walked  up  and  down  the 
apartment,  and  conversed  upon  indifferent  subjects  with 
those  present,  like  a  person  quite  at  his  ease. 

Amongst  those  individuals  he  saw,  somewhat  to  his  surprise, 
Triptolemus  Yellowley,  who,  chancing  to  be  at  Kirkwall,  had 
been  summoned  by  the  magistrates,  as  representative,  in  a 
certain  degree,  of  the  Lord  Chamberlain,  to  attend  council  on 
this  occasion.  Cleveland  immediately  renewed  the  acquaint- 
ance which  he  had  formed  with  the  agriculturist  at  Burgh- 
Westra,  and  asked  him  his  present  business  in  Orkney. 

"  Just  to  look  after  some  of  my  little  plans,  Captain  Cleve- 
land. I  am  weary  of  fighting  with  wild  beasts  at  Ephesus 
yonder,  and  I  just  cam  ower  to  see  how  my  orchard  was  thriv- 
ing, whilk  I  had  planted  four  or  five  miles  from  Kirkwall,  it 
may  be  a  year  bygane,  and  how  the  bees  were  thriving, 
whereof  I  had  imported  nine  skeps,  for  the  improvement  of 
the  country,  and  for  the  turning  of  the  heather-bloom  into 
wax  and  honey." 

"And  they  thrive,  I  hope?"  said  Cleveland,  who,  however 
little  interested  in  the  matter,  sustained  the  conversation,  as 
if  to  break  the  chilly  and  embarrassed  silence  wliich  hung 
upon  the  company  assembled. 

"Thrive!"  replied  Triptolemus;  "they  thrive  like  every- 
thing else  in  this  country,  and  that  is  the  backward  way." 

"Want  of  care,  I  suppose?"  said  Cleveland. 

"  The  contrary,  sir — quite  and  clean  the  contrary,"  replied 
the  factor;  "  they  died  of  ower  muckle  care,  like  Lucky 
Christie's  chickens.     I  asked  to  see  the  skeps,  and  cunning 


THE  PIliATE.  367 

and  joyful  did  the  fallo\V  look  who  was  to  have  taken  care  of 

them.  "  Had  there  been  onybody  in  charge  but  niytell,'  he 
said,  '  ye  might  have  seen  the  skeps,  or  whatever  you  ca' 
them;  but  there  wad  hae  been  as  mouy  solan-geese  as  flees  in 
them,  if  it  hadua  been  for  my  four  quarters;  for  I  watched 
them  so  closely,  that  1  saw  them  a'  creeping  out  at  the  little 
holes  one  sunny  morning,  and  if  1  had  not  stopped  the  leak 
on  the  instant  with  a  bit  clay,  the  deil  a  bee,  or  flee,  or  what- 
ever they  are,  would  have  been  left  in  the  skeps,  as  ye  ca' 
them! '  In  a  word,  sir,  he  had  clagged  up  the  hives,  as  if  the 
puir  things  had  had  the  pestilence,  and  my  bees  were  as  dead 
as  if  they  had  been  smeaked;  and  so  ends  my  hope  '  generandi 
gloria  niellis,'  as  Virgilius  hath  it." 

"  There  is  an  end  of  your  mead,  then,"  replied  Cleveland; 
"  but  what  is  your  chance  of  cider?  Hdw  does  the  orchard 
thrive?  " 

"  Oh,  Captain!  this  same  Solomon  of  the  Orcadian  Ophir — 
I  am  sure  no  man  need  to  send  thither  to  fetch  either  talents 
of  gold  or  talents  of  sense! — I  say,  this  wise  man  had  watered 
the  young  apple  trees,  in  his  great  tenderness,  Mith  hot  water, 
and  they  are  perished,  root  and  branch!  But  what  avails 
grieving?  And  I  vd^h.  you  would  tell  me.  instead,  what  is  all 
the  din  that  these  good  folks  are  making  about  pirates?  and 
what  for  all  these  ill-looking  men,  that  are  armed  like  so  mony 
Ilighlandmen,  assembled  in  the  judgment-chamber?  for  1  am 
just  come  from  the  other  side  of  the  island,  and  I  have  heard 
nothing  distinct  about  it.  And,  now  I  look  at  you  yoursell, 
captain,  I  think  you  have  mair  of  these  foolish  pistolets  about 
you  than  should  suffice  an  honest  man  in  quiet  times?  " 

"  And  so  I  think,  too,"  said  the  pacific  triton,  old  Haagen, 
who  had  been  an  unwilling  follower  of  the  daring  Montrose; 
"  if  you  had  been  in  the  Glen  of  Edderachyllis,  when  we  were 
sae  sair  worried  by  Sir  John  Woit}^ " 

"You  have  forgot  the  whole  matter,  neighbor  Haagen," 
said  the  factor;  "  Sir  John  Urry  was  on  your  side,  and  was 
ta'en  with  Montrose;  by  the  same  token,  he  lost  his  head." 

"  Did  he?  "  said  the  triton.  "  I  believe  you  may  be  right; 
for  he  changed  sides  mair  than  anes,  and  wha  kens  whilk  he 
died  for?  But  always  he  was  there,  and  so  was  I;  a  fight 
there  was,  and  I  never  wish  to  see  another! " 

The  entrance  of  the  provost  here  interrupted  their  desul- 
tory' conversation.  "  We  have  determined,"  he  said,  "  cap- 
tain, that  your  ship  shall  go  round  to  Stromness,  or  Sealpa 
Flow,  to  take  in  stores,  in  order  that  there  may  be  no  more 


368  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

quarrels  between  the  fair  folks  an3  your  seamen.  And  as 
you  wish  to  stay  on  shore  to  see  the  fair,  we  intend  to  send  a 
respectable  gentleman  on  board  your  vessel  to  pilot  her  round 
the  Mainland,  as  the  navigation  is  but  ticklish." 

"  Spoken  like  a  quiet  and  sensible  magistrate,  Mr.  Mayor," 
said  Cleveland,  "  and  no  otherwise  than  as  I  expected.  And 
what  gentleman  is  to  honor  our  quarter-deck  during  my 
absence  ?  " 

"  We  have  fixed  that,  too,  Captain  Cleveland,"  said  the 
provost;  "  you  may  be  sure  we  were  each  more  desirous  than 
another  to  go  upon  so  pleasant  a  voyage,  and  in  such  good 
coiapany;  but,  being  fair  time,  most  of  us  have  some  affairs 
in  hand.  I  myself,  in  respect  of  my  office,  cannot  l)e  well 
spared — the  eldest  bailie's  wife  is  lying-in — the  treasurer  doe 3 
not  agree  with  the  sea — two  bailies  have  the  gout — the  other 
two  are  absent  from  town — and  the  other  fifteen  members  of 
council  are  all  engaged  on  particular  business." 

"  All  that  I  can  tell  you,  Mr.  Mayor,"  said  Cleveland,  rais- 
ing his  voice,  "  is,  that  I  expect " 

"  A  moment's  patience,  if  you  please,  captain,"  said  the 
provost,  interrupting  him — "  So  that  we  have  come  to  the 
resolution  that  our  worthy  Mr.  Triptolemus  Yellowley,  who 
is  factor  to  the  Lord  Chamberlain  of  these  islands,  shall,  in 
respect  of  his  official  situation,  be  preferred  to  the  honor  and 
pleasure  of  accompanying  you." 

"Me!"  said  the  astonished  Triptolemus;  "what  the  devil 
should  I  do  going  on  your  voyages?  my  business  is  on  dry 
land." 

"  The  gentlemen  want  a  pilot,"  said  the  provost,  whimpering 
to  him,  "  and  there  is  no  eviting  to  give  them  one." 

"  Do  they  want  to  go  bump  on  shore,  then?  "  said  the  fac- 
tor; "  how  the  devil  should  I  pilot  them,  that  never  touched 
rudder  in  my  life?  " 

"  Hush! — hush! — be  silent!  "  said  the  provost;  "  if  the  peo- 
ple of  this  town  heard  you  say  such  a  word,  your  utility,  and 
respect,  and  rank,  and  everything  else,  is  clean  gone!  No 
man  is  anything  with  us  island  folks  unless  he  can  hand,  reef, 
and  steer.  Besides,  it  is  but  a  mere  form;  and  we  will  send 
old  Pate  Sinclair  to  help  you.  You  will  have  nothing  to  do 
but  to  eat,  drink,  and  be  merry  all  day." 

"Eat  and  drink!  "  said  the  factor,  not  able  to  comprehend 
exactly  why  this  piece  of  duty  was  pressed  upon  him  so 
hastily,  and  yet  not  very  cnpablo  of  re=istin<-  nv  -'r'^-^'-r-'^- 
himself  from  the  toils  of  the  more  knowing  provost — "  eat 


TtiE  PIRATE.  369 

and  drink!  That  is  all  very  well;  but,  to  speak  truth,  the  sea 
does  not  agree  with  me  any  more  than  with  the  treasurer, 
and  I  liave  always  a  better  appetite  for  eating  and  drinking 
ashore." 

"  Hush!  hush!  hush!  "  again  said  the  provost,  in  an  under- 
tone of  earnest  expostulation;  "  would  you  actually  ruin  your 
character  out  and  out?  A  factor  of  the  High  Chamberlain  of 
the  Isles  of  Orkney  and  Zetland,  and  not  like  the  sea!  you 
might  as  well  say  you  are  a  Highlander,  and  do  not  like 
whisky! " 

"  You  must  settle  it  somehow,  gentlemen."  said  Captain 
Cleveland;  "it  is  time  we  were  under  weigh.  Mr.  Trip- 
tolemus  Yellowley,  are  we  to  be  honored  with  your  com- 
pany ?  " 

"  I  am  sure,  Captain  Cleveland,"  stammered  the  factor,  "  I 
would  have  no  objection  to  go  anywhere  with  you,  only " 

"  He  has  no  objection,"  said  the  provost,  catching  at  the 
first  limb  of  the  sentence,  without  awaiting  the  conclusion. 

"  He  has  no  objection,"  cried  the  treasurer. 

"  He  has  no  objection,"  sung  out  the  whole  four  bailies 
together;  and  the  fifteen  councilors,  all  catching  up  the  same 
phrase  of  assent,  repeated  it  in  chorus,  with  the  additions  of 
—  "  good  man  "  —  "  public-spirited  "  —  "  honorable  gentle- 
man " — "  burgh  eternally  obliged  " — "  where  will  you  find 
such  a  worthy  factor?  "  and  so  forth. 

Astonished  and  confused  at  the  praises  with  whicli  he  was 
overwhelmed  on  all  sides,  and  in  no  shape  understanding  the 
nature  of  the  transaction  that  was  going  forward,  the  aston- 
ished and  overwhelmed  agriculturist  became  incapable  of  re- 
sisting the  part  of  the  Kirkwall  Curtius  thus  insiduously 
forced  upon  him,  and  was  delivered  up  by  Captain  Clevelanrl 
to  his  party,  with  the  strictest  injunctions  to  treat  him  with 
honor  and  attention.  Goffe  and  his  companions  began  now  to 
lead  him  off,  amid  the  applauses  of  the  whole  meeting,  after 
the  manner  in  which  the  victim  of  ancient  days  was  gar- 
landed and  greeted  by  shouts,  when  consigned  to  tlie  priests, 
for  the  purpose  of  being  led  to  the  altar  and  knocked  on  the 
head,  a  sacrifice  for  the  commonweal.  It  was  while  they  thu-^ 
conducted,  and  in  a  manner  forced,  him  out  of  tlie  council- 
chamber,  that  poor  Triptolemus,  much  alarmed  at  finding 
that  Cleveland,  in  whom  he  had  some  confidence,  was  to  re- 
main behind  the  party,  tried,  when  ju.st  goinc:  out  at  the  door. 
the  effect  of  one  remonstrating  bellow.  "  Xny.  but.  provo^l! 
captain!  bailies!  treasurer!  councilors!  if  Captain  Cleveland 


3^0  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

does  not  go  aboard  to  protect  me,  it  is  nae  bargain,  and  go  I 
will  not,  unless  1  am  trailed  with  cart-ropes!  " 

His  protest  was,  however,  drowned  in  the  unanimous 
chorus  of  the  magistrates  and  councilors,  returning  him 
thanks  for  his  public  spirit — wishing  him  a  gogd  voyage — 
and  praying  to  Heaven  for  his  happy  and  speedy  reiurn. 
Stunned  and  overwhelmed,  and  thinking,  if  he  had  any  dis- 
tinct thoughts  at  all,  that  remonstrance  was  vain,  where 
friends  and  strangers  seemed  alike  determined  to  carry  the 
point  against  him,  Triptolemus,  without  farther  resistance, 
suffered  himself  to  be  conducted  into  the  street,  where  the 
pirate's  boat's  crew,  assembling  around  him,  began  to  move 
slowly  towards  the  quay,  many  of  the  townsfolk  following 
out  of  curiosity,  but  without  any  attempt  at  interference  or 
annoyance;  for  the  pacific  compromise  which  the  dexterity  of 
the  tirst  magistrate  had  achieved  was  unanimously  approved 
of  as  a  much  better  settlement  of  the  disputes  betwixt  them 
and  the  strangers  than  might  have  been  attained  by  the  dubi- 
ous issue  of  an  appeal  to  arms. 

Meanwhile,  as  they  went  slowly  along,  Triptolemus  had 
time  to  study  the  appearance,  countenance,  and  dress  of  those 
into  whose  hands  he  had  been  thus  delivered,  and  began  to 
imagine  that  he  read  in  their  looks  not  only  the  general  ex- 
pression of  a  desperate  character,  but  some  sinister  intentions 
directed  particularly  toward  himself.  He  was  alarmed  by 
the  truculent  looks  of  Goffe,  in  particular,  who,  holding  his 
arm  with  a  gripe  which  resembled  in  delicacy  of  touch  the 
compression  of  a  smith's  vice,  cast  on  him  from  the  outer 
corner  of  his  eye  oblique  glances,  like  those  which  the  eagle 
throws  upon  the  prey  which  she  has  clutched,  ere  yet  she 
proceeds,  as  it  is  technically  called,  to  plume  it.  At  length 
Yellowley's  fears  got  so  far  the  better  of  his  prudence  that  he 
fairly  asked  his  terrible  conductor,  in  a  sort  of  crying  whisper, 
"  Are  you  going  to  murder  me,  captain,  in  the  face  of  the 
laws  baith  of  God  and  man?  " 

"  Hold  your  peace,  if  you  are  wise,"  said  Goffe,  who  had  his 
own  reasons  for  desiring  to  increase  the  panic  of  his  captive: 
"  we  have  not  murdered  a  man  these  three  months,  and  why 
should  you  put  us  in  mind  of  it?  " 

*'  You  are  but  joking,  I  hope,  good  worthy  captain!  "  re- 
plied Triptolemus.  "  This  is  worse  than  witches,  dwarfs, 
dirking  of  whales,  and  couping  of  cobles,  put  all  together! — 
this  is  an  away-ganging  crop,  with  a  vengeance!  What  good, 
in  Heaven's  name,  would  murdering  me  do  to  you?  " 


THE  PIRATE,  371 

"  We  might  have  some  pleasure  in  it,  at  least,"  said  Goffe. 
"  Look  these  fellows  in  the  face,  and  see  if  you  see  one  among 
them  that  would  not  rather  kill  a  man  than  let  it  .alone? 
But  we  will  speak  more  of  that  when  you  have  first  had  a 
taste  of  the  bilboes — unless,  indeed,  you  come  down  with  a 
handsome  round  handful  of  Chili  boards  *  for  your  ransom." 
"  As  I  shall  live  by  bread,  captain,"  answered  the  factor, 
"  that  misbegotten  dwarf  has  carried  off  the  whole  hornful  of 
silver!  " 

"  A  cat-and-nine-tails  will  make  you  find  it  again,"  said 
Goffe  gruffly;  "  flogging  and  pickling  is  an  excellent  receipt 
to  bring  a  man's  wealth  into  his  mind;  twdsting  a  bowstring 
round  his  skull  till  the  eyes  start  a  little  is  a  very  good  re- 
membrancer too." 

"Captain,"  replied  Yellowley  stoutly,  "I  have  no  money; 
seldom  can  improvers  have.  We  turn  pasture  to  tillage,  and 
barley  into  aits,  and  heather  into  greensward,  and  the  poor 
'  yarpha,'  as  the  benighted  creatures  here  call  their  peat- 
bogs, into  baittle  grass-land;  but  we  seldom  make  an}i:hing  of 
it  that  comes  back  to  our  ain  pouch.  The  carles  and  the 
cart-avers  make  it  all,  and  the  carles  and  the  cart-avers  eat  it 
all,  and  the  deil  clink  doun  with  it !  " 

"  -\Vell — well,"  said  Goffe,  "  if  you  be  really  a  poor  fellow, 
as  you  pretend,  I'll  stand  your  friend  ";  then,  inclining  his 
head  so  as  to  reach  the  ear  of  the  factor,  who  stood  on  tiptoe 
with  anxiety,  he  said,  "  If  you  love  your  life,  do  not  enter  the 
boat  with  us." 

"  But  how  am  I  to  get  away  from  you,  while  you  hold  me 
so  fast  by  the  arm  that  I  could  not  get  off  if  the  whole  year's 
crop  of  Scotland  depended  on  it?  " 

"Hark  ye,  you  gudgeon,"  said  Goffe,  "just  when  you 
come  to  the  water's  edge,  and  when  the  fellows  are  jumping  in 
and  taking  their  oars,  slue  yourself  round  suddenly  to  the  lar- 
]t)oard — I  will  let  go  your  arm — and  then  cut  and  run  for  your 
life! "  ,      ^ 

Triptolemus  did  as  he  was  desired,  Goffe's  willing  hand 
relaxed  the  grasp  as  he  had  promised,  the  agriculturist  tran- 
dled  off  like  a  football  that  had  just  received  a  strong  im- 
pulse from  the  foot  of  one  of  the  players,  and,  with  celerity 
which  surprised  himself  as  well  as  all  beholders,  fled  through 
the  town  of  Kirkwall.  Nay,  such  was  the  impetus  of  his  re- 
treat that,  as  if  the  grasp  of  the  pirate  was  still  open  to  pounce 
upon  liini,  he  never  sto])ped  till  he  had  traverse.!  the  whole 

•  Commonly  called  by  landsmen  Spauieh  dollars. 


872  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

town  and  attained  the  open  country  on  the  other  side.  They 
who  had  seen  him  that  day — his  hat  and  wig  lost  in  the  sud- 
den eifort  he  had  made  to  bolt  forward,  his  cravat  awry,  and 
his  waistcoat  unbuttoned — and  who  had  an  opportunity  of 
comparing  his  round  spherical  form  and  short  legs  with  the 
portentous  speed  at  which  he  scoured  through  the  street, 
might  well  say  that,  if  fury  ministers  arms,  fear  confers 
wings.  His  very  mode  of  running  seemed  to  be  that  peculiar 
to  his  fleecy  care,  for,  like  a  ram  in  the  midst  of  his  race,  he 
ever  and  anon  encouraged  himself  by  a  great  bouncing  at- 
tempt at  a  leap,  though  there  were  no  obstacles  in  his  way. 

There  was  no  pursuit  after  the  agriculturist;  and  though  a 
musket  or  two  were  presented,  for  the  purpose  of  sending  a 
leaden  messenger  after  him,  yet  Goffe,  turning  peacemaker 
for  once  in  his  life,  so  exaggerated  the  dangers  that  would 
attend  a  breach  of  the  truce  with  the  people  of  Kirkwall, 
that  he  prevailed  upon  the  boat's  crew  to  forbear  any  active 
hostilities,  and  to  pull  off  for  their  vessel  with  all  dispatch. 

The  burghers,  who  regarded  the  escape  of  Triptolemus  as 
a  triumph  on  their  side,  gave  the  boat  three  cheers  by  way  of 
an  insulting  farewell;  while  the  magistrates,  on  the  other 
hand,  entertained  great  anxiety  respecting  the  probable  con- 
sequences of  this  breach  of  articles  between  them  and  the 
pirates;  and,  could  they  have  seized  upon  the  fugitive  very 
privately,  instead  of  complimenting  him  with  a  civic  feast  in 
honor  of  the  agility  which  he  displayed,  it  is  likely  they  might 
have  delivered  the  runaway  hostage  once  more  into  the  hands 
of  his  foemen.  But  it  was  impossible  to  set  their  face  pub- 
licly to  such  an  act  of  violence,  and  therefore  they  contented 
themselves  with  closely  watching  Cleveland,  whom  they  de- 
termined to  make  responsible  for  any  aggression  which  might 
be  attempted  by  the  pirates.  Cleveland,  on  his  part,  easily 
conjectured  that  the  motive  which  Goffe  had  for  suffering  the 
hostage  to  escape  was  to  leave  him  answerable  for  all  conse- 
quences, and,  relying  more  on  the  attachment  and  intelligence 
of  his  friend  and  adherent,  Frederick  Altamont,  alias  Jack 
Bunce,  than  on  anything  else,  expected  the  result  with  con- 
siderable anxiety,  since  the  magistrates,  though  they  con- 
tinued to  treat  him  with  civility,  plainly  intimated  they  would 
regulate  his  treatment  by  the  behavior  of  the  crew,  though  he 
no  longer  commanded  them. 

It  was  not,  however,  without  some  reason  that  he  reckoned 
on  the  devoted  fidelity  of  Bunce;  for  no  sooner  did  that  trusty 
adherent  receive  from  Goffe  and  the  boat's  crew  the  news  of 


THE  PIRATE.  378 

the  escape  of  Triptolenms,  than  he  immfdiately  concluded  it 
had  been  favored  by  the  late  captain,  in  order  that,  Cleveland 
being  either  put  to  death  or  consigned  to  hopeless  im])rison- 
ment,  Goffe  might  be  called  upon  to  resume  the  command  of 
the  vessel. 

"  But  the  drunken  old  boatswain  shall  miss  his  mark,"  said 
Bunce  to  his  confederate  Fletcher:  "  or  else  I  am  contented  to 
quit  the  name  of  Altamont,  and  be  called  Jack  Bunco,  or 
Jack  Dunce,  if  you  like  it  better,  to  the  end  of  the  chapter." 

Availing  himself  accordingly  of  a  sort  of  nautical  elo- 
quence, which  his  enemies  termed  slack-Jaw,  Bunce  set  before 
the  crew,  in  a  most  animated  manner,  the  disgrace  which  tliev 
all  sustained  by  their  captain  remaining,  as  he  was  pleased  to 
term  it,  in  the  bilboes,  without  any  hostage  to  answer  for  hi> 
safety;  and  succeeded  so  far  that,  besides  exciting  a  good  deal 
of  discontent  against  Goffe,  he  brought  the  crew  to  the  reso- 
lution of  seizing  the  first  vessel  of  a  tolerable  appearance,  and 
declaring  that  the  ship,  crew,  and  cargo  slioulrl  be  dealt  with 
according  to  the  usage  which  Cleveland  should  receive  on 
shore.  It  was  judged  at  the  same  time  proper  to  try  the  fa'th 
of  the  Orcadians,  by  removing  from  the  roadstead  of  Kirk- 
wall, and  going  round  to  that  of  Stromness.  where,  accord 'n^ 
to  the-  treaty  betwixt  Provost  Torfe  and  Captain  Cleveland, 
they  were  to  victual  their  sloop.  They  resolved,  in  the  mean- 
time, to  intrust  the  command  of  the  vessel  to  a  council,  con- 
sisting of  Goffe,  the  boatswain,  and  Bunce  himself,  until 
Cleveland  should  be  in  a  situation  to  resume  his  command. 

These  resolutions  having  been  proposed  and  acceded  t-i, 
they  weighed  anchor  and  got  their  sloop  under  sail,  without 
experiencing  any  opposition  or  annoyance  from  the  battery. 
v>hich  relieved  them  of  one  important  apprehension  incidental 
to  their  situation. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

Olftp  on  more  sail,  pursue,  up  with  your  fights, 
Give  fire— she  is  my  prize,  or  ocean  whelm  them  all! 

— Shakspeee. 

A  VEEY  handsome  brig,  which,  with  several  other  vessels, 
was  the  property  of  Magnus  Troil,  the  great  Zetland  Udaller, 
had  received  on  board  that  magnate  himself,  his  two  lovely 
daughters,  and  the  facetious  Claud  Halcro,  who,  for  friend- 
ship's sake  chiefly,  and  the  love  of  beauty  proper  to  his  poet- 
ical caJling,  attended  them  on  their  journey  from  Zetland  to 
the  capital  of  Orkney,  to  which  Noma  had  referred  them,  as 
the  place  where  her  mystical  oracles  should  at  length  receive 
a  satisfactory  explanation. 

They  passed,  at  a  distance,  the  tremendous  cliffs  of  the 
lonely  spot  of  earth  called  the  Fair  Isle,  which,  at  an  equal 
distance  from  either  archipelago,  lies  in  the  sea  which  divides 
Orkney  from  Zetland;  and  at  length,  after  some  baffling 
winds,  made  the  Start  of  Sanda.  Off  the  headland  so  named, 
they  became  involved  in  a  strong  current,  well  known,  by 
those  who  frequent  these  seas,  as  the  Roost  of  the  Start,  which 
carried  them  considerably  out  of  their  course,  and,  joined  to 
an  adverse  wind,  forced  them  to  keep  on  the  east  side  of  the 
island  of  Stronsa,  and  finally  compelled  them  to  lie  by  for 
the  night  in  Papa  Sound,  since  the  navigation  in  dark  or 
thick  weather,  amongst  so  many  low  islands,  is  neither  pleas- 
ant nor  safe. 

On  the  ensuing  morning  they  resumed  their  voyage  under 
more  favorable  auspices;  and,  coasting  along  the  island  of 
Stronsa,  whose  flat,  verdant,  and  comparatively  fertile  shores 
formed  a  strong  contrast  to  the  dun  hills  and  dark  cliffs  of 
their  own  islands,  they  doubled  the  cape  called  the  Lamb 
Head,  and  stood  away  for  Kirkwall. 

They  had  scarce  opened  the  beautiful  bay  betwixt  Pomona 
and  Shapinsha,  and  the  sisters  were  admiring  the  massive 
church  of  St.  Magnus,  as  it  was  first  seen  to  rise  from  amongst 
the  inferior  buildings  of  Kirkwall,  when  the  eyes  of  Magnus 
and  of  Claud  Halcro  were  attracted  by  an  object  which  they 
thought  more  interesting.  This  was  an  armed  sloop,  with 
her  sails  set,  which  had  just  left  the  anchorage  in  the  bay, 

374 


THE  PIIiATE.  375 

and  was  running  before  the  wind  by  which  the  brig  of  the 
Udaller  was  beating  in. 

"  A  tight  thing  tliat,  by  my  ancestors'  bones!  "  said  the  old 
Udaller;  "  but  1  cannot  make  out  of  what  country,  as  she 
shows  no  colors.     Spanish  built,  I  should  think  her." 

"  Aye — aye,"  said  Claud  Halcro, ''  she  has  all  the  look  of  it. 
She  runs  before  the  wind  that  we  must  battle  with,  which  is 
the  wonted  way  of  the  world.     As  glorious  John  says: 

"  With  roomy  deck,  and  guns  of  mighty  strength, 

Whose  low-laid  mouths  each  mountain  billow  layes, 
Deep  in  her  draught,  and  warlike  in  her  length, 
She  seems  a  sea-wasp  flying  on  the  waves." 

Brenda  could  not  help  telling  Halcro,  when  he  had  spouted 
this  stanza  with  great  enthusiasm,  "  That  though  the  de- 
scription was  more  like  a  first-rate  than  a  sloop,  yet  the  simile 
of  the  sea-wasp  served  but  indifferently  for  either." 

'•  A  sea-wasp!  "  said  Magnus,  looking  with  some  surprise,  as 
the  sloop,  shifting  her  course,  suddenly  bore  down  on  them. 
"  Egad,  I  wish  she  may  not  show  us  presently  that  she  has  a 
sting!  " 

What  the  Udaller  said  in  Jest  was  fulfilled  in  earnest;  for, 
without  hoisting  colors  or  hailing,  two  shots  were  discharged 
from  the  sloop,  one  of  which  ran  dipping  and  dancing  upon 
the  water  just  ahead  of  the  Zetlander's  bows,  while  the  other 
went  through  his  mainsail. 

Magnus  caught  up  a  speaking-trumpet  and  hailed  the  sloop, 
to  demand  what  she  was  and  what  was  the  meaning  of  this 
unprovoked  aggression.  He  -n'^s  only  answered  by  the  stern 
command,  "Down  topsails  instantly,  and  lay  your  mainsail 
to  the  mast;  you  shall  see  who  we  are  presently." 

There  were  no  means  within  the  reach  of  possibility  by 
which  obedience  could  be  evaded,  where  it  would  instantly 
have  been  enforced  by  a  broadside;  and,  with  much  fear  on 
the  part  of  the  sisters  and  Claud  Halcro,  mixed  with  anger 
and  astonishment  on  that  of  the  Udaller,  the  brig  lay-to  to 
await  the  commands  of  the  captors. 

The  sloop  immediately  lowered  a  boat,  with  six  armed 
hands,  commanded  by  Jack  IJunce,  which  rowed  dire.ily  for 
their  prize.  As  thev  "approached  her.  Claud  Halcro  whispered 
to  the  Udaller,  "  If  what  we  hear  of  buccaniers  be  true,  these 
men,  with  their  silk  scarfs  and  vests,  have  the  very  cut  of 
them." 

"  My  daughters!  my  daughters!  "  nmttered  Magnus  to  lum- 


376  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

self,  with  such  an  agony  as  only  a  father  could  feel.  "  Go 
down  below  and  hide  yourselves,  girls,  while  I " 

He  threw  down  his  speaking-trumpet,  and  seized  on  a  hand- 
spike, while  his  daughters,  more  afraid  of  the  consequences 
of  his  fiery  temper  to  himself  than  of  anything  else,  hung 
round  him  and  begged  him  to  make  no  resistance.  Claud 
Halcro  united  liis  entreaties,  adding,  "  It  were  best  pacify  the 
fellows  with  fair  words.  They  might,"  he  said,  "  be  J3un- 
kirkers,  or  insolent  man-of-war's-men  on  a  frolic." 

"  No — no,"  answered  Magnus,  "  it  is  the  sloop  which  the 
jagger  told  us  of.  But  I  will  take  your  advice:  I  will  have 
patience  for  these  girls'  sakes;  yet " 

He  had  no  time  to  conclude  the  sentence,  for  Bunce  jumped 
on  board  with  his  party,  and  drawing  his  cutlass,  struck  it 
upon  the  companion-ladder  and  declared  the  ship  was  theirs. 

"  By  what  warrant  or  authority  do  you  stop  us  on  the  high 
seas?"  said  Magnus. 

"  Here  are  half  a  dozen  of  warrants,"  said  Bunce,  showing 
the  pistols  which  were  hung  round  him,  according  to  a  pirate 
fashion  already  mentioned,  "  choose  which  you  like,  old  gen- 
tleman, and  you  shall  have  the  perusal  oi  it  presently." 

"  That  is  to  say,  you  intend  to  rob  us?  "  said  Magnus.  "  So 
be  it — we  have  no  means  to  help  it — only  be  civil  to  the 
women,  and  take  what  you  please  from  the  vessel.  There  ia 
not  much,  but  I  will  and  can  make  it  worth  more  if  you  use 
us  well." 

"  Civil  to  the  women! "  said  Fletcher,  who  had  also  come 
on  board  with  the  gang — "  when  were  we  else  than  civil  to 
them?  aye,  and  kind  to  boot?    Look  here.  Jack  Bunce!  what  a 

trim-going  little  thing  here  is!     By  G ,  she  shall  make  a 

cruise  with  us,  come  of  old  Squaretoes  what  will!  " 

He  seized  upon  the  terrified  Brenda  with  one  hand,  and 
insolently  pulled  back  with  the  other  the  hood  of  the  man- 
tle in  which  she  had  muffled  herself. 

"  Help,  father! — help,  Minna! "  exclaimed  the  afTrighted 
girl;  unconscious,  at  the  moment,  that  they  were  unable  to 
render  her  assistance. 

Magnus  again  uplifted  the  handspike,  but  Bunce  stoppod 
his  hand.  "  Avast,  father!  "  he  said.  "  or  you  will  make  a  bad 
voyage  of  it  presently.     And  you,  Fletcher,  let  go  the  girl!  " 

"And    d n    me!    why    should    I    let    her    go?"    said 

Fletcher. 

"  Because  I  command  you,  Dick,"  said  the  other,  "  and  be- 
cause I'll  make  it  a  quarrel  else.     And  now  let  me  know,  beau- 


Sir  Walter  Scott  in   his  stutiy    (Castle  street,  Edinburgh.) 


THE  PIRATE.  311 

ties,  is  there  one  of  you  bears  that  queer  heaihen  name  of 
Minna,  for  which  I  have  a  certain  sort  of  repani  ?  " 

"  Gallant  sir!  "  said  Ilalcro,  ''  unquestionably  it  is  because 
you  have  some  poetry  in  your  heart." 

"  I  have  had  enough  of  it  in  my  mouth  in  my  time,"  an- 
swered Bunce;  '"'  but  that  day  is  by,  old  gentleman;  however, 
I  shall  soon  find  out  which  of  these  girls  is  Minna.  Throw 
back  your  mutUings  from  your  faces,  and  don't  be  afraid,  my 
Linda.miras:  no  one  here  shall  meddle  with  you  to  do  you 
wrong.  On  my  soul,  two  pretty  wenches!  I  wish  I  were  at 
sea  in  an  egg-shell,  and  a  rock  under  my  lee-bow,  if  I  wouhl 
wish  a  better  leaguer-lass  than  the  worst  of  them!  Hark  you, 
my  girls;  which  of  you  would  like  to  swing  in  a  rover's  ham- 
mock? you  should  have  gold  for  the  gathering!  " 

The  terrified  maidens  clung  close  together,  ami  grew 
pale  at  the  bold  and  familiar  language  of  the  desperate 
libertine. 

"  Xay,  don't  be  frightened,"  said  he;  "  no  one  shall  servo 
under  the  noble  Altamont  but  by  her  owm  free  choice:  there 
is  no  pressing  amongst  gentlemen  of  fortune.  And  do  not 
look  so  shy  rpon  me  neither,  as  if  I  spoke  of  what  you  never 
thought  before.  One  of  you,  at  least,  has  heard  of  Captain 
Cleveland,  the  rover." 

Brenda  grew  still  paler,  but  the  blood  mounted  at  once  in 
Minna's  cheeks,  on  hearing  the  name  of  her  lover  thus  unex- 
pectedly introduced;  for  the  scene  was  in  itself  so  confound- 
ing that  the  idea  of  the  vessel's  being  the  consort  of  which 
Cleveland  had  spoken  at  Burgh-Westra  had  occurred  to  no 
one  save  the  Udaller. 

"  I  see  l)ow  it  is,"  said  Bunce,  with  a  familiar  nod,  "  and  I 
will  hold  my  course  accordingly.  You  need  not  be  afraid  of 
any  injury,  father,"  he  added,  addre>sing  Magnus  familiarly; 
"  and  though  I  have  made  many  a  pretty  girl  pay  tribute  in 
my  time,  yet  yours  shall  go  ashore  without  either  wrong  or 
ransom." 

"  If  you  will  assure  me  of  that,"  said  Magnus.  "  you  are  as 
welcome  to  the  brig  and  cargo  as  ever  I  made  man  wcicome 
to  a  can  of  punch." 

"  And  it  is  no  bad  thing  that  same  can  of  punch."  said 
Bunce,  "if  we  had  anvone  here  that  could  mix  it  well." 

"  I  will  do  it,"  said  Claud  Halcro,  "  with  any  man  that  ever 
squeezed  lemon — Eric  Scambester.  the  punch-maker  of 
Burgh-Westra,  being  alone  excepted." 

"And  you  are  within  a  grapnel's  length  of  him,  too,"  said 


378  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS. 

the  Udaller.  "  Go  down  below,  my  girls,"  he  added,  "  and 
send  up  the  rare  old  man  and  the  punch-bowl." 

"The  punch-bowl!"  said  Fletcher;  "I  say,  the  bucket, 
d n  me!  Talk  of  bowls  in  the  cabin  of  a  paltry  merchant- 
man, but  not  to  gentlemen  strollers — rovers,  I  would  say," 
correcting  himself,  as  he  observed  that  Bunce  looked  sour  at 
the  mistake. 

"  And  I  say,  these  two  pretty  girls  shall  stay  on  deck  and 
fill  my  can,"  said  Bunce;  "  I  deserve  some  attendance,  at  least, 
for  all  my  generosity." 

"  And  they  shall  fill  mine,  too,"  said  Fletcher — "  they  shall 
fill  it  to  the  brim!  and  I  will  have  a  kiss  for  every  drop  they 
spill — broil  me  if  I  won't!  " 

"  Why,  then,  I  tell  you,  you  shan't!  "  said  Bunce;  "  for  I'll 

be  d d  if  anyone  shall  kiss  Minna  but  one,  and  that's. 

neither  you  nor  I;  and  her  other  little  bit  of  a  consort  shall 
'scape  for  company;  there  are  plenty  of  willing  wenches  in 
Orkney.  And  so,  now  I  think  on  it,  these  girls  shall  go  down 
below  and  bolt  themselves  into  the  cabin;  and  we  shall  have 
the  punch  up  here  on  deck,  '  al  fresco,'  as  the  old  gentkman 
proposes." 

"  Why,  Jack,  I  wish  you  knew  your  own  mind,"  said 
Fletcher;  "  I  have  been  your  messmate  these  two  year.-,  and  I 
love  you;  and  yet  flay  me  like  a  wild  bullock,  if  you  have  not 
as  many  humors  as  a  monkey!  And  what  shall  we  have  to 
make  a  little  fun  of,  since  you  have  sent  the  girls  down 
below?" 

"  Why,  we  will  have  Master  Punch-maker  here,"  answered 
Bunce,  "  to  give  us  toasts  and  sing  us  songs.  And,  in  the 
meantime,  you  there,  stand  by  sheets  and  tacks,  and  get  her 
under  way!  and  you,  steersman,  as  you  would  keep  your  brains 
in  your  skull,  keep  her  under  the  stem  of  the  sloop.  If  you 
attempt  to  play  us  any  trick,  I  will  scuttle  your  sconce  as  if 
it  were  an  old  calabash!  " 

The  vessel  was  accordingly  got  under  way,  and  moved 
slowly  on  in  the  wake  of  the  sloop,  which,  as  had  been  pre- 
viously agreed  upon,  held  her  course,  not  to  return  to  the 
Bay  of  Kirkwall,  but  for  an  excellent  roadstead  called  Inga- 
ness  Bay,  formed  by  a  promontory  which  extends  to  the  east- 
ward two  or  three  miles  from  the  Orcadian  metropolis,  and 
where  the  vessels  might  conveniently  lie  at  anchor,  while  the 
rovers  maintained  any  communication  with  the  magistrates 
which  the  new  state  of  things  seemed  to  require. 

Meantime,  Claud  Ilalcro  had  exerted  his  utmost  talents  in 


THE  PIRATE.  379 

compounding  a  bucketful  of  punch  for  the  use  of  the  pirates, 
which  they  drank  out  of  large  cans;  the  ordinary  seaineu,  as 
well  as  Bunce  and  Fletcher,  who  acted  as  officers,  dipping 
them  into  the  bucket  with  very  little  ceremony,  as  they  came 
and  went  upon  their  duty.  Magnus,  who  was  particularly 
apprehensive  that  liquor  might  awaken  the  brutal  passions  of 
these  desperadoes,  was  yet  so  much  astonished  at  the  quanti- 
ties which  he  saw  them  drink,  without  producing  any  visible 
effect  upon  their  reason,  that  he  could  not  help  expressing 
his  surprise  to  Bunce  himself,  who,  wild  as  he  was,  yet  ap- 
peared by  far  the  most  civil  and  conversable  of  his  party,  anl 
whom  he  was,  perhaps,  desirous  to  conciliate  by  a  compliment 
of  which  all  boon  topers  know  the  value. 

"  Bones  of  St.  Magnus!  "  said  the  Udaller,  "  I  used  to  th;nk 
I  took  off  my  can  like  a  gentleman;  but  to  see  your  men  swal- 
low, captain,  one  would  think  their  stomachs  were  as  bottom- 
less as  the  hole  of  Laifell  in  Fotila,  which  I  have  sounded 
myself  with  a  line  of  an  hundred  fathoms.  By  my  soul,  the 
bicker  of  St.  Magnus  were  but  a  sip  to  them!  " 

"  In  our  way  of  life,  sir,"  answered  Bunce,  "  there  is  no 
stint  till  duty  calls  or  the  puncheon  is  drunk  out." 

"  By  my  word,  sir,"  said  Claud  IJalcro,  ''  I  believe  there  is 
not  one  of  your  people  but  could  drink  out  the  mickle  bicker 
of  Scarpa,  which  was  always  offered  to  the  Bishop  of  Orkney 
brimful  of  the  best  bummock  that  ever  was  brewed." 

"  If  drinking  could  make  them  bishops,"  said  Bunce,  "  I 
should  have  a  reverend  crew  of  them;  but  as  they  have  no 
other  clerical  qualities  about  them,  I  do  not  propose  that  thev 
shall  get  drunk  to-day;  so  we  will  cut  our  drink  with  a  song." 

"  And  I'll  sing  it,  by !  "  said  or  swore  Dick  Fletcher, 

and  instantly  struck  up  the  old  ditty: 

"  It  was  a  ship,  and  a  ship  of  fame, 
Launch'd  oflf  tlie  stocks,  bound  for  the  main, 
With  an  hundred  and  fifty  brisk  young  men, 
All  pick'd  and  chosen  every  one." 

"  I  would  sooner  be  keel-hauled  than  hear  that  song  over 
again,"  said  Bunce;  "  and  confound  your  lantern  jaws,  you 
can  squeeze  nothing  else  out  of  them!  " 

"  By ,"  said  Fletcher,  "  I  will  sing  my  song,  whether 

you  like  it  or  no  ";  and  again  he  sung,  with  the  doleful  tone  of 
a  north-easter  whistling  through  sheet  and  shrouds: 

"  Captain  Glenn  was  our  captain's  name; 
A  very  gallant  and  brisk  young  man, 
As  bold  ft  sailor  as  e'l-r  went  to  Koa; 
And  we  were  bound  for  High  Earbary." 


380  WAVBRLET  NOVELS. 

"  I  tell  you  again,"  said  Bimce,  "  we  will  have  none  of  your 

screech-owl  music  here;  and  I'll  be  d d  if  you  shall  sit  here 

and  make  that  infernal  noise!  " 

"  Why,  then,  I'll  tell  you  what,"  said  Fletcher,  getting  up, 
*'  I'll  sing  when  I  walk  about,  and  I  hope  there  is  no  harm  in 
that,  Jack  Bunce."  And  so,  getting  up  from  his  seat,  he  be- 
gan to  walk  up  and  down  the  sloop,  croaking  out  his  long  and 
disastrous  ballad. 

"  You  see  how  I  manage  them,"  said  Bunce,  with  a  smile 
of  self-applause.  "  Allow  that  fellow  two  strides  on  his  own 
way,  and  you  make  a  mutineer  of  him  for  life;  but  I  tie 
him  strict  up,  and  he  follows  me  as  kindly  as  a  fowler's  spaniel 
after  he  has  got  a  good  beating.  And  now  your  toast  and 
your  song,  sir,"  addressing  Halcro;  "  or  rather  your  song  v.ith- 
out  your  toast.  I  have  got  a  toast  for  myself.  Here  is  suc- 
cess to  all  roving  blades,  and  confusion  to  all  honest  men!  " 

"  I  should  be  sorry  to  drink  that  toast,  if  I  could  help  it,"' 
said  Magnus  Troil. 

"  What!  you  reckon  yourself  one  of  the  honest  folks,  I 
warrant?  "  said  Bunce.  "  Tell  me  your  trade,  and  I'll  tell 
you  what  I  think  of  it.  As  for  the  punch-maker  here,  I  knew 
him  at  first  glance  to  be  a  tailor,  who  has,  therefore,  no  more 
pretensions  to  be  honest  than  he  has  not  to  be  mangy.  But 
you  are  some  High-Dutch  skipper,  I  warrant  me,  that  tram- 
ples on  the  cross  when  he  is  in  Japan,  and  denies  his  religion 
for  a  day's  gain." 

"  No,"  replied  the  Udaller,  "  I  am  a  gentleman  of  Zet- 
land." 

"  Oh,  what!  "  retorted  the  satirical  Mr.  Bunce,  "  you  are 
come  from  the  happy  climate  where  gin  is  a  groat  a  bottle, 
and  where  there  is  daylight  forever?  " 

"  At  your  service,  captain,"  said  the  Udaller,  suppressing 
with  much  pain  some  disposition  to  resent  these  jests  on  his 
country,  although  under  every  risk  and  at  all  disadvantace. 

"  At  my  service!  "  said  Bunce.  "  Aye,  if  there  was  a  rope 
stretched  from  the  wreck  to  the  beach,  you  would  be  at  my 
service  to  cut  the  hawser,  make  flotsome  and  jetsome  of  ship 
and  cargo,  and  well  if  you  did  not  give  me  a  rap  on  the  head 
with  the  back  of  the  cutty-ax;  and  you  call  yourself  honest! 
But  never  mind — here  goes  the  aforesaid  toast — and  do  you 
sing  me  a  song,  Mr.  Fashioner;  and  look  it  be  as  good  as  your 
punch." 

Halcro.  internally  praying  for  the  powers  of  a  new  Timo- 
theus,  to  turn  his  strain  and   check  his  auditor's  pride,  as 


THE  PIRATE.  381 

glorious  John  had  it,  began  a  heart-soothing  ditty  with  the 
following  lines: 

"  Maidens  fresh  as  fairest  rose, 
Listen  to  this  lay  of  mine." 

"  I  will  hear  nothing  of  maidens  or  roses,"  said  Bunce;  "  it 
puts  me  in  mind  what  sort  of  a  cargo  we  have  got  on  board; 
and,  by  ,  I  will  be  true  to  my  messmate  and  my  cap- 
tain as  long  as  I  can!  And  now  1  think  on't,  I'll  have  no 
more  punch  either;  that  last  cup  made  innovation,  and  1  am 
not  to  play  Cassio  to-night;  and  if  1  drink  not,  nobody  else 
shall." 

So  saying,  he  manfully  kicked  over  the  bucket,  which,  not- 
withstanding the  repeated  applications  made  to  it,  was  still 
half  full,  got  up  from  his  seat,  shook  himself  a  little  to  rights, 
as  he  expressed  it,  cocked  his  hat,  and,  walking  the  quarter- 
deck with  an  air  of  dignity,  gave,  by  word  and  signal,  the 
orders  for  bringing  the  ships  to  anchor,  which  were  readily 
obeyed  by  both,  Goffe  being  then,  in  all  probability,  past  any 
rational  state  of  interference. 

The  L'daller,  in  the  meantime,  condoled  with  Halcro  on 
their  situation.  "  It  is  bad  enough,"  said  the  tough  old 
Norseman,  "for  these  are  rank  rogues;  and  yet,  were  it  not 
for  the  girls,  I  should  not  fear  them.  That  young  vaporing 
fellow,  who  seems  to  command,  is  not  such  a  bom  devil  as  he 
might  have  been." 

"  He  has  queer  humors,  though,"  said  Halcro;  "  and  I  \\nsh 
we  were  loose  from  him.  To  kick  down  a  bucket  half  full  of 
the  best  punch  ever  was  made,  and  to  cut  me  short  in  the 
sweetest  song  I  ever  wrote — I  promise  you,  I  do  not  know 
what  he  may  do  next — it  is  next  door  to  madness." 

Meanwhile,  the  ships  being  brought  to  anchor,  the  valiant 
Lieutenant  Bunce  called  upon  Fletcher,  and,  resuming  his 
seat  by  his  unwilling  passengers,  he  told  them  they  should 
see  what  message  he  was  about  to  send  to  the  wittols  of  ICirk- 
wall,  as  they  were  something  concerned  in  it.  "  It  shall  run 
in  Dick's  name,"  he  said,  "  as  well  as  in  mine.  I  love  to  give 
the  poor  young  fellow  a  little  countenance  now  and  then — 
don't  I,  Dick,  you  d d  stupid  ass?  " 

"  Why,  yes.  Jack  Bunce,"  said  Dick,  "  I  can't  say  but  as 
you  do,  only  you  are  always  bullocking  one  about  something 
or  other,  too;  but,  howsomdever.  d'ye  see " 

"  Enough  said — belay  your  jaw,  Dick,"  said  Bunce.  and 
proceeded  to  write  his  epistle,  which,  being  read  aloud,  proved 


382  WAVEELEY  NOVELS. 

to  be  of  the  following  tenor:  "  For  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen 
of  Kirkwall — Gentlemen,  As,  contrary  to  your  good  faith 
given,  you  have  not  sent  us  on  board  a  hostage  for  the  safety 
of  our  captain,  remaining  on  shore  at  your  request,  these  come 
to  tell  you,  we  are  not  thus  to  be  trifled  with.  We  have 
already  in  our  possession  a  brig,  with  a  family  of  distinction, 
its  owners  and  passengers;  and  as  you  deal  with  our  captain, 
so  will  we  deal  with  them  in  every  respect.  And  as  this  is  the 
first,  so  assure  yourselves  it  shall  not  be  the  last,  damage 
which  we  will  do  to  your  town  and  trade,  if  you  do  not  send  on 
board  our  captain,  and  supply  us  with  stores  according  to 
treaty. 

"  Given  on  board  the  brig  '  Mergoose '  of  Burgh-AVestra. 
lying  in  Inganess  Bay.  Witness  our  hands,  commanders  of 
the  '  Fortune's  Favorite,'  and  gentlemen  adventui-ers." 

He  then  subscribed  himself  Frederick  Altamont,  and 
handed  the  letter  to  Fletcher,  who  read  the  said  subscription 
with  much  difficulty;  and,  admiring  the  sound  of  it  very 
much,  swore  he  would  have  a  new  name  himself,  and  the 
rather  that  Fletcher  was  the  most  crabbed  word  to  spell  and 
conster,  he  believed,  in  the  whole  dictionary.  He  subscribed 
himself  accordingly,  Timothy  Tugmutton. 

"  Will  you  not  add  a  few  lines  to  the  coxcombs? "  said 
Bunce,  addressing  Magnus. 

"  Not  I,"  returned  the  Udaller,  stubborn  in  his  ideas  of 
right  and  wrong,  even  in  so  formidable  an  emergency.  "  The 
magistrates    of    Kirkwall    know    their    duty,    and    were    I 

they "    But  here  the  recollection  that  his  daughters  were 

at  the  mercy  of  these  ruffians  blanked  the  bold  visage  of  Mag- 
nus Troil,  and  checked  the  defiance  which  was  just  about  to 
issue  from  his  lips. 

"  D n  me,"  said  Bunce,  who  easily  conjectured  what 

was  passing  in  the  mind  of  his  prisoner — "  that  pause  would 
have  told  well  on  the  stage:  it  would  have  brought  down  pit, 
box,  and  gallery,  egad,  as  Bayes  has  it." 

"  I  will  hear  nothing  of  Bayes,"  said  Claud  Halcro,  himself 
a  little  elevated,  "  it  is  an  impudent  satire  on  glorious  John; 
but  he  tickled  Buckingham  off  for  it — 

"  In  the  first  rank  of  these  did  Zimri  stand, 
A  man  so  various " 

"  Hold  your  peace!  "  said  Bunce,  drowning  the  voice  of  the 
admirer  of  Dryden  in  louder  and  more  vehement  asseveration, 
"  the  '  Kehearsal '  is  the  best  farce  ever  was  written;  and  I'll 


THE  PIRATE.                                       383 
make  him  kiss  the  runner's  daughter  that  denies  it.     D n 


me,  1  was  the  best  Prince  Prett}Tiiaii  ever  walked  the  boards  — 
"  Sometimes  a  fisher's  son,  sometimes  a  prince. 

But  let  US  to  business.  Hark  ye,  old  gentleman  (to  Magnus), 
you  have  a  sort  of  sulkiness  about  you,  for  which  sums  of  my 
profession  would  cut  your  ears  out  of  your  head,  and  broil 
them  for  your  dinner  with  red  pepper.  I  have  known  Goffe 
do  so  to  a  poor  devil,  for  looking  sour  and  dangerous  when  he 
saw  his  sloop  go  to  Davy  Jones'  locker  with  his  only  son  on 
board.  But  I'm  a  spirit  of  another  sort;  and  if  you  or  the 
ladies  are  ill-used,  it  shall  be  the  Earkwall  people's  fault,  and 
not  mine,  and  that's  fair;  and  so  you  had  better  let  them  know 
your  condition,  and  your  circumstances,  and  so  forth — and 
that's  fair,  too." 

Magnus,  thus  exhorted,  took  up  the  pen  and  attempted  to 
write;  but  his  high  spirit  so  struggled  with  his  paternal  anx- 
iety that  his  hand  refused  its  office.  "  I  cannot  help  it,"  he 
said,  after  one  or  two  illegible  attempts  to  write — "  I  cannot 
form  a  letter,  if  all  our  lives  depended  upon  it." 

And  he  could  not.  with  his  utmost  efforts,  so  suppress  the 
convulsive  emotions  w^hich  he  experienced,  but  that  they  agi- 
tated his  whole  frame.  The  wdllow  which  bends  to  the  tem- 
pest often  escapes  better  than  the  oak  which  resists  it;  and  so, 
in  great  calamities,  it  sometimes  happens  that  light  and  frivo- 
lous spirits  recover  their  elasticity  and  presence  of  mind  sooner 
than  those  of  a  loftier  character.  In  the  present  case.  Claud 
Halcro  was  fortunately  able  to  perform  the  task  which  the 
deeper  feelings  of  his  friend  and  patron  refused.  He  took  the 
pen,  and,  in  as  few^  words  as  possible,  explained  the  situation 
in  which  they  were  placed,  and  the  cruel  risks  to  which  they 
were  exposed,  insinuating  at  the  same  time,  as  delicately  as  he 
could  express  it,  that,  to  the  magistrate  of  the  country,  the 
life  and  honor  of  its  citizens  should  be  a  dearer  object  than 
even  the  apprehension  or  punishment  of  the  guilty;  taking 
care,  however,  to  qualify  the  last  expression  as  much  as  possi- 
ble, for  fear  of  giving  umbrage  co  the  pirates. 

Bunco  read  oVer  the  letter,  which  fortunately  met  his  ap- 
probation; and,  on  seeing  the  name  of  Claud  Halcro  at  the 
bottom,  he  exclaimed,  in  great  surprise,  and  with  more  ener- 
getic expressions  of  asseveration  than  we  chonse  to  re- 
cord: "  Why,  vou  are  the  little  fellow  that  played  the  fiddle  to 
old  Manager  Gadabout's  company,  at  Hogs  Norton,  the  first 


384  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

season  I  came  out  there!  I  thought  I  knew  your  catchword 
of  glorious  John." 

At  another  time  this  recognition  might  not  have  been  very 
gratrful  to  Halcro's  minstrel  pride;  but.  as  matters  stood  with 
him,  the  discovery  of  a  golden  mine  could  not  have  made  him 
more  happy.  He  instantly  remembered  the  very  hopeful 
young  performer  who  came  out  in  ''  Don  Sebastian,"  and 
judiciously  added,  that  the  muse  of  glorious  John  had  never 
received  such  excellent  support,  during  the  time  that  he  was 
first  (he  might  ha  ire  added,  and  only)  violin  to  Mr.  Gadabout's 
company. 

"  Why,  yes,"  aid  Bunce,  "  I  believe  you  are  right :  I  think 
I  might  have  shaken  the  scene  as  well  as  Booth  or  Better  ton 
either.  But  I  was  destined  to  figure  on  other  boards  (strik- 
ing his  foot  upon  the  deck),  and  I  believe  I  must  stick  by 
them  till  I  find  no  board  at  all  to  support  me.  But  now. 
old  acquaintance,  I  will  do  something  for  you;  slue  yourself 
this  way  a  bit — I  would  have  you  solus."  They  leaned  over 
the  taffrail,  while  Bunce  whispered  with  more  seriousness  than 
he  usually  showed,  "  I  am  sorry  for  this  honest  old  heart  of 
Norway  pine — blight  me  if  I  am  not — and  for  the  daughters 
too;  besides,  I  have  my  own  reasons  for  befriending  one  of 
them.     I  can  be  a  wild  fellow  with  a  willing  lass  of  the  game; 

but  to  such  decent  and  innocent  creatures — d n  me,  I  am 

Scipio  at  Numantia.  and  Alexander  in  the  tent  of  Darius. 
You  remember  how  I  touch  off  Alexander?  (here  he  started 
into  heroics): 

"  Thus  from  the  grave  I  rise  to  save  my  love; 
All  draw  your  swords,  with  wings  of  lightning  move. 
When  I  rush  on,  sure  none  will  dai'e  to  stay; 
'Tis  beauty  calls,  and  glory  shows  the  way." 

Claud  Halcro  failed  not  to  bestow  the  necessary  commenda- 
tions on  his  declamation,  declaring  that,  in  his  opinion  as  an 
honest  man,  he  had  always  thought  Mr.  Altamont's  giving 
that  speech  far  superior  in  tone  and  energy  to  Betterton. 

Bunce,  or  Altamont,  wrung  his  hand  tenderly.  "  Ah,  you 
flatter  me,  my  dear  friend,"  he  said:  "yet,  why  had  not  the 
public  some  of  your  judgment!  I  should  not  then  have  been 
at  this  pass.  Heaven  knows,  my  dear  Halcro — Heaven 
knows  with  what  pleasure  I  could  keep  you  on  board  with 
me,  just  that  I  might  have  one  friend  who  loves  as  much  to 
hear  as  I  do  to  recite  the  choicest  pieces  of  our  finest  dramatic 
authors.  The  most  of  us  are  beasts;  and,  for  the  Kirkwall 
hostage  yonder,  he  uses  me^  egad,  as  I  use  Fletcher,  I  think, 


THE  PIRATE.  385 

and  huffs  me  the  more,  the  more  I  do  for  him.  But  how 
delightful  it  would  be  in  a  tropic  night,  when  the  ship  was 
hanging  on  the  breeze,  with  a  broad  and  steady  sail,  for  me  to 
rehearse  '  Alexander,'  with  you  for  my  pit,  box,  and  gal  eryl 
Nay — for  you  are  a  follower  of  the  Muses,  as  I  remember — 
who  knows  but  you  and  1  might  be  the  means  of  inspiring, 
like  Orpheus  and  Eurydice,  a  pure  taste  into  our  eompaniun.s, 
and  softening  their  manners,  while  we  excited  their  better 
feelings?  " 

This  was  spoken  with  so  much  unction,  that  Claud  llalcro 
began  to  be  afraid  he  had  both  made  the  actual  punch  over 
potent  and  mixed  too  many  bewitching  ingredients  in  the 
cup  of  flattery  which  he  had  administered;  and  that,  under 
the  influence  of  both  potions,  the  sentimental  pirate  might 
detain  him  by  force,  merely  to  realize  the  scenes  which  his 
imagination  presented.  The  conjuncture  was,  however,  too 
delicate  to  admit  of  any  active  effort  on  Halcro's  part  to  re- 
deem his  blunder,  and  therefore  he  only  returned  the  tender 
pressure  of  his  friend's  hand,  and  uttered  the  interjection 
"alas!  "  in  as  pathetic  a  tone  as  he  could. 

Bunce  immediately  resumed:  "You  are  right,  my  friend, 
these  are  but  vain  visions  of  felicity,  and  it  remains  but  for 
the  unhappy  Altamont  to  sen'e  the  friend  to  whom  he  is  now 
to  bid  farewell.  I  have  determined  to  put  you  and  the  two 
girls  ashore,  with  Fletcher  for  your  protection;  and  so  call  up 
the  young  women,  and  let  them  begone  before  the  devi!  get 
aboard  of  me  or  of  someone  else.  You  will  carry  my  letter  'o 
the  magistrates,  and  second  it  with  your  own  eloquence,  and 
assure  them  that,  if  they  hurt  but  one  hair  of  Cleveland'? 
head,  there  will  be  the  devil  to  pay,  and  no  pitch  hot." 

Relieved  at  heart  by  this  unexpected  termination  of 
Bunce's  harangue,  Halcro  descended  the  companion-ladder 
two  steps  at  a  time,  and,  knocking  at  the  cabin  door,  could 
scarce  find  intelligible  language  enough  to  say  his  errand. 
The  sisters  hearing,  with  unexpected  joy,  that  they  were  to  be 
set  ashore,  muffled  themselves  in  their  cloaks,  and,  when  they 
learned  that  the  boat  was  hoisted  out,  came  hastily  on  deck, 
where  they  were  apprised,  for  the  first  time,  to  their  great 
horror,  that  their  father  was  still  to  remain  on  board  of  the 
pirate. 

"  We  will  remain  with  him  at  every  risk,"  said  Minna;  "  we 
may  be  of  some  assistance  to  him,  were  it  but  for  an  instant: 
we  will  live  and  die  with  him!  " 

"  We  shall  aid  him  more  surely,"  said  Brenda,  who  com- 


386  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

prehended  the  nature  of  their  situation  better  than  Minna, 
"  by  interesting  the  people  of  Kirkwall  to  grant  these  gentle- 
men's demands." 

"  Spoken  like  an  angel  of  sense  and  beauty,"  said  Bunce; 

"  and  now  away  with  you;  for,  d n  me,  if  this  is  not  like 

having  a  lighted  linstock  in  the  powder-room:  if  you  speak 
another  word  more,  confound  me  if  I  know  how  I  shall  bring 
myself  to  part  with  you!  " 

"  Go,  in  God's  name,  my  daughters,"  said  Magnus.  "  I  am 
in  God's  hand;  and  when  you  are  gone  I  shall  care  little  for 
myself;  and  I  shall  think  and  say,  as  long  as  I  live,  that  this 
good  gentleman  deserves  a  better  trade.  Go — go — away  with 
you!  "  for  they  yet  lingered  in  reluctance  to  leave  him. 

"  Stay  not  to  kiss,"  said  Bunce,  "  for  fear  I  be  tempted  to 
ask  my  share.  Into  the  boat  with  you — yet  stop  an  instant." 
He  drew  the  three  captives  apart.  "  Fletcher,"  said  he,  "  will 
answer  for  the  rest  of  the  fellows,  and  will  see  you  safe  off  the 
seabeach.  But  how  to  answer  for  Fletcher  I  know  not,  ex- 
cept by  trusting  Mr.  Halcro  vnih.  this  little  guarantee." 

He  offered  the  minstrel  a  small  double-bareled  pistol, 
which,  he  said,  was  loaded  with  a  brace  of  balls.  Minna  ob- 
served Halcro's  hand  tremble  as  he  stretched  it  out  to  take  the 
weapon.  "  Give  it  to  me,  sir,"  she  said,  taking  it  from  the 
outlaw;  "  and  trust  to  me  for  defending  my  sister  and  myself." 

"  Bravo — bravo!  "  shouted  Bunce.  "  There  spoke  a  wench 
worthy  of  Cleveland,  the  King  of  Rovers!  " 

"  Cleveland!  "  repeated  Minrua.,  "  do  you  then  know  that 
Cleveland  whom  you  have  twice  named?" 

"  Know  him!  Is  there  a  man  alive,"  said  Bunce,  "  that 
knows  better  than  I  do  the  best  and  stoutest  fellow  ever 
stepped  betwixt  stem  and  stem?  When  he  is  out  of  the  bil- 
boes, as,  please  Heaven,  he  shall  soon  be,  I  reckon  to  see  you 
come  on  board  of  us  and  reign  the  queen  of  every  sea  we  sail 
over.  You  have  got  the  little  guardian;  I  suppose  you  know 
how  to  use  it?  If  Fletcher  behaves  ill  to  you,  you  need  only 
draw  up  this  piece  of  iron  with  your  thumb,  so;  and  if  he 
persists,  its  but  crooking  your  pretty  forefinger  thus,  and  I 
shall  lose  the  most  dutiful  messmate  that  ever  man  had, 
though,  d n  the  dog,  he  will  deserve  his  death  if  he  dis- 
obeys my  orders.  And  now,  into  the  boat;  but  stay,  one  kiss 
for  Cleveland's  sake." 

Brenda,  in  deadly  terror,  endured  his  courtesy:  but  Minna, 
stepping  back  with  disdain,  offered  her  hand.  Bunce 
laughed,  but  kiissed,  with  a  theatrical  air,  the  fair  hand  wliich 


i    s 


TEE  PIRATE.  387 

she  extended  as  a  ransom  for  her  lips,  and  at  length  the  sisttrs 
and  Halcro  were  placed  in  the  boat,  which  rowed  off  under 
Fletcher^s  command. 

Bunce  stood  on  the  quarter-deck,  soliloquizing  after  the 
manner  of  his  original  profession.  "  Were  this  told  at  Port 
Koyal  now,  or  at  the  Isle  of  Providence,  or  in  the  Petits 
Guaves,  I  wonder  what  they  would  say  to  me!  Why,  that  1 
w^as  a  good-natured  milksop — a  Jack-a-Lent — an  ass.  Well, 
let  them.  I  have  done  enough  of  bad  to  think  about  it;  it  is 
worth  wliile  doing  one  good  action,  if  it  were  but  for  the 
i-arity  of  the  thing,  and  to  put  one  in  good  humor  with  one's 
self."     Then  turning  to  Magnus  Troil,  he  proceeded,  "  By 

these  are  bona-robas,  these  daughters  of  yours!     The 

eldest  would  make  her  fortune  on  the  London  boards.  What 
a  dashing  attitude  the  wench  had  with  her,  as  she  seized  the 

pistol!  d n  me,  that  touch  would  have  brought  the  house 

down!  What  a  Eoxalana  the  jade  would  have  made!"  for, 
in  his  oratory,  Bunce,  like  Sancho's  gossip,  Thomas  Cecial, 
was  apt  to  use  the  most  energetic  word  which  came  to  hand, 
without  accurately  considering  its  propriety.  "  I  would  give 
my  share  of  the  next  prize  but  to  hear  her  spout: 

"  Away,  begone,  and  give  a  whirlwind  room, 
Or  I'will  blow  yon  up  like  dust.     Avaunt! 
Madness  but  meanly  represents  my  rage. 

And  then,  again,  that  little,  soft,  shy,  tearful  trembler,  for 
Statira,  to  hear  her  recite: 

"  He  speaks  the  kindest  words,  and  looks  such  things, 
Vows  with  such  passion,  swears  with  so  much  grace, 
That  'tis  a  kind  of  heaven  to  be  deluded  by  him. 

What  a  play  we  might  have  run  up!  I  was  a  beast  not  to 
think  of  it  before  I  sent  them  off — I  to  be  Alexander — Claud 
Halcro,  Lysimachus — this  old  gentleman  might  have  made  a 
Clytus  for  a  pinch.     I  was  an  idiot  not  to  think  of  it!  " 

There  was  much  in  this  effusion  which  might  have  dis- 
pleased the  Udaller;  but,  to  speak  truth,  he  paid  no  attention 
to  it.  His  eye,  and  finally  his  spyglass,  were  employed  in 
watching  the  return  of  his  daughters  to  the  shore.  He  saw 
them  land  on  the  beach,  and,  accompanied  by  Halcro  and  an- 
other man  (Fletcher,  doubtless),  he  saw  them  ascend  the  ac- 
clivity and  proceed  upon  the  road  to  Kirkwall;  and  he  could 
even  distinguish  that  Minna,  as  if  considering  herself  as  the 
guardian  of  the  party,  walked  a  little  aloof  from  the  rest,  on 
the  watch,  as  it  seemed,  against  surprise,  and  ready  to  act  as 


888  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

occasion  should  require.  At  length,  as  the  Udaller  was  just 
about  to  lose  sight  of  them,  he  had  the  exquisite  satisfaction 
to  see  the  party  halt,  and  the  pirate  leave  them,  after  a  space 
just  long  enough  for  a  civil  farewell,  and  proceed  slowly  back, 
on  his  return  to  the  beach.  Blessing  the  Great  Being  who 
had  thus  relieved  him  from  the  most  agonizing  fears  which  a 
father  can  feel,  the  worthy  Udaller,  from  that  instant,  stood 
resigned  to  his  own  fate,  whatever  that  might  be. 


CHAPTER   XXXVII. 

Over  the  mountains  and  under  the  waves, 
Over  the  fountains  and  under  the  graves, 
Over  floods  that  are  deepest, 

Which  Neptune  obey, 
Over  rocks  that  are  steepest. 
Love  will  find  out  the  way. 

—  Old  Song. 

The  parting  of  Fletcher  from  Claud  Halcro  and  the  sisters 
of  Burgh-Westra,  on  the  spot  where  it  took  place,  was  partly 
occasioned  by  a  small  party  of  armed  men  being  seen  at  a 
distance  in  the  act  of  advancing  from  Kirkwall,  an  apparition 
hidden  from  the  Udaller's  spyglass  by  the  swell  of  the  ground, 
but  quite  visible  to  the  pirate,  whom  it  determined  to  consult 
his  own  safety  by  a  speedy  return  to  his  boat.  He  was  just 
turning  away,  when  Minna  occasioned  the  short  delay  which 
her  father  had  observed. 

"  Stop,"  she  said,  "  I  command  you!  Tell  your  leader  from 
me  that,  whatever  the  answer  may  be  from  Kirkwall,  he  shall 
carry  his  vessel,  nevertheless,  round  to  Stromness:  and,  being 
anchored  there,  let  him  send  a  boat  ashore  for  Captain  Clever- 
land  when  he  shall  see  a  smoke  on  the  Bridge  of  Broisgar." 

Fletcher  had  thought,  like  his  messmate  Bunce,  of  asking 
a  kiss,  at  least,  for  the  trouble  of  escorting  these  beautiful 
young  women;  and,  perhaps,  neither  the  terror  of  the  ap- 
proaching: Kirkwall  men  nor  of  Minna's  weapon  might  have 
prevented  his  being  insolent.  But  the  name  of  his  captain, 
and,  still  more,  the  unappalled,  dignified,  and  commanding 
manner  of  Minna  Troil,  overawed  him.  He  made  a  sea  bow, 
promised  to  keep  a  sharp  look-out,  and,  returning  to  his  boat, 
went  on  board  with  his  message. 

As  Halcro  and  the  sisters  advanced  toward  the  party  whom 
they  saw  on  the  Kirkwall  road,  and  who,  on  their  part,  had 
halted  as  if  to  observe  them,  Brenda,  relieved  from  the  fears 
of  Fletcher's  presence,  which  had  hitherto  kept  her  silent,  ex- 
claimed, "Merciful  Heaven!  Minna,  in  what  hands  have  we 
left  our  dear  father?  " 

"  In  the  hands  of  brave  men,"  said  Minna  steadily.  "  I 
fear  not  for  him." 

"  As  brave  as  you  please,"  said  Claud  Halcro,  "  but  very 


^90  WAVBBLEY  NOVELS. 

dangerous  rogues  for  all  that.  I  know  that  fellow  Altamont, 
as  he  calls  himself,  though  it  is  not  his  right  name  neither 
— as  deboshed  a  dog  as  ever  made  a  barn  ring  with  blood  and 
blank  verse.  He  began  with  '  Barnwell/  and  everybody 
thought  he  would  end  with  the  gallows,  like  the  last  scene 
in  '  Venice  Preserved.'  " 

"  It  matters  not,"  said  Minna — "  the  wilder  the  waves,  the 
more  powerful  is  the  voice  that  rules  them.  The  name  alone 
of  Cleveland  ruled  the  mood  of  the  fiercest  amongst  them." 

"  I  am  soriy  for  Cleveland,"  said  Brenda,  "  if  such  are  his 
companions;  but  I  care  little  for  him  in  comparison  to  my 
father." 

"  Eescrve  your  compassion  for  those  who  need  it,"  said 
Minna,  "  and  fear  nothing  for  our  father.  God  knows,  every 
sdlver  hair  on  his  head  is  to  me  worth  the  treasure  of  an  un- 
sunned mine;  but  I  know  that  he  is  safe  while  in  yonder  ves- 
sel, and  I  know  that  he  will  be  soon  safe  on  shore." 

"I  would  I  could  see  it,"  said  Claud  Halcro;  "but  I  fear 
the  Kirkwall  people,  supposing  Cleveland  to  be  such  as  I 
dread,  will  not  dare  to  exchange  him  against  the  Udaller. 
The  Scots  have  very  severe  laws  against  theft-boot,  as  they 
call  it." 

"  But  who  are  those  on  the  road  before  us?  "  said  Brenda; 
"  and  why  do  they  halt  there  so  jealously?  " 

"  They  are  a  patrol  of  the  militia,"  answered  Halcro. 
"  Glorious  John  touches  them  off  a  little  sharply;  but  then 
John  was  a  Jacobite: 

"  Mouths  without  hands,  maintain'd  at  vast  expense, 
In  peace  a  charge,  in  war  a  weak  defense; 
Stout  once  a  month,  they  march,  a  bhistering  band, 
And  ever,  but  in  time  of  need,  at  hand. 

I  fancy  they  halted  just  now,  taking  us,  as  they  saw  us  on  the 
brow  of  the  hill,  for  a  party  of  the  sloop's  men;  and  now  they 
can  distinguish  that  you  wear  petticoats,  they  are  moving  on 
again." 

They  came  on  accordingly,  and  proved  to  be,  as  Claud  Hal- 
cro had  suggested,  a  patrol  sent  out  to  watch  the  motions  of 
the  pirates,  and  to  prevent  their  attempted  descents  to  dam- 
age the  country. 

They  heartily  congratulated  Claud  Halcro,  who  was  well 
known  to  more  than  one  of  them,  upon  his  escape  from  cap 
tivity;  and  the  commander  of  the  party,  while  offering  every 
assistance  to  the  ladies,  could  not  help  condoling  with  them 


TEE  PIRATE.  391 

on  the  circumstances  in  which  their  father  stood,  hinting, 
though  in  a  delicate  and  doubtful  manner,  the  diiiiculties 
which  might  be  in  the  way  of  his  liberation. 

When  they  anived  at  Kirkwall,  and  obtained  an  audience 
of  the  provost  and  one  or  two  of  the  magistrates,  these  diffi- 
culties were  more  plainly  insisted  upon.  "  The  '  Halcyon  ' 
frigate  is  upon  the  coast,"  said  the  provost:  "  she  was  seen  off 
Duncansbay  Head;  and,  though  I  have  the  deepest  respect  for 
Mr.  Troil  of  Burgh- Westra,  yet  I  shall  be  answerable  to  law 
if  I  release  from  prison  the  captain  of  this  suspicious  vessel, 
on  account  of  the  safety  of  any  individual  who  may  be  un- 
happily endangered  by  his  detention.  This  man  is  now  known 
to  be  the  heari:  and  soul  of  these  buccaniers,  and  am  I  at  lib- 
erty to  send  him  abroad,  that  he  may  plunder  the  country, 
or  perhaps  go  light  the  king's  ship?  for  he  has  impudence 
enough  for  anything." 

"  Courage  enough  for  anything,  you  mean,  Mr.  Provost," 
said  Minna,  unable  to  restrain  her  displeasure. 

"  Why,  you  may  call  it  as  you  please.  Miss  Troil,"  said  the 
worthy  magistrate;  "  but,  in  my  opinion,  that  sort  of  courage 
which  proposes  to  fight  singly  against  two  is  little  better  than 
a  kind  of  practical  impudence." 

"  But  our  father?  "  said  Brenda,  in  a  tone  of  the  most  ear- 
nest entreaty — "  our  father — the  friend,  I  may  say  the  father, 
of  his  country — to  whom  so  many  look  for  kindness,  and  so 
many  for  actual  support — whose  loss  would  be  the  extinction 
of  a  "beacon  in  a  storm — will  you  indeed  weigh  the  risk  which 
he  runs  against  such  a  trifling  thing  as  letting  an  unfortunate 
man  from  prison,  to  seek  his  unhappy  fate  elsewhere?  " 

"  Miss  Brenda  is  right,"  said  Claud  Halcro;  "  I  am  for  let- 
a-be  for  let-a-be,  as  the  boys  say;  and  never  fash  about  a  war- 
rant of  liberation,  provost,  but  just  take  a  fool's  counsel,  and 
let  the  goodman  of  the  jail  forget  to  draw  his  bolt  on  the 
wicket,  or  leave  a  chink  of  a  window  open,  or  the  like,  and  we 
shall  be  rid  of  the  rover,  and  have  the  one  best  honest  fellow 
in  Orkney  or  Zetland  on  the  lee-side  of  a  bowl  of  punch  with, 
us  in  five  hours." 

The  provost  replied  in  nearly  the  same  terms  as  before, 
that  he  had  the  highest  respect  for  Mr.  Magnus  Troil  of 
Burgh- Westra,  but  that  he  could  not  suffer  his  consideration 
for  any  individual,  however  respectable,  to  interfere  with  the 
discharge  of  his  duty. 

Minna  then  addressed  her  sister  in  a  tone  of  calm  and  sar- 
castic displeasure.     "You  forget,"  she  said,  "  Bcenda,  that 


392  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

you  are  talking  of  the  safety  of  a  poor  insignificant  udaller  of 
Zetland  to  no  less  a  person  than  the  chief  magistrate  of  the 
metropolis  of  Orkney — can  you  expect  so  great  a  person  to 
condescend  to  such  a  trifling  subject  of  consideration?  It  will 
be  time  enough  for  the  provost  to  think  of  complying  with 
the  terms  sent  to  him — for  comply  with  them  at  length  he 
both  must  and  will — when  the  church  of  St.  Magnus  is  beat 
down  about  his  ears." 

"  You  may  be  angry  with  me,  my  pretty  young  lady,"  said 
the  good-humored  Provost  Torfe,  "  but  I  cannot  be  offended 
with  you.  The  church  of  St.  Magnus  has  stood  many  a  day, 
and,  I  think,  will  outlive  both  you  and  me,  much  more  yonder 
pack  of  unhanged  dogs.  And  besides  that  your  father  is  half 
an  Orkneyman,  and  has  both  estate  and  friends  among  us,  I 
would,  I  give  you  my  word,  do  as  much  for  a  Zetlander  in  dis- 
tress as  I  would  for  anyone,  excepting  ome  of  our  own  native 
Kirkwallers,  who  are  doubtless  to  be  prefen-ed.  And  if  you 
will  take  up  your  lodgings  here  with  my  ^nfe  and  myself,  we 
will  endeavor  to  show  3"0u,"  continued  he,  "  that  you  are  as 
welcome  in  Kirkwall  as  ever  you  could  be  in  Lerwick  or 
Scalloway." 

Minna  deigned  no  reply  to  this  good-humored  invitation; 
but  Brenda  declined  it  in  civil  terms,  pleading  the  necessity 
of  taking  up  their  abode  with  a  wealthy  widow  of  Kirkwall,  a 
relation,  who  already  expected  them. 

Halcro  made  another  attempt  to  move  the  provost,  but 
found  him  inexorable.  "  The  collector  of  the  customs  had 
already  threatened,"  he  said,  "  to  inform  against  him  for 
entering  into  treaty,  or,  as  he  called  it,  packing  and  peeling, 
with  those  strangers,  even  when  it  seemed  the  only  means  of 
preventing  a  bloody  affray  in  the  town;  and,  should  he  now 
forego  the  advantage  afforded  by  the  imprisonment  of  Cleve- 
land and  the  escape  of  the  factor,  he  might  incur  something 
worse  than  censure."  The  burden  of  the  whole  was.  "  That 
he  was  sorry  for  the  Udaller,  he  was  sorry  even  for  the  lad 
Cleveland,  who  had  some  sparks  of  honor  about  him:  but  his 
duty  was  imperious,  and  must  be  obeyed."  The  provost  then 
precluded  farther  argument  by  observing  that  another  affair 
from  Zetland  called  for  his  immediate  attention.  A  gentle- 
man named  Mertoun.  residing  at  Jarlshof,  had  made  com- 
plaint against  Snailsfoot.  the  jagger,  for  having  assisted  a 
domestic  of  his  in  embezzling  some  valuable  articles  which 
had  been  deposited  in  his  custody,  and  he  was  about  to  take 
examinations  on  the  subject,  and  cause  them  to  be  restored  to 


THE  PIRATE.  393 

Mr.  Mertoun,  who  was  accountable  for  them  to  the  right 
owner. 

In  all  this  information  there  was  nothing  which  seemed 
interesting  to  the  sisters  excepting  the  word  "Mertoun,"  which 
went  like  a  dagger  to  the  heart  of  Minna,  when  she  recollected 
the  circumstances  under  which  Mordaunt  Mertoun  had  dis- 
appeared, and  which,  with  an  emotion  less  painful,  though 
still  of  a  melancholy  nature,  called  a  faint  blush  into  Brenda's 
cheek,  and  a  slight  degree  of  moisture  into  her  eye.  But  it 
was  soon  evident  that  the  magistrate  spoke  not  of  Mordaunt, 
but  of  his  father;  and  the  daughters  of  Magnus,  little  inter- 
ested in  his  detail,  took  leave  of  the  "provost  to  go  to  their 
own  lodgings. 

When  they  arrived  at  their  relation's,  j\Iinna  made  it  her 
business  to  learn,  by  such  inquiries  as  she  could  make  without 
exciting  suspicion,  what  was  the  situation  of  the  unfortunate 
Cleveland,  which  she  soon  discovered  to  be  exceedingly  pre- 
carious. The  provost  had  not,  indeed,  committed  him  to 
close  custody,  as  Claud  Halcro  had  anticipated,  recollecting, 
perhaps,  the  favorable  circumstances  under  which  he  had  sur- 
rendered himself,  and  loth,  till  the  moment  of  the  last  neces- 
sity, altogether  to  break  faith  with  him.  But  although  left 
apparently  at  large,  he  was  strictly  watched  by  persons  well 
armed  and  appointed  for  the  purpose,  who  had  directions  to 
detain  tiim  by  force,  if  he  attempted  to  pass  certain  narrow 
precincts  which  were  allotted  to  him.  He  was  quartered  in  a 
strong  room  within  what  is  called  the  King's  Castle,  and  at 
night  his  chamber  door  was  locked  on  the  outside,  and  a  suffi- 
cient guard  mounted  to  prevent  his  escape.  He  therefore  en- 
joyed only  the  degree  of  liberty  which  the  cat,  in  her  cruel 
sport,  is  sometimes  pleased  to  permit  to  the  mouse  which  she 
has  clutched;  and  yet,  such  was  the  terror  of  the  resources, 
the  courage,  and  ferocity  of  the  pirate  captain,  that  the  prov- 
ost was  blamed  by  the  collector  and  many  other  sage  citizens 
of  Kirkwall  for  permitting  him  to  be  at  large  upon  any  con- 
ditions. 

It  may  be  well  believed  that,  under  such  circumstances, 
Cleveland  had  no  desire  to  seek  any  place  of  public  resort, 
conscious  that  he  was  the  object  of  a  mixed  feeling  of  curi- 
osity and  terror.  His  favorite  place  of  exercise,  therefore, 
was  the  external  aisles  of  the  cathedral  of  St.  Magnus,  of 
which  the  eastern  end  alone  is  fitted  up  for  public  worship. 
This  solemn  old  erlifice.  having  escaperl  the  ravage  which  at- 
tended the  first  convulsions  of  the  Keformation,  still  retains 


394  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

Bome  appearance  of  Episcopal  dignity.  This  place  of  wor.-hip 
is  separated  by  a  screen  from  the  nave  and  western  limb  of  the 
cross,  and  the  whole  is  preserved  in  a  state  of  cleanliness  and 
decency  which  might  be  well  proposed  as  an  example  to  the 
proud  piles  of  Westminster  and  St.  Paul's. 

It  was  in  this  exterior  part  of  the  cathedral  that  Cleveland 
was  permitted  to  walk,  the  rather  that  his  guards,  by  watch- 
ing the  single  open  entrance,  had  the  means,  with  very  little 
inconvenience  to  themselves,  of  preventing  any  possible  at- 
tempt at  escape.  The  place  itself  was  well  suited  to  his  melan- 
choly circumstances.  The  lofty  and  vaulted  roof  rises  upon 
ranges  of  Saxon  pillars,  of  massive  size,  four  of  which,  still 
larger  than  the  rest,  once  supported  the  lofty  spire,  which, 
long  since  destroyed  by  accident,  has  been  rebuilt  upon  a 
disproportioned  and  truncated  plan.  The  light  is  admitted 
at  the  eastern  end  through  a  lofty,  well-proportioned,  and 
richly  ornamented  Gothic  window;  and  the  pavement  is  cov- 
ered with  inscriptions,  in  different  languages,  distinguishing 
the  graves  of  noble  Orcadians,  who  have  at  different  times 
been  deposited  within  the  sacred  precincts. 

Here  walked  Cleveland,  musing  over  the  events  of  a  mis- 
spent life,  which,  it  seemed  probable,  might  be  brought  to  a 
violent  and  shameful  close,  while  he  was  yet  in  the  prime  of 
youth.  "  With  these  dead,"  he  said,  looking  on  the  pave- 
ment, "  shall  I  soon  be  numbered;  but  no  holy  man  will  speak 
a  blessing,  no  friendly  hand  register  an  inscription,  no  proud 
descendant  sculpture  armorial  bearings,  over  the  grave  of  the 
pirate  Cleveland.  My  whitening  bones  will  swing  in  the  gib- 
bet-irons, on  some  wild  beach  or  lonely  cape,  that  will  be 
esteemed  fatal  and  accursed  for  my  sake.  The  old  mariner, 
as  he  passes  the  sound,  will  shake  his  head,  and  t-ell  of  my 
name  and  actions,  as  a  warning  to  his  younger  comrades. 
But,  Minna! — Minna!  what  will  be  thy  thoughts  when  the 
news  reaches  thee?  Would  to  God  the  tidings  were  drowned 
in  the  deepest  whirlpool  betwixt  Kirkwall  and  Burgh- Westra, 
ere  they  came  to  her  ear!  and  oh!  would  to  Heaven  that  we 
had  never  met,  since  we  never  can  meet  again!  " 

He  lifted  up  his  eyes  as  he  spoke,  and  Minna  Troil  stood 
before  him.  Her  face  was  pale,  and  her  hair  disheveled;  but 
her  look  was  composed  and  firm,  with  its  usual  expression  of 
high-minded  melancholy.  She  was  still  shrouded  in  the 
large  mantle  which  she  had  assumed  on  leaving  the  ve-sel. 
Cleveland's  first  emotion  was  astonisliment;  his  next  was  joy, 
not  unmixed  with  awe.     He  would  have  exclaimed — he  would 


THE  PIRATE.  395 

have  thrown  himself  at  her  feet;  but  she  imposed  at  once 
silence  and  composure  on  him  by  raising  her  finger  and  say- 
ing, in  a  low  but  commanding  accent:  "  Be  cautious — we  are 
observed;  there  are  men  without — they  let  me  enter  with  difiBi- 
cultv.  I  dare  not  remain  long;  they  would  think — they 
might  believe Oh,  Clevelaiid!  1  have  hazarded  every- 
thing to  save  you!  " 

"To  save  me?  Alas!  poor  Minna!"  answered  Cleveland, 
"to  save  me  is  impossible.  Enotigh  that  I  have  seen  you 
once  more,  were  it  but  to  say,  '  Forever  farewell! '  " 

"  We  must  indeed  say  farewell,"  said  Minna;  "  for  fate,  and 
your  guilt,  have  divided  us  forever.  Cleveland,  1  have  seen 
your  associates;  need  I  tell  you  more — need  I  say,  that  i  know- 
now  what  a  pirate  is?  " 

"  You  have  been  in  the  niflBans'  power! "  said  Cleveland, 
with  a  start  of  agony.     "  Did  they  presume " 

"  Cleveland,"  replied  Minna,  "  they  presumed  nothing: 
your  name  was  a  spell  over  them.  By  the  power  of  that  spell 
over  these  ferocious  banditti,  and  by  that  alone,  I  was  re- 
minded of  the  qualities  I  once  thought  my  Cleveland's!  " 

"  Yes,"  said  Cleveland  proudly,  '"  my  name  has  and  shall 
have  power  over  them,  when  they  are  at  the  wildest;  and, 
had  they  harmed  you  by  one  rude  word,  they  should  have 
found Yet  what  do  I  rave  about?     I  am  a  prisoner!  " 

"  You  shall  be  so  no  longer,"  said  Minna.  "  Your  safety 
— the  safety  of  my  dear  father — all  demand  your  instant  free- 
dom. I  have  formed  a  scheme  for  your  liberty,  which,  boldly 
executed,  cannot  fail.  The  Hght  is  fading  without;  muffle 
yourself  in  my  cloak,  and  you  vdW  easily  pass  the  guards.  I 
have  given  them  the  means  of  carousing,  and  they  are  deeply 
engaged.  Haste  to  the  Loch  of  Stennis,  and  hide  yourself 
till  day  dawns;  then  make  a  smoke  on  the  point,  where  the 
land,  stretcliing  into  the  lake  on  each  side,  divides  it  nearly 
in  two  at  the  Bridge  of  Broisgar.  Your  vessel,  which  lies  not 
far  distant,  will  send  a  boat  ashore.  Do  not  hesitate  an 
instant!  " 

"  But  you,  Minna!  Should  this  wild  scheme  succeed,"  said 
Cleveland,  "  what  is  to  become  of  you?  " 

"  For  my  share  in  your  escape,"  answered  the  maiden.  '•  the 
honesty  of  my  own  intention  will  vindicate  me  in  the  sight  of 
Heaven;  and  the  safety  of  my  father,  whose  fate  depends  on 
yours,  will  be  my  excuse  to  man." 

In  a  few  words,  she  gave  him  the  history  of  their  capture, 
and  its  consequences.     Cleveland  cast  up  his  eyes  and  raised 


806  WAVERLE7  NOVELS. 

hia  hands  to  Heaven,  in  thankfulness  for  the  escape  of  the 
sisters  from  his  evil  companions,  and  then  hastily  added: 
"  But  you  are  right,  Minna:  I  must  fly  at  all  rates— for  your 
father's  sake  I  must  fly.  Here,  then,  we  part — yet  not,  I 
trust,  forever." 

"  Forever! "  answered  a  voice,  that  sounded  as  from  a 
sepulchra.1  vault. 

They  sttirted,  looked  around  them,  and  then  gazed  on  each 
other.  It  seemed  as  if  the  echoes  of  the  building  had  re- 
turned Cleveland's  Jast  words,  but  the  pronunciation  was  too 
emphatically  accented. 

"  Yes,  forever! "  said  Noma  of  the  Fitful  Head,  stepping 
■  forward  from  behind  one  of  the  massive  Saxon  pillars  which 
support  the  roof  of  the  cathedral.  "  Here  meet  the  crimson 
foot  and  the  crimson  hand.  Well  for  both  that  the  wound  is 
healed  whence  that  crimson  was  derived — well  for  both,  but 
best  for  him  who  shed  it.  Here,  then,  you  meet,  and  meet 
for  the  last  time!  " 

"  Not  so,"  said  Cleveland,  as  if  about  to  take  Minna's  hand; 
"  to  separate  me  from  Minna,  while  I  have  life,  must  be  the 
work  of  herself  alone." 

"  Away!  "  said  Noma,  stepping  betwixt  them — "  away  with 
such  idle  folly!  Nourish  no  vain  dreams  of  future  meetings: 
you  part  here,  and  you  part  forever.  The  hawk  pairs  not  with 
the  dove;  guilt  matches  not  with  innocence.  ]\Iinna  Troil, 
you  look  for  the  last  time  on  this  bold  and  criminal  man. 
Cleveland,  you  behold  Minna  for  the  last  time!  " 

"  And  dream  you,"  said  Cleveland  indignantly,  "  that  your 
mummery  imposes  on  me,  and  that  I  am  among  the  fools  who 
see  more  than  trick  in  your  pretended  art?  " 

"  Forbear,  Cleveland — forbear!  "  said  ]\Iinna,  her  heredi- 
tary awe  of  Noma  augmented  by  the  circumstance  of  her  sud- 
den appearance.  "  Oh,  forbear!  she  is  powerful — she  is  but 
too  powerful.  And  do  you,  oh.  Noma,  remember  my  father's 
safety  is  linked  with  Cleveland's." 

"  And  it  is  well  for  Cleveland  that  I  do  remember  it,"  re- 
plied the  pythoness;  "  and  that,  for  the  sake  of  one,  I  am 
here  to  aid  both.  You,  with  your  childish  purpose  of  pass- 
ing one  of  his  bulk  and  stature  under  the  disguise  of  a  few 
paltry  folds  of  ,\^admaal — what  would  your  device  have  pro- 
cured him  but  instant  restraint  with  bolt  and  shackle?  I 
will  save  him — I  will  place  him  in  security  on  board  his 
bark.  But  let  him  renounce  these  shores  forever,  and  carry 
elsewhere  the  terrors  of  his  sable  flag  and  his  yet  blacker 


THE  PIRATE.  397 

name;  for  if  the  sun  rises  twice  and  finds  him  still  at  anchor, 
his  blood  be  on  his  own  head.  Aye,  look  to  each  other — look 
the  last  look  that  I  permit  to  frail  affection,  and  say,  if  ye  can 
say  it,  '  Farewell  forever! '  " 

"  Obey  her/'  stammered  Minna — "  remonstrate  not,  but 
obey  her." 

Cleyeland,  grasping  her  hand  and  kissing  it  ardently,  said, 
but  so  low  that  she  only  could  hear  it,  ''  Farewell,  Minna,  but 
not  forever." 

"  And  now,  maiden,  begone,"  said  Noma,  "  and  leave  the 
rest  to  the  Reim-kennar." 

"  One  word  more,"  said  Minna,  "  and  I  obey  you.  Tell  me 
but  if  I  have  caught  aright  your  meaning.  Is  Mordaunt  Mer- 
toun  safe  and  recovered?" 

''  Recovered,  and  safe/'  said  Noma;  "  else  woe  to  the  hand 
that  shed  his  blood!  " 

Minna  slowly  sought  the  door  of  the  cathedral,  and  turned 
back  from  time  to  time  to  look  at  the  shadowy  foma  of  Noma, 
and  the  stately  and  militar}'  figure  of  Cleveland,  as  they  stood 
together  in  the  deepening  gloom  of  the  ancient  cathedral. 
When  she  looked  back  a  second  time  they  were  in  motion,  and 
Cleveland  followed  the  matron  as,  with  a  slow  and  solemn 
step,  she  glided  toward  one  of  the  side  aisles.  When  Minna 
looked  back  a  third  time,  their  figures  were  no  longer  visible. 
She  collected  herself,  and  walked  on  to  the  eastern  door  by 
which  she  had  entered,  and  listened  for  an  instant  to  the 
guard,  who  talked  together  on  the  outside. 

"  The  Zetland  girl  stays  a  long  time  with  this  pirate  fel- 
low," said  one.  ''  I  wish  they  have  not  more  to  speak  about 
than  the  ransom  of  her  father." 

"  Aye,  truly,"  answered  another,  "  the  wenches  will  have 
more  s\Tnpathy  with  a  handsome  young  pirate  than  an  old 
bed-ridden  burgher." 

Their  discourse  was  here  interrupted  by  her  of  whom  they 
were  speaking;  and,  as  if  taken  in  the  manner,  they  pulled 
off  their  hats,  made  their  awkward  obeisances,  and  looked  not 
a  little  embarrassed  and  confused. 

Minna  returned  to  the  house  where  she  lodged,  much 
affected,  yet,  on  the  whole,  pleased  with  the  result  of  her  ex- 
pedition, which  seemed  to  put  her  father  out  of  danger,  and 
assured  her  at  once  of  the  escape  of  Cleveland  and  of  the 
safety  of  young  Mordaunt.  She  hastened  to  communicate 
both  pieces  of  intelligence  to  Brenda.  who  Joined  her  in 
thankfulness  to  Heaven,  and  was  herself  well-nigh  persuaded 


398  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

to  believe  in  Noma's  supernatural  pretensions,  so  much  was 
she  pleased  with  the  manner  in  which  they  had  been  em- 
ployed. Some  time  was  spent  in  exchanging  their  mutual 
congratulations,  and  mingling  tears  of  hope,  mixed  with  ap- 
prehension, when,  at  a  late  hour  in  the  evening,  they  were 
interinipted  by  Claud  Halcro,  who,  full  of  a  fidgeting  sort  of 
importance,  not  unmingled  with  fear,  came  to  acquaint  them 
that  the  prisoner,  Cleveland,  had  disappeared  from  the  cathe- 
dral, in  which  he  had  been  permitted  to  walk,  and  that  the 
provost,  having  been  informed  that  Minna  was  accessory  to 
his  flight,  was  coming,  in  a  mighty  quandary,  to  make  inquiry 
into  the  circumstances. 

When  the  worthy  magistrate  arrived,  Minna  did  not  conceal 
from  him  her  own  wish  that  Cleveland  should  make  his 
escape,  as  the  only  means  which  she  saw  of  redeeming  her 
father  from  imminent  danger.  But  that  she  had  any  actual 
accession  to  his  flight,  she  positively  denied;  and  stated, 
"  That  she  had  parted  from  Cleveland  in  the  cathedral,  more 
than  two  hours  since,  and  then  left  him  in  company  with  a 
third  person,  whose  name  she  did  not  conceive  herself  obliged 
to  communicate." 

"  It  is  not  needful,  ^liss  Minna  Troil,"  answered  Provost 
Torfe;  "  for,  although  no  person  but  this  Captain  Cleveland 
and  yourself  was  seen  to  enter  the  kirk  of  St.  Magnus  this  day, 
we  know  well  enough  that  your  cousin,  old  Ulla  Troil,  whom 
you  Zetlanders  call  Xorna  of  Fitful  Head,  has  been  cruis- 
ing up  and  down,  upon  sea  and  land,  and  air,  for  what  I  know, 
in  boats  and  on  ponies,  and  it  may  be  on  broomsticks;  and 
here  has  been  her  dumb  Drow,  too,  coming  and  going,  and 
playing  the  spy  on  everyone;  and  a  good  spy  he  is,  for  he  can 
hear  everything,  and  tells  notliing  again,  unless  to  his  mis- 
tress. And  we  know,  besides,  that  she  can  enter  the  kirk 
when  all  the  doors  are  fast,  and  has  been  seen  there  more 
than  once,  God  save  us  from  the  Evil  One!  and  so,  without 
farther  questions  asked,  I  conclude  it  was  old  Noma  whom 
you  left  in  the  kirk  with  this  slashing  blade;  and  if  so,  they 
may  catch  them  again  that  can.  I  cannot  but  say,  however, 
pretty  Mistress  Minna,  that  you  Zetland  folks  seem  to  forget 
both  law  and  gospel,  when  you  use  the  help  of  witchcraft  to 
fetch  delinquents  out  of  a  legal  prison;  ^d  the  least  that  you, 
or  your  cousin,  or  your  father,  can  do,  is  to  use  influence  with 
this  wild  fellow  to  go  away  as  soon  as  possible,  without  hurt- 
ing the  town  or  trade,  and  then  there  will  be  little  harm  in 
what  has  chanced;  for,  Heaven  knows,  I  did  not  seek  the 


THE  PIRATE.  899 

poor  lad's  life,  so  I  could  get  my  hands  free  of  him  without 
blame;  and  far  less  did  I  wish  that,  ihrough  his  imprisonment, 
any  harm  should  come  to  worihy  Magnus  Troil  of  Burgh- 
Westra." 

"  1  see  where  the  shoe  pinches  you,  Mr.  Provost,"  said 
Claud  Plalcro,  "  and  I  am  sure  I  can  answer  for  my  friend  Mr. 
Troil,  as  well  as  for  myself,  that  we  will  say  and  do  all  in  our 
power  with  this  man,  Captain  Cleveland,  to  make  him  leave 
the  coast  directly." 

"  And  I,"  said  Minna,  "  am  so  convinced  that  what  you 
recommend  is  best  for  all  parties,  that  my  sister  and  I  will  set 
off  early  to-morrow  morning  to  the  House  of  Stenuis,  if  Mr. 
Halcro  will  give  us  his  escort,  to  receive  my  father  when  he 
comes  ashore,  that  we  may  acquaint  him  with  your  wish,  and 
to  use  every  influence  to  induce  this  unhappy  man  to  leave  the 
country." 

Provost  Torfe  looked  upon  her  with  soma  surprise.  "It  is 
not  every  young  woman,"  he  said,  "  would  wish  to  move  eight 
miles  nearer  to  a  band  of  pirates." 

"  We  run  no  risk,"  said  Claud  Halcro,  interfering.  "  The 
House  of  Stennis  is  strong;  and  my  cousin,  whom  it  belongs 
to,  has  men  and  arms  within  it.  The  young  ladies  are  as  safe 
there  as  in  Kirkwall;  and  much  good  may  arise  from  an  early 
communication  between  Magnus  Troil  and  his  daughters. 
And  happy  am  T  to  see  that,  in  your  case,  my  good  old  friend, 
as  glorious  John  says — 

"  After  much  debate, 
The  man  prevails  above  the  magistrate." 

The  provost  smiled,  nodded  his  head,  and  indicated,  as  far 
ns  he  thought  he  could  do  so  with  decency,  how  happy  he 
should  be  if  the  "  Fortune's  Favorite "  and  her  disorderly 
crew  would  leave  Orkney  without  further  interference  or 
violence  on  either  side.  He  could  not  authorize  their  being 
supplied  from  the  shore,  he  said;  but,  either  for  fear  or  favor, 
they  were  certain  to  get  provisions  at  Stromness.  This  pacific 
magistrate  then  took  leave  of  Halcro  and  the  two  ladies,  who 
proposed  the  next  morning  to  transfer  their  residence  to  the 
House  of  Stennis,  situated  upon  the  banks  of  the  salt-water 
lake  of  the  same  name,  and  about  four  miles  by  water  from  the 
Road  of  Stromness,  where  the  rover's  vessel  was  lying. 


CHAPTEE   XXXVIII. 

Ply,  Fleance,  fly!    Thou  mayst  escape. 

— Macbeth. 

It  was  one  branch  of  the  various  arts  by  which  Noma  en- 
deavored to  maintain  her  pretensions  to  supernatural  powers, 
that  she  made  herself  familiarly  and  practically  acquainted 
with  all  the  secret  passes  and  recesses,  whether  natural  or  <irti- 
ficial,  which  she  could  hear  of,  whether  by  tradition  or  other- 
wise, and  was,  by  such  knowledge,  often  enabled  to  perform 
feats  which  were  otherwise  unaccountable.  Thus,  when  she 
escaped  from  the  tabernacle  at  Burgh- Westra,  it  was  by  a 
sliding  board  which  covered  a  secret  passage  in  the  wall, 
known  to  none  but  herself  and  Magnus,  who,  she  was  well 
assured,  would  not  betray  her.  The  profusion,  also,  with 
which  she  lavished  a  considerable  income,  otherwise  of  no  use 
to  her,  enabled  her  to  procure  the  earliest  intelligence  respect- 
ing whatever  she  desired  to  know,  and,  at  the  same  time,  to 
secure  all  other  assistance  necessary  to  carry  her  plans  into 
effect.  Cleveland,  upon  the  present  occasion,  had  reason  to 
admire  both  her  sagacity  and  her  resources. 

Upon  her  applying  a  little  forcible  pressure,  a  door,  which 
was  concealed  under  some  rich  wooden  sculpture  in  the  screen 
which  divides  the  eastern  aisle  from  the  rest  of  the  cathedral, 
opened,  and  disclosed  a  dark,  narrow,  winding  passage,  into 
which  she  entered,  telling  Cleveland,  in  a  whisper,  to  follow, 
and  be  sure  he  shut  the  door  behind  him.  He  obeyed,  and 
followed  her  in  darkness  and  silence,  sometimes  descending 
steps,  of  the  number  of  which  she  always  apprised  him.  some- 
times ascending,  and  often  turning  at  short  angles.  The  air 
was  more  free  than  he  could  have  expected,  the  passage  being 
ventilated  at  different  parts  by  unseen  and  ingeniously  con- 
trived spiracles,  which  communicated  with  the  open  air.  At 
length  their  long  course  ended  by  Xorna  drawing  aside  a 
sliding  panel,  which,  opening  behind  a  wooden,  or  box-bed, 
as  it  is  called  in  Scotland,  admitted  them  into  an  ancient,  but 
very  mean,  apartment,  having  a  latticed  window  and  a  groined 
roof.  The  furniture  was  much  dilapidated;  and  its  only  orna- 
ments were,  on  the  one  side  of  the  wall,  a  garland  of  faded  rib- 

4O0 


THE  PIRATE.  401 

bons,  such  as  are  used  to  decorate  whale- vessels;  and,  on  the 
other,  an  escutcheon,  bearing  an  earl's  arms  and  coronet,  sur- 
rounded with  the  usual  emblems  of  mortality.  The  mattock 
and  spade,  which  lay  in  one  corner,  together  with  the  apj  ear- 
ance  of  an  old  man,  who,  in  a  rusty  black  coat  and  slouched 
hat,  sat  reading  by  a  teble,  announced  that  they  were  in  the 
habitation  of  the  church  beadle,  or  sexton,  and  in  the  presence 
of  that  respectable  functionar\\ 

When  his  attjention  was  attracted  by  the  noise  of  the  slid  in::; 
panel,  he  arose,  and,  testifying  much  respect,  but  no  surprise, 
took  his  shadowy  hat  from  his  thin  gray  locks,  and  stood  un- 
covered in  the  presence  of  Noma  with  an  air  of  profound 
humility. 

"  Be  faithful,"  said  Noma  to  the  old  man,  "  and  beware  yoa 
show  not  any  living  mortal  the  secret  path  to  the  sanctuary." 

The  old  man  bowed,  in  token  of  obedience  and  of  thanks, 
for  she  put  money  in  his  hand  as  she  spoke.  With  a  faltering 
voice,  he  expressed  his  hope  that  she  would  remember  his 
son,  who  was  on  the  Greenland  voyage,  that  he  might  return 
fortunate  and  safe,  as  he  had  done  last  year,  when  he  brought 
back  the  garland,  pointing  to  that  upon  the  wall. 

"  My  caldron  shall  boil,  and  my  rhyme  shall  be  said,  in  hia 
behalf,"  answered  Noma.  "  Waits  Pacolet  without  with  the 
horses?  " 

The  old  sexton  assented,  and  the  pythoness,  commanding 
Clevelaxid  to  follow  her,  went  through  a  back  door  of  the 
apartment  into  a  small  garden,  corresponding,  in  its  desolate 
appearance,  to  the  habitation  they  had  just  quitted.  The  \o^ 
and  broken  wall  easily  permitted  them  to  pass  into  another 
and  larger  garden,  though  not  much  better  kept,  and  a  gate, 
which  was  upon  the  latch,  let  them  into  a  long  and  winding 
lane,  through  which.  Noma  having  whispered  to  her  com- 
panion that  it  was  the  only  dangerous  place  on  their  road, 
they  walked  with  a  hasty  pace.  It  was  now  nearly  dark,  and 
the  inhabitants  of  the  poor  dwellings  on  either  hand  had  be- 
taken themselves  to  their  houses.  They  saw  only  one  woman, 
who  was  looking  from  her  door,  but  blessed  horself,  and  re- 
tired into  her  house  with  precipitation,  when  she  saw  the  tall 
figure  of  Noma  stalk  past  her  with  long  strides.  The  lane 
conducted  them  into  the  country,  where  the  dumb  dwarf 
waited  with  three  horses,  ensconced  behind  the  wall  of  a  de- 
serted shed.  On  one  of  these  Noma  instantly  seated  herself. 
Cleveland  mounted  another,  and,  followed  by  Pacolet  on  the 
third,  they  moved  sharply  on  through  the  darkness;  the  active 


402  ^A  VERLET  NO  VELS. 

and  spirited  animals  on  which  they  rode  being  of  a  breed 
rather  taller  than  those  reared  in  Zetland. 

After  more  than  an  hour's  smart  riding,  in  which  Noma 
acted  as  guide,  they  stopped  before  a  hovel,  so  utterly  deso- 
late in  appearance  that  it  resembled  rather  a  cattle-shed  than 
a  cottage. 

"  Here  you  must  remain  till  dawn,  when  your  signal  can  be 
seen  from  your  vessel,"  said  Noma,  consigning  the  horses  to 
the  care  of  Pacolet,  and  leading  the  way  into  the  wretched 
hovel,  whi;eli  she  presently  illuminated  by  lighting  the  small 
iron  lamp  which  she  usually  carried  along  with  her.  "  It  is 
a  poor,"  she  said,  "but  a  safe  place  of  refuge;  for,  were  we  pur- 
sued hither,  the  earth  would  yawn  and  admit  us  into  its  re- 
cesses ere  you  were  taken.  For  know,  that  this  ground  is 
sacred  to  the  gods  of  old  Valhalla.  And  now  say,  man  of 
mischief  and  of  blood,  are  you  friend  or  foe  to  Noma,  the 
sole  priestess  of  these  disowned  deities?" 

"  How  is  it  possible  for  me  to  be  your  enemy?  "  said  Cleve- 
land.    "  Common  gratitude " 

"  Common  gratitude,"  said  Noma,  interrupting  him,  "  is 
a  common  word;  and  words  are  the  common  pay  which  fools 
accept  at  the  hands  of  knaves;  but  Noma  must  be  requited  by 
actions — by  sacrifices." 

"  Well,  mother,  name  your  request." 

"  That  you  never  seek  to  see  Minna  Troil  again,  and  that 
you  leave  this  coast  in  twenty-four  hours,"  answered  Noma. 

"It  is  impossible,"  said  the  outlaw:  "I  cannot  be  soon 
enough  found  in  the  sea-stores  which  the  sloop  must  have." 

"  You  can.  I  will  take  care  you  are  fully  supplied;  and 
Caithness  and  the  Hebrides  are  not  far  distant — you  can  de- 
part if  you  will." 

"And  why  should  I,"  said  Cleveland,  "if  I  will  not?" 

"  Because  your  stay  endangers  others,"  said  Noma,  "  and 
will  prove  your  own  destruction.  Hear  me  with  attention. 
From  the  first  moment  I  saw  you  lying  senseless  on  the  sand 
beneath  the  cliffs  of  Sumburgh,  I  read  that  in  your  counte- 
nance which  linked  you  with  me,  and  those  who  were  dear 
to  me;  but  whether  for  good  or  evil,  was  hidden  from  mine 
eyes.  I  aided  in  saving  your  life,  in  preserving  your  prop- 
erty. I  aided  in  doing  so  the  very  youth  whom  you  have 
crossed  in  his  dearest  affections — crossed  by  tale-bearing  and 
slander." 

"/  slander  Mertoun! "  exclaimed  Cleveland.  "By 
Heaven,  I  scarce  mentioned  his  name  at  Burgh- Westra,  if 


THE  PIRATE.  403 

it  is  that  which  you  mean.  The  peddling  fellow  Bryee,  mean- 
ing, I  believe,  to  be  my  friend,  because  he  found  something 
could  be  made  by  me,  did,  I  have  since  heard,  carry  tattle,  or 
truth,  I  know  not  which,  to  the  old  man,  which  was  confirmed 
by  the  report  of  the  whole  island.  But,  for  me,  I  scarce 
thought  of  him  as  a  rival;  else  I  had  taken  a  more  honorable 
way  to  rid  myself  of  him." 

"•'  Was  the  point  of  your  double-edged  knife,  directed  to  the 
bosom  of  an  unarmed  man,  intended  to  carve  out  that  more 
honorable  way  ?  "  said  ISTorna  sternly. 

Cleveland  was  conscience-struck,  and  remained  silent  for  an 
instant,  ere  he  replied,  "  There,  indeed,  I  was  wrong;  but  he 
is,  I  thank  Heaven,  recovered,  and  welcome  to  an  honorable 
satisfaction." 

"  Cleveland,"  said  the  pythoness,  "  no!  The  fiend  who 
employs  you  as  his  implement  is  powerful;  but  with  me  he 
shall  not  strive.  You  are  of  that  temperament  which  the 
dark  Influences  desire  as  the  tools  of  their  agency — bold, 
haughty,  and  undaunted,  unrestrained  by  principle,  and  hav- 
ing only  in  its  room  a  wild  sense  of  indomitable  pride,  which 
such  men  call  honor.  Such  you  are,  and  as  such  your  course 
through  life  has  been — onward  and  unrestrained,  bloody  and 
tempestuous.  By  me,  however,  it  shall  be  controlled,"  she 
concluded,  stretching  out  lier  staff,  as  if  in  the  attitude  of 
determined  authority — "  aye,  even  although  the  demon  who 
presides  over  it  should  now  arise  in  his  terrors." 

Cleveland  laughed  scornfully.  ''  Good  mother,"  he  said, 
"  reserve  such  language  for  the  rude  sailor  that  implores  you 
to  bestow  him  fair  wind,  or  the  poor  fisherman  that  asks  suc- 
cess to  his  nets  and  lines.  I  have  been  long  inaccessible  botli 
to  fear  and  to  superstition.  Call  forth  your  demon,  if  you 
command  one,  and  place  him  before  me.  The  man  that  has 
spent  years  in  company  with  incarnate  devils  can  scarce  dread 
the  presence  of  a  disembodied  fiend." 

This  was  said  with  a  careless  and  desperate  bitterness  of 
spirit  which  proved  too  powerfully  energetic  even  for  the 
delusions  of  Noma's  insanity;  and  it  was  with  a  hollow  and 
tremulous  voice  that  she  asked  Cleveland:  "For  what,  then, 
do  you  hold  me,  if  you  deny  the  power  I  have  bought  so 
deafly?" 

"  You  have  wisdom,  mother,"  said  Cleveland;  "  at  least  you 
have  art.,  and  art  is  power.  I  hold  you  for  one  who  knows 
how  to  steer  upon  the  current  of  events^,  but  I  deny  your 
power  to  change  its  course.     Do  not,  therefore,  waste  words 


404  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

in  quoting  terrors  for  which  I  have  no  feeling,  but  tell  me  at 
once,  wherefore  you  would  have  me  depart?  " 

"  Because  I  will  have  you  see  Minna  no  more,"  answered 
Noma.  "  Because  Minna  is  the  destined  bride  of  him  whom 
men  call  Mordaunt  ]\Iertoim.  Because,  if  you  depart  not 
within  twenty-four  hours,  utter  destruction  awaits  you.  In 
these  plain  words  there  is  no  metaphysical  delusion.  An- 
swer me  as  plainly." 

"  In  as  plain  words,  then,"  answered  Cleveland,  "  I  will  not 
leave  these  islands — not,  at  least,  till  I  have  seen  Minna  Troil; 
and  never  shall  your  Mordaunt  possess  her  while  I  live." 

"Hear  him!"  said  Noma — "hear  a  mortal  man  spurn  at 
the  means  of  prolonging  his  life!  Hear  a  sinful — a  most  sin- 
ful being,  refuse  the  time  which  fate  yet  affords  for  repent- 
ance, and  for  the  salvation  of  an  immortal  soul!  Behold  him 
how  he  stands  erect,  bold  and  confident  in  his  youthful 
strength  and  courage!  My  eyes,  unused  to  tears — even  my 
eyes,  which  have  so  little  cause  to  weep  for  him,  are  blinded 
with  sorrow,  to  think  what  so  fair  a  form  will  be  ere  the  sec- 
ond sun  set!  " 

"  Mother,"  said  Cleveland,  firmly,  yet  with  some  touch  of 
sorrow  in  his  voice,  "  I  in  part  understand  your  threats.  You 
know  more  than  we  do  of  the  course  of  the  '  Halcyon,'  per- 
haps have  the  means — for  I  acknowledge  you  have  shown 
wonderful  skill  of  combination  in  such  affairs — of  directing 
her  cruise  our  way.  Be  it  so,  I  will  not  depart  from  my  pur- 
pose for  that  risk.  If  the  frigate  comes  hither,  we  have  still 
our  shoal  water  to  trust  to;  and  I  think  they  will  scarce  cut  us 
out  with  boats,  as  if  we  were  a  Spanish  xebeck.  I  am  there- 
fore resolved  I  will  hoist  once  more  the  flag  under  which  I 
have  cruised,  avail  ourselves  of  the  thousand  chances  which 
have  helped  us  in  greater  odds,  and,  at  the  worst,  fight  the 
vessel  to  the  very  last;  and,  when  mortal  man  can  do  no  more, 
it  is  but  snapping  a  pistol  in  the  powder-room,  and,  as  we 
have  lived,  so  will  we  die." 

There  was  a  dead  pause  as  Cleveland  ended;  and  it  was 
broken  by  his  resuming,  in  a  softer  tone:  "You  have  heard 
my  answer,  mother;  let  us  debate  it  no  further,  but  part  in 
peace.  I  would  willingly  leave  you  a  remembrance,  that  you 
may  not  forget  a  poor  fellow  to  whom  your  services  have  been 
useful,  and  who  pairts  with  you  in  no  unkindness,  however 
unfriendly  you  are  to  his  dearest  interests.  Nay.  do  not  shun 
to  accept  such  a  trifle,"  he  said,  forcing  npon  Noma  tlie  little 
silver  enchased  box  which  had  been  once  the  subject  of  strife 


THE  PIRATE.  405 

betvvixt  Mertoun  and  him;  "it  is  not  for  the  sake  of  the 
metal,  which  1  know  you  value  not,  but  simply  as  a  memorial 
that  you  have  met  him  of  whom  many  a  strange  tale  will 
hereafter  be  told  in  the  seas  which  he  has  traversed." 

"  I  accept  your  gift,"  said  Noma,  "  in  token  that,  if  I  have 
in  aught  been  accessory  to  your  fate,  it  was  as  the  involuntary 
and  grieving  agent  of  other  powers.  Well  did  you  say  w^- 
direct  not  the  current  of  the  events  which  hurry  us  forwarJ, 
and  render  our  utmost  efforts  unavailing;  even  as  the  wells  '^ 
of  Tuftiloe  can  wheel  the  §toutest  vessel  round  and  round  in 
despite  of  either  sail  or  steerage.  Pacolet!"  she  exclaimed 
in  a  louder  voice — "  what,  ho !  Pacolet !  " 

A  large  stone,  which  lay  at  the  side  of  the  wall  of  the  hovel, 
fell  as  she  spoke,  and  to  Cleveland's  surprise,  if  not  somewhat 
to  his  fear,  the  misshapen  form  of  the  dwarf  was  seen,  like 
some  overgrown  reptile,  extricating  himself  out  of  a  subter- 
ranean passage,  the  entrance  to  which  the  ^tone  had  covered. 

Noma,  as  if  impress.ed  by  what  Cleveland  had  said  on  the 
subject  of  her  supernatural  pretensions,  was  so  far  from  en- 
deavoring to  avail  herself  of  this  opportunity  to  enforce  them, 
that  she  hastened  to  explain  the  phenomenon  he  had 
witnessed. 

"  Such  passages,"  she  said,  "  to  which  the  entrances  are 
carefully  concealed,  are  frequently  found  in  these  islands — 
the  places  of  retreat  of  the  ancient  inliabitants,  where  they 
sought  refuge  from  the  rage  of  the  Normans,  the  pirates  of 
that  day.  It  was  that  you  might  avail  yourself  of  this  in  case 
of  need,  that  I  brought  you  hither.  Should  you  observe  signs 
of  pursuit,  you  may  either  lurk  in  the  bowels  of  the  earth 
until  it  has  passed  by,  or  escape,  if  you  will,  through  the  far- 
ther entrance  near  the  lake,  by  which  Pacolet  entered  but 
now.  And  now  farewell!  Think  on  w^hat  I  have  said;  for 
as  sure  as  you  now^  move  and  breathe  a  living  man,  so  surely 
is  your  doom  fixed  and  sealed,  unless,  within  four-and-twenty 
hours,  you  have  doubled  the  Burgh  Head." 

"  Farewell,  mother! "  said  Cleveland,  as  she  departed, 
bending  a  look  upon  him,  in  which,  as  he  could  perceive  by 
the  lamp,  sorrow  was  mingled  with  displeasure. 

The  interview,  vchich  thus  concluded,  left  a  strong  effect 
even  upon  the  mind  of  Cleveland,  accustomed  as  he  was  to 
imminent  dangers  and  to  hair-breadth  escapes.  He  in  vain 
attempted  to  shake  off  the  impression  left  by  the  words  of 
Noma,  which  he  felt  the  more  powerful,  because  they  were 

•  See  Wells  and  Waves.    Note  46. 


406  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS. 

in  a  great  measure  divested  of  her  wonted  mystical  tone, 
which  he  contemned.  A  thousand  times  he  regretted  that  he 
had  from  time  to  time  delayed  the  resolution,  which  he  had 
long  adopted,  to  quit  his  dreadful  and  dangerous  trade;  and  ;,s 
often  he  firmly  determined  that,  could  he  but  see  Minna  Troil 
once  more,  were  it  but  for  a  last  farewell,  he  would  leave  the 
sloop  as  soon  as  his  comrades  were  extricated  from  their  peril- 
ous situation,  endeavor  to  obtain  the  benefit  of  the  king's 
pardon,  and  distinguish  himself,  if  possible,  in  some  more 
honorable  coui*se  of  warfare. 

This  resolution,  to  which  he  again  and  again  pledged  him- 
self, had  at  length  a  sedative  effect  on  his  mental  perturbation, 
and,  wrapped  in  his  cloak,  he  enjoyed,  for  a  time,  that  imper- 
fect repose  which  exhausted  nature  demands  as  her  tribute, 
even  from  those  who  are  situated  on  the  verge  of  the  most 
imminent  danger.  But,  how  far  soever  the  guilty  may  satisfy 
his  own  mind  and  stupify  the  feelings  of  remorse  by  such  a 
conditional  repentance,  we  may  well  question  whether  it  is 
not,  in  the  sight  of  Heaven,  rather  a  presumptuous  aggrava- 
tion than  an  expiation  of  his  sins. 

When  Cleveland  awoke,  the  gray  dawn  was  already  min- 
gling with  the  twilight  of  an  Orcadian  night.  He  found  him- 
self on  the  verge  of  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  which,  close 
by  the  place  where  he  had  rested,  was  nearly  divided  by  two 
tongues  of  land  that  approach  each  other  from  the  opposing 
sides  of  the  lake,  and  are  in  some  degree  united  by  the  Brid,:ie 
of  Broisgar,  a  long  causeway,  containing  openings  to  permit 
the  flow  and  reflux  of  the  tide.  Behind  him,  and  fronting 
to  the  bridge,  stood  that  remarkable  semicircle  of  huge  up- 
right stones  which  has  no  rival  in  Britain,  excepting  the  in- 
imitable monument  at  Stonehenge.  These  immense  blocks 
of  stone,  all  of  them  above  twelve  feet,  and  several  being  even 
fourteen  or  fifteen  feet  in  height,  stood  around  the  pirate  in 
the  gray  light  of  the  dawning  like  the  phantom  forms  of 
antediluvian  giants,  who,  shrouded  in  the  habiliments  of  the 
dead,  came  to  revisit,  by  this  pale  light,  the  earth  which  thev 
had  plagued  by  their  oppression  and  polluted  by  their  sins, 
till  they  brought  down  upon  it  the  vengeance  of  long-suffer- 
ing Heaven.* 

Cleveland  was  less  interested  by  this  singular  monument  of 
antiquity  than  by  the  distant  view  of  Stromness,  which  he 
could  as  yet  scarce  discover.  He  lost  no  time  in  striking  a 
light,  by  the  assistance  of  one  of  his  pistols,  and  some  wet  fern 

*  See  The  Standing  Stones  of  Stennis.    Note  46. 


THE  PIRATE.  407 

supplied  him  with  fuel  sufficient  to  make  the  appointed  sig- 
nal. It  had  been  earne.<tly  watelied  for  on  board  the  sloop; 
for  Goffe's  incapacity  became  daily  more  apparent;  and  even 
his  most  steady  adherents  agreed  it  would  be  best  to  submit 
to  Cleveland's  command  till  they  got  back  to  the  West  Indies. 
Bunce,  who  came  with  the  boat  to  bring  off  his  favorite 
commander,  danced,  cursed,  shouted,  and  spouted  for  joy 
when  he  saw  him  once  more  at  freedom.  "  They  had 
already,"  he  said,  •'  made  some  progress  in  victualing  the  sloop, 
and  they  might  have  made  more  but  for  that  drunken  old 
swab  Goffe,  who  minded  nothing  but  splicing  the  main- 
brace.'' 

The  boat's  crew  were  inspired  with  the  same  enthusiasm, 
and  rowed  so  hard  that,  although  the  tide  was  against  them, 
and  the  air  of  wind  failed,  they  soon  placed  Cleveland  once 
more  on  the  quarter-deck  of  the  vessel  which  it  was  his  mis- 
fortune to  command. 

The  fii-st  exercise  of  the  captain's  power  was  to  make  known 
to  Magnus  Troil  that  he  was  at  full  freedom  to  depart;  that 
he  was  willing  to  make  him  any  compensation  in  his  power 
for  the  interruption  of  his  voyage  to  Kirkwall;  and  that  Cap- 
tain Cleveland  was  desirous,  if  agreeable  to  Mr.  Troil,  to  pay 
his  respects  to  him  on  board  his  brig,  thank  him  for  former 
favors,  and  apologize  for  the  circumstances  attending  his  de- 
tention. 

To  Bunce,  who,  as  the  most  civilized  of  the  crew,  Cleve- 
land had  intrusted  this  message,  the  old  plain-dealing  Udal- 
ler  made  the  following  answer:  "  Tell  your  captain  that  I 
should  be  glad  to  think  he  had  naver  stopped  anyone  upon  the 
high  sea  save  such  as  have  suffered  as  little  as  I  have.  Say, 
too,  that,  if  we  are  to  continue  friends,  we  shall  be  most  so  at 
a  distance;  for  I  like  the  sound  of  his  cannon-balls  as  little 
by  sea  as  he  would  like  the  whistle  of  a  bullet  by  land  from 
my  rifle-gun.  Sav,  in  a  word,  that  I  am  sorry  I  was  mistaken 
in  him,  and  that  he  would  have  done  better  to  have  reserved 
for  the  Spaniard  the  usage  he  is  bestowing  on  his  country- 
men." 

"  And  so  that  is  your  message,  old  Snapcholerick?  "  said 
Bunca  "  Xow,  stap  my  vitals  if  I  have  not  a  mind  to  do 
your  errand  for  you  over  the  left  shoulder,  and  teach  you 
more  respect  for* gentlemen  of  fortune!  But  I  won't,  and 
chiefly  for  the  sake  of  your  two  pretty  wenches,  not  to  men- 
tion my  old  friend  Claud  ITalcro,  the  very  visage  of  whom 
brought  back  all  the  old  days  of  scene-shifting  and  candle- 


408  WA  VERLEY  NO  VELS. 

snuffing.     So  good-morrow  to  you,  Gaffer  SealVcap,  and  all 
is  said  that  need  pass  between  us." 

No  sooner  did  the  boat  put  off  with  the  pirates,  who  left 
the  brig  and  now  returned  to  their  own  vessel,  than  Magnus, 
in  order  to  avoid  reposing  unnecessary  confidence  in  the 
honor  of  these  gentlemen  of  fortune,  as  they  called  them- 
selves, got  his  brig  under  way;  and,  the  wind  coming  favor- 
ably round,  and  increasing  as  the  sun  rose,  he  crowded  all 
sail  for  Scalpa  Flow,  intending  there  to  disembark  and  go  by 
land  to  Kirkwall,  where  he  expected  to  meet  his  daughters 
and  his  friend  Claud  Halcro. 


CHAPTER   XXXIX. 

Kow,  Emma,  now  the  last  reflection  make, 
What  thou  wouldst  follow,  what  thou  must  forsake. 
By  our  ill-omen'd  stars  and  adverse  Heaven, 
No  middle  object  to  thy  choice  is  given. 

— Henry  and  Emma. 

The  sun  was  high  in  heaven;  the  boats  were  busily  fetch- 
ing ofE  from  the  shore  the  promised  supply  of  provisions  and 
water,  which,  as  many  fishing  skiffs  were  employed  in  the 
service,  were  got  on  board  with  unexpected  speed,  and  stowed 
away  by  the  crew  of  the  sloop  with  equal  dispatch.  All 
worked  with,  good  will;  for  all,  save  Cleveland  himself,  were 
weary  of  a  coast  where  ever}^  moment  increa.=ed  their  danger, 
and  where,  which  they  esteemed  a  worse  misfortune,  there 
was  no  booty  to  be  won.  Bunce  and  Derrick  took  the  imme- 
diate direction  of  this  duty,  while  Cleveland,  walking  the  declc 
alone,  and  in  silence,  only  interfered  from  time  to  time,  to 
give  some  order  which  circumstances  required,  and  then  re- 
lapsed into  his  own  sad  reflections. 

There  are  two  sorts  of  men  whom  situations  of  guilt,  ter- 
ror, and  commotion  bring  forward  as  prominent  agents.  The 
first  are  spirits  so  naturally  molded  and  fitted  for  deeds  of 
horror  that  they  stalk  forth  from  their  lurking-places  like 
actual  demons,  to  work  in  their  native  element,  as  the  hide- 
ous apparition  of  the  Bearded  Man  came  forth  at  Versailles, 
on  the  memorable  oth  October,  1789,  the  delighted  exe- 
cutioner of  the  victims  delivered  up  to  him  by  a  bloodthirsty 
rabble.  But  Cleveland  belonged  to  the  second  class  of  these 
unfortunate  beings,  who  are  involved  in  evil  rather  by  the 
concurrence  of  external  circumstances  than  by  natural  incli- 
nation, being,  indeed,  one  in  whom  his  first  engaging  in  this 
lawless  mode  of  life,  as  the  follower  of  his  father,  nay,  per- 
haps, even  his  pursuing  it  as  his  father's  avenger,  carried  with 
it  something  of  mitigation  and  apology;  one  also  who  often 
considered  his  guilty  situation  with  horror,  and  had  made  re- 
peated, though  ineffectual,  efforts  to  escape  from  it. 

Such  thoughts  of  remorse  were  now  rolling  in  hi>  mind, 
and  he  may  be  forgiven  if  recollections  of  Minna  mingled  with 
and  aided  them.  He  looked  around,  too,  on  his  mates,  and, 
profligate  and  hardened  as  he  knew  them  to  be,  he  could  not 


410  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS. 

think  of  their  paying  the  penalty  of  his  obstinacy.  "We 
shall  be  ready  to  sail  with  the  ebb  tide,"  he  said  to  himself; 
''  why  should  I  endangxT  these  men  by  detaining  them  till  the 
hour  of  danger  predicted  by  that  singular  woman  shall  ar- 
rive? Her  intelligence,  howsoever  acquired,  has  been  always 
strangely  accurate;  and  her  w^aming  was  as  solemn  as  if  a 
mother  were  to  apprise  her  erring  son  of  his  crimes  and  of  his 
approaching  punishment.  Besides,  what  chance  is  there  that 
I  can  again  see  Minna?  She  is  at  Kirkwall,  doubtless,  and  to 
hold  my  course  thither  would  be  to  steer  right  upon  the  rocks. 
No,  I  will  not  endanger  these  poor  fellows:  I  will  sail  with  the 
ebb  tide.  On  the  desolate  Hebrides,  or  on  the  northwest 
coast  of  Ireland,  I  will  leave  the  vessel  and  return  hither  in 
some  disguise;  yet,  why  should  I  return,  since  it  will  perh:ip.=^ 
be  only  to  see  Minna  the  bride  of  Mordaunt?  No;  let  the 
vessel  sail  wdth  this  ebb  tide  without  me.  I  will  abide  and 
take  my  fate." 

His  meditations  were  here  interrupted  by  Jack  Bunce.  who, 
hailing  him  noble  captain,  said  they  were  ready  to  sail  when  he 
pleased. 

"  When  you  please,  Bunce;  for  I  shall  leave  the  command 
wdth  you  and  go  ashore  at  Stromness,"  said  Cleveland. 

"You  shall  do  no  such  matter,  by  Heaven!"  answered 
Bunce.  "  The  command  \nth  me,  truly!  and  how  the  devil 
am  I  to  get  the  crew  to  obey  me?  Why,  even  Dick  Fletcher 
rides  rusty  on.  me  now  and  then.  You  know  well  enough 
that,  wdthout  5^ou,  we  shall  be  all  at  each  other's  throats  in 
half  an  hour;  and,  if  you  desert  us,  what  a  rope's  end  does  it 
signify  whether  we  are  destroyed  by  the  king's  cruisers  or  by 
each  other?  Come — come,  noble  captain,  there  are  black- 
eyed  girls  enough  in  the  world,  but  where  will  you  find  so 
tight  a  sea-boat  as  the  little  '  Favorite '  here,  manned  as  she 
is  with  a  set  of  teai-ing  lads, 

"  Fit  to  disturb  the  peace  of  all  the  world, 
And  rule  it  when  'tis  wildest?  " 

"  You  are  a  precious  fool.  Jack  Bunce,"  said  Cleveland, 
half-angry,  and,  in  despite  of  himself,  half-diverted,  by  the 
false  tones  and  exaggerated  gesture  of  the  stage-struck  pirate. 

"  It  may  be  so,  noble  captain,"  answered  Bunce,  "  and  it 
may  be  that  I  have  my  comrades  in  my  folly.  Here  are  you, 
now,  going  to  play  '  All  for  Love,  and  [or]  the  World  well 
Lost,'  and  yet  you  cannot  bear  a  harmleso  bounce  in  blank 
Terse.     Well,  I  can  talk  prose  for  the  matter,  for  I  have  news 


THE  PIRATE.  411 

enough  to  tell — and  strange  news,  too — aye,  and  stirring  news 
to  boot." 

"  Well,  prithee  deliver  them — to  speak  thy  own  cant — like 
a  man  of  this  world." 

"  The  Stromness  fishers  ^vill  accept  nothing  for  their  pro- 
visions and  trouble,"  said  Bunce — "  there  is  a  wonder  for 
you!  " 

"  And  for  what  reason,  I  pray?  "  said  Cievehmd;  "  it  is  the 
first  time  I  have  ev(  r  heard  of  cash  being  rtfu.-ed  at  a  seaport." 

■■  True!  they  commonly  lay  the  charges  on  as  thick  as  if 
they  were  calking.  But  here  is  the  matter.  The  owner  of 
the  brig  yonder,  the  father  of  your  fair  Imoinda.  stands  pay- 
master, by  way  of  thanks  for  the  civility  with  which  we 
treated  his  daughters,  and  that  we  may  not  meet  our  due,  as 
he  calls  it,  on  these  shores." 

'•  It  is  like  the  frank-hearted  old  Udaller!  "  said  Cleveland. 
"  But  is  he  at  Stromness?  I  thought  he  was  to  have  crossed 
the  island  for  Kirkwall." 

"  He  did  so  purpose,"  said  Bunce;  "  but  more  folks  than 
King  Duncan  change  the  course  of  their  voyage.  He  was  no 
sooner  ashore  than  he  was  met  with  by  a  meddling  old  witch 
of  these  parts,  who  has  her  finger  in  every  man's  pie,  and  by 
her  counsel  he  changed  his  purpose  of  going  to  Kirkwall,  and 
lies  at  anchor  for  the  present  in  yonder  white  house,  that 
you  may  see  with  your  glass  up  the  lake  yonder.  I  am  told 
the  old  woman  clubbed  also  to  pay  for  the  sloop's  stores. 
Why  she  should  shell  out  the  boards  I  cannot  conceive  an 
idea,  except  that  she  is  said  to  be  a  witch,  and  may  befriend 
us  as  so  many  devils." 

"  But  who  told  you  all  tliis?  "  said  Cleveland,  without  usin^ 
his  spyglass,  or  seeming  so  much  interested  in  the  news  as  his 
comrade  had  expected. 

"  Why,"  replied  Bunce,  "  I  made  a  trip  ashore  this  morning 
to  the  village,  and  had  a  can  with  an  old  acquaintance,  who 
had  been  sent  by  Master  Troil  to  look  after  matters,  and  I 
fished  it  all  out  of  him,  and  more,  too,  than  I  am  desirous  of 
telling  you,  noble  captain." 

'■'  And  who  is  your  intelligencer?  "  said  Cleveland;  "  has  he 
got  no  name?  " 

"  Why.  he  is  an  old,  fiddling,  foppish  acquaintance  of  mine 
called  Halcro,  if  you  must  know,"  said  Bunce. 

"Halcro!"  echoed  Cleveland,  his  eyes  sparkling  with  sur- 
prise— "  Claud  Halcro?  why,  he  went  ashore  at  Inganess  with 
Minna  and  her  sister.     Where  are  they?  " 


412  WAVBRLET  NOVELS. 

"  Why,  that  is  just  what  1  did  not  want  to  tell  you,"  re- 
plied the  confidant;  "  yet  hang  me  if  I  can  help  it,  for  I  caji- 
not  balk  a  fine  situation.  Tliat  start  had  a  fine  effect.  Oh, 
aye,  and  the  spyglass  is  turned  on  the  House  of  Stennis  now! 
Well,  yonder  they  are,  it  must  he  confessed — indifferently 
well  guarded,  too.  Some  of  the  old  witch's  people  are  come 
over  from  that  mountain  of  an  island — Hoy,  as  they  call  it; 
and  the  old  gentleman  has  got  some  fellows  under  arms  him- 
self. But  what  of  all  that,  nohle  captain!  give  you  but  the 
word,  and  we  snap  up  the  wenches  to-night — clap  them  under 
hatches — man  the  capstern  by  daybreak — up  topsails — and 
sail  with  the  morning  tide." 

"  You  sicken  me  with  your  villainy,"  said  Cleveland,  turn- 
ing away  from  him. 

"  Umph!  villainy,  and  sicken  you!  "  said  Bunce.  "  Now, 
pray,  what  have  I  said  but  what  has  been  done  a  thousand 
times  by  gentlemen  of  fortune  like  ourselves?  " 

"  Mention  it  not  again,"  said  Cleveland;  then  took  a  turn 
along  the  deck,  in  deep  meditation,  and,  coming  back  to 
Bunce,  took  him  by  the  hand,  and  said,  "  Jack,  I  wall  see  her 
once  more." 

"  With  all  my  heart,"  said  Bunce  sullenly. 

"  Once  more  will  I  see  her,  and  it  may  be  to  abjure  at  her 
feet  this  cursed  trade,  and  expiate  my  offenses " 

"  At  the  gallows!  "  said  Bunce,  completing  the  sentence. 
"  With  all  my  heart!  confess  and  be  hanged  is  a  most  rev- 
erend proverb." 

"Nay — but,  dear  Jack!"  said  Cleveland. 

"Dear  Jack!"  answered  Bunce,  in  the  same  sullen  tone, 
"  a  dear  sight  you  have  been  to  dear  Jack.  But  hold  your 
ov,'Ti  course;  I  have  done  with  caring  for  you  forever.  I 
should  but  sicken  you  with  my  villainous  counsels." 

"  Now,  must  I  soothe  this  silly  fellow  as  if  he  were  a  spoiled 
child,"  said  Cleveland,  speaking  at  Bunce,  but  not  to  him; 
"and  yet  he  has  sense  enough,  and  bravery  too;  and,  one 
would  think,  kindness  enough  to  know  that  men  don't  pick 
their  words  during  a  gale  of  wind." 

"  Why,  that's  true,  Clement,"  said  Bunce,  "  and  there  is 
my  hand  upon  it.  And,  now  I  think  upon't,  you  shall  have 
your  last  interview,  for  it's  out  of  my  line  to  prevent  a  part- 
ing scene;  and  what  signifies  a  tide?  We  can  sail  by  to-mor- 
row's ebb  as  well  as  by  this." 

Cleveland  sighed,  for  Noma's  prediction  rushed  on  his 
mind;  but  the  opportunity  of  a  last  meeting  with  Minna  was 


THE  PIRATE.  413 

too  tempting  to  be  resigned  either  for  presentiment  or  pre- 
diction. 

"  I  \yW\  go  presently  ashore  to  the  place  where  they  all 
are,"  said  Bunce;  ''  and  the  payment  of  these  stores  shall  .-erve 
me  for  a  pretext;  and  I  will  carry  any  letters  or  message  Irora 
you  to  Minna  with  the  dexterity  of  a  '  valet-de-chainbre/  " 

"  But  they  have  armed  men;  you  may  be  in  danger,"  said 
Cleveland. 

"  Not  a  whit— not  a  whit,"  replied  Bunce.  "  I  protected 
the  wenches  when  they  were  in  my  power;  I  warrant  their 
father  will  neither  wrong  me  nor  see  me  wronged." 

"  You  say  true,"  said  Cleveland,  ''  it  is  not  in  his  nature. 
I  will  instantly  write  a  note  to  Minna."  And  he  ran  down 
to  the  cabin  for  that  purpose,  where  he  wasted  much  paper 
ere,  with  a  trembling  hand  and  throbbing  heart,  he  achieve  1 
such  a  letter  as  he  hoped  might  prevail  on  Minna  to  permit 
him  a  farewell  meeting  on  the  succeeding  morning. 

His  adherent,  Bunce,  in  the  meanwhile,  sought  out 
Fletcher,  of  whose  support  to  second  any  motion  whateve^r 
he  accounted  himself  perfectly  sure;  and,  followed  by  this 
trusty  satellite,  he  intruded  himself  on  the  awful  presence  of 
Hawkins,  the  boatswain,  and  Derrick,  the  quartermaster,  who 
were  regaling  themselves  with  a  can  of  rumbo,  after  the 
fatiguing  duty  of  the  day. 

"  Here  comes  he  can  tell  us,"  said  Derrick.  *'  So,  Master 
Lieutenant,  for  so  we  must  call  you  now,  I  think,  let  us  have 
a  peep  into  your  counsels.  When  will  the  anchor  be 
a-trip?" 

"When  it  pleases  Heaven,  ^Master  Quartermaster,"  an- 
swered Bunce,  "  for  I  know  no  more  than  the  stern-post." 

"Why,  d n  my  buttons!"  said  Derrick,  "do  we  not 

weigh  this  tide?  " 

"Or  to-morrow's  tide,  at  farthest?"  said  the  boatswain. 
"  Why,  what  have  we  been  slaving  the  whole  company  for, 
to  get  all  these  stores  aboard  ?  " 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  Bunce,  "  you  are  to  know  that  Cupid 
has  laid  our  captain  on  board,  carried  the  vessel,  'and  nailed 
down  his  wats  under  hatches." 

"What  sort  of  play-stuff  is  all  this?"  said  the  boatswain 
gruffly.  "  If  you  have  anything  to  t.ell  us,  say  it  in  a  word, 
like  a  man." 

"  Howsomdever,"  sdd  Fletcher,  "  I  always  think  Jack 
Bunce  speaks  like  a  man,  and  acts  like  a  man  too;  and  so. 
d'ye  see " 


414  WAVERLE7  NOVELS. 

"Hold  your  peace,  dear  Dick — best  of  bully-backs,  be 
silent,"  said  Bunce.  "  Gentlemen,  in  one  word,  the  captain 
is  in  love." 

"  Why,  now,  only  think  of  that!  "  said  the  boatswain;  "  not 
but  that  I  have  been  in  love  as  often  as  any  man,  when  the 
ship  was  laid  up." 

"  Well,  but,"  continued  Bunce,  "  Captain  Cleveland  is  in 
love.  Yes — Prince  Volscius  is  in  love;  and,  though  that's 
the  cue  for  laugliing  on  the  stage,  it  is  no  laughing  matter 
here.  He  expects  to  meet  the  girl  to-morrow,  for  the  last 
time;  and  that,  we  all  know,  leads  to  another  meeting,  and 
another,  and  so  on  till  the  '  Halcyon  '  is  down  on  us,  and  then 
we  may  look  for  more  kicks  than  halfpence." 

"  By  ,"   said   the  boatswain,   with   a  sounding   oath, 

"  we'll  have  a  mutiny,  and  not  allow  him  to  go  ashore — eh, 
Derrick?" 

"  And  the  best  way  too,'"  said  Derrick. 

"  What  d'ye  think  of  it.  Jack  Bunce  ?  "  said  Fletcher,  in 
whose  ears  this  counsel  sounded  very  sagely,  but  who  still 
bent  a  wistful  look  upon  his  companion. 

"  Why,  look  ye,  gentlemen,"  said  Bunce,  "  I  mil  mutiny 
none,  and  stap  my  vitals  if  any  of  you  shall!  " 

"  Why,  then  I  \\-t)n't  for  one,"  said  Fletcher;  "  but  what  are 
we  to  do,  since  howsomdever " 

"  Stopper  your  jaw,  Dick,  will  you?  "  said  Bunce.  "  Now, 
boatsw^ain,  I  am  partly  of  your  mind,  that  the  captain  must 
be  brought  to  reason  by  a  little  wholesome  force.  But  you 
all  know  he  has  the  spirit  of  a  lion,  and  will  do  nothing  unless 
he  is  allowed  to  hold  on  his  o^vn  course.  Well,  I'll  go  ashore 
and  make  this  appointment.  The  girl  comes  to  the  rendez- 
vous in  the  morning,  and  the  captain  goes  ashore;  we  take  a 
good  boat's  crew  with  us,  to  row  against  tide  and  current,  and 
we  will  be  ready  at  the  signal  to  jump  ashore  and  hring  off 
the  captain  and  the  girl,  whether  they  wdll  or  no.  The  pet- 
child  will  not  quarrel  with  us,  since  we  bring  off  his  w^hirli- 
gig  along  with  him;  and  if  he  is  still  fractious,  why,  we  will 
weigh  anchor  without  liis  orders,  and  let  him  come  to  his 
senses  at  leisure,  and  know  his  friends  another  time." 

"  Why,  this  has  a  face  wdth  it.  Master  Derrick,"  said 
Hawkins. 

"  Jack  Bunce  is  always  right,"  said  Fletcher;  "  howsom- 
dever, the  captain  mil  shoot  some  of  us,  that  is  certain." 

"  Hold  your  jaw,  Dick."  said  Bunce;  "  pray,  who  the  devil 
cares,  do  you  tliiuk,  whether  you  are  shot  or  hanged?" 


THE  PIRATE.  416 

''"Why,  it  don't  much  argufy  for  the  matter  of  that,"  re- 
plied Dick;  "  howsomdever " 

"  Be  quiet,  1  tell  you,"  said  his  inexorable  patron,  "  and 
hear  me  out.  We  ^vdll  take  liim  at  unawares,  so  that  he  shall 
ndtlier  have  time  to  use  cutlass  nor  pops;  and  I  myself,  for 
the  dear  love  I  bear  liim,  wall  be  the  first  to  lay  him  on  his 
back.  There  is  a  nice  tight-going  bit  of  a  pinnace  that  is  a 
consort  of  this  chase  of  the  captain's;  if  I  have  an  opportunity, 
I'll  snap  her  up  on  my  own  account." 

"  Yes — yes,''  said  Derrick,  "  let  you  alone  for  keeping  on 
the  lookout  for  your  own  comforts." 

"  Faith,  nay,"  said  Bunce,  "  I  only  snatch  at  them  when 
they  come  fairly  in  my  way,  or  are  purchased  by  dint  of  my 
own  wit;  and  none  of  you  could  have  fallen  on  such  a  plan 
at  this.  We  shall  have  the  captain  with  us,  head,  hand,  and 
heart  and  all,  besides  making  a  scene  fit  to  finish  a  comedy. 
So  I  will  go  ashore  to  make  the  appointment,  and  do  you 
possess  some  of  the  gentlemen  who  are  still  sober,  and  fit  to 
be  trusted,  with  the  knowledge  of  our  intentions." 

Bunce,  ^nth  his  friend  Fletcher,  departed  accordingly,  and 
the  two  veteran,  pirates  remained  looking  at  each  other  in 
silence,  until  the  boatswain  spoke  at  last.  "  Blow  me,  Der- 
n?k,  if  I  like  these  two  daffadandilly  young  fellows:  they  are 
not  the  true  breed.  Why,  they  are  no  more  like  the  rovers 
I  have  known  than  this  sloop  is  to  a  first-rate.  Why,  there 
was  old  Sharpe,  that  read  prayers  to  his  ship's  company  every 
Sunday,  what  would  he  have  said  to  have  heard  it  proposed 
to  bring  two  wenches  on  board  ?  " 

"  And  what  would  tough  old  Black  Beard  have  said,"  an- 
swered his  companion,  "  if  they  had  expected  to  keep  them  to 
themselves?  They  deserve  to  be  made  to  walk  the  plank  for 
their  impudence;  or  to  be  tied  back  to  back  and  set  a-diving, 
and  I  care  not  how  soon." 

"  Aye,  but  who  is  to  command  the  ship,  then? "  said 
Hawkins. 

"Why,  what  ails  you  at  old  Goffe?"  answered  Derrick. 

"  Why,  he  has  sucked  the  monkey  so  long  and  so  often," 
said  the"^  boatswain,  "  that  the  best  of  him  is  buffed.  He  is 
little  better  than  an  old  woman  when  he  is  sober,  and  he  is 
roaring  mad  when  he  is  drunk;  we  have  had  enough  of  Goffe." 
"  Why,  then,  what  d'ye  say  to  yourself,  or  to  me,  boat- 
swain.'^ "  demanded  the  quartermaster.  "  I  am  content  to  toss 
up  for  it." 

"Kot  it,  no,"  answered  the  boatswain,  after  a  moment's 


416  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

consideration;  "if  we  were  within  reach  of  the  trade  winds, 
we  might  either  of  us  make  a  shift;  but  it  will  take  all  Cleve- 
land's navigation  to  get  us  there;  and  so,  I  think,  there  is 
nothing  like  Bunco's  project  for  the  present.  Hark,  he  calls 
for  the  boat;  I  must  go  on  deck  and  have  her  lowered  for  hia 
honor,  d n  his  eyes." 

The  boat  was  lowered  accordingly,  made  its  voyage  up  the 
lake  with  safety,  and  landed  Bunco  within  a  few  hundred 
yards  of  the  old  mansion-house  of  Stennis.  Upon  arriving  in 
front  of  the  house,  he  found  that  hasty  measures  had  been 
taken  to  put  it  in  a  state  of  defense,  the  Lower  windows  being 
barricaded,  with  places  left  for  use  of  musketry,  and  a  ship- 
gun  being  placed  so  as  to  command  the  entrance,  which  was 
besides  guarded  by  two  sentinels.  Bunce  demanded  admis- 
sion at  the  gate,  which  was  briefly  and  unceremoniously  re- 
fused, with  an  exhortation  to  him,  at  the  same  time,  to  be 
gone  about  his  business  before  worse  came  of  it.  As  he 
continued,  however,  importunately  to  insist  on  seeing  some 
iv.-ne  of  the  family,  and  stated  his  business  to  be  of  the  most 
argent  nature,  Claud  Halcro  at  length  appeared,  and,  with 
more  peevishness  than  belonged  to  his  usual  manner,  that  ad- 
mirer of  glorious  John  expostulated  with  his  old  acquaintance 
upon  his  pertinacious  folly. 

"  You  are,"  he  said,  "  like  foolish  moths  fluttering  about 
a  candle,  which  is  sure  at  last  to  consume  you." 

"  And  you,"  said  Bunce,  "  are  a  set  of  stingless  drones, 
whom  we  can  smoke  out  of  your  defenses  at  our  pleasure,  with 
half  a  dozen  of  hand-grenades." 

"  Smoke  a  fool's  head!  "  said  Halcro;  "  take  my  advice,  and 
mind  your  own  matters,  or  there  will  be  those  upon  you  will 
smoke  you  to  purpose.  Either  begone  or  tell  me  in  two  words 
what  you  want;  for  you  are  like  to  receive  no  welcome  here 
save  from  a  blunderbuss.  We  are  men  enough  of  ourselves; 
and  here  is  young  Mordaunt  Mertoun  come  from  Hoy,  whom 
your  captain  so  nearly  murdered." 

"  Tush,  man,"  said  Bunce,  "  he  did  but  let  out  a  little  mala- 
pert blood." 

"We  want  no  such  phlebotomy  here,"  said  Claud  Halcro; 
"and,  besides,  your  patient  turns  out  to  be  nearer  allied  to 
us  than  either  you  or  we  thought  of;  so  you  may  think  how 
little  welcome  the  captain  or  any  of  his  crew  are  like  to  be 
here." 

"  Well,  but  what  if  I  bring  money  for  the  stores  sent  on 
board?" 


THE  PIRATE.  417 

"Keep  it  till  it  \%  asked  of  you,"  said  Halcro.  ''  There  are 
two  bad  paymasters — he  that  pays  too  soon,  and  he  that  does 
not  pay  at  all." 

''  Well,  then,  let  me  at  least  give  our  thanks  to  the  donor," 
said  Bunce. 

"  Keep  them,  too,  till  they  are  asked  for,"  answered  the 
poet. 

"  So  this  is  all  the  welcome  I  have  of  you  for  old  acquaint- 
ance' sake  ?  "  said  Bunce. 

"Why,  what  can  I  do  for  you,  Master  Altamont?"  said 
Halcro,  somewhat  moved.  "  If  young  ^Mordaunt  had  had  his 
own  will,  he  would  have  welcomed  you  with  '  the  red  Bur- 
gundy, No.  1000.'  For  God's  sake  begone,  else  the  stage  di- 
rection will  be,  '  Enter  guard,  and  seize  Altamont.'  " 

"  I  vnl\  not  give  you  the  trouble,"  said  Bunce,  "  but  will 
make  my  exit  instantly.  Sta.y  a  moment;  I  Imd  almost  for- 
got that  I  have  a  slip  of  paper  for  the  tallest  of  your  girls 
there — Minna,  aye,  Minna  is  her  name.  It  is  a  farewell  from 
Captain  Cleveland;  you  cannot  refuse  to  give  it  her?" 

"  Ah,  poor  fellow!  "  said  Halcro  "  I  comprehend — I  com- 
prehend.    Farewell,  fair  Armada — 

"  'Mid  pikes  and  'mid  bullets,  'mid  tempests  and  fire, 
The  danger  is  less  than  in  hopeless  desire! 

Tell  me  but  tliis — ^is  there  poetry  in  it?  " 

"  Ohokeful  to  the  seal  wdth  song,  sonnet,  and  elegy,"  an- 
swered Bunce;  "  but  let  her  have  it  cautiously  and  secretly." 

"Tush,  man!  teach  me  to  deliver  a  billet-doux! — me,  who 
have  been  in  the  Wits'  Coffee-house,  and  have  seen  all  the 
toasts  of  the  Kit-Cat  Club!  Minna  shall  have  it,  then,  for 
old  acquaintance'  sake,  Mr.  Altamont,  and  for  your  captain's 
sake  too,  who  has  less  of  the  core  of  devil  about  him  than  his 
trade  requires.     There  can  be  no  hami  in  a  farewell  letter." 

"  Farewell,  then,  old  boy,  for  ever  and  a  day!  "  said  Bunce; 
and  seizing  the  poet's  hand,  gave  it  so  hearty  a  gripe  that  he 
left  him  roaring  and  shaking  his  fist,  like  a  dog  when  a  hot 
cinder  has  fallen  on  his  foot. 

Leaving  the  rover  to  return  on  board  the  vessel,  we  re- 
main wath  the  family  of  Magnus  Troil,  assembled  at  their 
kinsman's  mansion  of  Stennis.  where  they  maintained  a  con- 
stant and  careful  watch  against  surprise. 

Mordaunt  Mertoun  had  been  received  with  much  kindness 
by  Magnus  Troil,  when  he  came  to  his  assistance,  wdth  a  smaM 
party  of  NDrna's  depaidants,  placed  by  her  under  his  com- 


418  WA  VERLEY  NO  VELS. 

mand.  The  Udaller  was  easily  satisfied  that,  the  reports  in- 
stilled into  his  ears  by  the  jayger,  zealous  to  augment  his  favoi: 
toward  his  more  profitable  customer,  Cleveland,  by  dimin- 
ishing that  of  Mertoun,  were  without  foundation.  They  had, 
indeed,  been  confirmed  by  the  good  Lady  Glowrowrum  and  by 
common  fame,  both  of  whom  were  pleased  to  represent  Mor- 
daunt  Mertoun  as  an  arrogant  pretender  to  the  favor  of  the 
sisters  of  Burgh-Westra,  who  only  hesitated,  sultan-like,  on 
whom  he  should  bestow  the  handkerchief.  But  common 
fame,  Magnus  considered,  was  a  common  liar,  and  he  was 
sometimes  disposed,  where  scandal  was  concerned,  to  regard 
the  good  Lady  Glowrowrum  as  rather  an  uncommon  specimen 
of  the  same  genus.  He  therefore  received  Mordaunt  once 
more  into  full  favor,  listened  with  much  surprise  to  the  claim 
which  Noma  laid  to  the  young  man's  duty,  and  with  no  less 
interest  to  her  intention  of  surrendering  to  him  the  con- 
siderable property  which  she  had  inherited  from  her  father. 
Nay,  it  is  even  probable  that,  though  he  gave  no  immediate 
answer  to  her  hints  concerning  an  union  betwixt  his  eldest 
daughter  and  her  heir,  he  might  think  such  an  alliance 
recommended  as  well  by  the  young  man's  personal  merits  as 
by  the  chance  it  gave  of  reuniting  the  ver}'  large  estate  which 
had  been  divided  betwixt  his  own  father  and  that  of  Noma. 
At  all  events,  the  Udaller  received  his  young  friend  with 
much  Idndness,  and  he  and  the  proprietor  of  the  mansion 
joined  in  intrusting  to  him,  as  the  youngest  and  most  active 
of  the  party,  the  charge  of  commanding  the  night-watch,  and 
relieving  the  sentinels  around  the  House  of  Stennis. 


CHAPTEE   XL. 

Of  an  outlawe,  this  is  the  lawe — 

That  men  him  take  and  biud, 
Without  pitie  haiig'd  to  be, 

And  waive  with  tlie  wind. 

—  The  Ballad  of  the  Nut-Brovm  Maid. 

MoRDAUNT  had  caused  the  sentinels  who  had  been  on  duty 
aince  midnight  to  be  relieved  ere  the  peep  of  day,  and  hav- 
ing given  directions  that  the  guard  should  be  again  changed 
at  sunrise,  he  had  retired  to  a  small  parlor,  and,  placing  his 
arms  beside  him,  was  slumbering  in  an  easy-chair,  when  he 
felt  himself  pulled  by  the  watch-cloak  in  which  he  was  en- 
veloped. 

"Is  it  sunrise,"  said  he,  "already?"  as,  starting  up,  he 
discovered  the  first  beams  lying  level  upon  the  horizon. 

"  Mordaunt!  "  said  a  voice,  every  note  of  which  thrilled  to 
his  heart. 

He  turned  his  eyes  on  the  speaker,  and  Brenda  Troil,  to  his 
joyful  astonishment,  stood  before  him.  As  he  was  about  to 
address  her  eagerly,  he  was  che«ked  by  observing  the  signs  of 
sorrow  and  discomposure  in  her  pale  cheeks,  trembling  lips, 
and  brimful  eyes. 

"  Mordaunt,"  she  said,  "  you  must  do  Minna  and  me  a 
favor:  you  must  allow  us  to  leave  the  house  quietly,  and  with- 
out alarming  anyone,  in  order  to  go  as  far  as  the  Standing 
Stones  of  Stennis." 

"  What  freak  can  this  be,  dearest  Brenda? "  said  Mor- 
daunt, much  amazed  at  the  request — "  some  Orcadian  observ- 
ance of  superstition,  perhaps;  but  the  time  is  too  dangerous, 
and  my  charge  from  your  father  too  strict,  that  I  should  per- 
mit you  to  pass  without  his  consent.  Consider,  dearest 
Brenda,  I  am  a  soldier  on  duty,  and  must  obey  orders." 

"  Mordaunt,"  said  Brenda,  "  this  is  no  jesting  matter: 
Minna's  reason — nay,  Minna's  life,  depends  on  your  giving 
lis  this  permission." 

"  And  for  what  purpose?  "  said  Mordaunt;  "  let  me  at  least 
know  that." 

"  For  a  wild  and  a  desperate  purpose,"  replied  Brenda. 
"  It  is  that  she  may  meet  Cleveland." 

"  Cleveland!  "  said  Mordaunt.     "  Should  the  villain  come 


430  WA  VERLE T  NO  VELS. 

asiiore,  he  shall  be  welcomed  with  a  shower  of  rifle-ball.% 
Let  me  within  a  hundred  yards  of  him,"  he  added  grasping  his 
piece,  "  and  all  the  mischief  he  has  done  me  shall  be  balanced 
with  an  ounce  bullet!  " 

"His  death  will  drive  Minna  frantic,"  said  Brenda;  "and 
him  who  injures  Minna,  Brenda  will  never  again  look  upon." 
"  This    is    madness — raving    madness! "    said   Mordaunt. 
"  Consider  your  honor — consider  your  duty." 

"  I  can  consider  nothing  but  Minna's  danger,"  said  Brenda, 
breaking  into  a  flood  of  tears:  "  her  former  illness  was  noth- 
ing to  the  state  she  has  been  in  all  night.  She  holds  in  her 
hand  his  letter,  written  in  characters  of  fire  rather  than  of 
ink,  implorinsf  her  to  see  him,  for  a  last  farewell,  as  she  would 
save  a  mortal  body  and  an  immortal  soul;  pledging  himself 
for  her  safety;  and  declaring  no  power  shall  force  him  from 
the  coast  till  he  has  seen  her.     You  must  let  us  pass." 

"It  is  impossible!"  replied  Mordaunt  in  gi-eat  perplexity. 
"  This  ruffian  has  imprecations  enough,  doubtless,  at  his 
fingers'  ends;  but  what  better  pledge  has  he  to  offer?  I  can- 
not pennit  Minna  to  go." 

"  I  suppose,"  said  Brenda.,  somewhat  reproachfully,  while 
she  dried  her  tears,  yet  still  continued  sobbing,  "  that  there 
is  something  in  what  Noma  spoke  of  betwixt  Minna  and  you; 
and  that  you  are  too  Jealous  of  this  poor  wretch  to  allow  him 
even  to  speak  with  her  an  instant  before  his  departure." 

"  You  are  unjust,"  said  Mordaunt,  hurt,  and  yet  somewhat 
flattered,  by  her  suspicions — "  you  are  as  unjust  as  you  are 
imprudent.  You  know — you  cannot  but  know — that  Minna 
is  chiefly  dear  to  me  as  your  sister.  Tell  me,  Brenda — and 
tell  me  truly — if  I  aid  you  in  this  folly,  have  you  no  sus- 
picion of  the  pirate's  faith  ?  " 

"  No,  none,"  said  Brenda;  "  if  1  had  any,  do  you  think  I 
would  urge  you  thus?  He  is  wild  and  unhappy,  but  I  think 
we  may  in  this  trust  him." 

"  Is  the  appointed  place  the  Standing  Stones,  and  the  time 
daybreak?"  again  demanded  Mordaunt. 

"  It  is,  and  the  time  is  come,"  said  Brenda;  "  for  Heaven's 
sake,  let  us  depart!  " 

"  I  will  myself,"  said  Mordaunt,  "  relieve  the  sentinel  at  the 
front  door  for  a  few  minutes,  and  suffer  you  to  pass.  You 
will  not  protract  this  interview,  so  full  of  danger?" 

"  We  will  not,"  said  Brenda;  "  and  you,  on  your  part,  will 
not  avail  yourself  of  this  unhappy  man's  venturing  hither  to 
harm  or  to  seize  him?  " 


THE  PIRATE.  421 

"  Rely  on  my  honor/'  said  Mordaunt.  "  He  shall  have  no 
harm  unless  he  offers  any." 

'^  Then  I  go  to  call  my  sister,"  said  Brenda,  and  quickly 
left  the  apartment. 

Mordaunt  considered  the  matter  for  an  instant,  and  then 
going  to  the  sentinel  at  the  front  door,  he  desired  him  to  run 
instantly  to  the  main-guard,  and  order  the  whole  to  turn  out 
with  their  arms;  to  see  the  order  obeyed,  and  to  return  when 
they  were  in  readiness.  Meantime,  he  himself,  he  said,  would 
remain  upon  the  post. 

During  the  interval  of  the  sentinel's  absence,  the  front 
door  was  slowly  opened,  and  Minna  and  Brenda  appeared, 
muffled  in  their  mantles.  The  former  leaned  on  her  sister, 
and  kept  her  face  bent  on  the  ground,  as  one  who  felt 
ashamed  of  the  step  she  was  about  to  take.  Brenda  also 
passed  her  lover  in  silence,  but  threw  back  upon  him  a  look 
of  gratitude  and  affection,  which  doubled,  if  possible,  his 
anxiety  for  their  safety. 

The  sisters,  in  the  meanwhile,  passed  out  of  sight  of  the 
house;  when  Minna,  whose  step  till  that  time  had  been  faint 
and  feeble,  began  to  erect  her  person  and  to  walk  with  a  pace 
so  firm  and  so  swift  that  Brenda,  who  had  some  difficulty  to 
keep  up  with  her,  could  not  forbear  remonstrating  on  the 
imprudence  of  hurrjdng  her  spirits  and  exhausting  her  force 
by  such  unnecessar}'  haste. 

"  Fear  not,  my  dearest  sister,"  said  Minna:  "  the  spirit 
which  I  now  feel  will,  and  must,  sustain  me  through  the 
dreadful  interview.  I  could  not  but  move  with  a  drooping 
head  and  dejected  pace  while  I  was  in  view  of  one  who  must 
necessarily  deem  me  deserving  of  his  pity  or  his  ^corn.  But 
you  know,  my  dearest  Brenda,  and  Mordaunt  shall  also  know, 
that  the  love  I  bore  to  that  unhappy  man  was  as  pure  as  the 
rays  of  that  sun  that  is  now  reflected  on  the  waves.  And  I 
dare  attest  that  glorious  sun  and  yonder  blue  heaven  to  bear 
me  witness  that,  but  to  urge  him  to  change  his  unhappy 
course  of  life,  I  had  not,  for  all  the  temptations  this  round 
world  holds,  ever  consented  to  see  him  more." 

As  she  spoke  thus,  in  a  tone  which  afforded  much  confi- 
dence to  Brenda.  the  sisters  attained  the  summit  of  a  rising 
ground,  whence  they  commanded  a  full  view  of  the  Orcadian 
Stnnehenge.  consistins:  of  a  huge  circle  and  semicircle  of  the 
Standing  Stones,  as  they  are  called,  which  already  glimmered 
a  grayish  white  in  the  rising  sun,  and  projected  far  to  the 
weotward  their  long  gigantic  shadows.     At  another  time,  the 


422  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

scene  would  have  operated  powerfully  on  the  imaginative 
mind  of  Minna,  and  interested  the  curiosity  at  least  of  her 
less  sensitive  sister.  But  at  this  moment  neither  was  at  leis- 
ure to  receive  the  impressions  which  this  stupendous  monu- 
ment of  antiquity  is  so  well  calculated  to  impress  on  the  feel- 
ings of  those  who  behold  it;  for  they  saw  in  the  lower  lake, 
beneath  what  is  termed  the  Bridge  of  Broisgar,  a  boat  well 
manned  and  armed,  which  had  disembarked  one  of  its  crew, 
who  advanced  alone,  and  wrapped  in  a  naval  cloak,  toward 
that  monumental  circle  which  they  themselves  were  about  to 
reach  from  another  quarter. 

"  They  are  many,  and  they  are  armed,"  said  the  startled 
Brenda,  in  a  whisper  to  her  sister. 

"  It  is  for  precaution's  sake,"  answered  Minna,  "  which, 
alas!  their  condition  renders  but  too  necessary.  Fear  no 
treachery  from  him;  that,  at  least,  is  not  his  vice." 

As  she  spoke,  or  shortly  afterward,  she  attained  the  center 
of  the  circle,  on  which,  in  the  midst  of  the  tall,  erect  pillars 
of  rude  stone  that  was  raised  around,  lies  one  fiat  and  pros- 
trate, supported  by  short  stone  pillars,  of  which  some  relics 
are  still  visible,  that  had  once  served,  perhaps,  the  purpose  of 
an  altar. 

"  Here,"  she  said,  "  in  heathen  times  (if  we  may  believe 
legends  which  have  cost  me  but  too  dear),  our  ancestors 
offered  sacrifices  to  heathen  deities;  and  here  will  I,  from  my 
soul,  renounce,  abjure,  and  offer  up  to  a  better  and  a  more 
merciful  God  than  was  known  to  them  the  vain  ideas  with 
which  my  youthful  imagination  has  been  seduced." 

She  stood  by  the  prostrate  table  of  stone,  and  saw  Cleveland 
advance  toward  her,  with  a  timid  pace  and  a  downcast  look, 
ys,  different  from  his  usual  character  and  bearing  as  Minna's 
high  air  and  lofty  demeanor,  and  calm,  contemplative  posture, 
were  distant  from  those  of  the  love-lorn  and  broken-hearted 
maiden  whose  weight  had  almost  borne  down  the  support  of 
her  sister  as  she  left  the  House  of  Stennis.  If  the  belief  of 
those  is  true  who  assign  these  singular  monuments  exclusively 
to  the  Druids,  Minna  might  have  seemed  the  Haxa,  or  high 
priestess,  of  the  order,  from  whom  some  champion  of  the 
tribe  expected  inauguration.  Or,  if  we  hold  the  circles  of 
Gothic  and  Scandinavian  origin,  she  might  have  seemed  a 
descended  vision  of  Freya,  the  spouse  of  the  Thundering 
Deity,  before  whom  some  bold  sea-king  or  champion  bent 
with  an  awe  which  no  mere  mortal  terror  could  have  inflicted 
upon  him.     Brenda,  overwhelmed  with  inexpressible  fear  and 


THE  PIRATE.  423 

doubt,  remained  a  pace  or  two  behind,  an:tiously  observing 

the  motions  of  Cleveland,  and  attending  to  nothing  around 
save  to  him  and  to  her  sister. 

Cleveland  approached  within  two  yards  of  jMinna,  and  bent 
his  head  to  the  ground.  There  was  a  dead  pause,  until  Minna 
said,  in  a  firm  but  melancholy  tone,  '*  Unhappy  man,  why 
didst  thou  seek  this  aggravation  of  our  woe?  Depart  in  peace, 
and  may  Heaven  direct  thee  tO'  a  better  course  than  that  which 
thy  life  has  yet  held!  " 

"  Heaven  will  not  aid  me,"  said  Cleveland,  "  exeepting  by 
your  voice.  I  came  hither  rude  and  wild,  scarce  knowing 
that  my  trade — my  desperate  trade,  was  more  criminal  in  the 
sight  of  man  or  of  Heaven  than  that  of  those  privateers  whom 
your  law  acknowledges.  I  was  bred  in  it,  and,  but  for  the 
wishes  you  have  encouraged  me  to  form,  1  should  have  per- 
haps died  in  it,  desperate  and  impenitent.  Oh,  do  not  throw 
me  from  you!  let  me  do  something  to  redeem  what  I 
have  done  amiss,  and  do  not  leave  your  own  work  half 
finished!  " 

"  Cleveland,"  said  Minna,  "  I  will  not  reproach  you  \nth 
abusing  my  inexperience,  or  with  availing  yourself  of  those 
delusions  which  the  credulity  of  early  youth  had  flung  around 
me,  and  wliich  led  me  to  confound  your  fatal  course  of  life 
with  the  deeds  of  our  ancient  heroes.  Alas,  when  I  saw  your 
followers  that  illusion  was  no  more!  but  I  do  not  upbraid  you 
with  its  having  existed.  Go,  Cleveland;  detach  yourself  from 
those  miserable  wretches  with  whom  you  are  associated,  and 
believe  me  that,  if  Heaven  yet  gi-ants  you  the  means  of  dis- 
tinguishing your  name  by  one  good  or  glorious  action,  there 
are  eyes  left  in  these  lonely  islands  that  will  weep  as  much 
for  joy  as — as — they  must  now  do  for  soitow." 

"And  is  this  all?"  said  Cleveland;  "and  may  I  not  hope 
that,  if  I  extricate  myself  from  my  present  associates;  if  1  can 
gain  my  pardon  by  being  as  bold  in  the  right  as  I  have  been 
too  often  in  the  wrong  cause;  if,  after  a  term,  I  care  not  how 
long,  but  still  a  term  which  may  have  an  end,  I  can  boast  of 
having  redeemed  my  fame,  may  I  not — may  I  not  hope  that 
Minna  may  forgive  what  my  God  and  my  country  shall  have 
pardoned  ?  " 

"  Never,  Cleveland — never!  "  said  Minna,  with  the  utmost 
firmness;  "  on  this  spot  we  part,  and  part  forever,  and 
part  without  longer  indulgence.  Think  of  me  as  of  one  dead, 
if  you  continue  as  you  now  are;  but  if,  which  may  Heaven 
grant,  you  change  your  fatal  course,  think  of  me  then  as 


424  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

one  whose  morning  and  evening  prayers  will  be  for  you:>* 
happiness,  though  she  has  lost  her  own.  Farewell,  Cleve- 
land!" 

He  kneeled,  overpowered  by  his  own  bitter  feelings,  to  take 
the  hand  which  she  held  out  to  him,  and  in  that  instant  his 
confidant  Bunce,  starting  from  behind  one  of  the  large  up- 
right pillars,  liis  eyes  wet  with  tears,  exclaimed: 

"  Never  saw  such  a  parting  scene  on  any  stage!  But  I'll  be 
d d  if  you  make  your  exit  as  you  expect!  " 

And  so  saying,  ere  Cleveland  could  employ  either  remon- 
strance or  resistance,  and  indeed  before  he  could  get  upon  his 
feet,  he  easily  secured  him  by  pulling  him  down  on  his  back, 
8o  that  two  or  three  of  the  boat's  crew  seized  him  by  the  arms 
and  legs,  and  began  to  hurry  him  toward  the  lake.  Minna 
and  Brenda  shrieked,  and  attempted  to  fly;  but  Derrick 
snatched  up  the  former  with  as  much  ease  as  a  falcon  pounces 
on  a  pigeon,  while  Bunce,  with  an  oath  or  two  which  were 
intended  to  be  of  a  consolatory  nature,  seized  on  Brenda;  and 
the  whole  party,  vnih.  two  or  three  of  the  other  pirates,  who, 
stealing  from  the  water-side,  had  accompanied  them  on  the 
ambuscade,  began  hastily  to  run  toward  the  boat,  which  was 
left  in  charge  of  two  of  their  number.  Their  course,  how- 
ever, was  unexpectedly  interrupted,  and  their  criminal  pur- 
pose entirely  frustrated. 

When  Mordaunt  Mertoun  had  turned  out  his  guard  in  arms, 
it  was  \nih  the  natural  purpose  of  watching  over  the  safety 
of  the  two  sisters.  They  had  accordingly  closely  observed  the 
motions  of  the  pirates,  and  when  they  saw  so  many  of  them 
leave  the  boat  and  steal  toward  the  place  of  rendezvous 
assigned  to  Cleveland,  they  naturally  suspected  treachery,  and 
by  cover  of  an  old  hollow  way  or  trench,  which  perhaps  had 
anciently  been  connected  wdth  the  monumental  circle,  they 
had  thrown  themselves  unperceived  between  the  pirates  and 
their  boat.  At  the  cries  of  the  sisters,  they  started  up  and 
placed  "themselves  in  the  way  of  the  ruffians,  presenting  their 
pieces,  which,  notwithstanding,  they  dared  not  fire  for  fear 
of  hurting  the  young  ladies,  secured  as  they  were  in  the  rude 
grasp  of  the  mauraders.  Mordaunt,  however,  advanced  with 
the  i=peed  of  a  wild  deer  on  Bunce,  who,  loth  to  quit  his  prey, 
yet  unable  to  defend  himself  othenWse,  turned  to  this  side  and 
that  alternately,  exposing  Brenda  to  the  blows  which  Mor- 
daunt offered  at  him.  This  defense,  however,  proved  in  vain 
against  a  youth  possessed  of  the  lightest  foot  and  most  active 
hand  ever  known  in  Zetland,  and,  after  a  feint  or  two,  Mor- 


THE  PIRATE.  425 

daunt  broug'ht  the  pirate  to  the  ground  with  a  stroke  from  the 
butt  of  the  carabine,  whicli  he  dared  not  use  otherwise.  At 
the  same  time  firearms  were  discharged  on  either  side 
by  those  who  were  liable  to  no  such  cause  of  for- 
bearance, and  the  pirates  w^ho  had  hold  of  Cleveland 
dropped  him,  naturally  enough,  to  provide  for  their 
own  defense  or  retreat.  But  they  only  added  to  the 
numbers  of  their  enemies;  for,  Cleveland,  perceiving  j\Iinna 
in  the  arms  of  Derrick,  snatched  her  from  the  ruffian 
with  one  hand,  and  with  the  other  shot  him  dead  on  the  spot. 
Two  or  three  more  of  the  pirates  fell  or  were  taken,  the  rest 
fled  to  their  boat,  pushed  off,  then  turned  their  broadside  to 
the  shore,  and  fired  repeatedly  on  the  Orcadian  party,  which 
they  returned,  ^dth  little  injury  on  either  side.  Meanwhile 
Mordaunt,  having  first  seen  that  the  sisters  were  at  liberty  and 
in  full  flight  toward  the  house,  advanced  on  Cleveland  with 
his  cutlass  drawn.  The  pirate  presented  a  pistol,  and  calling 
out  at  the  same  time,  '"  ]\Iordaunt,  I  never  missed  my  aim,"  he 
flred  into  the  air,  and  threw  it  into  the  lake;  then  drew  his 
cutlass,  brandished  it  round  his  head,  and  flung  that  also  as 
far  as  his  arm  could  send  it,  in  the  same  direction.  Yet  such 
was  the  universal  belief  of  his  personal  strength  and  resources, 
that  Mordaunt  still  used  precaution,  as,  advancing  on  Cleve- 
land, he  asked  if  he  surrendered. 

"  I  surrender  to  no  man,"  said  the  pirate  captain;  "■  but  you 
may  see  I  have  thrown  away  my  weapons." 

He  was  immediately  seized  by  some  of  the  Orcadians  with- 
out his  offering  any  resistance;  but  the  instant  interference 
of  Mordaunt  prevented  his  being  roughly  treated  or  bound. 
The  Adctors  conducted  him  to  a  well-secured  upper  apartmeni 
in  the  House  of  Stennis,  and  placed  a  sentinel  at  the  door. 
Bunce  and  Fletcher,  both  of  whom  had  been  stretched  on  the 
field  during  the  skirmish,  were  lodged  in  the  same  chamber; 
and  two  prisoners,  who  appeared  of  lower  rank,  were  con- 
fined in  a  vault  belonging  to  the  mansion. 

"Without  pretending  to  describe  the  joy  of  Magnus  Troil. 
who,  when  awakened  by  the  noise  and  firing,  found  his 
daughters  safe  and  his  enemy  a  prisoner,  we  shall  only  say,  it 
was  so  great  that  he  forgot,  for  the  time  at  least,  to  inquire 
what  circumstances  were  those  which  had  placed  them  in 
danger;  that  he  hugged  Mordaunt  to  his  breast  a  thousand 
times,  as  their  preserver;  and  swore  as  often  by  the  bones  of 
his  sainted  namesake  that,  if  he  had  a  thousand  daughters,  so 


426  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

tight  a  lad  and  so  true  a  friend  should  have  the  choice  of 
them,  let  Lady  Glowrowrum  say  what  she  would. 

A  very  different  scene  was  passing  in  the  prison-chamber 
of  the  unfortunate  Cleveland  and  his  associates.  The  captain 
sat  by  the  window,  his  eyes  bent  on  the  prospect  of  the  sea 
which  it  presented,  and  was  seemingly  so  intent  on  it  as  to  be 
insensible  of  the  presence  of  the  others.  Jack  Bunce  stood 
meditating  some  ends  of  verse,  in  order  to  make  his  advances 
toward  a  reconciliation  with  Cleveland;  for  he  began  to  be 
sensible,  from  the  consequences,  that  the  part  he  had  playel 
toward  his  captain,  however  well  intended,  was  neither  lucky 
in  its  issue  nor  likely  to  be  well  taken.  His  admirer  and  ad 
herent,  Fletcher,  lay  half  asleep,  as  it  seemed,  on  a  truckle- 
bed  in  the  room,  without  the  least  attempt  to  interfere  in  the 
conversation  which  ensued. 

"  Nay.  but  speak  to  me,  Clement,"  said  the  penitent  lieu- 
tenant, "  if  it  be  but  to  swear  at  me  for  my  stupidity! 

"  What!  not  an  oath?    Nay,  then  the  world  goes  hard, 
If  Clifford  cannot  spare  his  friends  an  oatli." 

"I  prithee  peace,  and  begone!"  said  Cleveland;  "I  have 
one  bosom  friend  left  yet,  and  you  will  make  be  bestow  its 
contents  on  you  or  on  myself." 

"  I  have  it!  "  said  Bunce — "  I  have  it!  "  and  on  he  went  in 
the  vein  of  Jaffeir — 

"  Then,  by  the  hell  I  merit,  I'll  not  leave  thee, 
Till  to  thyself  at  least  thou'rt  reconciled. 
However  thy  resentment  deal  with  mel  " 

"  I  pray  you  once  more  to  be  silent,"  said  Cleveland.  "  Is 
it  not  enough  that  you  have  undone  me  with  your  treachery, 
but  you  must  stun  me  wath  your  silly  buffoonery?  I  would 
not  have  believed  you  would  have  lifted  a  finger  against  me, 
Jack,  of  any  man  or  devil  in  yonder  unhappy  ship." 

"  Who,  I?  "  exclaimed  Bunce.  "  I  lift  a  finger  against  you! 
and  if  I  did,  it  was  in  pure  love,  and  to  make  you  the  happ'est 
fellow  that  ever  trode  a  deck,  with  your  mistress  beside  you, 
and  fifty  fine  fellows  at  your  command.  Here  is  Dick 
Fletcher  can  bear  witness  I  did  all  for  the  best,  if  he  would 
but  speak,  instead  of  lolloping  there  like  a  Dutch  dogger  laid 
up  to  be  careened.  Get  up,  Dick,  and  speak  for  me,  won't 
you?" 

"  Why,  yes.  Jack  Bunce,"  answered  Fletcher,  raising  him- 
self with  difficulty,  and  speaking  feebly,  "  I  will  if  I  can.  and 
I  always  knew  you"  spoke  and  did  for  the  best;  but  howsom- 


THE  PIRATE.  427 

dever,  d'ye  see,  it  has  turned  out  for  the  worst  for  me  this 
time,  for  I  am  bleeding  to  death,  I  think." 

''  You  cannot  be  sucli  an  ass!  "  said  Jaclv  Ikmce,  springing 
to  his  assistance,  as  did  Cleveland.  But  human  aid  came  too 
late:  he  sunk  back  on  the  bed,  and,  turning  on  his  face,  ex- 
pired without  a  groan. 

"  1  always  thought  him  a  d d  fool,"  said  Bunce,  as  he 

wiped  a  tear  from  his  eye,  ''  but  never  such  a  consummate 
idiot  as  to  hop  the  perch  so  sillily.  1  have  lost  the  best  fol- 
lower  "  and  he  again  wiped  his  eye. 

Cleveland  looked  on  the  dead  body,  the  rugged  features  of 
which  had  remained  unaltered  by  the  death-pang.  "  A  bull- 
dog," he  said,  "  of  the  true  British  breed,  and,  with  a  belicr 
counselor,  would  have  been  a  better  man." 

"  You  may  say  that  of  some  other  folks,  too,  captain,  if 
you  are  minded  to  do  them  justice,"  said  Bunce. 

"  I  may  indeed,  and  especially  of  yourself,"  said  Cleveland 
in  reply. 

"  Why  then,  say,  '  Jack,  I  forgive  you,'  "  said  Bunce;  "  it's 
but  a  short  word,  and  soon  spoken." 

"  I  forgive  you  from  all  my  soul,  Jack,"  said  Cleveland, 
who  had  resumed  his  situation  at  the  window;  "  and  ihe 
rather  that  your  folly  is  of  little  consequence:  the  morning 
is  come  that  must  bring  ruin  on  us  all." 

"  What!  3'OU  are  thinking  of  the  old  woman's  prophecy  you 
spoke  of?  "  said  Bunce. 

"  It  will  soon  be  accomplished,"  answered  Cleveland. 
"  Come  hither;  what  do  you  take  yon  large,  square-rigged 
vessel  for,  that  you  see  doubling  the  headland  on  the  east, 
and  opening  the  Bay  of  Stromness?" 

"  Why,  I  can't  make  her  well  out,"  said  Bunce,  "  but  yon- 
der is  old  Goffe  takes  her  for  a  West  Indiaman  loaded  with 

rum  and  sugar,  I  suppose,  for  d n  me  if  he  does  not  slip 

cable  and  stand  out  to  her!  " 

"  Instead  of  running  into  the  shoal-water,  which  was  his 
only  safety,"  said  Cleveland.  "The  fool!  the  dotard!  the 
driveling,  drunken  idiot!  he  will  get  his  flip  hot  enough;  for 
yon  is  the  '  Halcyon.'  See,  she  hoists  her  colors  and  fires  a 
broadside!  ajid  there  will  soon  be  an  end  of  the  '  Fortune's 
Favorite'!  I  only  hope  they  ydW  fight  her  to  the  last  p'ank. 
The  boatswain  used  to  be  stanch  enough,  and  so  is  Gotie. 
though  an  incarnate  demon.  Now  she  shoots  away,  with  all 
the  sail  she  can  spread,  and  that  shows  some  sense." 

"  Up  goes  the  Jolly  Hodge,  the  old  black  flag,  with  the 


*38  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

death's-head  and  the  hour-glass,  and  that  shows  some  spunk," 
added  his  comrade. 

"  Tlie  hour-glass  is  turned  for  us,  Jack,  for  this  bout;  our 
sand  is  running  fast.  Fire  away  yet,  my  roving  lads!  The 
deep  sea  or  the  blue  sky  rather  than  a  rope  and  a  yard-arm!  " 
There  was  a  moment  of  anxious  and  dead  silence;  the  sloop, 
though  hard  pressed,  maintaining  still  a  running  tight,  and 
the  frigate  continuing  in  full  chase,  but  scarce  returning  a 
shot.  At  length  the  vessels  neared  each  other,  so  as  to  show 
that  the  man-of-war  intended  to  board  the  sloop,  instead  of 
sinking  her,  probably  to  secure  the  plunder  which  might  be 
in  the  pirate  vessel. 

"  Now,  Goffe — now,  boatswain!  "  exclaimed  Cleveland  in  an 
ecstacy  of  impatience,  and  as  if  they  could  have  heard  his 
commands,  "  stand  by  the  sheets  and  tacks — rake  her  with  a 
broadside,  when  you  are  under  her  bows,  then  about  ship,  and 
go  off  on  the  other  tack  like  a  wild  goose.  The  sails  shiver — 
the  helm's  a-lee.  Ah!  deep  sea  sink  the  lubbers!  they  miss 
stays,  and  the  frigate  runs  them  aboard!  " 

Accordingly,  the  vaiious  maneuvers  of  the  chase  had 
brought  them  so  near  that  Cleveland,  \\dth  his  spyglass,  could 
see  the  man-of-war's-men  boarding  by  the  yards  and  bow- 
sprit, in  irresistible  numbers,  their  naked  cutlasses  flashing  in 
the  sun,  when,  at  that  critical  moment,  both  ships  were  en- 
veloped in  a  cloud  of  thick  black  smoke,  which  suddenly  aro3e 
on  board  the  captured  pirate. 

"  '  Exeunt  omnes! '  "  said  Bimce,  with  clasped  hands. 
"  There  went  the  '  Fortune's  Favorite,'  ship  and  crew!  " 
said  Cleveland,  at  the  same  instant. 

But  the  smoke  immediately  clearing  away,  showed  that  the 
damage  had  only  been  partial,  and  that,  from  want  of  a  suffi- 
cient quantity  of  powder,  the  pirates  had  failed  in  their  des- 
perate attempt  to  blow  up  their  vessel  with  the  '  Halcyon.' 
Shortly  after  the  action  was  over,  Captain  Weatherport  of 
the  '  Halcyon '  sent  an  officer  and  a  party  of  marines  to  the 
House  of  Stennis,  to  demand  from  the  little  garrison  the 
pirate  seamen  who  were  their  prisoners,  and,  in  particular. 
Cleveland  and  Bunce,  who  acted  as  captain  and  lieutenant  of 
the  gang. 

This  was  a  demand  which  was  not  to  be  resisted,  though 
Magnus  Troil  could  have  wished  sincerely  that  the  roof  under 
which  he  lived  had  been  allowed  as  an  asylum  at  least  to 
Cleveland.  But  the  officer's  orders  were  peremptory;  and  he 
added,  it  was  Captain  Weatherport's  intention  to  land  the 


THE  PIRATE.  429 

other  prisoners,  and  send  the  whole,  with  a  sufficient  escort, 
across  the  island  to  Kirkwall,  in  order  to  undergo  an  ex- 
amination there  before  the  civil  authorities,  previous  to  their 
being  sent  off  to  London  for  trial  at  the  High  Court  of 
Admiralty.  Magnus  could  therefore  only  intercede  for  good 
usage  to  Cleveland,  and  that  he  might  not  be  stripped  or 
plundered,  which  the  officer,  struck  by  his  good  mien,  and 
compassionating  his  situation,  readily  promised.  The  honest 
Udaller  would  have  said  something  in  the  way  of  comfort  to 
Cleveland  himself,  but  he  could  not  find  words  to  express  it, 
and  only  shook  his  head. 

"  Old  friend,"  said  Cleveland,  "  you  may  have  much  to 
complain  of,  yet  you  pity  instead  of  exulting  over  me;  for  the 
sake  of  you  and  yours,  I  will  never  harm  human  being  more. 
Take  this  from  me — my  last  hope,  but  my  last  temptation 
also  ";  he  drew  from  his  bosom  a  pocket-pistol,  and  gave  it 

to    Magnus    Troil.     "  Eemember    me    to But    no,    let 

everyone  forget  me.  I  am  your  prisoner,  sir,"  said  he  to  the 
officer. 

"  And  I  also,"  said  poor  Bunce;  and  putting  on  a  theatrical 
countenance,  he  ranted,  with  no  very  perceptible  faltering  in 
his  tone,  the  words  of  Pierre: 

"  Captain,  you  should  be  a  gentleman  of  honor; 
Keep  off  the  rabble,  that  I  may  have  room 
To  entertain  my  fate,  and  die  with  decency." 


CHAPTER  XLI. 


Joy,  joy,  in  London  now! 

— SOUTHKY. 


The  news  of  the  capture  of  the  rover  reached  Kirkwall 
about  an  hour  before  noon,  and  filled  all  men  with  wonder 
and  with  joy.  Little  business  was  that  day  done  at  the  fair, 
whilst  people  of  all  ages  and  occupations  streamed  from  the 
place  to  see  the  prisoners  as  they  were  marched  toward  Kirk- 
wall, and  to  triumph  in  the  different  appearance  which  they 
now  bore  from  that  which  they  had  formerly  exhibited  when 
ranting,  swaggering,  and  bullying  in  the  streets  of  that  town. 
The  bayonets  of  the  marines  were  soon  seen  to  glisten  in  the 
sun,  and  then  came  on  the  melancholy  troop  of  captives, 
handcuffed  two  and  two  together.  Their  finery  had  been 
partly  torn  from  them  by  their  captors,  partly  hung  in  rags 
about  them;  many  were  wounded  and  covered  with  blood, 
many  blackened  and  scorched  with  the  explosion  by  which  a 
few  of  the  most  desperate  had  in  vain  striven  to  blow  up  the 
vessel.  Most  of  them  seemed  sullen  and  impenitent,  some 
were  more  becomingly  affected  with  their  condition,  and  a 
few  braved  it  out,  and  sung  the  same  ribald  songs  to  which 
they  had  made  the  streets  of  Kirkwall  ring  when  they  were 
in  their  frolics. 

The  boatswain  and  Goffe,  coupled  together,  exhausted 
themselves  in  threats  and  imprecations  against  each  other;  the 
former  charging  Goffe  with  want  of  seamanship,  and  the  latter 
alleging  that  the  boatswain  had  prevented  him  from  firing 
the  powder  that  was  stowed  forward,  and  so  sending  them  all 
to  the  other  world  together.  Last  came  Cleveland  and  Bunce, 
who  were  permitted  to  walk  unshackled;  the  decent  melan- 
choly, yet  resolved  manner,  of  the  former  contrasting  strongly 
with  the  stage  strut  and  swagger  which  poor  Jack  thought  it 
fitting  to  apsnme.  in  order  to  conceal  some  less  dignified  emo- 
tions. The  former  was  looked  upon  with  compassion,  the 
latter  with  a  mixture  of  scorn  and  pity;  while  most  of  the 
others  inspired  horror,  and  even  fear,  by  their  looks  and  their 
lano-uage. 

There  was  one  individual  in  Kirkwall  who  was  so  far  from 
hastening  to  see  the  sight  which  attracted  all  eyes,  that  he 

430 


THE  PIRATE.  431 

was  not  even  aware  of  the  event  which  agitated  the  town. 
This  was  the  elder  Mertoun,  whose  residence  Kirkwall  had 
been  for  two  or  three  days,  part  of  which  had  been  spent  in 
attending  to  some  judicial  proceedings,  undertaken  at  the  in- 
stance of  the  procurator-fiscal,  against  that  grave  professor, 
Bryce  Snailsfoot.  In  consequence  of  an  inquisition  into  the 
proceetlings  of  this  worthy  trader,  Cleveland's  chest,  with  his 
papers  and  other  matters  therein  contained,  had  been  restore  1 
to  Mertoun,  as  the  lawful  custodier  thereof,  until  the  right 
owner  should  be  in  a  situation  to  establish  his  right  to  them. 
Mertoun  was  at  first  desirous  to  throw  back  upon  justice  the 
charge  which  she  was  disposed  to  intrust  him  with;  but,  on 
perusing  one  or  two  of  the  papers,  he  hastily  changed  his 
mind — in  broken  words,  requested  the  magistrate  to  let  the 
chest  be  sent  to  his  lodgings,  and,  hastening  homeward,  bolted 
himself  into  the  room,  to  consider  and  digest  the  singular  in- 
formation which  chance  had  thus  conveyed  to  him,  and  which 
increased,  in  a  tenfold  degree,  his  impatience  for  an  inter- 
view with  the  mysterious  Noma  of  the  Fitful  Head. 

It  may  be  remembered  that  she  had  required  of  him,  when 
they  met  in  the  churchyard  of  St.  Ninian,  to  attend  in  the 
outer  aisle  of  the  cathedral  of  St.  Magnus,  at  the  hour  of  noon, 
on  the  fifth  day  of  the  fair  of  St.  011a,  there  to  meet  a  per- 
son by  whom  the  fate  of  Mordaunt  would  be  explained  to 
him.  "  It  must  be  herself,"  he  said;  "  and  that  I  should  see 
her  at  this  moment  is  indispensable.  How  to  find  her  soonei- 
I  know  not;  and  better  lose  a  few  hours  even  in  this  exigence 
than  offend  her  by  a  premature  attempt  to  force  myself  on 
her  presence." 

Long,  therefore,  before  noon — long  before  the  town  of 
Kirkwall  was  agitated  by  the  news  of  the  events  on  the  other 
side  of  the  island,  the  elder  Mertoun  w^as  pacing  the  deserted 
aisle  of  the  cathedral,  awaiting,  with  agonizing  eagerness,  the 
expected  communication  from  Noma.  The  bell  tolled  twelve 
— no  door  opened — no  one  was  seen  to  enter  the  cathedral; 
but  the  last  sounds  had  not  ceased  to  reverberate  through  the 
vaulted  roof  when,  gliding  from  one  of  the  interior  side-aisles. 
Noma  stood  before  him.  Mertoun,  indifferent  to  the  appar- 
ent mystery  of  her  sudden  approach  (with  the  secret  of  which 
the  reader  is  acquainted),  went  up  to  her  at  once,  with  the 
earnest  ejaculation—"  Ulla— Ulla  Troil,  aid  me  to  save  our 
unhappy  boy!  " 

"To  Ulla  Troil,"  said  Noma,  "I  answer  not:  I  gave  that 
name  to  the  winds  on  the  night  that  cost  me  a  father! " 


*82  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

"Speak  not  of  that  night  of  horror,"  said  Mertoun;  "we 
have  need  of  our  reason — let  us  not  think  on  recollections 
which  may  destroy  it;  but  aid  me,  if  thou  canst,  to  save  our 
unfortunate  child ! " 

"  Vaughan,"  answered  ISTorna,  "  he  is  already  saved — long 
since  saved;  think  you  a  mother's  hand — and  that  of  such  a 
mother  as  I  am — would  await  your  crawling,  tardy,  ineffec- 
tual assistance?  No,  Vaughan,  I  made  myself  known  to  you 
but  to  show  my  triumph  over  you:  it  is  the  only  revenge  which 
the  powerful  Noma  permits  herself  to  take  for  the  wrongs  of 
Ulla  Troil." 

"  Have  you  indeed  saved  him — saved  him  from  the  mur- 
derous crew?"  said  Mordaunt  [Mertoun],  or  Vaughan — 
"speak!  and  spealv  truth!  I  will  believe  everjihing — all  you 
would  require  me  to  assent  to! — prove  to  me  only  he  is 
escaped  and  safe!  " 

"  Escaped  and  safe,  by  my  means,"  said  Noma — "  safe,  and 
in  assurance  of  an  honored  and  happy  alliance.  Yes,  great 
unbeliever! — yes.  wise  and  self-opinioned  infidel!  these  were 
the  works  of  Noma!  I  knew  you  many  a  year  since;  but 
never  had  I  made  myself  known  to  you  save  with  the  triumph- 
ant consciousness  of  having  controlled  the  destiny  that  threat- 
ened my  son.  All  combined  against  him:  planets  which 
threatened  drowning — combinations  which  menaced  blood; 
but  my  skill  was  superior  to  all.  I  arranged — I  combined — • 
I  found  means — I  made  them — each  disaster  has  been 
averted;  and  what  infidel  on  earth,  or  stubborn  demon  beyond 
the  bounds  of  earth,  shall  hereafter  deny  my  power?  " 

The  wild  ecstacy  with  which  she  spoke  so  much  resembled 
triumphant  insanity  that  Mertoun  answered:  "Were  your 
pretensions  less  lofty,  and  your  speech  more  plain,  I  should 
be  better  assured  of  my  son's  safety." 

"Doubt  on,  vain  skeptic!"  said  Noma.  "And  yet  know, 
that  not  only  is  our  son  safe,  but  vengeance  is  mine,  though 
I  sought  it  not — vengeance  on  the  powerful  implement  of  the 
darker  Influences  by  whom  my  schemes  were  so  often 
thwarted,  and  even  the  life  of  my  son  endangered.  Yes,  take 
it  as  a  gtiarantee  of  the  truth  of  my  speech  that  Clevelnnd — 
the  pirate  Cleveland — even  now  enters  Kirkwall  as  a  prisoner. 
and  will  soon  expiate  with  his  life  the  having  shed  blood 
which  is  of  kin  to  Noma's." 

"  Who  didst  thou  say  was  prisoner?  "  exclaimed  Mertoun, 
with  a  voice  of  thunder — "  irh'^.  woman,  didst  thou  sav 
should  expiate  his  crimes  with  Ms  life?  " 


THE  PIRATE.  433 

"Cleveland — the  pirate  Cleveland!"  answered  Noma: 
"  and  by  me,  whose  counsel  he  scorned,  he  has  been  permitted 
to  meet  his  fate." 

"  Thou  most  wretched  of  women!  "  said  Mertoun,  speak- 
ing from  between  his  clenched  teeth,  "  thou  hast  slain  thy  son 
as  well  as  thy  father!  " 

"  My  son!  what  son?  what  mean  you?  Mordaunt  is  your 
son — your  only  son!  "  exclaimed  Noma,  "  is  he  not? — tel!  me 
quickly,  is  he  not?  " 

"  Mordaunt  is  indeed  my  son,"  said  Mordaunt;  "  the  laws, 
at  least,  gave  him  to  me  as  such.  But,  oh,  unhappy  Ullal 
Cleveland  is  your  son  as  well  as  mine — blood  of  our  Wood, 
bone  of  our  bone;  and  if  you  have  given  him  to  death,  I  will 
end  my  wretched  life  along  with  him!  " 

"Stay — hold — stop,  Vaughan!  "  said  Noma;  "I  am  not 
yet  overcome — prove  but  to  me  the  truth  of  what  you  say,  I 
would  tind  help,  if  I  should  evoke  hell!  But  prove  your 
words,  else  believe  them  I  cannot." 

"  Thou  help,  wretched,  overweening  woman!  In  what  have 
thy  combinations  and  thy  stratagems — the  legerdemain  of 
lunacy — the  mere  quackery  of  insanity — in  what  have  these 
involved  thee?  And  yet  I  will  speak  to  thee  as  reasonable — 
nay,  I  vnW  admit  thee  as  powerful.  Hear,  then,  Ulla,  the 
proofs  which  you  demand,  and  find  a  remedy,  if  thou  canst: 

"  When  I  fled  from  Orkney,"  he  continued,  after  a  pause^^ 
"  it  is  now  five-and-twenty  years  since — I  bore  with  me  the 
unhappy  offspring  to  whom  you  had  given  light.  It  was  sent 
to  me  by  one  of  your  kinswomen,  with  an  account  of  your 
illness,  which  was  soon  followed  by  a  generally  received  bplief 
of  your  death.  It  avails  not  to  tell  in  what  misery  I  left 
Europe.  I  found  refuge  in  Hispaniola,  wherein  a  fair  young 
Spaniard  undertook  the  task  of  comforter.  I  married  her; 
she  became  mother  of  the  youth  called  Mordaunt  Mertoun." 

"  You  married  her! "  said  Noma,  in  a  tone  of  deep  re- 
proach. 

"I  did,  Ulla,"  answered  Mertoun:  "but  you  were  avenged. 
She  proved  faithless,  and  her  infidelity  left  me  in  doubts 
whether  the  child  she  bore  had  a  right  to  call  me  father.  But 
I  also  was  avenged." 

"  You  murdered  her!  "  said  Noma,  with  a  dreadful  shriek. 

"I  did  that,"  said  Mertoun.  without  a  more  direct  reply, 
"  which  made  an  instant  flisfht  from  Hispaniola  necessiry. 
Your  son  I  carried  with  me  to  Tortuga,  where  we  had  a  small 
settlement.     Mordaunt  Vaughan,  my  son  by  marriage,  about 


-484  WAVBBLEY  NOVELS. 

three  or  four  years  younger,  was  residing  in  Port  Eoyal,  for 
the  advantages  of  an  English  education.  I  resolved  never 
to  see  him  again,  but  I  continued  to  support  him.  Our  set- 
tlement was  plundered  by  the  Spaniards  when  Clement  was 
but  fifteen.  Want  came  to  aid  despair  and  a  troubled  con- 
science. I  became  a  corsair,  and  involved  Clement  in  the  same 
desperate  trade.  His  skill  and  bravery,  though  then  a  mere 
boy,  gained  him  a  separate  command;  and  after  a  lapse  of  two 
or  three  years,  while  we  were  on  different  cruises,  my  crew 
rose  on  me,  and  left  me  for  dead  on  the  beach  of  one  of  the 
Bermudas.  I  recovered,  however,  and  my  first  inquiries,  after 
a  tedious  illness,  were  after  Clement.  He,  1  heard,  had  been 
also  marooned  by  a  rebellious  crew,  and  put  ashore  on  a  des- 
ert islet,  to  perish  with  want.     I  believed  he  had  so  perished." 

•'And  what  assures  you  that  he  did  not?"  said  Ulla;  "or 
how  comes  this  Cleveland  to  be  identified  with  Vaughau?  " 

"  To  change  a  name  is  common  with  such  adventurers," 
answered  Mertoun;  "and  Clement  had  apparently  found  that 
of  Vaughan  had  become  too  notorious;  and  this  change,  in  his 
case,  prevented  me  from  hearing  any  tidings  of  him.  It  was 
then  that  remorse  seized  me,  and  that,  detesting  all  nature, 
but  especially  the  sex  to  which  Louisa  belonged,  I  resolved  to 
do  penance  in  the  wild  islands  of  Zetland  for  the  rest  of  my 
life.  To  subject  myself  to  fasts  and  to  the  scourge  was  the 
ajjvice  of  the  holy  Catholic  priests  whom  I  consulted.  But  I 
devised  a  nobler  penance:  I  determined  to  bring  with  me  the 
unhappy  boy  Mordaunt,  and  to  keep  always  before  me  the 
living  memorial  of  my  misery  and  my  guilt.  I  have  done  so, 
and  I  have  thought  over  both  till  reason  has  often  trembled 
on  her  throne.  And  now,  to  drive  me  to  utter  madness,  my 
Clement — my  own,  my  undoubted  son — revives  from  the  dead 
to  be  consigned  to  an  infamous  death  by  the  machinations  of 
his  own  mother!  " 

"  Away — away!  "  said  Noma,  with  a  laugh,  when  she  had 
heard  the  story  to  an  end,  "  this  is  a  legend  framed  by  the  old 
corsair  to  interest  my  aid  in  favor  of  a  guilty  comrade.  How 
could  I  mistake  Mordaunt  for  my  son,  their  ages  being  so 
different?  " 

"  The  dark  complexion  and  manly  stature  may  have  done 
much,"  said  Basil  Mertoun;  "strong  imagination  must  have 
done  the  rest." 

"  But  give  me  proofs — give  me  proofs  that  this  Cleveland 
is  my  son,  and,  believe  me,  this  sun  shall  sooner  sink  in  the 
east  than  they  shall  have  power  to  harm  a  hair  of  his  head." 


THE  PIRATE.  435 

''These  papers — these  journals,"  said  Mertoun,  offering  the 
pocket-book. 

"  I  cannot  read  them,"  she  said,  after  an  effort:  "  my  brain 
is  dizzy." 

"  Clement  had  also  tokens  -n-hich  you  may  remember,  bur 
they  must  have  become  the  booty  of  his  captors.  He  had  a 
silver  box  with  a  Eunic  inscription,  with  which  in  far  other 
days  you  presented  me — a  golden  chaplet." 

"  A  box!  "  said  Noma,  hastily.  "  Cleveland  gave  me  one 
but  a  day  since;  I  have  never  looked  at  it  till  now." 

Eagerly  she  pulled  it  out,  eagerly  examined  the  legend 
around  the  lid,  and  as  eagerly  exclaimed:  "They  may  now 
indeed  call  me  Eeim-kennar,  for  by  this  rhyme  I  know  my- 
self murderess  of  my  son  as  well  as  of  my  father!  " 

The  conviction  of  the  strong  delusion  under  which  she  had 
labored  was  so  overwhelming  that  she  sunk  down  at  the  foot 
of  one  of  the  pillars.  Mertoun  shouted  for  help,  though  in 
despair  of  receiving  any;  the  sexton,  however,  entered,  and, 
hopeless  of  all  assistance  from  Noma,  the  distracted  father 
rushed  out,  to  learn,  if  possible,  the  fate  of  his  son. 


CHAPTEE   XLII. 

Go,  some  of  you,  cry  a  reprieve! 

— Beggar's  Opera. 

Captain  Weatheepoet  had,  before  this  time,  reached 
Kirkwall  in  person,  and  was  received  with  great  joy  and 
thankfulness  by  the  magistrates,  who  had  assembled  in  coun- 
cil for  the  purpose.  The  provost,  in  particular,  expressed 
himself  delighted  with  the  providential  arrival  of  the 
"  Halcyon  "  at  the  very  conjuncture  when  the  pirate  could 
not  escape  her.  The  captain  looked  a  little  sui-prised,  and 
said,  "  For  that,  sir,  you  may  thank  the  information  you  your- 
self supplied." 

"  That  I  supplied?  "  said  the  provost,  somewhat  astonished. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  answered  Captain  Weatherport,  "  I  understand 
you  to  be  George  Torfe,  chief  magistrate  of  Kirkwall,  who 
subscribes  this  letter." 

The  astonished  provost  took  the  letter  addressed  to  Cap- 
tain Weatherport  of  the  "  Halcyon,"  stating  the  arrival,  force, 
etc.,  of  the  pirates'  vessel;  but  adding,  that  they  had  heard  of 
the  "  Halcyon  "  being  on  the  coast,  and  that  they  were  on 
their  guard  and  ready  to  baffle  her,  by  going  among  the 
shoals,  and  through  the  islands  and  holms,  where  the  frigate 
could  not  easily  follow;  and,  at  the  worst,  they  were  desper- 
ate enough  to  propose  running  the  sloop  ashore  and  blowing 
her  up,  by  which  much  booty  and  treasure  would  be  lost  to 
the  captors.  The  letter,  therefore,  suggested  that  the 
"  Halcyon "  should  cruise  betwixt  Duncansbay  Head  and 
Cape  Wrath  for  two  or  three  days,  to  relieve  the  pirates  of  the 
alarm  her  neighborhood  occasioned,  and  lull  them  into  se- 
curity, the  more  especially  as  the  letter-writer  knew  it  to  be 
their  intention,  if  the  frigate  left  the  coast,  to  go  into  Strom- 
ness  Bay,  and  there  put  their  guns  ashore  for  some  necessary 
repairs,  or  even  for  careening  their  vessel,  if  they  could  find 
means.  The  letter  concluded  by  assuring  Captain  Weather- 
port that,  if  he  could  bring  his  frigate  into  Stromness  Bay 
on  the  morning  of  the  24th  of  August,  he  would  have  a  good 
bargain  of  the  pirates;  if  sooner,  he  was  not  unlikely  to  miss 
them. 

"  This  letter  is  not  of  my  writing  or  subscribing.  Captain 


THE  PIRATE.  437 

Weatherport,"  said  the  provost;  "  nor  would  I  have  ventured 
to  advise  any  delay  in  your  coming  hither." 

The  captain  was  surprised  in  his  turn.  "  All  I  know  is, 
that  it  reached  me  when  I  was  in  the  l>ay  of  Thurso,  and  that 
I  gave  the  boat's  crew  that  brought  it  hve  dollars  for  crossing 
the  Pentland  Firth  in  very  rough  weather.  They  had  a  dumb 
dwarf  as  coxswain,  the  ugliest  urchin  my  eyes  ever  opened 
upon.  I  give  you  much  credit  for  the  accuracy  of  your  in- 
telligence, Mr.  Provost." 

"  It  is  lucky  as  it  is,"  said  the  provost;  "  yet  I  question 
whether  the  writer  of  this  letter  would  not  rather  that  you 
had  found  the  nest  cold  and  the  bird  flown." 

So  saying  he  handed  the  letter  to  ]\Iagnus  Troil,  who  re- 
turned it  \vith  a  smile,  but  without  any  observation,  aware, 
doubtless,  with  the  sagacious  reader,  that  Noma  had  her  own 
reasons  for  calculating  with  accuracy  on  the  date  of  the 
"  Halcyon's  "  arrival. 

Without  puzzling  himself  farther  concerning  a  circum- 
stance which  seemed  inexplicable,  the  captain  requested  that 
the  examinations  might  proceed;  and  Cleveland  and  Alta- 
mont,  as  he  chose  to  be  called,  were  brought  up  the  first  of  the 
pirate  crew,  on  the  charge  of  having  acted  as  captain  and 
lieutenant.  They  had  just  commenced  the  examination 
when,  after  some  expostulation  with  the  officers  who  kept  the 
door,  Basil  Mertoun  burst  into  the  apartment  and  exclaimed: 
"  TaJce  the  old  victim  for  the  young  one!  I  am  Basil 
Vaughan,  too  well  known  on  the  Windward  station — take  my 
life,  and  spare  my  son's!  " 

All  were  astonished,  and  none  more  than  Magnus  Troil, 
who  hastily  explained  to  the  magistrates  and  Captain 
Weatherport  that  this  gentleman  had  been  living  peaceably 
and  honestly  on  the  Mainland  of  Zetland  for  many  years. 

"  In  that  case,"  said  the  captain,  "  I  wash  my  hands  of  the 
poor  man,  for  he  is  safe,  under  two  proclamations  of  mercy; 
and,  by  my  soul,  when  I  see  them,  the  father  and  his  offspring, 
hanging  on  each  other's  neck,  I  wish  I  could  say  as  much  for 
the  son." 

"  But  how  is  it — how  can  it  be?  "  said  the  provost;  "  we 
always  called  the  old  man  Mertoun.  and  the  young  Cleveland, 
and  now  it  seems  they  are  both  named  Vaughan." 

"  Vaughan,"  answered  Magnus,  "  is  the  name  which  I 
have  some  reason  to  remember;  and,  from  what  I  have  lately 
heard  from  my  cousin  Noma,  that  old  man  has  a  right  to 
bear  it." 


438  WAVERLE7  NOVELS. 

"  And,  I  trust,  the  young  man  also,"  said  the  captain,  who 
had  been  looking  over  a  memorandum.  "  Listen  to  me  a 
moment,"  added  he,  addressing  the  younger  Vaughan,  whom 
we  have  hitherto  called  Cleveland.  "  Hark  you,  sir,  your 
name  is  said  to  be  Clement  Vaughan — are  you  the  same  who, 
then  a  mere  boy,  commanded  a  party  of  rovers,  who,  about 
eight  or  nine  years  ago,  pillaged  a  Spanish  village  called 
Quempoa,  on  the  Spanish  Main,  with  the  purpose  of  seizing 
some  treasure?  " 

"  It  will  avail  me  nothing  to  deny  it,"  answered  the 
prisoner. 

"  No,"  said  Captain  Weatherport,  "  but  it  may  do  you  serv 
ice  to  admit  it.  Well,  the  muleteers  escaped  with  the  treas- 
ure, while  you  were  engaged  in  protecting,  at  the  hazard  of 
your  ow^n  life,  the  honor  of  two  Spanish  ladies  against  the 
brutality  of  your  followers.  Do  you  remember  anything  of 
this?" 

"  I  am  sure  I  do,"  said  Jack  Bunce;  "  for  our  captain  here 
was  marooned  for  his  gallantry,  and  I  narrowly  escaped  flog- 
ging and  pickliDg  for  having  taken  his  part." 

"  When  these  points  are  established,"  said  Captain  Weather- 
port,  "  Vaughan's  life  is  safe:  the  women  he  saved  were  per- 
sons of  quality,  daughters  to  the  governor  of  the  province, 
and  application  was  long  since  made  by  the  grateful  Span- 
iard to  our  government  for  favor  to  be  shown  to  their  pre- 
server. I  had  special  orders  about  Clement  Vaughan  when  I 
had  a  commission  for  cruising  upon  the  pirates,  in  the  West 
Indies,  six  or  seven  years  since.  But  Vaughan  was  gone  then 
as  a  name  amongst  them;  and  I  heard  enough  of  Cleveland  in 
his  room.  However,  captain,  be  you  Cleveland  or  Vaughan, 
I  think  that,  as  the  Quempoa  hero,  I  can  assure  you  a  free 
pardon  when  you  arrive  in  London." 

Cleveland  bowed,  and  the  blood  mounted  to  his  face. 
Mertoun  fell  on  his  knees  and  exhausted  himself  in  thanks- 
giving to  Heaven.  They  were  removed,  amidst  the  sympa- 
thizing sobs  of  the  spectators. 

"  And  now,  good  Master  Lieutenant,  what  have  you  got  to 
say  for  yourself?"  said  Captain  Weatherport  to  the  'ci-de- 
vant '  Roscius. 

"  Why,  little  or  nothing,  please  your  honor;  only  that  I 
wish  your  honor  could  find  my  name  in  that  book  of  mercy 
you  have  in  your  hand;  for  I  stood  by  Captain  Clement 
Vaughan  in  that  Quempoa  business." 

"  You  call   yourself   Frederick   Altamont,"   said   Captain 


THE  PIRATE.  439 

Weatherjjort.     "I   can   see   no   such   name  here;   one   John 
-Bounce,  or  Bunco,  the  lady  put  on  her  tablets.'' 

"  Why, that  is  me— that  is  I  myself, captain — 1  can  prove  it; 
and  1  am  determined,  though  the  sound  be  something  ple- 
beian, rather  to  live  Jack  Bunee  than  to  hang  as  Frederick 
Altamont." 

"  In  that  case,"  said  the  captain,  "  I  can  give  you  some 
hopes  as  John  Bunce." 

''  Thank  your  noble  worship!  "  shouted  Bunce;  then  cliang- 
ing  his  tone,  he  said, "'  Ah,  since  an  alias  has  such  virtue,  pour 
Dick  Fletcher  might  have  come  off  as  Timothy  Tugniutlon; 
but  howsomdever,  d'ye  see,  to  use  his  own  phrase '' 

"  Away  with  the  lieutenant,"  said  the  captain,  "  and  bring 
forwai'd  Goffe  and  the  other  fellows;  there  Avill  be  ropes 
reeved  for  some  of  them,  I  think,"  and  this  prediction  prom- 
ised to  be  amply  fulfilled,  so  strong  was  the  proof  which  was 
brought  against  them. 

The  "  Halcyon  "  was  accordingly  ordered  round  to  carry 
the  whole  prisoners  to  London,  for  which  she  set  sail  in  the 
course  of  two  days. 

During  the  time  that  the  unfortunate  Cleveland  remaim  d 
at  Kirkwall,  he  was  treated  with  civility  by  the  captain  of  the 
"  Halcyon  ";  and  the  kindness  of  his  old  acquaintance.  Mag- 
nus Troil,  who  knew  in  secret  how  closely  he  was  allied  to  his 
blood,  pressed  on  him  accommodations  of  every  kind,  more 
than  he  could  be  prevailed  on  to  accept. 

Noma,  whose  interest  in  the  unhappy  prisoner  was  still 
more  deep,  was  at  this  time  unable  to  express  it.  The  sexton 
had  found  her  l.ying  on  the  ]3avement  in  a  swoon,  and  when 
she  recovered,  her  mind  for  the  time  had  totally  lost  its  equi- 
poise and  it  became  necessary  to  place  her  under  the  restraint 
of  watchful  attendants. 

Of  the  sisters  of  Burgh- Westra,  Cleveland  only  heard  that 
they  remained  ill,  in  consequence  of  the  fright  to  which  they 
had  been  subjected,  until  the  evening  before  the  "  Halcyon  " 
sailed,  when  he  received,  by  a  private  conveyance,  the  follow- 
ing billet:  "  Farewell,  Cleveland;  we  part  forever,  and  it  is 
right  that  vre  should.  Be  virtuous  and  be  happy.  The  de- 
lusions which  a  solitary  education  and  limited  acquaintan"- 
with  the  modern  world  had  spread  around  me  are  gone  and 
dissipated  forever.  But  in  you,  I  am  sure,  I  have  been  tl- us 
far  free  from  error,  that  you  are  one  to  wliom  good  is  nai-:: 
rally  more  attracti\e  than  evil,  and  whom  only  necessity,  ex- 
ample, and  habit  have  forced  into  your  late  course  of  life 


440  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

Think  of  me  as  one  who  no  longer  exists,  unless  you  should 
become  as  much  the  object  of  general  praise  as  now  of  general 
reproach;  and  then  think  of  me  as  one  who  will  rejoice  in 
your  reviving  fame,  though  she  must  never  see  you  more!  " 
The  note  was  signed  "  M.  T.";  and  Cleveland,  with  a  deep 
emotion,  which  he  testified  even  by  tears,  read  it  an  hundred 
times  over,  and  then  clasped  it  to  his  bosom. 

Mordaunt  Mertoun  heard  by  letter  from  his  father,  but  in 
a  very  different  style.  Basil  bade  him  farewell  forever,  and 
acquitted  him  henceforward  of  the  duties  of  a  son,  as  one  on 
whom  he,  notwithstandi'\^  the  exertions  of  many  years,  had 
found  himself  unable  to  bestow  the  affections  of  a  parent. 
The  letter  informed  him  of  a  recess  in  the  old  house  of  Jarls- 
hof,  in  which  the  wTiter  had  deposited  a  considerable  quantity 
of  specie  and  of  treasure,  which  he  desired  ]\Iordaunt  to  use 
as  his  own.  "  You  need  not  fear,"  the  letter  bore,  "  either 
that  you  lay  yourself  under  obligation  to  me  or  that  you  are 
sharing  the  spoils  of  piracy.  What  is  now  given  over  to  you 
is  almost  entirely  the  property  of  your  deceased  mother, 
Louisa  Gonzago,  and  is  yours  by  every  right.  Let  us  forgivo 
each  other,"  was  the  conclusion,  "  as  they  who  must  meet  no 
more."  And  they  never  met  more;  for  the  elder  Mertoun, 
against  whom  no  charge  was  ever  preferred,  disappeared  after 
the  fate  of  Cleveland  was  determined,  and  was  generally  be- 
lieved to  have  retired  into  a  foreign  convent. 

The  fate  of  Cleveland  will  be  most  briefly  expressed  in  a 
letter  which  Minna  received  within  two  months  after  the 
"  Halcvon  "  left  Kirkwall.  The  family  w^ere  then  assembled 
at  Burgh-Westra.  and  Mordaunt  was  a  member  of  it  for  the 
time,  the  good  Ldaller  thinking  he  could  never  suffieiently 
repay  the  activity  which  he  had  shown  in  the  defense  of  his 
daughters.  Noma,  then  beginning  to  recover  from  her 
temporary  alienation  of  mind,  was  a  guest  in  the  family, 
and  Minna,  who  was  sedulous  in  her  attention  upon  this  un- 
fortunate victim  of  mental  delusion,  was  seated  with  her, 
watching  each  sATnptom  of  returning  reason,  when  the  letter 
we  allude  to  was  placed  in  her  hands. 

"Minna,"  it  said — "dearest  Minna!  farewell,  and  forever! 
Believe  me,  I  never  meant  you  wrong — never.  From  th'^  mo- 
ment I  came  to  know  you,  I  resolved  to  detach  myself  from 
my  hateful  comrades,  "and  had  framed  a  thousand  schemes. 
which  have  proved  as  vain  as  they  deserved  to  be;  for  why,  or 
how,  should  the  fate  of  her  that  "is  so  lovely,  pure,  and  inno- 
cent be  involved  with  that  of  one  so  guilty?     Of  these  dreams 


THE  PIRATE.  441 

I  \nll  speaJc  no  more.  The  stern  reality  of  my  situation  is 
much  milder  than  I  either  expected  or  deserved;  and  the  lit- 
tle good  I  did  has  outweighed,  in  the  minds  of  honorahle  and 
merciful  judges,  much  that  was  evil  and  criminal.  I  have 
not  only  been  exempted  from  the  ignominous  death  to  which 
several  of  my  compeers  are  sentenced;  but  Captain  Weather- 
port,  about  once  more  to  sail  for  the  Spanish  Main,  under  the 
apprehension  of  an  immediate  war  with  that  country,  has 
generously  solicited  and  obtained  permission  to  employ  me, 
and  two  or  three  more  of  my  less  guilty  associates,  in  the  same 
service — a  measure  recommended  to  himself  by  his  own  gen- 
erous compassion,  and  to  others  by  our  knowledge  of  the 
coast,  and  of  local  circumstances,  which,  by  whatever  means 
acquired,  we  now  hope  to  use  for  the  service  of  our  country. 
Minna,  you  will  hear  my  name  announced  with  honor,  or  you 
will  never  hear  it  again.  If  virtue  can  give  happiness,  I  need 
not  wish  it  to  you,  for  it  is  yours  already. — Farewell,  Minna." 

Minna  wept  so  bitterly  over  this  letter  that  it  attracted 
the  attention  of  the  convalescent  Noma.  She  snatched  it 
from  the  hand  of  her  kinswoman,  and  read  it  over  at  first 
with  the  confused  air  of  one  to  whom  it  conveyed  no  intelli- 
gence, then  with  a  dawn  of  recollection,  then  with  a  burst  of 
mingled  joy  and  grief,  in  which  she  dropped  it  from  her  hand. 
Minna  snatched  it  up  and  retired  with  her  treasure  to  her 
own  apartment. 

From  that  time  Noma  appeared  to  assume  a  different  char- 
acter. Her  dress  was  changed  to  one  of  a  more  simple  and 
less  imposing  appearance.  Her  dwarf  was  dismissed,  with 
ample  provision  for  his  future  comfort.  She  showed  no  de- 
sire of  resuming  her  erratic  life;  and  directed  her  observatory, 
as  it  might  be  called,  on  Fitful  Head,  to  be  dismantled.  She 
refused  the  name  of  Noma,  and  would  only  be  addressed  by 
her  real  appellation  of  Ulla  Troil.  But  the  most  important 
change  remained  behind.  Formerly,  from  the  dreadful  dic- 
tates of  spiritual  despair  arising  out  of  the  circumstances  of 
her  father's  death,  she  seemed  to  have  considered  herself  as 
an  outcast  from  Divine  grace;  besides  that,  enveloped  in  the 
vain  occult  sciences  which  she  pretended  to  practice,  her 
study,  like  that  of  Chaucer's  physician,  had  been  "  but  little 
in  the  Bible."  Now  the  sacred  volume  was  seldom  laid 
aside;  and  to  the  poor  ignorant  people  who  came  as  formerly 
to  invoke  her  power  over  the  elements  she  only  replied: 
"  The  winds  are  in  the  hollow  of  His  hand."  Her  conversion 
was  not,  perhaps,  altogether  rational;  for  this  th-e  state  of  a 


142  WAVERLEY  NOVELS. 

miud  disordered  by  such  a  complication  of  horrid  incidents 
probably  prevented.  But  it  seemed  to  be  sincav,  and  was 
certainly  useful.  She  appeared  deeply  to  repent  of  her  for- 
mer presumptuous  attempts  to  interfere  with  the  course  of 
human  events,  superintended  as  they  are  by  far  higher  powers, 
and  expressed  bitter  compunction  when  such  her  former  pre- 
tensions were  in  any  manner  recalled  to  her  memory.  She 
still  showed  a  partiality  to  Mordaunt,  though,  perhaps  arising 
chiefly  from  habit;  nor  was  it  easy  to  know  how  much  or  how 
little  she  remembered  of  the  complicated  events  in  which  she 
had  been  connected.  When  she  died,  which  was  about  four 
years  after  the  events  we  have  commemorated,  it  was  found 
that,  at  the  special  and  earnest  request  of  Minna  Troil,  she 
had  conveyed  her  very  considerable  property  to  Brenda.  A 
clause  in  her  will  specially  directed  that  all  the  books,  imple- 
ments of  her  laboratory,  and  other  things  connected  with  her 
former  studies,  should  be  committed  to  the  flames. 

About  two  years  before  Xorna's  death,  Brenda  was  wedded 
to  Mordaunt  Mertoun.  It  was  some  time  before  old  Mag- 
nus Troil.  with  all  his  affection  for  his  daughter,  and  all  his 
partiality  for  Mordaunt,  was  able  frankly  to  reconcile  him- 
self to  this  match.  But  Mordaunt's  accomplishments  were 
peculiarly  to  the  Udaller's  taste,  and  the  old  man  felt  the  im- 
possibility of  supplying  his  place  in  his  family  so  absolutely, 
that  at  length  his  Norse  blood  gave  way  to  the  natural  feeling 
of  the  heart,  and  he  comforted  his  pride,  while  he  looked 
around  him,  and  saw  what  he  considered  as  the  encroachments 
of  the  Scottish  gentry  upon  the  country  (so  Zetland  is 
fondly  termed  by  its  inhabitants),  that  as  well  "  his  daughter 
married  the  son  of  an  English  pirate  as  of  a  Scottish  thief," 
in  scornful  allusion  to  the  Highland  and  Border  families,  to 
whom  Zetland  owes  many  respectable  landholders,  but  whose 
ancestors  were  generally  esteemed  more  renowned  for  ancient 
family  and  high  courage  than  for  accurately  regarding  the 
trifling  distinctions  of  "  meum  "  and  "  tuum."  The  jovial 
old  man  lived  to  the  extremity  of  human  life,  with  the  happy 
prospect  of  a  numerous  succession  in  the  family  of  his 
younger  daughter;  and  having  his  board  cheered  alternately 
by  the  minstrelsy  of  Claud  Halcro  and  enlightened  by  the 
lucubrations  of  Mr.  Triptolemus  Yellowley,  who,  laying  aside 
his  high  pretensions,  was,  when  he  became  better  acquainted 
with  the  manners  of  the  islanders,  and  remembered  the  vari- 
ous misadventures  which  had  attended  his  premature  at- 
tempts at  reformation,  an  honest  and  useful  representative  of 


THE  PIRATE.  443 

his  principal,  and  never  so  happy  as  when  he  could  escape 
from  the  spare  commons  of  his  sister  Barbara  to  the  genial 
table  of  the  Udaller.  Barbara's  temper  also  was  much  soft- 
ened by  the  unexpected  restoration  of  the  horn  of  silver  coins, 
the  property  of  A'orna,  which  she  had  concealed  in  the  man- 
sion of  old  Stourburgh,  for  achieving  some  of  her  mysterious 
plans,  but  which  she  now  restored  to  those  by  whom  it  had 
been  accidentally  discovered,  with  an  intimation,  how- 
ever, that  it  would  again  disappear  unless  a  reasonable  portion 
was  expended  on  the  sustenance  of  the  family — a  precaution 
to  which  Tronda  Dronsdaughter  (probably  an  agent  of  ISTor- 
na's)  owed  her  escape  from  a  slow  and  wasting  death  by  in- 
anition. 

Mordaunt  and  Brenda  were  as  happy  as  our  mortal  condi- 
tion permits  us  to  be.  They  admired  and  loved  each  other, 
enjoyed  easy  circumstances,  had  duties  to  discharge  which 
they  did  not  neglect,  and,  clear  in  conscience  as  light  of  heart, 
laughed,  sung,  danced,  daffed  the  world  aside,  and  bid  it  pass. 

But  Minna — the  high-minded  and  imaginative  Minna — she, 
gifted  with  such  depth  of  feeling  and  enthusiasm,  yet  doomed 
to  see  both  blighted  in  early  youth,  because,  with  the  inex- 
perience of  a  disposition  equally  romantic  and  ignorant,  she 
had  built  the  fabric  of  her  happiness  on  a  quicksand  instead 
of  a  rock — was  she,  could  she  be  happv?  Eeader,  she  ivas 
happy;  for,  whatever  may  be  alleged  to  the  contrary  by  the 
skeptic  and  the  scomer,  to  each  duty  performed  there  is 
assigned  a  degree  of  mental  peace  and  high  consciousness  of 
honorable  exertion,  corresponding  to  the  difficulty  of  the  task 
accomplished.  That  rest  of  the  body  which  succeeds  to  hard 
and  industrious  toil  is  not  to  be  compared  to  the  repose  which 
the  spirit  enjoys  under  similar  circumstances.  Her  resigna- 
tion, however,  and  the  constant  attention  which  she  paid  to 
her  father,  her  sister,  the  afflicted  Noma,  and  to  all  who  had 
claims  on  her,  were  neither  Minna's  sole  nor  her  most  pre -ions 
source  of  comfort.  Like  Noma,  but  under  a  more  regulated 
judgment,  she  learned  to  exchange  the  visions  of  wild  enthu- 
siasm, which  had  exerted  and  misled  her  imagination,  for  a 
truer  and  purer  connection  with  the  world  beyond  us  than 
could  be  learned  from  the  sagas  of  heathen  bards  or  the  visions 
of  later  rhymers.  To  this  she  owed  the  support  by  which 
she  was  enabled,  after  various  accounts  of  the  honorable  and 
gallant  conduct  of  Cleveland,  to  read  with  resignation,  and 
even  with  a  sense  of  comfort  mingled  with  soitow,  that  he  had 
at  length  fallen,  leading  the  way  in  a  gallant  and  honorable 


444  WAVERLET  NOVELS. 

enterprise,  which  was  successfully  accomplished  hy  those  com- 
panions to  whom  his  determined  bravery  had  opened  the  road. 
Bunce,  his  fantastic  follower  in  good  as  formerly  in  evil, 
transmitted  an  account  to  Minna  of  this  melancholy  event, 
in  terms  which  showed  that,  though  his  head  was  weak,  his 
heart  had  not  been  utterly  corrupted  by  the  lawless  life  which 
he  had  for  some  time  led,  or  at  least  that  it  had  been  amended 
by  the  change;  and  that  he  liimself  had  gained  credit  and  pro- 
motion in  the  same  action  seemed  to  be  of  little  consequence 
to  him  compared  with  the  loss  of  his  old  captain  and  com- 
rade.* Minna  read  the  intelligence,  and  thanked  Heaven, 
even  while  the  eyes  which  she  lifted  up  were  streamino-  with 
tears,  that  the  death  of  Cleveland  had  been  in  the  bed  of 
honor;  nay,  she  even  had  the  courage  to  add  her  gratitude 
that  he  had  been  snatched  from  a  situation  of  temptation  ere 
circumstances  had  overcome  his  new-born  virtue;  and  so 
strongly  did  this  reflection  operate  that  her  life,  after  the  im- 
mediate pain  of  this  event  had  passed  away,  seemed  noL  only 
as  resigned,  but  even  more  cheerful  than  before.  Her 
thoughts,  however,  were  detached  from  the  world,  and  only 
visited  it,  with  an  interest  like  that  which  guardian  spirits 
take  for  their  charge,  in  behalf  of  those  friends  with  whom 
she  lived  in  love,  or  of  the  poor  whom  she  could  serve  and 
comfort.  Thus  passed  her  life,  enjoying  from  all  who  ap- 
proached her  an  affection  enhanced  by  reverence;  insomuch 
that,  when  her  friends  sorrowed  for  her  death,  which  arrived 
at  a  late  period  of  her  existence,  they  were  comforted  by  the 
fond  recollection  that  the  humanity  which  she  then  laid  down 
was  the  only  circumstance  which  had  placed  her,  in  the  words 
of  Scripture,  "  a  little  lower  than  the  angels! " 

*  See  Bunce'e  Fate.    Note  47. 


NOTES  TO  THE  PIRATE, 

Note  1. — Udallers,  p.  7. 

The  udallers  are  the  allodial  possessors  of  Zetland,  who  hold  their  posses- 
sions  under  the  old  Norwegian  law,  instead  of  the  feudal  tenures  introduced 
among  them  from  Scotland. 

Note  2. — "'Plantie  Crdive,"  p.  8. 

Patch  of  ground  for  vegetables.  The  liberal  custom  of  the  country  permits 
any  person,  wlio  has  occasion  for  sncli  a  convenience,  to  select  out  of  the  un- 
inolosed  moorland  a  small  patch,  whicli  he  surrounds  with  a  drystone  wall 
and  cultivates  as  a  kail-yard,  till  he  exhausts  the  soil  with  cropi)iu};,  and  then 
he  deserts  it  and  incloses  another.  This  liberty  is  so  far  from  inferring  an 
invasion  of  the  right  of  proprietor  and  tenant,  that  the  last  degree  of  contempt 
is  inferred  of  an  avaricious  man  when  a  Zetlander  says  he  would  not  hold  a 
"  plantie  cruive  "  of  him. 

Note  3.— The  Bersehkaes,  p.  12. 

The  sagas  of  the  Scalds  are  full  of  descriptions  of  these  champions,  and  do 
not  permit  us  to  doubt  that  the  Berserkars,  so  called  fi-om  tigntiug  without 
armor,  used  some  physical  means  of  working  themselves  into  a  frenzy,  during 
which  they  possessed  the  strength  and  energy  of  madness.  The  Indian  war- 
riors are  well  known  to  do  the  same  by  dint  of  opium  and  bang. 

Note  4. — Accidents  to  Fowlers,  p.  14. 

Fatal  accidents,  however,  sometimes  occur.  When  I  visited  the  Fair  Isle 
in  1814,  a  poor  lad  of  fourteen  had  been  killed  by  a  fall  from  the  rocks  about 
a  fortnight  before  our  arrival.  The  accident  happened  almost  within  sight  of 
his  mother,  who  was  casting  peats  at  no  great  distance.  The  body  fell  into 
the  sea,  and  was  seen  no  more.  But  the  islanders  account  this  an  honorable 
mode  of  death  ;  and  as  the  children  begin  the  practice  of  climbing  vei-y 
early,  fewer  accidents  occur  than  might  be  expected. 

Note  5. — Norse  Fragments,  p.  15. 

Near  the  conclusion  of  chap.  ii.  it  is  noticed  that  the  old  Norwegian  sagas 
were  preserved  and  often  repeated  by  the  fishermen  of  Orkney  and  Zetland, 
while  that  language  was  not  yet  quite  forgotten.  Mr.  Baikieof  Tankerness,  a 
most  respectable  inhabitant  of  Kirkwall,  and  an  Orkney  proprietor,  assured 
me  of  the  following  curious  fact : 

A  clergyman,  who  was  not  long  deceased,  remembered  well  when  some 
remnants  of  the  Norse  were  still  spoken  in  the  island  called  North  Konaldsha. 
Wlien  Gray's  ode,  entitled  the  "  Fatal  Sisters,"  was  first  published,  or  at  least 
first  reached  that  remote  island.,  the  revei-end  gentleman  had  the  weD-judged 
curiosity  to  read  it  to  some  of  the  old  persons  of  the  isle,  as  a  poem  which  re- 
garded the  history  of  their  own  country.  They  listened  with  great  attention 
to  the  preliminary  stanzas  : 

"  Now  the  storm  begins  to  lour, 
Hasie  the  loom  of  liell  prepare, 
Iron  sleet  of  arrowy  phnwer 
Hurtles  in  the  clarken'd  air." 

Bat  when  they  had  heard  a  verse  or  two  more,  they  interrupted  the  reader, 
telling  him  they  knew  the  song  well  in  the  Norse  language,  and  had  oft^en 
BUQg  it  to  him  when  he  asked  them  for  an  old  song.    They  called  it  the 

445 


446  NOTES. 

"  Magicians,"  or  the  "  Enchantresses."  It  would  have  been  singular  news  to 
the  elegant  translator,  when  executing  his  version  from  the  text  of  Bartholin, 
to  have  learned  that  the  Norse  original  was  still  preserved  by  tradition  in  a 
remote  corner  of  the  British  dominions.  The  circumstances  will  probably 
justify  what  is  said  in  the  text  concerning  the  traditions  of  the  inhabitants  of 
those  remote  isles  at  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century. 

Even  yet,  though  the  Norse  language  is  entirely  disused,  except  in  so  far  as 
particular  words  and  phrases  are  still  retained,  these  Ushers  of  the  Ultima 
Thule  are  a  generation  mucii  attached  to  these  ancient  legends.  Of  this  the 
author  learned  a  singular  instance. 

About  twenty  years  ago,  a  missionary  clergyman  had  taken  the  resolution  of 
traversing  those  wild  islands,  where  he  sujiposed  there  might  be  a  lack  of 
religious  instruction,  which  he  believed  himself  capable  of  supplying.  After 
being  some  days  at  sea  in  an  open  boat,  he  arrived  at  North  Ronaldsha,  where 
his  appearance  excited  great  speculation.  He  was  a  very  little  man,  dark- 
complexioned,  and  from  the  fatigue  he  had  sustained  in  removing  from  one 
island  to  another,  appeared  before  them  ill-dressed  and  unshaved  ;  so  that  the 
inhabitants  set  him  down  as  one  of  the  ancient  Picts,  or,  as  they  call  tliem, 
with  the  usual  strong  guttural,  Peghts.  How  they  might  have  received  the 
poor  preacher  in  this  character  was  at  least  dubious  ;  and  the  schoolmaster  of 
the  parish,  who  had  given  quarters  to  the  fatigued  traveler,  set  off  to  consult 
with  Mr.  Stevenson,  the  able  and  ingenious  engineer  of  the  Scottish  Light- 
house Service,  who  chanced  to  be  on  the  island.  As  his  skill  and  knowledge 
were  in  the  highest  repute,  it  was  conceived  that  Mr.  Stevenson  could  decide 
at  once  whether  the  stranger  was  a  Peght,  or  ought  to  be  treated  as  such. 
Mr.  Stevenson  was  so  good-natured  as  to  attend  thti  summons,  with  the  view 
of  rendering  the  preacher  some  service.  The  poor  missionary,  who  had 
watched  for  three  nights,  was  now  fast  asleep,  little  dreaming  what  odious 
suspicions  were  current  respecting  him.  The  inhabitants  were  assembled 
round  the  door.  Mr.  Stevenson,  understanding  the  traveler's  condition,  de- 
clined disturbing  him,  upon  which  the  islanders  produced  a  pair  of  very  little, 
uncouth-looking  boots,  with  prodigiously  thick  soles,  and  appealed  to  him 
whether  it  was  possible  such  articles  of  raiment  could  belong  to  anyone  but  a 
Peght.  Mr.  Stevenson,  finding  the  prejudices  of  the  natives  so  strong,  was 
induced  to  enter  the  sleeping-apartment  of  the  traveler,  and  was  surprised  to 
recognize  in  the  supposed  Peght  a  person  whom  he  had  known  in  his  worldly 
profession  of  an  Edinburgh  shopkeeper,  before  he  had  assumed  his  present 
vocation.     Of  course  he  was  enabled  to  refute  all  suspicions  of  Peghtism. 

Note  6. — Sea  Monsters,  p.  16. 

I  have  said,  in  the  text,  that  the  wondrous  tales  told  by  Pontoppidan,  the 
Archbishop  of  Upsal,  still  find  believers  in  the  Northern  Archipelago.  It  is 
in  vain  they  are  canceled  even  in  the  later  editions  of  Guthrie's  Grammar, 
of  which  instructive  work  they  used  to  form  the  chapter  far  most  attractive  to 
juvenile  readers.  But  the  same  causes  which  probably  gave  birth  to  the 
legends  concerning  mermaids,  sea-snakes,  krakens,  and  other  marvelous  in- 
habitants of  the  Northern  Ocean,  are  still  afloat  in  those  climates  where  they 
took  their  rise.  They  had  their  origin  probably  from  the  eagerness  of  curios- 
ity manifested  by  our  elegant  poetess,  Mrs.  Hemans  : 

What  hidest  thou  in  thy  treasure-caves  and  cells, 
Thou  ever-soundiug  and  mjsterious  sea? 

The  additional  mystic  gloom  which  rests  on  these  Northern  billows  for  half 
the  year,  joined  to  the  imperfect  glance  obtained  of  occasional  objects,  encour- 
age the  timid  or  the  fanciful  to  give  way  to  imagination,  and  frequently  to 
shape  out  a  distinct  story  from  some  object  half -seen  and  imperfectly  exam- 
ined. Thus,  some  years  since,  a  large  object  was  observed  in  the  b&antiful 
Bay  of  Scalloway  in  Zetland,  so  much  in  vulgar  opinion  resembling  the  kra- 
ken,  that  tliongh  it  might  be  distinguished  for  several  days,  if  the  exchraige  of 
darkness  to  twilight  can  be  termed  so,  yet  the  hardy  "boatmen  shunned  to 
approach  it,  for  fear  of  being  drawn  down  by  the  suction  sufiposed  to  attend 
its  sinking.    It  was  probably  the  hull  of  some  vessel  which  had  foundered  at 


NOTES.  _  447 

The  boHcf  in  mermaids,  so  fanciful  and  pleasing  in  itself,  is  ever  and  anon 
refreshed  by  h  strange  tale  from  tlie  remote  shores  of  some  solitary  islet. 

The  author  heard  a  mariner  of  some  reputation  iu  his  class  vouch  for  having 
seen  the  celebrated  sea-serpent.  It  appeared,  so  far  as  could  be  guessed,  to 
be  about  a  hundred  feet  long,  with  the  wild  mane  and  tiery  eyes  which  old 
writers  ascribe  to  the  monster  ;  but  it  is  not  unlikely  the  spectator  might,  iu 
the  doubtful  light,  be  deceived  by  the  appearance  of  a  good  Norway  log  float- 
ing on  the  waves.  I  liave  only  to  add,  tliat  the  remains  of  an  animal,  sup- 
posed to  belong  to  this  latter  species,  were  driven  on  shore  in  the  Zetland  Isles 
within  the  recollection  of  man.  Part  of  the  bones  were  sent  to  London,  and 
pronounced  by  Sir  Joseph  Banks  to  be  those  of  a  basking  shark  ;  yet  it  would 
Beem  that  an  animal  so  well  known  ought  to  have  been  immediately  distin- 
guished by  the  Northern  fishermen. 

Note  7.— The  Scart,  or  Cormorant,  p.  25. 

The  scart  or  cormorant  may  be  seen  frequently  dashing  in  wild  flight  along 
the  roosts  and  tides  of  Zetland,  and  yet  more  often  drawn  up  in  ranks  on  some 
ledge  of  rock,  like  a  body  of  the  Black  Biunswickcrs  in  1815. 

Note  8. — Tusser's  Poverty,  p.  36. 
This  is  admitted  by  the  English  agriculturist : 

Aly  music  since  hath  been  the  plough, 

Entangled  with  some  care  among  ; 
The  gain  not  great,  ihe  pain  enough, 

Hath  made  me  sing  another  song. 

Note  9. — Administr.\tion  of  Zetland,  p.  38. 

At  the  period  supposed,  the  Earls  of  Jlorton  held  the  islands  of  Orkney  and 
Zetland,  originally  granted  in  1643.  confirmed  iu  1707,  and  rendered  absolute 
in  1742.  This  gave  the  family  much  property  and  influence,  which  they  usu- 
ally exercised  by  factors,  named  chamberlains.  In  1766  this  property  was 
sofd  bv  thethenEarl  of  Morton  to  Sir  Lawrence  Dundas.  by  whose  sou.  Lord 
Dundas.  it  is  now  held.  Thomas  Lord  Dundas  of  Aske,  in  Yorkshire,  was 
created  Earl  of  Zetland  iu  1838.— Zain^. 

Note  10.— "To  be  Fet,"  p.  46. 

When  a  person  changes  his  condition  suddenly,  as  when  a  miser  becomes 
liberal  or  a  churl  good-humored,  he  is  said,  in  Scotch,  to  be  "  fey"  ;  that  is, 
predestined  to  speedy  death,  of  which  such  mutations  of  humor  are  received 
as  a  sure  indication.  [The  same  word  "fei."  with  the  same  meaning,  is  cur- 
rent amongst  the  people  of  the  North  Frisian  Islands— Sylt,  Fuhr,  etc.] 

Note  11. — The  Bittle,  or  Beetle,  p.  56. 

The  beetle  with  which  the  Scottish  housewuves  used  to  perform  the  oflSce  of 
the  modern  mangle,  by  beating  newly  washed  linen  on  a  smooth  stone  for  the 
purpose,  called  the  beetling-stone. 

Note  12. — Chapman's  Drouth,  p.  61. 

The  chapman's  drouth— that  is.  the  peddler's  thirjit- is  proverbial  in  Scot- 
land, because  these  pedestrian  traders  were  in  the  use  of  modestly  asking 
only  for  a  drink  of  water,  when,  in  fact,  they  were  desirous  of  food. 

Note  13. — An  "  Oramus  "  to  St.  Ronald,  p.  62. 

Although  the  Zetlanders  were  early  reconciled  to  the  Reformed  faith,  some 
ancient  practices  of  Catholic  superstition  survived  long  among  them.  In  very 
stormv  weather  a  fisher  would  vow  an  "oramus  "  to  St.  Ronald,  and  acquitted 
himself  of  the  obligation  by  throwing  a  small  piece  of  money  in  at  the  window 
of  a  ruinous  chapel 


448  NOTES. 

Note  14,— Sale  of  Winds,  p.  70. 

The  King  of  Sweden,  the  same  Erlck  quoted  by  Mordaiint  [Mertonn],  "  was," 
says  Olans  Magnus,  "  in  his  time  held  second  to  none  in  tlie  magical  art ;  and 
be  was  so  familiar  with  the  evil  spirits  whom  he  worshiped,  that  what  way 
soever  he  turned  his  cap,  the  wind  would  presently  blow  that  way.  For  this 
he  was  called  Windycap." — Hiatoria  de  Genfibits  Septentrionnlihus  ;  Homce, 
1555.  It  is  well  known  that  the  Laplanders  derive  a  profitable  trade  in  sell- 
ing winds  ;  but  it  is  perhaps  less  notorious  that  within  these  few  years  such  a 
commodity  might  be  purchased  on  British  ground,  where  it  was  likely  to  be  in 
great  request.  At  the  village  of  Stroniness,  on  the  Orkney  main  island,  called 
Pomona,  lived,  in  1814,  an  aged  dame  called  Bessie  Millie,  who  helped  out  her 
subsistence  by  selling  favorable  winds  to  mariners.  He  was  a  venturous 
master  of  a  vessel  who  left  the  roadstead  of  Stromness  without  paying  his 
offering  to  propitiate  Bessie  Millie  ;  her  fee  was  extremely  moderate,  being 
exactly  sixpence,  for  which,  as  she  explained  herself,  she  boiled  her  kettle  and 
gave  the  bark  advantage  of  her  prayers,  for  she  disclaimed  all  unlawful  arts. 
The  wind  thus  petitioned  for  was  sure,  she  said,  to  arrive,  though  occasionally 
the  mariner  had  to  wait  some  time  for  it.  The  woman's  dwelling  and  appear- 
ance were  not  unbecoming  her  pretensions  :  her  house,  which  was  on  the 
brow  of  the  steep  hill  on  which  Stromness  is  founded,  was  only  accessible  by  a 
series  of  dirty  and  precipitous  lanes,  and  for  exposure  might  have  been  the 
abode  of  Eolus  himself,  in  whose  commodities  the  inhabitant  dealt.  She  her- 
self was,  as  she  told  us,  nearly  one  hundred  years  old,  withered  and  dried  up 
like  a  nninimy.  A  clay-colored  kerchief,  folded  round  her  head,  corresponded 
in  color  to  her  corpse-like  complexion.  Two  light  blue  eyes  that  gleamed 
with  a  luster  like  that  of  insanity,  an  utterance  of  astonishing  rapidity,  a  nose 
and  chin  that  almost  met  together,  and  a  ghastly  expression  of  cunning,  gave 
her  the  effect  of  Hecate.  She  remembered  Gow,  the  pirate,  who  had  been 
a  native  of  these  islands,  in  which  he  closed  his  career,  as  mentioned  in  the 
preface.  Such  was  Bessie  Millie,  to  whom  the  mariners  paid  a  sort  of  tribute, 
with  a  feeling  betwixt  jest  and  earnest. 

Note  15. — Eelttctance  to  save  Drowning  Men,  p.  77. 

It  is  remarkable  that,  in  an  archipelago  where  so  many  persons  must  be 
necessarily  endangered  by  the  waves,  so  strange  and  inhuman  a  maxim  should 
have  ingrafted  itself  upon  the  minds  of  a  people  otherwise  kind,  moral,  and 
hospitable.  But  all  with  whom  I  have  spoken  agree  that  it  was  almost  general 
in  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century,  and  was  with  difliculty  weeded 
out  by  the  sedulous  instructions  of  the  clergy,  and  the  rigorous  injunctions  of 
the  proprietois.  There  is  little  doubt  it  had  been  originally  introduced  as  an 
excuse  for  suffering  those  who  attempted  to  escape  from  the  wreck  to  perish 
unassisted,  so  that,  there  being  no  survivor,  she  might  be  considered  as  law- 
ful plunder.  A  story  was  told  me,  I  hope  an  untrue  one,  that  a  vessel  having 
got  ashore  among  the  breakers  on  one  of  the  remote  Zetland  islands,  five  or 
six  men,  the  whole  or  greater  part  of  the  unfortunate  crew,  endeavored  to  land 
by  assistance  of  a  hawser,  which  they  had  secured  to  a  rock;  the  inhabitants 
were  assembled,  and  looked  on  with  some  uncertainty,  till  an  old  man  said, 
"  Sirs,  if  these  men  come  ashore,  the  additional  mouths  will  eat  all  the  meal  we 
have  in  store  for  winter;  and  how  are  we  to  get  more?"  A  young  fellow, 
moved  with  this  argument,  struck  the  rope  asunder  with  his  ax,  and  all  the 
poor  wretches  were  immersed  among  the  breakers,  and  perished. 

Note  16.—"  Mair  Wrecks  erh  Winter,"  p.  81. 

The  ancient  Zetlander  looked  upon  the  sea  as  the  provider  of  his  living,  not 
only  by  the  plenty  produced  by  the  fishings,  but  by  the  spoil  of  wrecks.  Some 
particular  islands  have  fallen  off  very  considerably  in  their  rent  since  the 
commissioners  of  the  lighthouses  have  ordered  lights  on  the  Isle  of  Sanda  and 
the  Pentland  skerries.  A  gentlemnn,  familiar  with  those  seas,  expressed  sur- 
prise at  seeing  the  farmer  of  one  of  the  isles  in  a  boat  with  a  very  old  pair  of 
sails.  "  Had  it  been  His  will,"  said  the  man,  with  an  affected  deference  to 
Providence  very  inconsistent  with  the  sentiment  of  his  speech — "had  it  been 


NOTES.  449 

Ms  will  that  light  had  not  been  placed  yonder,  I  would  have  had  enough 

of  new  sails  last  winter." 

Note  17. — The  Drows,  or  Teows,  p.  102. 

The  Drows,  or  Trows,  the  legitimate  successors  of  the  Northern  "  duergar," 
and  somewhat  allied  to  the  fairies,  reside,  like  them,  in  the  interior  of  green 
hills  and  caverns,  and  are  most  powerful  at  midnight.  They  are  curious  artif- 
icers in  iron,  as  well  as  in  the  precious  metals,  and  are  sometiuics  propitious 
to  mortals,  but  more  frequently  capricious  and  malevolent.  Among  the  com- 
mon people  of  Zetland,  their  existence  still  forms  an  article  of  universal  be- 
lief. In  the  neigliboriiig  isles  of  Feroe  they  are  called  Foddeuskencand,  or 
subterranean  people;  and  Lucas  Jacobson  Debes,  well  acquainted  witli  tlieir 
nature,  assures  us  that  they  inhabit  those  places  which  are  polluted  with  the 
effusion  of  blood  or  the  practice  of  any  crying  sin.  They  have  a  government, 
which  seems  to  be  monarchical. 

Note  18. — Cokn-mills,  p.  116. 

There  is  certainly  something  very  extraordinaiy  to  a  stranger  in  Zetland 
corn-mills.  They  are  of  the  smallest  possible  size;  the  wheel  which  drives 
them  is  horizontal  and  the  cogs  are  tariud  diagonally  to  the  water.  The 
beam  itself  stands  upright,  and  is  inserted  in  a  stone  quern  of  the  old  fash- 
ioned construction,  which  it  turns  round,  and  tluis  performs  its  duty.  Had 
Robinson  Crusoe  ever  been  in  Zetland,  he  would  have  had  no  difficulty  in  con- 
triving a  machine  for  grinding  corn  in  his  desert  island.  These  mills  are 
thatched  over  in  a  little  hovel,  which  has  nnicli  the  air  of  a  pig-sty.  There 
may  be  five  hundred  such  mills  on  one  island,  not  capable  any  one  of  them  of 
grinding  above  a  sackful  of  corn  at  a  time. — [Mills  similar  in  construction  to 
these,  and  very  little  larger  iu  size,  may  be  seen  in  Norway  at  the  present 
time,  in  the  year  1893.] 

Note  19. — Monteose  in  Zetland,  p.  155. 

Montrose,  in  his  last  and  ill-advised  attempt  to  invade  Scotland,  augmented 
his  small  army  of  Danes  and  Scottish  Royalists  by  some  bauds  of  raw  troops; 
hastily  levied,  or  rather  pressed  into  his  service,  in  the  Orkney  and  Zetland 
Isles,  who,  having  little  heart  either  to  the  cause  or  manner  of  service,  be- 
haved but  indifferently  when  they  came  into  action. 

Note  20. — Sib  John  Urky,  p.  156. 

Here,  as  afterward  remarked  in  the  text,  the  Zetlander's  memory  deceived 
him  grossly.  Sir  John  Urry,  a  brave  soldier  of  fm-tune,  was  at  that  time 
in  Montrose's  army,  and  made  prisoner  along  with  him.  He  had  changed  so 
often  that  the  mistake  is  pardonable.  After  the  action,  he  was  executed  by  the 
Covenanters;  and 

Wind-changing  Warwick  then  could  change  no  more. 

Strachan  commanded  the  body  by  which  Montrose  was  routed. 

Note  21. — The  Swoed-Dance,  p.  157. 

The  sword-dance  is  celebrated  in  general  terms  by  Olaus  Magnus.  He 
seems  to  have  considered  it  as  peculiar  to  the  Norwegians,  from  whom  it  may 
have  passed  to  the  Orkneymen  and  Zetlanders,  with  other  Northern  customs. 

"  Of  theie  Dancing  in  Arms. 

"Moreover,  the  northern  Goths  and  Swedes  had  another  sport  to  exercise 
youth  withall,  that  they  will  dance  and  skip  amongst  naked  swords  and  dan- 
gerous weapons;  and  this  they  do  after  the  manner  of  masters  of  defence,  as 
they  are  taught  from  their  youtli  by  skilful  teachers,  that  dance  before  them, 
and  sing  to  it.  And  this  play  is  showed  especially  about  Shrovetide,  called  in 
Italian  '  maschararum.'  For,  before  carnivals,  all  the  youth  dance  for  eight 
days  together,  hol(?ing  their  swords  up,  but  within  the  scabbards,  for  three 


4S0  NOTES. 

times  turning  about;  and  then  they  do  it  with  their  naked  swords  lifted  up. 
After  this,  turning  more  moderately,  taking  the  points  and  pummels  one 
of  the  other,  they  change  ranks,  and  place  themselves  in  an  triugonal  tigure, 
and  tliis  they  call  '  rosam  '  ;  and  presently  they  dissolve  it  by  drawing  back  their 
swords  and  lifting  them  up,  that  upon  every  one's  head  there  may  be  made  a 
square  '  rosa,'  and  then  by  a  most  nimbly  whisking  their  swords  about  collater- 
ally, they  quickly  leap  back,  and  end  the  sport,  which  they  guide  with  pipes  or 
songs,  or  both  together;  first  by  a  more  heavy,  then  by  a  more  vehement,  and 
lastly  by  a  most  vthement,  dancing.  But  this  speculation  is  scarce  to  be  un- 
derstood but  by  those  who  look  on,  how  comely  and  decent  it  is,  when  at  one 
word,  or  one  commanding,  the  whole  armed  multitude  is  directed  to  fall 
to  fight,  and  clergymen  may  exercise  themselves,  and  mingle  themselves 
amongst  others  at  this  sport,  because  it  is  all  guided  by  most  wise  reason." 

To  the  Primate's  account  of  the  sword-dance,  I  am  able  to  add  the  words 
sung  or  chanted  on  occasion  of  this  dance,  as  it  is  still  performed  in  Papa 
Stour,  a  remote  island  of  Zetland,  where  alone  the  custom  keejis  its  ground. 
It  is,  it  will  be  observed  b.v  antiquaries,  a  species  of  play  or  mystery,  in  which 
the  Seven  Champions  of  Christendom  make  their  appearance,  as  in  the  inter- 
lude presented  in  '"All's  Well  that  Ends  Well  "  Tliis  dramatic  curiosity  was 
most  kindly  procured  for  my  use  by  Dr.  Scott  of  Haslar  Hospital,  son  of  my 
friend  Mr.  Scott  of  Mewbie,  Zetland.  Mr.  Hibbert  has,  in  his  "  Description  of 
the  Zetland  Islands,"  given  an  account  of  the  sword-dance,  but  somewhat  less 
full  than  the  following  : 

"  Words  used  as  a  Prelude  to  the  Sword-Dance,  a  Danish  or  Norwegian 

Baixet,  composed  some  Centuries  ago.  and  preserved  in 

Papa  Stour,  Zetland. 

"  Persons  Dramatis.* 

"  {Enter  Master,  in  the  character  of  St.  Georos.) 

"  Brave  gentles  all  witbin  this  boor,+ 
If  ye  delight  in  any  sport. 
Come  see  me  dance  upon  this  floor. 
Which  to  you  all  shall  yield  comfort. 
Then  shall  I  dance  in  such  a  sort, 
As  possiljle  I  may  or  can; 
You,  minstrel  man,  play  meaporte,  % 
That  I  on  this  floor  may  prove  a  man. 

iHe  bows,  and  dances  in  a  line.'} 
Now  have  I  danced  with  hfart  and  hand, 
Brave  gentles  all,  as  you  may  see. 
For  I  have  been  tried  in  many  a  land. 
As  yet  the  truth  can  testify; 

In  England,  Scotland,  Ireland,  France,  Italy,  and  Spain 
,  Have  I  been  tried  with  that  good  sword  of  steel. 

(Draws,  andflouiishes.) 
Yet,  I  defy  that  ever  a  man  did  make  me  yield; 
For  in  my  body  there  is  strength, 
As  by  my  manhood  may  be  seen; 
And  I,  with  that  good  sword  of  length, 
Oft  times  in  perils  I  have  been, 
And  over  champions  I  was  king. 
And  by  the  strength  of  this  right  hand. 
Once  on  a  day  I  kill'd  fifteen, 
And  left  them  dead  upon  the  land. 
Therefore,  brave  minstrel,  do  not  care, 
But  play  to  nie  a  porte  most  light. 
That  I  no  longer  do  forbear. 
But  dance  in  all  these  gentles'  sight; 
Brave  gentles  all,  be  not  afraid. 
Although  my  strength  makes  you  abased, 

*  So  placed  in  the  old  MS. 

t  So  spelt  to  accord  with  the  vulgar  pronunciation  of  the  word  "  bower." 
%  So  spelt  in  the  original.    The  word  is  known  as  indicating  a  piece  of  mnsic  on  the 
bagpipe,  to  which  ancient  instrument,  which  is  of  Scandinavian  origin,  the  sword- 
dance  may  have  been  originally  composed. 


NOTES.  ^o': 

For  here  are  six  champions,  with  me,  Btaid, 
AH  by  my  manbo-.d  I  have  raieed. 

(//«  da/icex.) 
Since  I  have  danced,  1  thinU  it  best 
To  Ciill  my  brethren  in  vour  flight. 
That  1  miiy  have  a  lit  tic  rest. 
And  they  may  dance  with  all  tlieir  might; 
With  lieart  aiid  hand  us  tliey  are  knights, 
And  shake  their  swords  of  steel  bo  bright, 
And  show  their  main  strength  on  this  floor. 
For  we  shall  have  another  bout 
Before  we  pass  out  of  this  hoor. 
Therefore,  brave  minstrel,  do  not  care 
To  play  to  me  a  porte  most  light, 
That  I  no  lonjier  do  forbear. 
But  dance  in  all  these  gentles'  sight. 

(//^  rliuice-'',  and  tfu7i  introduces  his  knights,  as  under^. 
Stout  James  of  Spain,  tioth  tried  and  etour. 
Thine  acts  are  known  full  well  indeed; 
And  champion  Uennis,  a  French  knight. 
Who  stout  and  hold  is  to  be  seen; 
And  David,  a  Welchman  born. 
Who  is  come  of  noble  blood; 
And  Patrick  also,  who  l)lew  the  horn, 
An  Irish  knight,  amongst  ttie  wood; 
Of  Italy,  brave  Anthony  ilie  good. 
And  Andrew  of  t^cotlaud  king; 
St.  Georire  of  Enizland,  l)rave  indeed. 
Who  to  the  Jews  wrought  muckle  tinte. 
Away  with  this!    Let  us  come  to  sport, 
Since  that  ye  have  a  mind  to  war, 
Since  that  ye  have  this  bargain  sought, 
Come  let  us  fisrht  and  do  not  fear. 
Therefore,  brave  minstrel,  do  not  care 
To  play  to  me  a  porte  most  light, 
That  I  no  longer  do  forbear. 
But  dance  in  all  these  gentles'  sight. 

{He  dances,  and  advances  to  James  op  SpAW.) 
Stout  James  of  Spain,  both  tried  and  stour. 
Thine  acts  are  known  full  well  indeed. 
Present  thyself  within  our  sight. 
Without  eitlier  fear  or  dread. 
Count  not  for  favour  or  for  feed, 
Since  of  thy  acts  thou  hast  been  sure; 
Brave  James  of  Spain,  I  will  thee  lead, 
To  prove  thy  manhood  on  this  floor. 

(James  dances.) 
Brave  champion  Dennis,  a  French  knight. 
Who  stout  and  bold  is  to  be  seen, 
Present  thyself  l:ere  in  our  sight. 
Thou  brave  French  knight, 
Who  bold  hast  been; 
Since  thou  such  valiant  acts  hast  done. 
Come  let  us  see  some  of  them  now 
With  courtesy,  thou  brave  French  knight. 
Draw  out  thy  sword  of  nohle  hue. 

(Dennis  dances,  tuhile  the  others  retire  to  a  side.') 
Brave  David  a  bow  must  string,  and  by  with  awe 
Set  up  a  wanil  upon  a  stand, 
And  that  brave  David  will  cleave  in  twa.* 

(David  dances  solus.') 
Here  is,  I  think,  an  Irish  knight. 
Who  docs  not  fear,  or  does  not  fright, 
To  prove  thyself  a  valiant  man. 
As  thou  hast  done  full  often  bright; 
Brave  Patrick,  dance,  if  that  thoa  can. 

(He  dances.) 
Thou  stout  Italian,  come  thou  here; 
Thy  name  is  Anthony,  most  stout; 
Draw  out  thy  sword  that  is  most  clear, 

»  Something  is  evidently  amiss  or  omitted  here.    David  probably  exhibited  some  fea. 
of  archery. 


462  NOTES. 

And  do  thou  fight  without  any  doubt; 
Thy  leg  thou  eliuku,  thy  nickihou  lout, 
Aii<i  show  Bonie  courtesy  on  this  floor, 
For  we  shall  have  another  bout 
Before  we  puss  out  of  this  boor. 
Thou  kindly  Scotsman,  come  thou  here; 
Thy  name  is  Andrew  of  Fair  Scotland; 
Draw  out  thy  sword  that  is  most  clear. 
Fight  for  the  king  with  thy  right  hand; 
And  aye  as  long  as  thou  canst  stand, 
Fight  for  thy  king  with  all  thy  heart; 
And  then,  for  to  confirm  his  band, 
Make  all  his  enemies  for  to  smart. 
{He  dances)    (Music  begins.) 

"FiGUIK. 

"The  six  atand  in  rank  with  their  swords  reclining  on  their  shoulders.  The 
master  (St.  George)  dances,  and  then  strikes  the  sword  of  James  of  Spain,  who 
follows  George,  then  dances,  strikes  the  sword  of  Dennis,  who  follows  behind 
James.  In  like  manner  the  rest — the  music  playing — swords  as  before.  After 
the  SIX  are  brought  out  of  rank,  they  and  the  master  form  a  circle,  and  hold 
the  swords  point  and  hilt.  This  circle  is  danced  round  twice.  The  whole, 
headed  by  the  master,  pass  under  the  swords  held  in  a  vaulted  manner.  They 
jump  over  the  swords.  This  naturally  places  the  swords  across,  which  they 
disentangle  by  passing  under  their  right  sword.  They  take  up  the  seven 
swords  and  form  a  circle,  in  which  they  dance  round. 

"The  master  runs  under  the  sword  opposite,  which  he  jiimps  over  back- 
wards. The  others  do  the  same.  He  then  passes  under  the  right-hand  sword, 
wliicli  the  others  follow,  in  which  position  they  dance,  until  commanded  by 
the  master,  when  they  form  into  a  circle,  and  dance  round  as  before.  They 
then  jump  over  the  right-hand  sword,  by  which  means  their  backs  are  to  the 
circle,  and  their  hands  across  their  backs.  They  dance  round  in  that  form 
until  the  master  calls  '  Loose,'  when  they  pass  under  the  right  sword,  and  are 
in  a  perfect  circle. 

"The  master  lays  down  his  sword,  and  lays  hold  of  the  point  of  James's 
sword.  He  then  turns  himself,  James,  and  the  others,  into  a  clue.  When  so 
formed,  he  passes  under  out  of  the  midst  of  the  circle  ;  the  others  follow  ;  they 
vault  as  before.  After  several  other  evolutions,  they  throw  themselves  into  a 
circle,  with  their  arms  across  the  breast.  They  afterwards  form  such  figures 
as  to  form  a  shield  of  their  swords,  and  the  shield  is  so  compact  that  the  mas- 
ter and  his  knights  dance  alternately  with  this  shield  upon  their  heads.  It  is 
then  laid  down  upon  the  floor.  Each  knight  lays  hold  of  their  former  points 
and  hilts  with  their  hands  across,  which  disentangle  by  figuirs  directly  con- 
trary to  those  that  formed  the  shield.     This  finishes  the  ballet. 

"  Epilogue. 

"  Mars  does  rule,  he  bends  hie  brows, 
He  makes  us  all  agast ; 
After  the  few  hours  that  we  stay  here, 
Venus  will  rule  at  last. 

"Farewell,  farewell,  brave  gentles  all, 
That  herein  do  remain, 
I  wish  you  health  and  happiness 
Till  we  return  again."  [Exeunt. 

The  manuscript  from  which  the  above  was  copied  was  transcribed  from  a 
very  old  one  by  Mr.  William  Henderson,  jun.,  of  Papa  Stour,  in  Zetland.  Mr. 
Henderson's  copy  is  not  dated,  but  bears  his  own  signature,  and,  from  various 
circumstances,  it  is  known  to  have  been  written  about  the  year  1788. 

Note  22. — The  Law-ting,  p.  20L 

The  Law-ting  was  the  comitia,  or  supreme  court,  of  the  country,  being  re- 
tained both  in  Orkney  and  Zetland,  and  presenting,  in  its  constitution,  the 
mde  origin  of  a  parliament. 


NOTES.  453 

Note  23.— Hill  of  Hot,  p.  202. 

And  from  which  Hill  of  Hoy,  at  midsummer,  the  suu  may  be  seen,  it  is  said, 
at  midnight.  So  says  the  geographer  Bloau,  although,  according  to  Dr.  Wal- 
lace, it  cannot  be  the  true  body  of  the  sim  which  is  visible,  but  only  ita  image 
refracted  through  some  watury  cloud  upon  the  horizon. 

Note  24. — The  Dwarfie  Stone,  p.  202. 

This  ia  one  of  the  wonders  of  the  Orkney  Islands,  though  it  has  been  rather 
undervalued  by  their  late  historian,  Mr.  Harry.  Tlie  Island  of  Hoy  rises  ab- 
ruptly, starting  as  it  were  out  of  the  sea,  which  is  contrary  to  the  gentle  and 
flat  character  of  the  other  isles  of  Orkney.  It  consists  of  a  mountain,  having 
different  eniinouces  or  peaks.  It  is  very  steep,  furrowed  with  ravines,  and 
placed  so  as  to  catch  the  mists  of  the  Western  Ocean,  and  has  a  noble  and  pic- 
turesque efi'ect  from  all  points  of  view.  The  highest  peak  is  divided  from 
another  eminence  called  the  Ward  Hill  by  a  long  swampy  valley  full  of  peat- 
bogs. Upon  the  slope  of  this  last  hill,  and  just  where  the  principal  mountain 
of  Hoy  opens  in  a  hollow  swamp,  or  corrio,  lies  what  is  called  the  Uwartie 
Stone.  It  is  a  great  fragment  of  sandstone,  composing  one  solid  mass,  which 
has  long  since  been  detached  from  a  belt  of  the  same  materials,  cresting  the 
eminence  above  the  spot  where  it  now  lies,  and  which  has  slid  down  till  it 
reached  its  present  situation.  The  rock  is  about  seven  feet  high,  twenty-two 
feet  long,  and  seventeen  feet  broad.  The  upper  end  of  it  is  hollowed  by  iron 
tools,  of  which  the  marks  are  evident,  into  a  sort  of  apartment,  containing  two 
beds  of  stone,  with  a  passage  between  them.  The  uppermost  and  largest  bed 
is  five  feet  eight  inches  long,  by  two  feet  broad,  which  was  supposed  to  be  used 
by  the  dwarf  himself  ;  the  lower  couch  is  shorter,  and  ronndeil  otf,  instead  of 
being  square^lat  the  corners.  There  is  an  entrance  of  about  three  feet  and  a 
half  square,  and  a  stone  lies  before  it  calculated  to  fit  the  opening.  A  sort  of 
skylight  window  gives  light  to  the  apartment.  We  can  only  guess  at  the  pur- 
pose of  this  monument,  and  different  ideas  have  been  suggested.  Some  have 
supposed  it  the  work  of  some  traveling  mason;  but  the  "cui  bono"  would  remain 
to  be  accounted  for.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Barry  conjectures  it  to  be  a  hermit's  cell  ; 
but  it  displays  no  symbol  of  Christianity;  and  the  door  opens  to  the  westward. 
The  Orcadian  traditions  allege  the  work  to  be  that  of  a  dwarf,  to  whom  they 
ascribe  supernatural  powers  and  a  malevolent  disposition,  the  attributes  of 
that  race  in  Norse  mythology.  Whoever  inhabited  this  singular  den  certainly 
enjoyed 

Pillow  cold,  and  sheets  not  warm. 

I  observed  that,  commencing  just  opposite  to  the  Dwarfie  Stone,  and  extending 
in  a  line  to  the  sea-beach,  there  are  a  number  of  small  barrows,  or  cairns, 
which  seem  to  connect  the  stone  with  a  very  large  eairn  where  we  landed. 
This  curious  monument  may  therefore  have  been  intended  as  a  temple  of  some 
kind  to  the  Northern  "  Dii  Manes,"  to  which  the  cairns  might  direct  worshipers. 

Note  25. — Carbuncle  on  the  Ward  Hill,  p.  203. 

"  At  the  west  end  of  this  stone  (t.  ?.,  the  Dwarfie  Stone)  stands  an  exceeding 
high  mountain  of  a  steep  ascent,  called  the  Ward  Hill  of  Hoy,  near  the  top  of 
which,  in  the  months  of  May,  June,  and  July,  about  midday,  is  seen  something 
that  shines  and  sparkles  admirably,  and  which  will  be  seen  a  great  way  off.  It 
hath  shined  more  brightly  before  than  it  does  now;  .  .  .  though  many  have 
climbed  up  the  hill  and  attempted  to  search  for  it,  yet  they  could  fin.]  nothing. 
The  vulgar  talk  of  it  as  some  enchanted  carbmiele,  but  I  rather  take  it  to  be 
some  water  sliding  down  the  face  of  a  smooth  rock,  which,  when  the  sun,  at 
such  a  time,  shines  upon,  the  reflection  causeth  that  admirable  splendour." — 
Dr.  Wallace's  "  Description  of  the  Islands  of  Orkney  "  12mo,  1700,  p.  52. 

Note  26. — Fortune-telling  Rhymes,  p.  219. 

The  author  has  in  chap.  xxi.  supposed  that  a  very  ancient  Northern  cub- 
tom,  used  by  those  who  were  accounted  soothsaying  women,  might  have  sur- 


^Si  NOTES. 

vived.  tlioiigh  in  jest  rather  than  earnest,  among  the  Zethuideis,  Ihcir 
descendants.  The  following  original  account  of  such  a  scene  will  show  the 
ancient  iiii])uitance  and  consequence  of  such  a  prophetic  character  as  was  as- 
sumed hy  Noma: 

"Till  re  lived  in  the  same  territory  (Greenland)  a  woman  named  Thnrbiorga. 
who  was  a  prophetess,  ami  called  the  little  Vola  (or  fatal  sister),  the  only  one  of 
nine  sisters  who  survived.  Thorbiorga  during  the  winter  used  to  frequent  the 
festivitiis  of  the  si-asim,  invited  by  those  who  weie  desirous  of  learning  their 
own  fortune  and  the  future  events  which  impended.  Torquil  being  a  niati  of 
consequence  in  the  country,  it  fell  to  his  lot  to  enquire  how  long  the  dearth 
was  to  endure  with  which  the  country  was  then  afflicted;  he  therefore  invited 
the  pro]ihetes8  to  his  house,  having  made  liberal  preparation,  as  was  tlie  cus- 
tom, for  receiving  a  guest  of  such  consequence.  The  seat  of  the  soothsayer 
was  placed  in  an  eminent  situation,  and  covered  with  pillows  tilled  with  the 
softest  eider-down.  In  tlie  evening  she  arrived,  together  with  a  person  who 
had  been  sent  to  meet  her  and  show  her  the  way  to  Torqnil's  habitation.  She 
was  attired  as  follows:  She  had  a  sky-blue  tunick,  having  the  front  ornamented 
with  gems  from  the  top  to  the  bottom,  and  wore  aiouud  her  throat  a  necklace 
of  glass  beads.*  Her  head-gear  was  of  black  lambskin,  the  lining  being  the 
fur  of  a  white  wild  cat.  She  leant  on  a  statf,  having  a  ball  at  the  top.f  The 
staff  was  ornamented  with  brass,  and  the  ball  or  glol>e  with  gems  or  pebbles. 
She  wore  a  Hunlaud  (or  Hungarian)  girdle,  to  which  was  attached  a  large 
pouch,  in  which  she  kept  her  magical  implements.  Her  shoes  were  of  sealskin, 
dressed  with  the  hair  outside,  and  secured  by  long  and  thick  straps,  fastened 
by  brazen  clasps.  She  wore  gloves  of  the  wild  cat's  skin,  with  the  fur  inmost. 
As  this  venerable  person  entered  the  hall,  all  saluted  her  with  due  respect;  but 
she  only  returned  the  compliments  of  such  as  were  agreeable  to  her.  Torqtiil 
conducted  her  with  reverence  to  the  seat  prepared  for  her,  and  lequested  she 
■would  purify  the  apartment  and  company  assembled  by  casting  her  eyes  over 
them.  She  was  by  no  means  sparing  of  her  words.  The  table  being  at 
length  covered,  such  viands  were  placed  before  Thorbiorga  as  suited  her  char- 
acter of  a  soothsayer.  These  were,  a  preparation  of  goat's  milk  and  a  mess 
composed  of  the  hearts  of  various  animals;  the  prophetess  made  use  of  a 
brazen  spoon  and  a  pointless  knife,  the  handle  of  which  was  composed  of  a 
whale's  tooth,  and  ornamented  with  two  rings  of  brass.  The  table  being  re- 
moved, Torquil  addressed  Thorbiorga,  requesting  her  opinion  of  his  house  and 
guests,  at  the  same  time  intimating  the  subjects  on  which  he  and  the  company 
were  desirous  to  consult  her. 

"  Thorbiorga  replied,  it  was  impossible  for  her  to  answer  their  enquiries 
until  she  had  slept  a  night  under  his  roof.  The  next  morning,  therefore,  the 
magical  apparatus  necessary  for  her  purpose  was  prepared,  and  she  then  en- 
quired, as  a  necessary  part  of  the  ceremony,  whether  there  was  any  female 
present  who  could  sing  a  magical  song  called  '  Vardlokur.'  When  no  song- 
stress such  as  she  desired  could  be  found,  Gudrida,  the  daughter  of  Torquil, 
replied,  '  I  am  no  sorceress  or  soothsayer;  but  my  nurse,  Haldisa,  taught  me, 
when  in  Iceland,  a  song  called  "  Vardlokur."  '  '  Then  thou  knowest  more  than 
I  was  aware  of,'  said  Torquil.  '  But  as  I  am  a  Christian,'  continued  Gudrida, 
'  I  consider  these  rites  as  matters  which  it  is  unlawful  to  promote,  and  the 
song  itself  as  unlawful.'  'Nevertheless,'  answered  the  soothsayer,  '  thoti 
mayst  help  us  in  this  matter  without  any  harm  to  thj'  religion,  since  the  task 
will  reiuain  with  Torquil  to  provide  everything  necessary  for  the  present  pur- 

Eose.'  Torquil  also  earnestly  entreated  Gudrida,  till  she  consented  to  grant 
is  request.  The  females  then  surrounded  Thorbiorga,  who  took  her  place  on 
a  sort  of  elevated  stage;  Gtidrida  then  sung  the  magic  song,  with  a  voice  so 
sweet  and  tuneful  as  to  excel  anything  that  had  been  heard  by  any  present. 
The  soothsayer,  delighted  with  the  melody,  returned  thanks  to  the  singer,  and 
then  said,  '  Much  I  have  now  learned  of  dearth  and  disease  approaching  the 
country,  and  many  things  are  now  clear  to  me  which  before  were  hidden  as 

♦  We  may  suppose  the  beads  to  have  been  of  the  potent  adder-stone,  to  which  so 
many  virtues  were  ascribed. 

t  Like  those  anciently  borne  by  porters  at  the  gates  of  distinguished  persons,  as  a 
badge  of  office. 


NOTES.  456 

flrell  from  me  as  others.  Our  present  dearth  of  substance  shall  not  long  endure 
for  the  present,  and  plenty  will  in  the  spiinj;  succeed  to  scarcity.  The  con- 
tagious diseases  also,  witli  which  the  country  lias  been  for  some  time  afflicted, 
will  in  a  short  time  take  their  dejiarture.  To  thee,  Gndrida,  I  can,  in  recom- 
pense for  thy  assistance  on  this  occasion,  announce  a  fortuncof  higher  import 
than  anyone  could  have  conjectured.  You  sliall  be  married  to  a  man  of  name 
here  in  Greenland;  hut  you  shall  not  long  enjoy  that  union,  for  your  fate  re- 
calls you  to  Iceland,  where  you  shall  become  the  mother  of  a  numerous  and 
honourable  family,  which  siiall  be  enlightened  by  a  luminous  ray  of  good  for- 
tune. So,  my  daughter,  wishing  thee  health,  I  bid  thee  farewell.'  The 
prophetess,  having  afterwards  given  answers  to  all  queries  which  were  put  to 
her.  either  by  Torquil  or  his  guests,  departed  to  show  her  skill  at  another  fes- 
tival, to  which  she  had  been  invited  for  that  purpose.  But  all  which  she  had 
presaged,  either  concerning  the  public  or  individuals,  came  truly  to  pass." 

The  above  narrative  is  taken  froui  the  Saga  of  Erick  Rauda,  as  quoted  by 
the  learned  Bartholin  in  his  curious  work.  He  mentions  similar  instances, 
particularly  oS  one  Heida,  celebrated  for  her  predictions,  who  attended  festi- 
vals for  the  purpose,  as  a  modern  Scotsman  might  say,  of  "'spacing  "  fortunes, 
with  a  gallant  "  tail."  or  retinue,  of  thirty  male  and  fifteen  female  attend- 
ants.— See  '•  De  Causis  Contemptae  a  Danis  adhuc  Gentilibus  Mortis,"  lib.  iii. 
cap.  4. 

Note  27. — Whaling  Customs,  p.  221. 

The  garland  is  an  artificial  coronet,  composed  of  ribbons  by  those  young 
women  who  take  an  interest  in  a  whaling  vessel  or  her  crew;  it  is  always  dis- 
played from  the  rigging,  and  preserved  with  great  care  during  the  voyage. 

The  best  oil  exudes  from  the  jaw-bones  of  the  whale,  which,  for  the  jjurpose 
of  collecting  it,  are  suspended  to  the  masts  of  the  vessel. 

There  is  established  among  whalers  a  sort  of  telegraphic  signal,  in  which  a 
certain  number  of  motions,  made  with  a  broom,  express  to  any  other  vessel 
the  number  of  fish  which  they  have  caught. 

Note  28. — Armada  in  Zetland,  p.  225. 

The  admiral  of  the  Spanish  Armada  was  wrecked  on  the  Fair  Isle,  halfway 
betwixt  the  Orkney  and  Zetland  Archipelago.  The  Duke  of  Medina  Sidonia 
landed,  with  some  of  his  people,  and  pillaged  the  islanders  of  their  winter 
stores.  These  strangers  are  remembered  as  having  remained  on  the  island  by 
force,  and  on  bad  terms  with  the  inhabitants,  till  spring  returned,  when  they 
effected  their  escape. — [The  Spanish  admiral  who  was  wrecked  on  Fair  Island 
was  not  the  Duke  of  Medina  Sidonia,  but  Don  Juan  Gomez  de  Medina.  See 
"Diary  of  James  Melville,"  Bannatyne  Club  ed.,  1829.] 

Note  29. — Fishermen's  Wives,  p.  229. 

Dr.  Edmonston,  the  ingenious  author  of  a  "View  of  the  Ancient  and  Pres- 
ent State  of  the  Zetland  Islands,"  has  placed  this  part  of  the  subject  in  an 
interesting  light: 

"  It  is  truly  painful  to  witness  the  anxiety  and  distress  which  the  wives  of 
these  poor  men  suffer  on  the  approach  of  a  storm.  Regardless  of  fatigue,  they 
leave  their  homes  and  fly  to  the  spot  where  they  expect  their  husbands  to  land, 
or  ascend  the  summit  of  a  rock,  and  look  for  them  on  the  bosom  of  the  deep. 
Should  they  get  a  glimpse  of  a  sail,  they  watch  with  trembling  solicitude  its 
alternate  rise  and  disap])earance  on  the  waves;  and  although  often  tranquil- 
lised  by  the  safe  arrival  of  the  objects  of  their  search,  yet  it  is  sometimes  tlieir 
lot  'to  hail  the  bark  that  never  can  return.'  Subject  to  the  influence  of  a 
variable  climate,  and  engaged  on  a  sea  naturally  tempestuous,  with  rapid  cur- 
rents, scarcely  a  season  passes  over  without  the  occurrence  of  some  fatal  acci- 
dent or  hairbreadth  escape." — "View,  etc.,  of  the  Zetland  Islands,"  vol.  i.  pp. 
23S.  239. 

!Many  interesting  particulars  respecting  the  fisheries  .ind  agriculture  of 
Zetland,  as  well  as  its  antiquities,  may  be  found  in  the  work  we  have  quoted. 


456  NOTES. 

Note  80. — Peomise  of  Odin,  p.  238, 

Although  the  father  of  Scandinavian  mythology  has  been  as  a  deity  long 
forgotten  in  tlie  archipelago,  which  was  once  a  very  small  part  of  his  realm, 
yet  even  at  this  day  his  name  continues  to  be  occasionally  attested  as  security 
for  a  promise. 

It  is  curious  to  observe  that  the  rites  with  which  such  attestations  are  still 
made  in  Orkney  correspond  to  those  of  the  ancient  Northmen.  It  appears 
from  several  authorities  that  in  the  Norse  ritual,  when  an  oath  was  imposed, 
he  by  whom  it  was  pledged  passed  his  hand,  while  pronouncing  it,  through  a 
massive  ring  of  silver  kept  for  that  purpose.*  In  like  manner,  two  persons, 
generally  lovers,  desirous  to  take  the  promise  of  Odin,  which  they  considered 
as  peculiarly  binding,  joined  hands  through  a  circular  hole  in  a  sacrificial 
stone  which  lies  in  the  Orcadian  Stonehenge,  called  the  Circle  of  Stennis,  of 
which  we  speak  more  in  Note  46,  p.  458.  The  ceremony  is  now  confined  to  the 
troth-plighting  of  the  lower  classes,  but  at  an  earlier  period  may  be  supposed 
to  have  influenced  a  character  like  Minna  in  the  higher  ranks. 

Note  31. — Coffin  Key,  p.  240. 

An  elder  brother,  now  no  more,  who  was  educated  in  the  navy,  and  had  been 
a  midshipman  in  Rodney's  squadron  in  the  West  Indies,  used  to  astonish  the 
Author's  boyhood  with  tales  of  those  haunted  islets.  On  one  of  them,  called, 
I  believe,  Coffin  Key,  the  seamen  positively  refused  to  pass  the  niglit.  and 
came  off  every  evening  while  they  were  engaged  in  completing  the  watering  of 
the  vessel,  returning  the  following  sunrise. 

Note  32.— Motto  to  Chap,  xxvi.,  p.  274. 

It  is  worth  while  saying  that  this  motto,  and  the  ascription  of  the  beautiful 
ballad  from  which  it  is  taken  to  the  Right  Honorable  Lady  Ann  Lindsay,  oc- 
casioned the  ingenious  authoress'  acknowledgment  of  tlie  ballad,  of  which 
the  Editor,  by  her  permission,  published  a  small  impression,  inscribed  to  the 
Bannatyne  Club. 

Note  33.— Fhawa-Stack,  p.  283. 

The  Frawa-Stack  or  Maiden-Rock,  an  inaccessible  cliff,  divided  by  a  narrow 
gulf  from  the  Island  of  Papa,  has  on  the  summit  some  ruins,  concerning  which 
there  is  a  legend  similar  to  that  of  Dauae. 

Note  34. — The  Pictish  Burgh,  p.  284. 

The  Pictish  burgh,  a  fort  which  Noma  is  supposed  to  have  converted  into 
her  dwelling-house,  has  been  fully  described  in  "Ivanhoe"  (Note  27,  p.  455  of 
this  edition).  An  account  of  the  celebrated  Castle  of  Mousa  is  there  given,  to 
afford  an  opportunity  of  comparing  it  with  the  Saxon  Castle  of  Coningsburgh. 
It  should,  however,  have  been  mentioned  that  the  Castle  of  Mousa  underwent 
considerable  repairs  at  a  comparatively  recent  period.  Accordingly.  Torfaeus 
assures  us  that  even  this  ancient  pigeou-house,  composed  of  dry  stones,  (vas 
fortification  enough,  not  indeed  to  hold  out  a  ten  years'  siege,  like  Troy  in 
similar  circumstances,  but  to  wear  out  the  patience  of  the  besiegers.  Erla"nd,t 
the  son  of  Harold  the  Fair-spoken,  had  carried  off  a  beautiful  woman,  the 
mother  of  a  Norwegian  earl,  also  called  Harold,  the  son  of  Maddadli,  and 
sheltered  himself  with  his  fair  pri^'e  in  the  Castle  of  Mousa.  Earl  Harold  fol- 
lowed with  an  army.  and.  finding  the  place  too  strong  for  assault,  endeavoured 
to  reduce  it  by  famine:  but  such  was  the  length  of  the  siege,  that  the  offended 
earl  found  it  necessary  to  listen  to  a  treaty  of  accommodation,  and  agreed  that 
his  mother's  honor  should  be  restored  by  marriage.  This  transaction  took 
place  in  the  beginning  of  the  thirteenth  century,  in  the'  reign  of  William  the 
Lion  of  Scotland.  J  It  is  probable  that  the  improvements  adopted  by  Erland  on 
this  occasion  were  those  which  finished  the  parapet  of  the  castle,  by  making  it 

♦See  the  "  Eyrbyeeja  Sao-a." 
t  See  Glossary.  "  %  See  Torfsei  "  Orcadee,"  p.  131. 


NOTES.  457 

project  ontwards,  so  that  the  Tower  of  Mousa  rather  resembles  the  figure  of  a 
dice-box,  whereas  others  of  the  same  kind  have  the  forai  of  a  truncated  cone. 
It  is  easy  to  see  how  the  projection  of  the  highest  parapet  would  render  the 
defence  more  easy  and  effectual. 

In  1859  the  Society  of  Antiquaries  exerted  themselves  in  effecting  repairs  on 
the  tower. — Laing. — [It  is  now  included  among  the  buildings  protected  hy  the 
Ancient  Monument  Protection  Act,  1882.] 

Note  35.— The  MacRaws,  p.  291. 

The  MacRaws  were  followers  of  the  MacKenzies,  whose  chief  has  the  name 
of  Caberfae,  or  Buckshead,  from  the  cognizance  borne  on  his  standards.  Un- 
questionably the  worthy  piper  trained  the  seal  on  the  same  principle  of  respect 
to  the  clan  term  which  I  have  heard  has  been  taught  to  dogs,  who,  unused  to 
any  other  air,  dance  after  their  fashion  to  the  tuue  of  "  Caberfae." 

Note  36. — Norna's  Spells,  p.  295. 

The  spells  described  in  chap,  xxviii.  are  not  altogether  imaginary.  By 
this  mode  of  pouring  lead  into  water,  and  selecting  the  jjurt  which  cliauces  to 
assiuue  a  resemblance  to  the  human  heart,  which  must  be  worn  by  the  patient 
around  her  or  his  neck,  the  sage  persons  of  Zetland  pretend  to  cure  the  fata] 
disorder  called  the  loss  of  a  heart. 

Note  37. — Bicker  of  St.  Magnus,  p.  310. 

The  bicker  of  St.  Magnus,  a  vessel  of  enormous  dimensions,  was  preserved 
at  Kirkwall,  and  presented  to  each  bishop  of  the  Orkneys.  If  the  new  incum- 
bent was  able  to  quaff  it  out  at  one  draught,  which  was  a  task  for  Hercules  or 
Rory  Mohr  of  Dunvegau,  the  omen  boded  a  crop  of  unusual  fertility. 

Note  38. — Luggie,  p.  310. 

Luggie,  a  famous  conjurer,  was  wont,  when  storms  prevented  him  from 
going  to  his  usual  emploj-ment  of  fishing,  to  angle  over  a  steep  rock  at  the  place 
called,  from  his  name,  Luggie's  Knoll.  At  other  times  he  drew  up  dressed 
food  while  they  were  out  at  sea,  of  which  his  comrades  partook  boldly  from 
natural  courage,  without  caring  who  stood  cook.  The  poor  man  was  finally 
condemned  and  burnt  at  Scalloway. 

Note  39. — Antique  Coins  found  in  Zetland,  p.  313. 

While  these  sheets  were  passing  through  the  press,  I  received  a  letter  from 
an  honorable  and  leained  friend,  containing  the  following  passage  relating 
to  a  discovery  in  Zetland:  "  Within  a  few  weeks  the  workmen,  taking  up  the 
foundation  of  an  old  wall,  came  on  a  hearthstone,  under  which  they  found  a 
horn,  surrounded  with  massive  silver  rings,  like  bracelets,  and  filled  with  coins 
of  the  Heptarchy  in  perfect  preservation.  The  place  of  finding  is  within  a 
very  short  distance  oi  the  [supposed]  residence  of  Noma  of  tlie  Fitful  Head." 
Thus  one  of  the  very  improbable  fictions  of  the  tale  is  verified  by  a  singular 
coincidence. 

Note  40.— Grouse  in  Orkney,  p.  326. 

It  is  very  curious  that  the  grouse,  plenty  in  Orkney  as  th<>,  text  declares, 
should  be  totally  unknown  in  the  neighboring  archipelago  of  Zetland,  which 
is  only  about  sixty  miles'  distauce,  with  the  Fair  Isle  as  a  step  between. 

Not  41. — Lambmas   Lads,  p.  336. 

It  was  anciently  a  custom  at  St.  OUa's  fair  at  Kirkwall  that  the  young  peo 
pie  of  the  lower  class,  and  of  either  sex,  associated  in  pairs  for  the  period  of 
the  fair,  during  which  the  couple  were  termed  Lambmas  broth*  r  and  sister. 
It  is  easy  to  cimecivr'  that  the  exclusive  familiarity  arisins  out  of  this  custom 
was  liable  to  abuse,  the  rather  that  it  is  said  little  scandal  was  attached  to  the 
indiscretions  which  it  occasioned. 


458  NOTES. 

Note  42. — Chabaoteb  of  Norita,  p.  356. 

The  character  of  Nurna  is  meant  to  be  an  instance  of  tliat  singular  kind  of 
insanity,  during  which  thi^  patient,  while  she  or  he  retains  much  subtlety  and 
address  for  the  power  of  imposing  upon  others,  is  still  more  ingenious  in  en- 
deavoring to  impose  upon  themselves.  Indeed,  maniacs  of  this  kind  may 
be  often  observed  to  possess  a  sort  of  double  character,  in  one  of  which  they 
are  the  being  whom  their  distempered  imagination  shapes  out,  and  in  the 
other  their  own  natural  self  as  seen  to  exist  by  other  people.  This  species  of 
double  consciousness  makes  wild  work  with  the  patient's  imagination,  and, 
judiciously  used,  is  perhaps  a  frequent  means  of  restoring  sanity  of  int(!lleet. 
Exterior  circumstances  striking  tlie  senses  often  have  a  powerful  eflect  in  un 
dermining  or  battering  the  airy  castles  which  the  disorder  has  excited. 

A  late  medical  gentleman,  my  particular  friend,  told  me  the  case  of  a  luna- 
tic patient  coiitined  in  the  Edinburgh  Intirmary.  He  was  so  far  hajjpy  that 
his  mental  alienation  was  of  a  gay  and  pleasant  character,  giving  a  kind  of 
joyous  explanation  to  all  that  came  in  contact  with  him.  He  considered  the 
large  house,  numerous  servants,  etc.,  of  the  hospital  as  all  matters  of  state  and 
consequence  belonging  to  his  own  personal  establishment,  and  had  no  doubt 
of  his  own  wealth  and  grandeur.  One  thing  alone  puzzled  this  man  of  wealth. 
Although  he  was  provided  with  a  first-rate  cook  and  proper  assistants, 
although  his  table  was  regularly  supplied  with  every  delicacy  of  the  season, 
yet  he  confessed  to  my  friend  that,  by  some  iincommon  depravity  of  the  pal- 
ate, everything  which  he  ate  tasted  of  porridge.  This  peculiarity,  of  course, 
arose  from  the  poor  man  being  fed  upon  nothing  else,  and  because  his  stomach 
wae  not  so  easily  deceived  as  his  other  senses. 

Note  43. — Birds  of  Peey,  p.  351. 

So  favorable  a  retreat  does  the  Island  of  Hoy  afford  for  birds  of  prey,  that 
instances  of  their  ravages,  which  seldom  occur  in  other  parts  of  the  country, 
are  not  unusual  there.  An  individual  was  living  in  Orkney  not  long  since, 
whom,  while  a  child  in  its  swaddling-clothes,  an  eagle  actually  transported  to 
its  nest  in  the  Hill  of  Hoy.  Happily,  tlie  eyrie  being  known  and  the  bird  in- 
stantly pursued,  the  child  was  found  uninjured,  playing  with  the  young  eagles. 
A  story  of  a  more  ludicrous  transportation  was  told  me  by  the  reverend  clergy- 
man who  is  minister  of  the  island.  Hearing  one  day  astrange  grunting,  he 
Biispected  his  servants  had  permitted  a  sow  and  iii^w,  which  were  tenants  of 
his  farm-yard,  to  get  among  his  barley  crop.  Having  in  vain  looked  for  the 
transgressors  upon  solid  earth,  he  at  length  cast  his  eyes  upward,  when  he 
discovered  one  of  the  litter  in  the  talons  of  a  large  eagle,  which  was  soaring 
away  with  the  unfortunate  pig,  squeaking  all  the  while  with  terror,  toward  her 
nest  in  the  crest  of  Hoy. 

Note  44. — Avery's  Pleasantry,  p.  357. 

This  was  really  an  exploit  of  the  celebrated  Avery,  the  pirate,  who  suddenly, 
and  without  provocation,  fired  his  pistols  under  tlie  table  where  he  sat  drink- 
ing with  his  messmates,  wounded  one  man  severely,  and  thought  the  matter 
a  good  jest.  What  is  still  more  extraordinary,  his  crew  regarded  it  in  the  same 
light. 

Note  45. — Wells. and  Waves,  p.  405. 

_ A  "well,"  in  the  language  of  those'  seas,  denotes  one  of  the  whirlpools,  or 
circular  eddies,  which  wheel  and  boil  with  astonishing  strength,  and  are  very 
dangerous.  Hence  the  distinction,  in  old  Englisli,  betwixt  wells  and  waves, 
the  latter  signifying  the  direct  onward  course  of  the  tide,  and  the  former  the 
smooth,  glassy,  oily-looking  whirlpools,  whose  strength  seems  to  the  eye 
almost  irresistible. 

Note  46. — The  Standing  Stones  of  Stennis,  p.  406. 

The  Standing  Stones  of  Stennis,  as  by  a  little  pleonasm  this  remarkable 
monument  is  termed,  furnishes  an  irresistible  refutation  of  the  opinion  of 


NOTES.  459 

BHch  antiquaries  as  hold  that  the  circles  usually  called  Druidical  were  peculiar 
to  that  lace  of  priests.  There  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  the  custom  was 
as  prevalent  iu  Scaudiuavia  as  in  Gaul  or  Biitaiu,  and  as  coniuion  to  the 
mythology  of  Odin  as  to  Druidical  superstition.  There  is  even  reason  to 
think  that  the  Druids  never  occupied  any  part  of  the  Orkneys,  and  tradition, 
as  well  as  history,  ascribes  the  Stones  of  Stennis  to  the  Scandinavians.  Two 
large  sheets  of  water,  communicating  with  the  sea,  are  connected  by  a  cause- 
way, with  openings  permitting  the  tide  to  rise  and  recede,  which  is  "called  the 
Bridge  of  Broisgar.  Upon  the  eastern  tongue  of  laud  appear  the  Standing 
Stones,  arranged  in  the  form  of  a  half  circle,  or  rather  a  horse-shoe,  the 
height  of  the  pillars  being  hfteeu  feet  and  upward.  AVithiu  this  circle  lies  a 
stone,  probably  sacrificial.  One  of  the  pillars,  a  little  to  the  westward,  is  per- 
forated with  a  circular  liole,  through  which  loving  couples  are  wont  to  join 
hands  when  they  take  the  promise  of  Odin,  as  has  been  repeatedly  mentioned 
in  the  text.  The  inclosure  is  surrounded  by  barrows,  and  on  the  opposite 
isthmus,  advancing  toward  the  Bridge  of  Broisgar,  there  is  another  monument 
of  standing  stones,  which,  in  this  case,  is  completely  circular.  They  are  less 
in  size  than  those  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  lake,  their  lieight  running  only 
from  ten  or  twelve  to  fourteen  feet.  This  western  circle  is  surrounded  by  a 
deep  trench  drawn  on  the  outside  of  the  pillars;  and  I  remarked  four  tumuli, 
or  mounds  of  earth,  regularly  disposed  around  it.  Stonehenge  excels  this 
Orcadian  monument;  but  that  of  Stennis  is,  I  conceive,  theonly  one  inBritinn 
which  can  be  said  to  approach  it  in  consequence.  All  the  Northern  nations 
marked  by  those  huge  inclosures  the  places  of  popular  meeting,  either  for  re- 
ligious worship  or  the  transaction  of  public  business  of  a  temporal  nature. 
The  "Northern  Popular  Antiquities"  contain,  in  an  abstract  of  the  "  Eyr- 
byggja  Saga,"  a  particular  account  of  the  manner  in  which  the  Helga  Fels,  or 
Holy  Rock,  was  set  apart  by  the  Pontiff  Thorolf  for  solemn  occasions. 

I  need  only  add  that,  different  from  the  monument  on  Salisbury  Plain,  the 
stones  which  were  used  in  the  Orcadian  circle  seem  to  have  been  raised  from 
a  quarry  upon  the  spot,  of  which  the  marks  are  visible. 

Note  47. — Bunce's  Fate,  p.  444. 

We  have  been  able  to  learn  nothing  with  certainty  of  Bunce's  fate;  but  our 
friend.  Dr.  Dryasdust,  believes  he  may  be  identified  with  an  old  gentleman 
who,  in  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  George  I.,  attended  the  Rose  Coffee- 
house regularly,  went  to  the  theater  every  night,  told  mercilessly  long  stories 
about  the  Spanish  Main,  controlled  reckonings,  bullied  waiters,  and  was  gen- 
erallj  known  by  the  name  of  Captain  Bounce. 


GLOSSARY 


OP 


WORDS,  PHRASES,   AND  ALLUSIONS. 


Aboon,  above. 

Account,  went  upon  the, 
took  part  in  piratical  ex- 
cursions. 

Adsum,  here  I  am. 

AiGRB,  sour,  acrimonious. 

AiK,  oak. 

AiT.s  AT,  have  objection  to, 
tiissatisfaction  with. 

AiN,  own. 

Air,  an  open  sea-beach. 

AiRN,  iron. 

Aits,  oats. 

Alexander,  the  hero  of 
Nathaniel  Lee's  "Alex- 
ander the  Great,"  one  of 
Betterton's  great  roles. 

Alexander  in  the  tent 
OP  Darius,  a  reference 
to  Alexander's  generous 
treatment  of  the  wife  and 
mother  of  the  Persian 
king,  Darius,  when,  after 
his  defeat,  they  were 
brought  prisoners  before 
the  conqueror. 

All  for  Love,  or  the 
World  well  Lost,  a 
traged}'  by  Dry  den. 

Alow,  ablaze. 

Altamont,  the  name  of  the 
hero  of  Sir  VVm.  D'Ave- 
nant's  "Just  Italian" 
(1630). 

"  Among  all  living  crea- 
tures," etc.  (p.  127), 
adapted  from  Spenser, 
"  Faerie  Queene,"  the 
fragment  entitled  "  Two 
Cantos  of  Mutability," 
canto  vii. 

Amphitryon  with  whom 
ONE  DINES,  the  wealthy 
and  hospitable  provider 
of  the  feast.  Both 
Plaufus  and  Moliere 
have  written  a  comedy 
with  this  title. 

Ane.s,  once. 

Anqusshire,  ancient  name 
for  Forfarshire. 

A-PEAK,  said  of  an  anchor, 
when  before  drawing  it 
up  the  vessel  is  brought 
immediately  above  it. 

Arion,  a  celebrated  Greek 
musician,     who,    drivei) 


into  the  sea  by  covetous 
sailors,  was  carried  safely 
to  land  by  a  dolphin. 

Armida,  a  character  in 
Tasso's  '•  Gernsalemnie 
Liberata,"  who  was  smit- 
ten witn  a  frantic  passion 
for  Rinaldo. 

Aroint,  avaunt,  begone. 

Atrip,  just  raised  (an 
anchor)  perpendicularly 
off  the  ground  when  it  is 
being  weighed. 

Aught,  owned. 

AuRiNiA,  a  prophetess  of 
the  ancient  Germans, 
mentioned  in  Tacitus, 
"  Germ.,"  ch.  viii. 

Aver,  a  cart-horse. 

"Away,  begone,"  etc.  (p. 
387),  from  Lee's  "  Rival 
Queens,"  Act  iii.  sc.  1. 

Away  -  ganging  crop,  a 
crop  sown  in  the  last  year 
of  tenancy,  to  be  reaped 
by  the  incoming  tenant. 

AwMOUs,  alms. 

Baby,  affi  ctionate  diminu- 
tive of  Bart)ara. 

Back-spaulu,  the  back  of 
the  shoulder. 

Baittle,  rich  with  grass. 

Bang,  or  bhang,  the  Indian 
name  of  tlie  common 
hemp,  from  which  a 
strong  narcotic  is  made. 

Barbadoes  waters,  a 
cordial  flavored  with 
orange  and  lemon-peel. 

Barnwell,  chief  character 
in  George  Lillo's  tragedy 
"George  Barnwell"  (1732). 

Baubling,  contemptible, 
paltry. 

Bear,  orBERE,  a  variety  of 
barley;  bear -braird, 
sprouting  bear  or  barley. 

Bearded  Man  at  Ver- 
sailles, Matthieu  Jouve 
Jourdan,  who  beheaded 
two  of  the  royal  guards 
in  the  Marble  Court 
at  Versailles,  on  6th 
October,  1789. 

Bell-the-cat,  beard  the 
lion. 

.460 


Bends,  or  ends  (of  mer. 
maids).  See  the  passage 
in  "Antony  and  Cleopa- 
tra," Act  ii.  sc.  2. 

Bern,  a  bairn,  or  child. 

Berskrkar,  Scandinavian 
warrior,  of  proved  valor 
and  unusual  strength,  in 
a  martial  frenzy. 

Bicker,  a  wooden  dish, 
drinking-cup. 

Bide,  endure,  bear  ;  bide 
the  bang,  bear  thebruut. 

Big,  or  bigg,  to  build ; 
biggin,  building,  dwell- 
'"g- 

Bilboes,  an  iron  bar,  with 
sliding  shackles  for  con- 
fining prisoners. 

Billie,  a  familiar  mode  of 
address,  brother. 

Bismar,  a  small  steelyard. 

Blackbeard,  Old,  the 
buccanier  captain,  Ed- 
ward Teach,  or  rather 
Drummond,  who  terror- 
ized the  Spanish  Main 
between  1710  and  1718. 

Black  Brunswickers,  a 
regiment,  wearing  a  black 
uniform,  who  fought 
along  with  the  English  in 
the  Peninsular  War  and  at 
Waterloo. 

Blackmore,  Sir  Richard, 
a  physician  and  writer  of 
the  Restoration  and 
Queen  Anne  period. 

Bland,  a  drink  made  from 
buttermilk. 

Blate,  modest,  shy. 

Boast  (us  with  her 
glamour),  threaten. 

Bodle,  or  boddle,  a  small 
Scotch  coin  =  J  penny. 

Bole,  a  small  aperture. 

BonALLY,    or    BONAILLIE,    3 

parting  drink. 

Bona-roba.  a  bold  wench. 

Bonnie  -  wallies,  good 
things,  gewgaws. 

BoNNT  DIE,    toy,  trinket. 

Bonxie,  the  skua-gull. 

BoRODGH  Moor,  stretched 
between  Craigmillar  and 
Merchiston  Castles,  on 
the  eoutb  sid«  of  Sdin« 


QLOSSART. 


461 


bnrgh  ;    there    criminals 

were  hanged,  and  usually 

buried. 
BouBAsquE,       or      bour- 

RAS(jUK,    sudden    squall, 

storni. 
Bowie,  a  wooden  dish  for 

milk,  pail. 
Braid,  broad. 
Braws.  fine  clothes. 
Breekless,  IrouserleSB. 
Brinnastir,      pre^^umably 

Brindister,    ou    the    west 

side  of  the  Mainland. 
Brose,  oatmeal  over  which 

boiliiii;    water    has  been 

poured. 
Brown,    Tom,   a    satirical 

writer,  died  in  1704. 
Blckie,    the   small    black 

whelk. 
Buffed,    fit   for    nothing, 

useless ;     perhaps      from 

"buff."  to  puff  out, inflate. 
BuLLocKiNG,  bullying. 
BcLXY  -  BACK,     one     bully 

who  backs  up  another. 
Bumming,     buzzing,    hum- 

miui;,  droning. 
BcMMOCK,  ale   brewed  for 

a  merry-making. 

BURRAFORTH,     or      BCRRA- 

FRiTH,   on  the    island  of 
Unet,  in  Shetland. 

Cabalist,  a  practicer  of 
magic,  spirit-raising,  etc. 

Cazique,  a  native  Indian 
chief  in  and  around  the 
Caribbean  Sea. 

Cairn,  a  mountain ;  the 
Grampians,  behind  which 
was  the  country  of  the 
predatory  Highlanders. 

Cai.la>t,  lad  ;"cANTY  gal- 
lant, a  cheerful,  lively 
lad,  a  term  of  affection. 

Camacho"s  kettle.  Hee 
Sancho. 

Canny,  propitious,  lucky. 

Canted,  threw  with  a  sud- 
den jerk. 

Capa.  a  Spanish  mantle. 

Caper,  privateer. 

"  Captain,  you  should 
be,"  etc.  (p.  420),  from 
Otway's  '■  Venice  Pre- 
served," Act  v. 

Carle,  farm-servant. 

Carline,  an  old  woman, 
witch. 

Carse  op  Gowrie,  a  very 
fertile  district  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Firth  of 
Forth,  in  Perthshire. 

Cart-avers,  cart  horses. 

Casting  peats,  digging 
turf. 

Cateran,  a  Highland 
robber. 

Caup;  or  cap,  a  wooden 
bowl  for  holding  food.       < 


Cbcial,  Thomas,  See  "  Bon 
Quixote,"     Part  II.  chap. 

xiv. 

Change-house,  inn,  conn- 
try-tavern. 

Cheval  de  bataille,  stock 
anecdote. 

Chield,  a  fellow. 

Choosers  of  the 
Slaughter,  more  usu- 
ally Choosers  of  the 
Slain,  i.  «.,  the  Valkyrior, 
or  Maidens  of  Fate,  in 
Scandinavian  mythology. 

Clack  -  geese,  barnacle 
geese,  probably  called 
clack-geese  from  the  cry 
they    make. 

Clagged,  clogged,  ob- 
structed, with  clay. 

Clashes  and  clavers, 
scandal  and  gossip. 

C  L  A  u  D  I  o.  See  Shaks- 
pere's  "Much  Ado  about 
Nothing,"  Act  iii.  sc.  2  ; 
but  it  is  Pedro,  not 
Claudio,  who  gives  utter- 
ance to  the  sentiment. 

Clavering,  chattering. 

Clem,  or  Clym,  op  the 
Cleugh,  a  noted  outlaw 
of  Englewood  Forest, 
near  Carlisle,  as  famous 
an  archer  as  Robin 
Hood.  See  a  ballad  in 
Percy's  "  Reliques,"  vol.i. 

Clifford,  in  Shakspere's 
"Henry  VI."  Part  III. 
Act  ii.  sc.  6. 

Clochna-ben,  a  hill  in 
Kincardineshire,  nearly 
two  thousand  feet  high. 

Clouting,  mending,  patch- 
ing. 

Clytus,  a  character  in  Nat. 
Lee's  "Alexander,  or 
Rival   Queens." 

Coal-heugh,  coal-pit. 

Coble,  a  small  boat. 

Cobs,  Spanish  dollars  or 
pieces  of  eight.  See  Por- 
tugal pieces. 

Cog,  a  wooden  bowl  ; 
cogfu,  a  wooden  bowl 
full. 

Co  LicENCio,  seignior.  By 
your  leave,  sir. 

Collier  and  the  devil, 
in  the  old  play  of  "  Grim, 
the  Collier  of  Croydon." 

Columella,  a  Roman 
writer  on  agriculture,  of 
the  first  century  a.  d. 

Conster.  or  construe,  to 
interpret,  make  out. 

Coup,  to  exchange,  barter. 

CouPiNG  OP  cobles,  over- 
turning of  boats. 

Crack  about,  talk,  boast 
about. 

Craig,  neck 

Creel,  to  bk  in  a,  to  be 


I     temporarly  confused,  dis- 

I     traded. 
Ckoft      land,     the     best 

I     quality  of  land,  always  in 

I      cultivation. 

I  Crowdie,  a  thick  pottage 

j     made    of  oatmeal  stirred 

in  water. 
Crowne,  John,  a  dramatist, 
of  Charles  II. "s  time. 

Cumfrey,  or  comfrey,  a 
water-plant,  used  as  a 
"  cooler  of  the  blood." 

Cummers,  gossips,  old 
women. 

Cukch,  a  woman's  kerchief 
for  covering  the  head. 

CuRTius,  according  to 
ancient  Roman  legend, 
sacrificed  himself  for  his 
country's  good  by  leap- 
ing into  a  chasm  that 
opened  in  the  city. 

CussER,  a  stallion. 

Cut  a  feather,  to  move 
swiftly  through  the 
water,  so  that  I  he  ripples 
stream  off  from  the 
ship's  bow  on  both  sides. 

Cutty -AX,  a  short  ax. 

Dapped,  put  aside. 

Dapping,  larking,  merri 
ment. 

Daft,  crazy. 

Daikering,  sauntering. 

Danske,  Danish. 

Darraign  battailk, 
justify  himself  by  com- 
bat. 

D'Avenant,  Will,  or  Sir 
William  D'Avenant, 
poet  and  dramatist  of 
the  seventeenth  century. 

Dead-thraw,  death-throes. 

Deaf  nut,  a  nut  that  has 
no  kernel. 

Debes,  Lucas  Jacobson, 
dean  of  Thorshaven,  in 
the  Faeroe  Islands,  in 
the  seventeenth  century, 
wrote  in  Danish  a  descrip- 
tion of  those  Islands  and 
their  inhabitants. 

Deceptio  visus,  an  ocular 
deception. 

Denmark,  our  parent 
country.  Norway, 

which  was  the  real  parent 
country  of  Orkney  and 
Shetland,  was  subject  to 
Denmark  from  1397  to 
1814.  Orki:ey  and  Shet- 
land were  given  up  to 
Scotland  in  1468. 

Dennis,  John,  an  associate 
of  the  coffee-house  wits, 
afterwards  a  literary 
critic,  die  d  in  1734. 

Die,  a  toy,  ornament. 

Dii  Manes,  protecting 
deities. 


46^ 


(GLOSSARY. 


DiNo,  knock 

Divot,   tliiii    turf  used  for 

rocifiiit;  cotca^ee. 

DOITKD,  Stupid. 

Don  Sebastian,  a  tragedy 
by  Dryden  (1690). 

Door  CHEEKS,  door-posts. 

Doum.ooN,  a  Spanish  t;o]d 
coin,  equal  to  the  double 
pistole,  aud  worth  about 
30s. 

DoucB,  respectable. 

DouK,  stubborn,  sullen, 
hard. 

Douse  the  glim,  put  out 
the  light. 

DowiE,dark,  melancholy. 

Dowlas,  a  strong  coarse 
linen  cloth,  supposed  to 
derive  its  name  from  Doul- 
lens,  in  dept.  Sornme, 
France. 

DoWNA,  cannot,  will  not. 

Drammock,  raw  meal  and 
water. 

Dree'd,  endured. 

Deow.    See  Trow. 

Drunk  as  Davy's  sow.  A 
Welshman,  David  Lloyd, 
had  a  sow  with  six  legs. 
A  visitor  whom  he 
brought  to  see  the  curi- 
osity found  David's  wife 
lying  dead  drunk  beside 
the  animal,  and  ex- 
claimed, "  It's  thedrunk- 
enest  sow  I  ever  saw." 

Duds,  clothes. 

Dulse,  a  species  of  sea- 
weed. 

Dung  ower,  beaten,  mas- 
tered. 

DuNKiRKERS,  pirates. 

DuNT,  to  knock,  bang. 

Edderaohyllis,  or  Eddra- 
CHiLLis,  Glen  of,  in  the 
west  of  Sutherlandshire. 

Ebn,  eyes. 

Eintracht,  means  " con- 
cord." "  unity." 

Eld,  antiquity,  old  men  of 
olden  times. 

Emathian  fields,  a  part 
of  ancient  Thessaly,  prac- 
tically identical  with  the 
district  of  Pharsalia. 

Empbror  of  Ethiopia, 
Seged,  in  Dr.  Johnson's 
Humbler,  Nos.  204, 20.5. 

Erland,  not  Earl  Erland, 
the  son  of  Harold  the 
Fair-spoken,  but  a  minor 
Orcadian  chief  called 
Erland  the  Youna:er,  who 
carried  off  Margaret, 
mother  of  Earl  Harold 
and  wife  of  Maddadh,  a 
Scottish  chief. 

Ethkrbgb,  Sir  George. 
a  witty  dramatist  of 
Charles    II. '8    reign. 


Ettrick  Forest,  a  former 
royal  hunting-ground  in 
Selkirkshire. 

Evitino,  avoiding,  escap- 
ing from. 

Fair  traders,  smugglers. 

Farcie  on  his  face,  a 
malediction. 

Fash,  fashert,  trouble. 

Feather,  cut  a.  See  Cut 
a  feather. 

Feck,  maist,  the  greatest 
part. 

Ferlies  make  pools  pain, 
wonders  astonish  fools  ; 
FERLY,  wonderfully. 

Fey,  fated,  or  predestined 
to  speedy  death. 

Fifish,  crazy,  eccentric. 

Finner,  a  small  whale. 

Fir-clog,  a  log  of  fir-wood. 

Flichter,  to  flutter  or 
treml)ie. 

Flinch,  or  flense,  a 
whale,  slice  the  blubber 
from  the  bones. 

Flip,  ale  or  cider,  sweet- 
ened, spiced,  and  made 
hot,  generally  by  plung- 
ing the  red-hot  poker 
into  the  liquid. 

Porbye,  besides. 

FoRPiT,  the  fourth  part  of 
a  peck. 

Four  quarters,  hands 
and  feet,  applied  to  help. 

FowD,  or  fogd,  district 
judge   or  magistrate. 

Freit,  charm,  superstition. 

Frogs,  fastenings  for  a 
coat,  consisting  of  orna- 
mental buttons  and  loops. 

Funking,  kicking  up  the 
heels. 

Fur,  a  furrow. 

Gaberlunzie,  a  beggar  or 

tinker. 
Galdragon,    corrupted 

from  th^  Norse  "  galdra," 

to  bewitch,  and  "kviade," 

or  "  kvinna,"  a  woman  ;  a 

witch,   sorceress. 
G AN E,  gone;   ganging, 

going. 
G  A  N  G  R  E  L,        wandering, 

vagrant. 
Gar,  to  oblige,  force,  make. 
Gascuomh,   an    instrument 

for      trenching      ground, 

shaped    like    a    currier's 

knife,     with    a     crooked 

handle 
Gate,  way,  road,  manner. 
Gathering-peat,   the 

piece  left  to  keep  the  Are 

alight. 
Gauds,    flimsy    ornaments, 

gimcracks. 
Gay  mony,  good  many. 
Geaj«,  property. 


Generandi  gloria  mellis, 
the  glory  of  produciug 
honey. 

Geneva,  gin. 

Giekvada,  more  correctly 
Geirrida,  a  sorceress 
mentioned  in  the  "  Eyr- 
byggja  Saga." 

Gio,  a  deep  ravine  which 
admits  the  sea. 

Girdle,  an  iron  frame  for 
cooking  cakes  on. 

Glebe,  land  belonging  to 
the  parish  minister  in 
right  of  his  oflice. 

Glim,  douse  the.  See 
Douse   the  glim. 

Glower,  to  gaze  fixedly. 

Gobbet,  lump,  fragment. 

Gob-box,  mouth. 

Golden  eye,  a  species  of 
wild  duck. 

GoLDKN  Wa.s;ser,  or  Gold- 
WASSER,  a  liquor  mixed 
and  colored  with  gold- 
leaf  ground  down  fine. 

Goose,  a  tailor's  smooihing- 
iron. 

Governante,  housekeeper. 

Gowk,  fool. 

GowRiE,  Carse  of.  See 
Car.se  of  Gowrie. 

Gh.,ecum  est.  it  is  Greek. 

Graip.  a  three  -  pronged 
stuble-fork. 

Graith,  gear.s.  fittings. 

Grand  Caimains,  or  Cay- 
mans, three  coral  islands 
in  the  Caribbean  Sea. 

Grew,  or  grue,  to  shiver, 
creep  (of  the  flesh). 

Gray  fish,  fry  of  coal-fleh, 
sillocks. 

Guarda-costa,  coastguard 
vessel,  Spanish  war- 
vessel. 

Gudeman  and  gudkwipe, 
the  heads  of  the  house. 

GuE,  a  two-stringed  (of 
horsehair)    violin. 

Guide,  make  (good)  use  of, 
treat,  behave  to. 

Guizards,  or  guisartjs. 
New  Year's  maskers  or 
mummers. 

Gyre-carline,  witch,  hob- 
goblin. 

Haaf,    or   IIap,    the   deep 

sea. 

Hapt,  to  fix  or  settle. 

Hagalef,  or  HOGALip.  pay- 
ment for  liberty  to  cut 
peat. 

Haill,  whole,  entire. 

Haim,  or  Heim,  in  all  prob- 
ability the  giant  Hymir, 
who  in  the  "Hymiskvida" 
of  the  '•  Eider  Edda"  is 
called  "  Huge-wise,"  or 
exceedingly  wise. 

Halier,      or     helyer,     •» 


GLOSSARY. 


4G3 


cavern  fnto  which  the 
tide  flows. 

Hallansuakeh,  a  vaga- 
bond, sturdy  ragamuffin. 

Halsk,  tlie  throat. 

Hank  on,  stick  fust  on. 

Harold  IIarfager,  first 
king  of  all  Nor\v:iy,  con- 
quered the  Shetland 
islands  in  875. 

Hau'ht,   harvest. 

Hartmb.  JSamiei,,  a  friend 
of  Milton,  and  author  of 
nunierons  pamphlets  on 
husbandry. 

Havings,  behavior,  man- 
ners. 

HaWKMEX,      or       HALKHEN, 

hawUs  exacted  by  the 
royal  falcoi;er  on  his 
visits  to  the  islands,  in 
force  till  1839. 

Haxa,  or  Hexe,  a  generic 
name  for  a  witch  or  sor- 
ceress. 

Hellicat,   wild,  giddy. 

HEL^  ER.     See  Ilalier. 

H  E  R  T  n  A,  Mother,  or 
Nerthus,  the  earth- 
goddess  of  the  ancient 
German  races. 

"  He  speaks  the  kindest 
WORDS,"  elc.  (p.-^ST),  from 
Lee's  "  Itival  Queens," 
Act  i. 

Ueus  TiBi,  Davk  !  Hallo 
there,  Davus!  Davus  was 
a  common  name  for  a 
slave   in   Rome. 

Beus  tu,  inepte!  Hallo 
there,  you  fool ! 

Hialtland.  or  Hjaltland, 
the  old  Norse  name  for 
Shetland. 

High-Dittch,    German. 

Hinny,  honey,  a  term  of 
endearment. 

Hirple,  hobble. 

HiRSEL,  to  move  or  slide 
down. 

HispANioLA.  the  island  of 
Hayti,  in  the  West  Indies. 

Hou.'?ewifeskep,  house- 
wifery. 

HowF,  a  haunt,  haven. 

HuBLT-HotJSE,  a  large  house 
in  a  bad  state  of  disrepair. 

Ilka.  each. 

Imber-ooose.  or  ehber- 
GoosE,  a  variety  of  north- 
ern diver  or  loon. 

Imoinda,  the  heroine  of 
Mrs.  Aplira  Bc^hn's  novel, 
"The  History  of  Oroo- 
noko  or  the  Royal  Slave  " 
(1C98-). 

In  apicibus  .iuris,  amonest 
the   knotty  points  of  law. 

Inoh-Mirran,  or  Inch- 
Mdrrin,  an  island  near 
the  Boatb   end  of    Loch 


Lomond,  kept  as  a  deer 
park    by    the     Duke    of 

Montrose. 

InfANO  and  OtITFANG,  the 
right  of  trying  thieves, 
whether  taken  within  or 
outside  of  the  feudal 
domain. 

Infiki,i>,  land  periodically 
manured  and  in  regular 
cultivation. 

'•  In  the  first  rank  of 
these  did  Zimri stand." 
See  "  Absalom  and  Achito- 
phel,"  Part  I. 

louL,  JoL,  or  Jul,  Yule- 
tide,  Clinstinas. 

Isle  of  I'rhvidence,  one 
of  the  Bahamas,  and  a 
notorious  rendezvous  for 
buccaniers. 

Jack-a-Lent,  a  puppet  at 

which   boys  threw    sticks 

in  Lent,  a  blockhead. 
Jacobus,  twenty-shilling. 

gold  coin  issued  by  James 

I.  of  England. 
Jacta  est  alea,  the  die  is 

cast,  the  decision  is  taken. 
Jaffeir,    one  of  the  con- 

s])irators       in        Otway's 

"  Venice  Preserved." 
.^AiKiEfi,  i)eddler. 
Jam    neminem    antepones 

Catoni,   no  one  is  to  be 

preferred   to  Cato. 
Jarl,  earl. 
Jarlshof,      means      "  the 

earl's  mansion  or  house  " 
Jarto,    or     HJARTA,    (my) 

heart,  sweetheart. 
Jaud.  jade. 
JoKUL.  yes,  sir. 
Joseph,    an    old-fashioned 

ring-coat. 
JoGUS,  pillory. 

Kail-yard,  cabbage -gar- 
den ;  KAiL-pOT,  large  pot 
for  boiling  broth. 

Kain.  contribution  in  kind, 
as  poultry,  eggs,  etc.,  paid 
by  the  tenant  to  the  land- 
lord. 

K  E  M  p  I  o  N  s,  champions, 
warriors. 

Kenn'd  folks, well-known, 
respectable  people. 

Key,  or  quay,  a  wharf, 
landing-stnce. 

KiEMPE,  kempie,  a  Norse 
champion,  warrior. 

Kiss        THE      GUNNE  R'S 

daughter, be  flogged  on 
shi;^'io:ird.  whilst  laid 
along  the  breech  of  a  gun. 

KisT,  a  chest. 

Kit-Cat  Clitb,  a  literary 
society,  of  Hanoverian 
politics,  that   existed    in 


London  between  1700  and 
1720. 

Kitchen  (to),  a  relish  to 
dry  bread,  as  cheese, 
dried  fish,  or  the  like. 

Kittle,  difliciilt,  ticklish. 

Knapped  Latin,  spoke 
I.utin. 

Kraken,  a  fabulous  fea- 
moiister 

Kreitz-dollar.  or  kreuz- 
T  H  A  L  E  It.  the  "  cross  " 
dollar,  called  also  the 
"crown"  dollar,  colred 
by  Austria  for  her  Nether- 
lands possessions. 

Kyloes,  siuall  black  High- 
land cattle. 

Lair,  learning. 

Landlouper,  adventurer. 

Langspiel,  a  kind  of  har|), 
formerly    in    use  in    the 
Shetlands. 
Lapelle,    white,  alluding 
to    the    white    turned-iip 
lappets  worn    by   otTiCt  rs 
of   the    Royal    Navy. 
Lave,  rest,  n  siilue. 
Lawrigut-man,  and  officer 
whose  chief  duty  was  the 
regulation  of  weights  and 
measures. 

Law-ting,  the  sujinme 
court  in  ancient  Shet- 
land  and   Orkney. 

Leaguer-lass,  female 
cainii-follower. 

Lennox,  a  former  county 
of  Scotland,  embracing 
Dumbarton  and  parts  of 
Stirling,  Perth,  and  Lan- 
ark. 

LiMMER,  idle  hussy. 

Lindamira,  the  only  lady 
who.  according  to  Steele 
in  Spectator,  No.  41,  might 
justifiably  paint  her 
face. 

L  I  s  p  u  N  D,  a  weiifht,  in 
Scandinavian  countries 
=  17.6  lbs.  avoirriu|)ois, 
varied  in  Shetland  from 
12  to  .36  His.  avoir  ,  and 
was  divided  intoa-f  merks. 

Loan,  a  lane  between  stone 
walls. 

I.oblolly-boy,  a  ship- 
surgeon's  boy  or  attend- 
ant. 

Lochlin,  race  of.  The 
Norsemen  are  so  called 
in  "Ossian." 

Loom,  any  kind  of  tub  or 
similar  vessel. 

Loon,  lad,  fellow. 

Lout,  to  bend  or  bow  down. 

Lowe,  flame. 

LuM,  chimney. 

Lysimachus,  a  character  in 
Nat.  Lee's  "  Alexander, 
or  Rival   Queens." 


4G-i 


GLOSSARY. 


Main,  to  moan. 

Ill  AIR.     more ;      hair     By 

TOKEN,  particularly. 
Maist    feck.      See     Feck, 

maiBt. 
Mallard,  the  male  of  tbe 

coininon  wild  duck. 
Manse,  parsonage. 
Mantuan,  Virtcil.  who  was 

born  at  Mantua  in  North 

Italy. 

MaRKAL,      or       MERCAL,      a 

rude  wooden  plow-sliare. 

Maroonkd,  abandoned  on 
a  de.-<crt  island. 

Masking-pat,  a  mashing 
vat  or  tub. 

Maun,  must. 

Meauns,  old  name  for  Kin- 
cardineshire. 

Meat- MISTRESSES.  In  Nor- 
way the  mistress  of  the 
house  is  now  sometimes 
called  in  familiar  lan- 
guage the  meat-mother 
("  matmor."; 

JIellay,  straggle,  contest. 

Meltith,  food  ;  a  meal. 

Mense  and  sense,  honor, 
gratitude. 

Merk,  a  Scotch  coin  = 
Is.  lid.;  tlie  twentv- 
fourlh  part  of  a  lispuiid 
{q.  v.);  merk  op  land,  a 
measure  varying  from  one 
to  three  acres. 

"MeTHINKS  I  SEE  THE  NEW 

ARioN,"etc.  (p.  132),  from 
•'MacFlecknoe."  Dryden's 
satire  on  Shadwell. 

MiCHINO    MALICHO,      skulk- 

ing   villainy. 
IMiLE,  Scots  =  9  furlongs. 
MiscA,  abuse. 

MiSEKIS  SDCCURRERE  DISCO, 

I  learn  to  succor  those 
in  distress. 

Missed  stays,  failed  to  go 
about  from  one  tack  to 
another,  lost  the  oppor- 
tunity. 

Moidorb.  a  gold  coin  of 
Portugal  =  27s. 

Mold,  man  of,  a  man  of 
character. 

MoLENDiNARY,  relating  to 
a  Tiiill 

Mosses  and  waters,  boggy 
places  and  water-courses. 

Moldboard,  that  part  of 
the  plow  vvhicb  turns 
over  the  ground,  the 
plow-breast. 

MucKLK,  much. 

Multures,  dues  paid  for 
grinding  grain  ;  in-town 
MULTURES,  referring  to 
corn  grown  on  cultivated 
land  near  the  homestead; 

OUT-TOWN    MULTURES,    tO 

corn  grown  on  land  occa- 
sionally cultivated. 


M0M,     strong   ale    brewed 

from    wheat     and    bitter 

herbs. 
N  A  c  K  E  T,       a       portable 

luncheon. 
Nancies  of  the  bills  or 

DALEs.an  allusion  to  Slien- 

stone's      poem,    "  Nancy 

of  the  Vale." 
Nantz,  or  Nantes,  brandy. 
Natheless,  ueverthess. 
Neist,  next 
Nemorum     murmur,      the 

UMirmur  of  the  groves. 
V(4>^\rjyfpeTa       Zeus,        Zeus 

tlie  cloud-gatherer. 

Nievefu',  a  handful. 

Norval,  a  peasant's  son  in 
Home's  tragedy,  "  Doug- 
las." 

Norwood  prophetess, 
Margaret  Finch,  a  gypsy, 
wlio  told  fortunes  at 
Norwood,  near  London, 
for  ten  vears  before  her 
death  in  1740,  aged  108. 

Noup,  a  headland,  pre- 
cipitous to  the  sea  and 
sloping  inland. 

Nowt,  black  cattle. 

Nut,  deaf.    See  Deaf  nut. 

O  fortunati  nimium,  O 
too  fortunate! 

Olaf  Tryguarson,  or 
Olaf  Tryggveson,  old 
Norse  king  and  hero, 
threw  himself  into  the 
waves  during  a  sea-fight 
in  the  year  lOOO. 

Olaus  Magnus,  was  ap- 
pointed archbishop  of 
Upsala  in  the  sixteenth 
century. 

Olave  planted  the  cross. 
The  Orkney  Islands  were 
conquered  by  Harold 
Fair-hair  in  heathen 
times  (87.5).  The  Norse- 
men were  Christianized 
by  St.  Olaf,  their  king,  a 
Century  and  a  half  later. 

Operam  et  oleum  perdidi, 
I  have  lost  my  labor  and 
my  oil. 

Ophir.  a  part  of  the  Main- 
land (Pomona)  of  Orkney 
is  called  Orphir. 

Oraamus,  or  oramus,  a 
vow,  prayer,  and  offer- 
ing. See  Note  13,  p. 
447. 

Orra  time,  occasionally, 
every  now  and  then. 

OuTis  IN  the  cave  or 
PoLYPHEMUs.i.^., Ulysses, 
when  captured  by  the 
monster  Polyphemus 
("  Odyss.,"  Bk.  ix.). 

Out-taken,  except. 

OwERLAY,  a  neck-cloth. 

OwsEN,  oxen. 


Palladius,  a  Roman  writer 
on  agriculture,  of  the 
fourtli   centin-y  a.  d. 

Parcel-musician,  an  in- 
dilttient  musician. 

Parkitch,  porridge. 

Partan,  a  crab. 

Peery,  inquisitive,  prying. 

Peghts,  I'icts,  the  ancient 
inhabitants  of  Scotland, 
looked  upon  by  the  vulgar 
as  .supernatural  beings. 

Peltrie.  or  Peltry,  furs. 

Penny  Scots  =  x'jd.  Eng- 
lish. 

Petit  maitre,  dandy. 

Petits  (Juaves.  or  Petit 
GoAVK,  a  small  harbor 
on  the  West  Indian  island 
of  Hayti. 

Pharsalia,  in  Thessaly, 
where  in  48  b.  c.  Caesar 
gained  his  great  victory 
over  his  rival  Ponipey. 

Philomath,  a  lover  of 
learning,  alraanac-maker. 

Piaffed,  stepped  with  a 
high,  slow,  showy  action 
— said  of  a  horse. 

Pierre,  one  of  the  cc;i- 
spirators  in  Otway's 
"  Venice  Preserved." 

Pistole,  a  gold  coin  of 
Spain,  worth  about  15s. 

Pixie,  a  fairy. 

Plantie  cruive,  a  kail- 
yard. 

Play  Cassio,  to  get  drunk 
and  be  made  a  cat^paw  of. 

Po.MONA,  the  Mainland,  or 
principal  island  of  Orkney. 

PoNToppiDAN,  EIrio,  the 
Younger,  whose  "  ForsOg 
til  Norges  Naturlige  His- 
toric (Eng.  trans.  1755)  is 
referred  to  (p.  446^  was 
bishop  of  15ergen,  not 
archbishop  of  Upsala. 
See  Olaus  Magnus. 

Pops,  pistols. 

Porto  Bello,  a  town  on 
the  north  side  of  the 
Isthmus  of  Panama. 

Portugal  pieces,  Porta- 
gues,  pieces  of  eight 
(reals)  =  4s.,  silver  coins 
struck  in  Poruigal. 

PniMATE  (p.  4,':.0),  Olaus 
iMaguus.  See  Pontoppi- 
dan. 

Prince  Prettyman,  a 
character,  sometimes  a 
fislierman's  son,  some- 
time a  prince,  in  the 
Duke  of  Buckingham's 
farce,  "  The  Rehearsal  " 
(1672). 

Prince  Volscius,  a  char- 
acter in  Buckingham's 
"  The  Rehearsal." 

Prior,  JIatthew,  poet, 
died  in  1721. 


GLOSSARY 


465 


Pro  boko  pitbuco,  for  the 

public  tiood. 

Providence  Island.  See 
Isle  of  Providence. 

PuND  Scots,  l8.  8d.  ster- 
ling. 

QUADRUPEDUMQUK,  PtTREi- 
SONITU     QUATIT      ANOULA 

CAMPUM,  the  hoofs  of  the 
horses  shake  the  crum- 
bling field. 

QUAiQH,  a  small  wooden 
cup  or  drinking  bowl. 

Quean,  a  woman,  wench  ; 
RANDY  QTiEAN,  disorderly, 
vagrant  woman. 

Queen  in  the  old  play, 
5«e"  Macbeth."  Act.  v.  sc. 
1.  ShaUspere's  play  was 
altered  and  put  "u  the 
stage  by  Sir  William 
D'Avenant  in   1674. 

Quern,  hand-mill. 

QriD    FACIt'NT  LAETAS    8E- 

GETES,  how  the  crops  are 
getting  on. 

Eace      of     Portland,    a 
daugerou.s  current    south 
of  Portland  Bill  in  Dor- 
set. 
Raddman,  or   RAADMAN,  a 

councilor. 
Ranzelman,    or     rancel- 
lor,  a    kind    of    parish 
constable,     one     of      his 
chief     duties     being    to 
"  rancel  "    or  search  for 
stolen  goods. 
Raven  flao  (of  vikings), 
the  raven  was   sacred   to 
Odin  or  Woden. 
Redding-kaim,      a     wide- 
toothed     comb    for    the 
hair. 
Reim-kennak,     one    who 

knows   mystic  rhyme. 
Reset,   place  of,  resort  of 
beggars  and  loose  charac- 
ters. 
Restiff,  or  restive,  stub- 
born, obstinate. 
Rides    rusty,    or     turns 
RUSTY,  sets  at   defiance, 
behaves  obstinately. 
RiTT,  a  scratch  or  incision. 
RivA.  a  cleft  in  a  rock. 
Rochester,  Earl  of,  the 
witty  but  dissolute  favor- 
ite of  Charles  II. 
Rock,  a  distaff. 
Rokelay,  a  short  cloak. 
Rollo   THE     Walker,   or 
Hrolf  THE  Ganger,  ac- 
cording    to       traditional 
history,    the  ancestor  of 
the  Dukes  of  Normandy 
and    Norman    kings     of 
England. 
Rona's  crest,  the  highest 
hill  (fifteen  hundred  feet) 


in  Shetland,  in  the  north 
of  the  Mainland 

Roose,  to  praise,  commend. 

RoosT.  a  strong  and  bois- 
terous current. 

Roky  Mour  op  Dunvegan. 
^ee  Hoswell's  "  Tour  to 
the  Hebrides,"  under  date 
Sept.  15,  and  Scott's 
"  Lord  of  the  Isles,"  Ap- 
pendix, Note  M. 

Roscius,  a  celebrated  actor 
of  ancient  Home. 

R  o  s  e  B  B  R  R  Y     Topping, 
a    conspicuous     hill     in  j 
Cleveland,   Noith  Riding 
of  Yorkshire. 

Rose  TAVERN,  in  Russell 
Street,  Covent  Garden,  a 
celebrated  resort  of  wits 
and  men  of  fashion. 

ROXALANA,    or    KOXANA,    a 

clmracter  in  Nathaniel 
Lee's  "  Rival  Queens,  or 
Alexander  the  Great 
(1(577). 

RuMBo,  rum. 

KUNEs, letters  of  the  ancient 
Norse  alphabet ;  a  mystic 
saying  or  verse  of  poetry. 


Sackless,  innocent. 

Sain,  bless.  I 

St.  John,  festival  of,  one  i 
of  the  principal  festivals  ! 
of  the  year  in  all  Scandi-  j 
navian  countries.  | 

St.  Leonard's,  one  of  the 
colleges  of  the  University  ' 
of  St.  Andrews.  | 

St.    Magnus,    an    earl    of; 
Orkney,    assassinated  by 
his   cousin  Hnco   in    the 
island  of  Egilshay  on  16th  i 
April,  1115. 

St.  Olave,  or  Olaf,  king  of 
Norway,  most  zealous  for 
the  introduction  of  Chris- 
tianity into  that  country 
in  the  eleventh  century. 

St.  Ronald,  or  Rognvald, 
a  famous  jarl  or  earl  of 
Orkney  of  the  twelfth 
century,  built  the  cathe- 
dral of  St.  Magnus  at 
Kirkwall. 

Sair.  sore,  sorry  ;  sairer, 
greatly. 

SAMPHiRE,a  succulent  plant 
growing    iinioiigst    rocks 
and  on  salt  marches  near 
the  sea,  used  for  making 
pickles.  6Ve"  King  Lear," 
Act  iv.  sc.  6. 
Sancho   Con   the  •scum    of 
Cainaclio's     kettle).     See 
•'  Don   Quixote,"   Pt.  11. 
chap.  xs.    The  "scum" 
consisted  of  "three  pullets 
and  a  couple  of  geese." 
Sandie-laverock,  a  lark. 
Saunt,  saint. 


Satjt,  salt. 

Scald,  an  ancient  Scandi- 
navian bard  or  poet. 

ScAKT,  a  cormorant ;  to 
scratch. 

Scat,  a  land-tax  paid  to  the 
crown;  scathold,  a  com- 
mon. <  )n  I),  lay  we  should 
probably  read  "  scatlnnd" 
land  paying  "  skat  "  or 
tribute,  instead  of  "  scat- 
hold." 

Scaur,  a  precipitous  bank, 
rock. 

Schwartz  beer. black  beer. 

SCIPIO       AT       NUMANTIA. 

Scipio  AfricanuH  Minor 
found  amongst  the  Span- 
ish (Celtiberiaii)  capti-es, 
after  the  snrrender  of 
Nuinantia  C134  b  c  ),  a 
beautiful  maicen.  whom 
he  gem  rously  restored  to 
her  betrothed. 
ScLATE  STAKE,  piece  of 
rough  slate. 

SCOURIES,       or        SCAUi  IE9, 

young  sea-gulls. 
Sealgh,  sealchie,  a  seal. 

SEA-WARE,    Si  nwi't  d 

Sebastian  and  Dorax.  in 
Drvdm's  iragedy  '"Don 
Sebastian"  (1C89)  dispute 
and  become  reconciled. 

StDi.EY,  SirChakles,  a  wit 
and  poet  of  Charles  II. 's 
reign. 

Sell  of  her.  herself. 

Set  him  up,  forsooth,  a  term 
expressive  of  coniempt 
for  an  assuming  pi  rson. 

Setting,  becoming,  befit- 
tins;. 

Several,  an  inclosed  field 
as  opposed  to  an  open 
common . 

Shadwei-L,  a  dramatist 
satirized  by  Dryden  under 
the  name  of  Og  in  "  Ab- 
salom and  Achitophel," 
and  as  MacFUcknoe  in 
the  poem  so  (ailed. 

Shakney  peat,  luel  mads 
of  dried  cow's  dung. 

Sharpe,  Old.  the  buc- 
canier  captain,  Barthol- 
omew Sharpe.  who  was 
active  on  the  Spanish 
Main  about  1680. 

Sheerwater,    or    Shear- 
watek.  a  s"  a-bird  of  the 
petrel     faniilv.     so-called 
from  its  low  fliLln,  skim- 
ming  close  to  tin-  water. 
Sheltie,  a  Shetland  i  ony. 
Shfphehd    of   Salisbury 
Plain,  bv  Hannah  More, 
setting   forth  the  homely 
wisdi^m  and  piety  of  one 
David  Saunders. 
Shogh  CGaclic),  there. 
Shot,  a  field,  plot  of  land. 


406 


GLOSSARY. 


Shot-wthdo-vt.  a  small  pro- 
jecting window. 
Shoupbltin,  a  triton. 
Sic,  8tich. 
SiccAR,  sure,  safe. 

SILLOCK3,    or    SAITHE,     the 

fry  of  the  coal-fish. 

SINCLAIR,  (Malcolm)  of 
QuENDALK,  when  asked 
by  theehipwrecktd  Duke 
of  Medina  Sidonia,  or 
rather  by  biw  brother, 
whether  he  had  ever  seen 
such  a  great,  man  as  stood 
before  him,  made  the  reply 
in  the  text.  See  Hibbnt's 
"  Description  of  the  Zet- 
land Islands,"  pp.  92, 
etc. 

SiNQLES,  talona  of  a  hawk. 

Silt  Arthegal,  the  im- 
personation of  Justice 
in  Spenser's  "  Faerie 
Queen,"  from  the  fifth 
book  (Canto  iv.)  of  which 
the  passage  on  p.  89  is 
taken. 

Sir  Lucius  O'Trigger,  in 
Sheridan's  "Rivals." 

Skelpinu,  nimble-footed. 

Skko,  a  hut  for  drying  fish. 

Skerry,  a  bare. rocky  islet. 

Skilling,  Danish  =  one 
farthing. 

Skirl,  scream. 

Skudler,  the  leader  of  a 
band  of  maskers,  dancers, 
etc. 

Slap,  a  gap,  breach. 

Slocken,  to  cool,  drench. 

Smeaked,  killed  by  smoke. 

Snack,  a  hasty  meal. 

Sneck,  the  latch  of  the 
door. 

Sniggled,  caught  by  drop- 
ping bait  into  the  (eel's) 
lurking-place. 

Sock,  idowshare. 

SoLE-CLOUT,the  lowest  part 
of  a  plow,  which  runs 
along  the  bottom  of  the 
furrow. 

Sonsy,  stout  and  handsome, 
bonny. 

SoRNER,  a  beggar  or  vaga- 
bond, who  extorts  money 
or  victuals  ttirough.  intim- 
idation. 

Sough,  a  sigh  ;  to  con  over, 
hum  a  tune. 

Spaed,  foretold;  spae- 
woMEN,  sorceresses,  for- 
tune-tellers. 

Sparge  nuces,  pueri, 
scatter  the  nuts,  boys. 

Speerings,  inquiries. 

Spreacherie,  or  sprech- 
ERT,  insignificant  move- 
ables, especially  such  as 
have  been  purloined  or 
gathered  in  a  raid. 

Spruce-beeu,    beer    made 


from  the  young  leaves  of 

the  spruce-iir. 
Spunk,  match,  torch. 
Stack,  an    insulated,   pre- 
cipitous rock. 
Staig,  a  young,  unbroken 

horse. 
Statira.    a    character    in 

Natlianiel    Lee's  tragedy, 

"  Rival  Queens." 
Stilts  (of  plow),  handles. 
Stock-fish,  dried   cod-fish 

and  ling. 
ST0T,a  steer, young  bullock. 
Stour,  stalwart,  stout  and 

strong. 
Stourburgh  may  be  inter- 
preted "  great  fort." 
Straik,  strike,  a  measure 

of    capacity,  about    two 

busliels. 
Strathnavern,    a     valley 

leading  southward    frjm 

the   coast   of  8utherla-"d- 

shire.       Montrose's     last 

fight  took  place  at  Inver- 

carron,  on  the  borders  of 

Ross-shire. 
Streek,   stretch,    measure 

one's  self  with. 
Striddle,  straddle. 
Stroma,  an  island    in  the 

Pentland    Firth,  north  of 

Scotland. 
SucKEN,     the    iurisdiction 

attaching  to  a  mill  under 

feudal  tenure. 
SrcK  TiiE  MONKEY,  to  driuk 

rum  or  other  liquor. 
Sui  JURIS,  in  possession  of 

full  legal  rights. 
SuMPH,  a  lubberly  fellow, 

blockhead. 
SuNE  or   SYNE,    sooner  or 

later. 

SUUM        CUIQUE      TRIBtTITO, 

give  every  one  his  due. 
SwABiE,    swartback,     the 

great  black-backed  gull. 
Swatter,  to  swim  quickly 

and  awkwardly. 
SwELCHiE,  whirlpool. 
SwoNA,  one  of  the  Orkney 

islands  in    the  Pentland 

Firth. 
Syne,  since. 
Stveb,    a    sewer,   covered 

drain. 

Tacksman,  au  intermediate 
tenant. 

Ta'en,  taken. 

Tait  of  woo',  a  tuft  or 
small  piece  of  wool. 

Tate,  N%hum,  poet  laure- 
ate and  dramatist,  died  in 
171.5. 

Templars,  law-students  of 
the  Temple. 

Terentiu.s  Varro,  Roman 
writer  on  agriculture,  of 
the  first  century  b.  c. 


Thairm,  catgut. 

Theft-boot,  tiush-money, 
receiving  stolen  goods 
from  a  thief  against 
pecuniary    consideration. 

"  Then,  by  the  hell  1 
merit,"  etc.  (p.  426;,  from 
Otvvay's  "  Venice  Pre- 
served," Act.  iv.  sc.  2. 

Thigger, a  common  beggar. 

Thirl,  the  obligation  on  a 
tenant  to  have  his  flour 
ground  at  a  certain  mill 
and  to  pay  dues  for  its 
maintenance. 

Thole,  endure,  stand. 

Thrawart,  perverse. 

"Thus  from  the  grave  " 
etc.  (p.  384),  from  Lee  s 
"  Rival  Queens,"  Act  iv. 

Till,  a  stiff  cold  clay. 

Timotheus,  an  ancient 
Greek  musician,  cele- 
brated from  the  innova- 
tions he  made  in  the  art  he 
practiced.  <S'(Se  rtfeo  Pope's 
"  Essay  on  Criticism." 

Tint,  lost;  tinte,  loss. 

TiRRACKE,  or  TARROCK,  the 

kittiwake  gull,  a  guille- 
mot. 

TiTTiE,  little  sister. 

Tocher-good,  dowry,  por- 
tion. 

Tollsell.  or  tollsby,  the 
place  where  merchants 
usually  assemble,  ex- 
change. 

TooM.  empty. 

Torsk,  dried  cod-fish. 

Tortuga.  an  island  in  the 
West  Indies,  off  the 
Venezuelan  coast. 

Tow,  rope. 

Town,  the  homestead,  farm- 
house and  it.s  buildings. 

Toy,  a  woman's  linen  or 
woolen  head-dress  hang- 
ing down  over  the 
shoulders. 

Trap,  to  understand,  to 
be  knowing,  wide-awake. 

Trinculo's  bottle.  See 
'  Tempest,"  Act  iv.,  sc.  1. 

Trinidado,  Trinidad  to- 
bacco. 

Triptolemus,  in  ancient 
Greek  mythology,  the 
inventor  of  the  plow  and 
of  agriculture. 

Trock,  or  truck,  to  barter, 
bargain. 

Trow,  or  trold,  a  monster, 
demon  of  the  mountains 
and  of  the  sea ;  in  this 
romance  a  fairy. 

Turf-Einar,  or  Torv- 
Einar,  an  illegitimate 
son  of  Earl  Rognvald  of 
Norway,  and  the  founder 
of  the  dynasty  of  the 
Earls  of  Orkney. 


GL0SSAE7. 


467 


TussER,  Thomas,  a  famoas 
sixteentli-ceutury  writer 
on  liusbaiiiiry. 

TWISCAR,         TU8HKAR,         Or 

TORVSKAR,  a  spade  for 
cutting  peats. 

UdAI.LER,     or      ODALLER,     a 

frecliold  proprietor. 
Ugsome.  frightful,  horrible. 
Ulzie,  oil. 
L  MQUHiLK,    the     late,   de- 

CfHseil. 
Uncanny,  dangerous,    not 

quite  pane. 
Unco,  strnnge,  particularly. 
Understand     trap.      See 

Trap,    uiuler.«tand. 
UNHALSf:D,  unhailed  or  un- 

sji  luted. 
Unico  contextu,  all  of  a 

piece. 
Ure,  the  eighth   part  of  a 

nierk  of  land  ig.  v.) 
Usquebaugh,  whisky. 

Vei^eda,  a  prophetess  of 
the  ancient  Germans, 
mentioned  in  Tacitus, 
"Germ.,"  cli.  viii. 

V^ELVET,  PUOPHESIRS  UPON, 

foretells  what  she  cer- 
tainly knows.  Compare 
the  racing  phrase  "  to 
stand  on  velvet,"  to  bet 
In  such  a  way  aa  to  win 
w'th  certainty. 

Ventis  surgentibus,  with 
rising  winds. 

ViFDA,  or  vivDA,  beef  dried 
without  salt. 

VuioN  07  MiBZA,  by  Addi- 


son, in  No.  159  of  Spec- 
tator. 

VivERs,  victuals. 

VoE,  an  inlet  of  the  sea, 
creek. 

VoLuspA,  voLUSP^,  strictly 
a  part  of  the  "  Poetic 
Kdiia  ":  in  this  romance 
incorrectly  used  for 
prophetess,  sybil. 

WadMAAL,       or         VADMEL, 

homespun  woolen  cloth. 
The  Norwegian  peasantrj' 
still  make  their  clothes  of 
it  at  the  jiresent  day. 

Waft,  or  weft,  the  cross 
thread  or  woof  of  a  weh. 

Wakerife,  wakeful, watch- 
ful. 

Wan  (water),  filthy,  darli- 
colored. 

Warlock,  wizard. 

Wa's,  walls. 

Water-d  r  a  g  o  n  8.  The 
ancient  Norsemen  loved 
to  call  their  vessels  "  The 
Dragon,"  "  Serpent,"  etc. 
King  Olaf  Tryugveson's 
ship,  one  of  the  wonders 
of  the  North  in  ship- 
building, was  called  "  The 
Long  Serpent." 

Wattle  an  assessment  for 
the  salary  of  the  fovvd 
(magistrate). 

Waur,  worse. 

Waw,  wave.  See  Note  45, 
p.  458. 

Wawls,  looks  wildly,  rolls 
(his)  eyes. 

Wkatheb-gaws,    the 


secondary    or     reflected 

rainbow. 

Weiud,  destiny,  fate. 

Wei  KINO,  fading,  di.'sp- 
peai  mg. 

Well,  a  whirlpool,  eddy, 
See   Note  45,  p.  458. 

Went  upon  the  account. 
See  Account,  went  upon 
the. 

Whf-en,  few. 

Whigamore,  Covenanting. 

Whiles,  at,  sometimes,  at 
times. 

Whinger,  laru'e  knife,  dirk. 

Whittie  whattieing. mut- 
tering,talking  frivolously. 

Whittle,  a  large  knife, 
usually  worn  at  Ihe  belt. 

WiioMLEi),  turned  over. 

Wick,  an  ojien  b:iy. 

Windlestraw.  bent  grass. 

"  With  roOiMY  deck,"  etc. 
(p.  375),  from  Dryden's 
"  Annus  Mirabilis. 

Wit's  Coffee-house,  in  St. 
James'  Street,  the  resort 
of  the  bluest  old  Tories  in 
Queen  Anne's  reign.  See- 
also  Rose  Tavern. 

Woo',  wool. 

Wowf,  crazy. 

Xebeck.  a  small  three- 
masted  vessel,  used  in  the 
Mediterranean. 

Yarn  windle,  a  yarn- 
winder. 

Yelloched,  yelled, 
shrieked. 

Yett,  a  gate. 


INDEX. 


Agriculture,  wrlterfe  on,  33 ;  at  time  of 

tale,  35 
Altaiiiont.     See  Bunce,  Jack 
"And  yon  t^liall  lieal  the  funeral  dole," 250 
Armada,  in  Zrtland,  225,  457 
"A  ihousand  winters  dark,"  206 
Author's  Introduction,  lii 
Avery,  the  pirate,  460 

Bartholin.  "  De  Causis  Cont.  a  Danie," 
quoted,  456 

"  Be  mine  the  imber-goose  to  play,"  234 

"  Be  patient,  be  patient,"  299 

BerserUars,  12,  445 

Bicker,  of  St.  Magnus,  310,  459  ;  of  Scarpa, 
379 

Bimbister,  Margery.  85 

Birds  of  prey,  in  Orkney,  351,  459 

Bittle.  56.  448 

Buccaiiiers,  life  of,  239.     See  also  Pirates 

Bunce,  Jack,  his  meeting  with  Cleveland, 
322  ;  is  told  of  hi?^  love  affair,  330  ;  ret^cues 
hmi,  342;  boards  Magnus  Troir.*  brig,  375 
writes  to   the  prov<rst  of   Kirkwall,  382 
recognizes  Claud  llakro,  383  ;  conversa 
tion  with  Cleveland,  410  ;  his  plot,  413 
carries  Cleveland's  letter  to  Minna,  416 
attempts  to  carry  off  Cleveland,  424 ;   in 
prison.  426  ;  his  fate,  460 

Burgh-Westra,  22,  122  ;  festivities  at,  119- 
257  ;  banquet,  1.34  ;  dance,  150  ;  maskers, 
160;  breakfast,  172;  whale-hnnt,  173; 
fortune-telling,  218;  departure  of  boats 
for  the  white-lishing,  229 

Carbuncle  on  Ward  Hill  of  Hoy,  203,  454 
Chamberlain,  Lord,  of  Zetland,  38 
"Cliami)ion,  famed  for  warlike  toil,"  269 
Chapman's  drouth,  62,  448 
Cleveland,  Clement,  saved  from  the  wreck, 
74  ;  in  the  Ranzelman's  cottaee,  85  ;  gives 
Mordaunthi-i  fowling  piece,  87  ;  his  foot- 
ing at   Bnrgli-\Ve:*tra,  124 ;  attentions   to 
Minna,  158;  res-cues  Mordaunt,  181;  buys 
Snailsfoofs  wares,   190;  his  fortune  told, 
224;  love-meeting  with  Minna,  231;  story 
of   his   life,   2.37;    serenades    Minna,  247; 
ominou*  interruption  249:    meeting  with 
Bunce,  322;  altercation    with   Snailsfoot, 
336;    arrested   and   rescued,   342;    chosen 
pirate   captain,   358;  negotiates  with   tl;e 
town-council,  360;  interview  with  Minna 
in  the  cathedral,  394;  set  free  by  Noma, 
400,  406;  reflections  on  his  situation,  410; 
at  the  Standing  Stones  of  Stennis,  422;  in 
prison,  426;  account  of  his  birth,  432;  his 
fate,  440 
Olinkscale,  Mies  Baby,  29 


Coffin  Key,  240,  457 

Coins,  antique,  in  Zetland,  313,  458 
Commissioners    of    Northern    Lighthouse 

Service,  iii 
Cormorant,  25,447 
Corn-mills  in  Zetland,  116,  449 

"  Dark  are  thy  words,"  206 

Derrick,  pirate  quiirteimaster,  3.')4,  363.  413 

Drowning  men,  reluctance  to  save,  76,  449 

Drows,  70, 449 

Dryden,  Ilalcro's  story  of,  130,  143;  quoted 

382 
Dwarfie  Stone.  202,  453 
"  Dwellers  of  the  mountain,  rise,"  204 

Earl's  Palace,  Kirlvwall,  321 
Edmonston,  "View  of   Zetland    Islands," 

quoted,  456 
Erickson,  Sweyn,  fisherman,  10 
Erskine,  W.,  of  Kinedder,  v 

"  Farewell,  farewell,  the  voice  you  hear  " 

248 
"  Farewell,  merry  maidens,"  230 
"  Farewell  to  Northmaven,"  132 
'•  Fathoms  deep  beneath  the  wave."  161 
Fea,  Euphaiie,  housekeeper,  200,  209,  219 
Fea,  James,  captures  pirate  Gow,  v 
Fey,  to  be,  47,  448 

Fishermen's  wives,  in  Zetland.  229,  456 
Fishery,  white,  of  Zetland,  229 
Fletcher,  i)irate,  376;  intimidated  by  Minna, 

389;  supports  Bunce.  413;  death  of.  427 
"  For  leagues  along  the  watery  way.'  199 
"Fortune's   Favorite,"   pirate   vessel,   327, 

375;  blown  up,  427 
Fortune-telling,  219 
Fowlers,  14;  accidents  to,  445 
Frawa  Stack,  281,  457 

Glossary,  461 

Glowrowrum,  Lady,  151,  418;  her  opinion 

of  the  Troils,  257,  353 
Goffe,  pirate  captain,  353;  lets  Triptolemus 

escape,  371 
"Gold  is  ruddy."  324 
Gow,  pirate,  v 
Gray's  "  Fatal  Sisters,"  446 
Green  Loch,  100 
Gutlirie,  Mr.  James,  31 

ITaagen,  old  soldier,  156,  .367 

Halcro,  Claud,  123;  his  story  of  the  tailor, 
130;  song  "Mary,"  1.32;  slorv  of  Dryden, 
143;  song,  "Harold  H.irrager,"  158; 
mediates  between  Cleveland  and  Mo-- 
daunt,    193;    frames    the    fortune-telling 


468 


INDEX. 


469 


rhymes,  219;  hie  fortune  told.  223;  meets 
Minna  in  diptresi?,  250;  in  the  hut,  309; 
recognized  by  huuce,  377;  quotes  Drydeu, 
382;  coo)  reception  of  hunce,  416 
"  Halcyon,"  fiigate,  364 
Harfra.     See  Stuurljurgh 
"  liarold  llarfager,"  song,  163 
Hawkins,  pirate  lioatswain,  354,  415 
Helyer  of  Swartaster,  231 
Hospitality  in  Zetland.  5,  134,  172 
Hoy,  Isle  of,  202,  351;  Hill  of,  202,  453 

Introduction,  Author's,  iii 
"  It  was  a  ship,"  379 

Jarlshof,  2 

"Jolly  Jlariner  of  Canton,"  141 

Kirkwall,   Earl's    Palace,  321;   fair,  326; 

magistrates,  361;  St.   Magnus   cathedral, 

394 
Kraken,  sea-monster,  15 

Laing,  Malcolm,  viii 
Lambmas  lads,  336,  459 
Law-ting,  201,  453 
Lindfay,  Lady  Ann,  457 
"  Love  wakes  and  weeps,"  247 
Luggie,  the  warlock,  310,  448 

MacRaws,  291,458 

Mainland  of  Zetland,  1 

"  Mark  me,  for  the  word  I  speak,"  300 

Marriage,  reflections  on,  137 

"  Mary,''  sons,  132 

Maskers,  at  Buigh-Westra,  160 

"  Menseful  maiden,  ne'er  should  rise,"  253 

Mertoun,  Basil,  3  ;  rents  Jarlshof,  6;  anger 
against  Swertha,  10  ;  questions  Mordaunt, 
65  ;  climbs  Suiuburgh  Head,  68  ;  aroused 
by  iMordaunt's  absence,  2)9  ;  his  relations 
with  Noma,  271  ;  last  interview  with  her, 
431  ;  offers  his  life  for  his  sou's,  437  ;  end 
of,  440 

Mertoun,  Mordaunt,  advises  Swertha,  12  ; 
his  education,  13  ;  relations  to  Minna  and 
Brenda,  22 ;  resolves  to  go  home,  24 ; 
forces  his  way  into  Stourburgh,  43 ; 
awakens  Swertha,  64  ;  questioned  by  his 
father,  65 ;  accompanies  his  father  up 
Sumburgh  Hend,  68 ;  rescues  Cleveland, 
74;  reproves  Swertha,  83;  visits  Cleve- 
land, 85;  hears  unwelcome  news,  93; 
warned  by  Noma,  101  ;  joins  the  Yellow, 
leys.  Ill  ;  cold  reception  at  BurLrh-Westra, 
121,  125;  explanations  from  Brenda,  163  ; 
rescued  by  Cleveland,  Ih'O;  dispute  as  to 
the  box,  191  ;  alarm  at  his  prolonged 
absence,  258  ;  Noma's  communication  to 
him,  346  ;  restored  to  favor  with  Magnus 
Troil,  417  ;  rescues  the  sister,^,  424  ;  story 
of  his  birth,  433;  marriage,  442 

Millie,  Beenie,  448 

Montrose,  in  Zetland,  156,  450 

"Mother  darksome,  mother  dread,  "221,  223, 
224,  226 

"  Mother,  sjieak,  and  do  not  tarry,"  227 

Monsa  Castle,  457 

NoRNA  of  Fitful  Head,  at  Stourburgh,  50  ; 
etillw  the  tempest,  .57  ;  at  the  wreck,  78  ; 
warns    Mordaunt,    101  :   in    the    sisters' 


chamber,  198 ;  her  tale,  201  ;  tells  for- 
tunes, 219 ;  song  in  St.  Hingan's,  209  ; 
interview  with  Mertoun,  271  ;  Magnus 
Troll's  account  of  her,  279;  her  abode, 
284 ;  visited  by  the  Trolls,  290  ;  her 
spell  over  Minna,  294;  throws  out  the 
provisions,  303  ;  claims  Mordaunt  as  her 
son,  3-J6  ;  separates  Minna  and  Cleveland, 
396;  helps  c:ieveland  to  escape,  400;  inter- 
view wuli  Mertoun,  431  ;  last  days  of, 
441  ;  her  spells,  458  ;  Author  on,  459,  vi 
Norse  fragments,  15,  445 ;  Norse  rovers, 
143,  153 

Odin,  promise  of,  240,  456,  460 
Olaus  Magnus,  his  book,  306  ;  quoted,  450 
"  Oranuis  "  to  St.  Honald,  62,  446 
Orkney,  grouse  in,  326,  458;  birds  of  prey, 
351,  459 

Pacolet.    See  Strumpfer,  Nick 

Peghts,  or  Hicts,  446 

Pictish  buigh,  2S4,  457 

"  Pirate,''  the  novel,  iii 

Pirate,  the.    See  Cleveland,  Clement 

Pirates,   flag  of,  327,  428  ;  council  of,  355, 

capture  ol,  430 
Plantie  cruive,  8,  445 
Ponies,  Zetland,  113 
"  Poor  sinners  whom  the  snake  deceives." 

336 
Provost  of  Kirkwall.    See  Torfe,  Provost 
Punch-bowl,  ISIagnus  Troll's,  141 

Ranzelman.    See  Ronaldson,  Neil 
"  Robin  Rover  said  to  his  crew,"  343 
Ronaldson,    Neil,     11,    80;    gossips    with 

Swertha,   108;    interview  with  Mertoun. 

262 

Sagas,  Norse.  15,  445 

St.  Magnus  cathedral,  Kirkwall,  .394 

"St  Magi  us  control  thee,"  251 

St.  Ninian's,  ruins  of.  2ti6 

St.  Olla's  fair,  Kirkwall,  326,  336,  459 

Scanibester,  Eric,  his  punch,  141 ;  at  the 
whale-hunt,  182 

Scart,  or  cormorant,  25,  447 

Scholey,  Laurence,  306 

Sea-monsters,  15,  447 

Shetland.     See  Zetland 

"She  who  sits  by  haunted  well,"  297.  298 

Snailsfoot,  Bryce,  at  Stourburgh,  50;  re. 
fuses  help  to  the  half-drowned  man,  76' 
gives  Mordaunt  news  of  Burtrh-Westra 
94  ;  carries  news  to  Burgll-^Ve^tra,  184  ' 
sells  his  wares  there,  189  ;  at  Kirkwall 
fair,  3.36  ;  beaten  by  Cleveland,  341 

"  Song  of  Harold  Harfager,"  ].")3 

"  Song  of  the  Reim-kennar,"  57 

Stennis,  Standing  Stones  of.  406,  400 

"  Stern  eagle  of  the  f.ir  northwest,"  57 

Stewart,  Patrick,  Earl  of  Orkney,  11 

Stourburgh,  or  Harfra,  26,  28,  39 

Strumpfer,  Nick,  the  dwarf,  279,  287; 
carries  the  letter  to  the  fisherman's  hut, 
317 

Sumburgh  Head,  1;  the  roost  of,  1,  71; 
Hrick's  Steps  on,  74 

Superstitions  of  Zetlanders,  15 

Swarta^ter,  helyer  of,  231 

Swertha,    the    housekeeper,    10 ;   acte  oo 


4?0 


INDEX. 


Ifordannt's  wlvlce,  12 ;  awakened  by 
him,  C4 ;  goes  down  lo  the  wrecks,  80 ; 
duic'iids  herself,  82 ;  gosr^ips  with  the 
Kaiizeiinaii,  108 ;  anxiety  about  Mor- 
daiim,  258;  iustructious  to  the  Raiizel- 
maii,  201 
bwoid-dunce,  157,  450 

"  The  infant  loves  the  rattle's  noiee,"  223 

"The  sun  is  rising  dimly  red,"  153 

*■  The  thought  of  the  aged,"  221 

Thimblethwaite,  Tim,  Hiilcro's  story  of, 
130 

"  Thou  so  needful,  yet  so  dread,"  295 

"  Thou  that  over  billows  dark,"  290 

Torfteus.  "  Oicades,"  cited,  457 

Torfi',  I'rovost,  of  Kirkwall,  362 ;  selects 
Triptolemus  as  hostage,  368 ;  receives 
Minna  and  Brenda,  391,  39M  ;  interview 
witli  Captain  Weatheiport,  436 

Troil,  Brenda,  18  ;  cool  reception  of  Mor- 
daunt,  124  ;  seeks  an  explanation  with 
him,  162  ;  her  relations  wlih  Minna,  196  ; 
night-visit  hy  Noma  to  her,  198;  talk 
with  Minna,  x;09:  her  fortune  told,  226; 
visit  to  Noma's  abode,  284  ;  in  the  fisher- 
man's hut,  314  ;  in  the  pirates'  hands, 
376;  sent  ashore;  387;  persuades  Mor- 
daunt  to  let  herself  and  Minna  pass,  420  ; 
her  marriage,  442 

Troil,  Erland.  201 

Troil,  Magnus,  3,  5  ;  welcomes  his  guests, 
120  ;  coldness  to  Mordaiint,  121  ;  scirn  of 
Triptolemus'  improvements,  144  ;  at  the 
whale- hunt.  175  ;  his  fori  line  told,  221  ; 
journeys  to  Noma's  abode  216 ;  hie 
account  of  her,  278  ;  at  her  home,  290 ; 
finds  shelter  in  ihe  hut,  309;  boarded  by 
the  pirates,  375  ;  set  at  liberty.  407  ;  takes 
Mordaunt  into  favor  again,  417 

Troil,  Minna,  16 ;  cold  reception  of  Mor- 
daunt, 124  ;  attentions  from  Cleveland, 
158  ;  relations  with  Brend".  196  ;  night- 
visit  from  Noma,  198;  tall  ..ith  Brenda, 
209  ;  her  fortune  told,  ~27  ;  meeting  with 
Cleveland,  2;jl  ;  promises  him  the  troth  of 
Odin,  238  ;  serenaded,  247  ;  alarmed,  249  ; 
blood  discovered  on  her  uet,  253;  her 
peculiar  state,  274;  under  Noma's  spell, 
294;  in  Ihe  fisherman's  hut,  <jl7;  in  the 
pirates'  hands,  375  ;  takes  the  pistol,  386  ; 
Bent  ashore, 387  ;  visits  Cleveland  in  the 
catliedral,  394  ;  at  Stennis,  421;  her  high 
resignation,  443 


Troil,  Rolfe,  201 

'J'rold,  205.    tiee  cUsc  Trows 
Tronda,  Yellowley's  servant, 80 
Trows,  or  Lirows,  loa,  449 
Tusser,  36,  447 

Utjai.lers  of  Zetland,  7,  446 
"  L'ntouth'd  by  love,"  2a6,  227 
Urry,  Sir  John,  156,  450 

Vauguan.    <S(?e  Mertoun,  Basil 
Vikings,  ancient,  143,  153 

Wallace,  "  Description  of  Islands  of  Ork 

ney,"  quoted,  454 
Ward  Hill  of  Hoy,  202,  454 
Weatherport,  Caplain,  436 
Wells  and  waves,  405,  460 
Whale-hunt,   173 ;    w  haling  customs,    221, 

456 
Wild-fowl,  25  ;  catching  of,  14 
Winds,    N<'ina'8    invocations    to,  57,   296: 

sale  of,  70.  44,s 
Wreck,  in  ilie  roost,  71;  Zetlanders'  ideas 

regarding,  81,  449 

Yellowlet,  Barbara,  32  ;  her  parsimony, 
37,  41  ;  takes  Noma's  coin,  60:  goes  to 
Burgh-Weslra.  Ill;  welcomed  liy  Mugnus 
Troil,  121  ;  at  Biirgh-Westra,  135  ;  at  the 
whale-hunt,  174 

Yellow  ley,  Jasper,  29 

Y''e]lowley,  Triptolemus,  birth  of,  .^0 ; 
educalion,  33;  sell  led  in  Zethind,  38; 
inhospitality  of,  41;  personal  appearance, 
45  ;  astonished  by  Noma,  60  ;  his  ideas 
of  agricultural  reform.  115;  thrown  by 
the  pony.  117;  welcomed  by  Magnus 
Troil,  1:21  ;  his  improvements,  144  ;  made 
to  sing,  170;  at  the  whale-hunt,  174;  in 
the  fisherman's  hut,  309:  discovery  of  the 
treasure,  312;  selected  as  hostage,  368 ; 
escapes,  371;   last  days  of,  442 

Zetland,  Mainland  of,  1  ;  hospitality,  5. 
134,  172  ;  tempest  in,  27  ;  administration 
of,  38.  453  ;  Green  Loch  in,  100;  ponies, 
113;  corn-mills,  116,  449;  Armada  in, 
225,  456 ;  fishermen's  wives,  229,  456 ; 
white-fishery,  229 ;  Pictish  burgh,  284, 
457  ;  coins  found  in,  313,  459  ;  wells  and 
waves  of,  405,  460 


IXTRODUCTION  TO  THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL 

But  why  should  lordlings  all  our  praise  engross  ? 
Rise,  honest  muse,  and  sing  the  Man  of  Ross. 

Pope. 

Haying,  in  the  tale  of  the  Heart  of  Midlotldan,  succeeded  in 
B0JI3  degree  in  awakening  an  interest  in  behalf  of  one  devoid 
of  those  accomplishments  which  belong  to  a  heroine  almost 
by  right,  I  was  next  tempted  to  choose  a  hero  upon  the  same 
unpromising  plan  ;  and  as  worth  of  character,  goodness  of 
heart,  and  rectitude  of  principle  were  necessary  to  one  who 
laid  no  claim  to  high  birth,  romantic  sensibility,  or  any  of  the 
usual  accomplishments  of  those  who  strut  through  the  pages 
of  this  sort  of  composition,  I  made  free  with  the  name  of  a 
person  who  has  left  the  most  magnificent  proofs  of  his  be- 
nevolence and  charity  that  the  capital  of  Scotland  has  to  dis- 
play. 

To  the  Scottish  reader  little  more  need  be  said  than  that 
the  man  alluded  to  is  George  Heriot.  But  for  those  south 
of  the  Tweed  it  may  be  necessary  to  add,  that  the  person  so 
named  was  a  wealthy  citizen  of  Edinburgh,  and  the  king's 
goldsmith,  who  followed  James  to  the  English  capital,  and 
was  so  successful  in  his  profession  as  to  die,  in  1624,  ex- 
tremely wealthy  for  that  period.  He  had  no  children  :  and 
after  making  a  full  provision  for  such  relations  as  might 
have  claims  upon  him,  he  left  the  residue  of  his  fortune  to 
establish  an  hospital,  in  which  the  sons  of  Edinburgh  free- 
me:i  are  gratuitously  brought  up  and  educated  for  the  station 
to  which  their  talents  may  recommend  them,  and  are  finally 
enabled  to  enter  life  under  respectable  auspices.  The  hos- 
pital* in  which  this  charity  is  maintained  is  a  noble  quad- 
rangle of  the  Gothic  order,  and  as  ornamental  to  the  city  as 
a  building  as  the  manner  in  which  the  youths  are  provided 
for  and  educated  renders  it  useful  to  the  community  as  an 
institution.  To  the  honor  of  those  who  have  the  manage- 
ment (the  magistrates  and  clergy  of  Edinburgli),  the  funds 
of  the  hospital  have  increased  so  much  under  their  care  that 
it  now  supports  and  educates  one  hundred  and  thirty  youths 
annually,  many  of  whcm  have  done  honor  to  their  country 
in  different  situations. 

♦  See  George  Heriot'a  Hospital.    Note  J 


viii  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

The  founder  of  such  a  cliarity  as  this  may  be  reasonably 
supposed  to  have  walked  through  life  with  a  steady  pace  and 
an  observant  eye,  neglecting  no  opportunity  of  assisting 
those  who  were  not  possessed  of  the  experience  necessary  for 
their  own  guidance.  In  supposing  his  efforts  directed  to  the 
benefit  of  a  young  nobleman,  misguided  by  the  aristocratic 
haughtiness  of  his  own  time,  and  the  prevailing  tone  of  self- 
ish luxury  which  seems  more  peculiar  to  ours,  as  well  as  the 
seductions  of  pleasure  which  are  predominant  in  all,  some 
amusement,  or  even  some  advantage,  might,  I  thought,  be 
derived  from  the  manner  in  which  I  might  bring  the  exer- 
tions of  this  civic  mentor  to  bear  in  his  pupil's  behalf.  I  am, 
I  own,  no  great  believer  in  the  moral  utility  to  be  derived 
from  fictitious  compositions  ;  yet,  if  in  any  case  a  word 
spoken  in  season  may  be  of  advantage  to  a  young  person,  it 
must  surely  be  when  it  calls  upon  him  to  attend  to  the  voice  of 
principle  and  self-denial,  instead  of  that  of  precipitate  pas- 
sion. I  could  not,  indeed,  hope  or  expect  to  represent  my 
prudent  and  benevolent  citizen  in  a  point  of  view  so  interest- 
ing as  that  of  the  peasant  girl,  who  nobly  sacrificed  her  fam- 
ily affections  to  the  integrity  of  her  moral  character.  Still, 
however,  something  I  hoped  might  be  done  not  altogether 
unworthy  the  fame  which  George  Heriot  has  secured  by  the 
lasting  benefits  he  has  bestowed  on  his  country. 

It  appeared  likely  that,  out  of  this  simple  plot,  I  might 
weave  something  attractive  ;  because  the  reign  of  James  I,, 
in  which  George  Heriot  flourished,  gave  unbounded  scope  to 
invention  in  the  fable,  while  at  the  same  time  it  afforded 
greater  variety  and  discrimination  of  character  than  could, 
with  historical  consistency,  have  been  introduced,  if  the 
scene  had  been  laid  a  century  earlier.  Lady  Mary  Wortley 
Montagu  has  said,  with  equal  truth  and  taste,  that  the  most 
romantic  region  of  every  country  is  that  where  the  moun- 
tains unite  themselves  with  the  plains  and  lowlands.  For 
similar  reasons,  it  may  be  in  like  manner  said  that  the  most 
picturesque  period  of  history  is  that  when  the  ancient  rough 
and  wild  manners  of  a  barbarous  age  are  just  becoming  inno- 
vated upon  and  contrasted  by  the  illumination  of  increased 
or  revived  learning  and  the  instructions  of  renewed  or 
reformed  religion.  The  strong  contrast  produced  by  the  oppo- 
sition of  ancient  manners  to  those  which  are  gradually  sub- 
duing tliem  affords  the  lights  and  shadows  necessary  to  give 
effect  to  a  fictitious  narrative  ;  and  while  such  a  period 
entitles  the  author  to  introduce  incidents  of  a  marvellous 
and  improbable  character,  as  arising  out  of  the  turbulent 


INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIOEL        ix 

independence  and  ferocity,  belonging  to  old  habits  of  vio- 
lence, still  influencing  the  manners  of  a  people  who  had  been 
so  lately  in  a  barbarous  state  ;  yet,  on  the  other  hand,  the 
characters  and  sentiments  of  many  of  the  actors  may,  with 
the  utmost  probability,  be  described  with  great  variety  of 
shading  and  delineation,  which  belongs  to  the  newer  and 
more  improved  period,  of  which  the  world  has  but  lately 
received  the  light. 

The  reign  of  James  I.  of  England  possessed  this  advan- 
tage in  a  iKU'uliar  degree.  Some  beams  of  chivalry,  although 
its  planet  had  been  for  some  time  set,  continued  to  animate 
and  gild  the  horizon,  and  although  probably  no  one  acted 
precisely  on  its  Quixotic  dictates,  men  and  women  still  talked 
the  chivalrous  language  of  Sir  Philip  Sidney's  ^Ircr^rf/^;  and 
the  ceremonial  of  the  tilt-yard  was  yet  exhibited,  tnough  it 
now  only  flourished  as  n.  jilace  de  carrousel.  Here  and  there 
a  high-spirited  Knight  of  the  Bath  (witness  the  too  scrupu- 
lous Lord  Herbert  of  Cherbury)  was  found  devoted  enough 
to  the  vows  he  had  taken  to  imagine  himself  obliged  to  com- 
pel, by  the  sword's  point,  a  fellow-knight  or  squire  to  restore 
the  top-knot  of  ribbon  which  he  had  stolen  from  a  fair  dam- 
sel ;*  but  yet,  while  men  were  taking  each  other^s  lives  on 
such  punctilios  of  honor,  the  hour  was  already  arrived  when 
Bacon  was  about  to  teach  the  world  that  they  were  no  longer 
to  reason  from  authority  to  fact,  but  to  establish  truth  by 
advancing  from  fact  to  fact,  till  they  fixed  an  indisputable 
authority,  not  from  hypothesis,  but  from  experiment. 

The  state  of  society  in  the  reign  of  James  I.  was  also 
strangely  disturbed,  and  the  license  of  a  part  of  the  commu- 
nity was  perpetually  giving  rise  to  acts  of  blood  and  violence. 
The  bravo  of  the  Queen's  day, of  whom  Shakespeare  has  given 
us  so  many  varieties,  as  Bardolph,  ISTym,  Pistol,  Peto,  and 
the  other  companions  of  Falstatf,  men  who  had  their  humors 
or  their  particular  turn  of  extravaganza,  had,  since  the  com- 
mencement of  the  Low  Country  wars,  given  way  to  a  race  of 
sworders,  who  used  the  rapier  and  dagger  instead  of  the  far 
less  dangerous  sword  and  buckler  ;  so  that  a  historian  says 
on  this  subject — 

That  private  quarrels  were  nourished,  but  especially  between  the 
Scots  and  the  English,  and  duels  in  every  street  maintained;  divers 
sects  and  particular  titles  passed  unpunished  nor  refj;arded,  as  the 
sect  of  the  roaring  boys,  bonaventors,  bravadors,  quarterurs,  and 
such-like,  beingpersons  prodigal  and  of  great  expense,  wlien,liaving 
run  themselves  into  debt,  were  constrained  to  run  into  factions,  to 
♦See  Lord  Herbert  of  Cherbury's  Memoirs, 


X  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

defend  themselves  from  danger  of  the  law.  These  received  main- 
tenance from  divers  of  the  nobility  ,  .  .  and  tlie  citizens  through 
lasoiviousness  consuaiing  their  estates,  it  was  like  that  their  num- 
ber [of  these  desperadoes]  would  rather  increase  than  diminish  ;  and 
under  these  pretences  they  entered  into  many  desperate  enterprises, 
and  scarce  any  durst  walk  the  streets  after  nine  at  night. 

The  same  authority  assures  us  farther  that — 
Ancient  gentlemen,  that  had  left  their  inheritance  whole  and 
well  furnished  with  gooils  and  chattels  (having  thereupon  kept  good 
houses)  unto  their  sons,  lived  to  see  part  consumed  in  riot  and  excess 
and  the  rest  in  possibility  to  be  utterly  lost ;  the  holy  state  of  matri- 
3nony  made  but  a  May-game,  by  which  means  divers  private  fami- 
lies have  been  subverted,  brothel  houses  much  frequented,  and 
even  great  persons  prostituting  their  bodies  to  tlie  intent  to  satisfy 
their  lusts,  and  consume  their  substance  in  lascivious  appetites. 
And  of  all  sorts,  such  knights  or  gentU  men,  as  either  through  pride 
or  prodigality  had  consumed  their  substance,  repairing  to  the  city, 
and  to  the  intent  to  consume  their  virtues  also,  lived  dissolute  lives; 
and  many  of  their  ladies  and  daughters,  to  the  intent  to  maintain 
themselves  according  to  their  dignity,  prostitute  their  bodies  in 
shameful  manner  ;  ale-houses,  dicing-houses,  taverns,  and  places  of 
vice  and  iniquity  beyond  measure  abounding  in  most  places.* 

Nor  is  it  only  in  the  pages  of  a  Puritanical,  perhaps  a 
satirical,  writer  that  we  find  so  shocking  and  disgusting  a 
picture  of  the  coarseness  of  the  beginning  of  the  17th  cen- 
tury. On  the  contrary,  in  all  the  comedies  of  the  age,  the 
Erincipal  character  for  gayety  and  wit  is  a  young  heir  who 
as  totally  altered  the  establishment  of  the  father  to  whom 
he  has  succeeded,  and,  to  use  the  old  simile,  who  resembles 
a  fountain  which  plays  off  in  idleness  and  extravagance  the 
wealth  which  its  careful  parents  painfully  had  assembled  in 
hidden  reservoirs. 

And  yet,  while  that  spirit  of  general  extravagance  seemed 
at  work  over  a  whole  kingdom,  another  and  very  different 
sort  of  men  were  gradually  forming  the  staid  and  resolved 
characters  which  afterwards  displayed  themselves  during  the 
civil  wars,  and  powerfully  regulated  and  affected  the  char- 
acter of  the  whole  English  nation,  until,  rushing  from  one 
extreme  to  another,  they  sunk  in  a  gloomy  fanaticism  the 
splendid  traces  of  the  reviving  fine  arts. 

From  the  quotations  which  I  have  produced,  the  selfish 
and  disgusting  conduct  of  Lord  Dalgarno  will  not  perhaps 
appear  overstrained;  nor  will  the  scenes  in  Whitefriars  and 
places  of  similar  resort  seem  too  highly  colored.  This  in- 
deed is  far  from  being  the  case.  It  was  in  James  I.'s  reign 
that  vice  first  appeared  affecting  the  better  classes  in  its  gross 

*  Narrative  History  of  the  First  Fourteen  Years  of  King  James's  Reign,  in 
Somers's  Tracts,  edited  by  Scott,  vol.  ii.,  p.  266, 


INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL       » 

and  undisguised  depravity.  The  entertainments  and  amuse- 
ments of  Elizabeth's  time  had  an  air  of  that  decent  restraint 
which  became  the  court  of  a  maiden  sovereign;  and  in  that 
earlier  period,  to  use  the  words  of  Burke,  vice  lost  half  its 
evil  by  being  deprived  of  all  its  grossness.  In  James's  reign, 
on  the  contrary,  the  coarsest  pleasures  were  publicly  and 
unlimitedly  indulged,  since,  according  to  Sir  John  Harring- 
ton, the  men  wallowed  in  beastly  delights;  and  even  ladies 
abandoned  their  delicacy  and  rolled  about  in  intoxication. 
After  a  ludicrous  account  of  a  mask,  in  Avhicli  the  actors 
had  got  drunk  and  behaved  themselves  accordingly,  he  adds: 
*'  I  have  much  marvelled  at  these  strange  pageantries,  and 
they  do  bring  to  my  remembrance  what  passed  of  this  sort  in 
our  Queen's  days,  of  which  I  was  sometime  an  humble  pre- 
senter and  assistant;  but  I  never  did  see  sucli  lack  of  good 
order,  discretion,  and  sobriety  as  I  have  now  done. 
The  gunpowder  fright  is  got  out  of  all  our  heads,  and  we  are 
going  on  hereabouts  as  if  the  devil  was  contriving  ever}^  man 
ghould  blow  up  himself  by  wild  riot,  excess,  and  devastation 
of  time  and  temperance.  The  great  ladies  do  go  well 
masked;  and,  indeed,  it  be  the  only  show  of  their  modesty 
to  conceal  their  countenance;  but  alack,  tliey  meet  with  such 
countenance  to  uphold  their  strange  doings,  that  I  marvel 
not  at  aught  that  happens."  * 

Such  being  the  state  of  the  court,  coarse  sensuality 
brought  along  with  it  its  ordinary  companion,  a  brutal 
degree  of  undisguised  selfishness,  destructive  alike  of  philan- 
thropy and  good  breeding;  both  of  which,  in  their  several 
spheres,  depend  upon  the  regard  paid  by  each  individual  to 
the  interest  as  well  as  the  feelings  of  others.  It  is  in  such  a 
time  that  the  heartless  and  shameless  man  of  wealth  and 
power  may,  like  the  supposed  Lord  Dalgarno,  brazen  out  the 
^hame  of  his  villanies,  and  affect  to  triumph  in  their  conse- 
quences, so  long  as  they  were  personally  advantageous  to  his 
own  pleasures  or  profit. 

Alsatia  is  elsewhere  explained  as  a  cant  name  for  AYliite- 
friars,  which,  possessing  certain  privileges  of  sanctuary, 
became  for  that  reason  a  nest  of  those  mischievous  characters 
who  were  generally  obnoxious  to  the  law.  These  privileges 
were  derived  from  its  having  been  an  establishment  of  the 
Carmelites,  or  White  Friars,  founded,  says  Stow,  in  his 
Survey  of  London,  by  Sir  Richard  Grey,  in  i2-41.  Edward  I. 
gave  them  a  plot  of  ground  in  Fleet  Street,  to  build  their 
church  upon.     The   edifice,   then   erected,  was   rebuilt   by 

♦  See  Debauchery  of  the  Period.    Note  2. 


xii  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

Courtney^  Eari  of  Devonshire,  in  tlie  reign  of  Edward  III, 
In  the  time  of  the  lieformation  the  place  retained  its  immu- 
nities as  a  sanctuary,  and  James  I.  confirmed  and  added  to 
them  by  a  charter  in  1G08.  Shadwell  was  the  first  author 
who  made  some  literary  use  of  Whitefriars,  in  his  play  of  the 
Squire  of  Alsatia,  which  turns  upon  the  plot  of  the  AdelpM 
of  Terence. 

In  this  old  play,  two  men  of  fortune,  brothers,  educate 
two  young  men,  sons  to  the  one  and  nephews  to  the  other, 
each  under  his  own  separate  system  of  rigor  and  indulgence. 
The  elder  of  the  subjects  of  this  experiment,  who  has  been 
very  rigidly  brought  up,  falls  at  once  into  all  the  vices  of  the 
town,  is  debauched  by  the  cheats  and  bullies  of  Whitefriars, 
and,  in  a.  word,  becomes  the  Squire  of  Alsatia.  The  poet 
gives,  as  the  natural  and  congenial  inhabitants  of  the  place, 
such  characters  as  the  reader  will  find  in  Note  3  (p.  440).* 
The  play,  as  we  learn  from  the  dedication  to  the  Earl  of 
Dorset  and  Middlesex,  was  successful  above  the  author's 
expectations,  "  no  comedy  for  these  many  years  having  filled 
the  theatre  so  long  together.  And  I  had  the  great  honor," 
continues  Shadwell,"  to  find  so  many  friends,  that  the  house 
was  never  so  full  since  it  was  built  as  upon  the  third  day  of 
this  play,  and  vast  numbers  went  away  that  could  not  be  ad- 
mitted." f  From  the  Squire  of  Alsatia  the  Author  derived 
some  few  hints,  and  learned  the  footing  on  which  the  bullies 
and  thieves  of  the  sanctuary  stood  with  their  neighbors,  the 
fiery  young  students  of  the  Temple,  of  which  some  intima- 
tion is  given  in  the  dramatic  piece. 

Such  are  the  materials  to  which  the  Author  stands 
indebted  for  the  composition  of  the  Fortunes  of  Nigel,  a 
novel  which  may  be  perhaps  one  of  those  that  are  more  amus- 
ing on  a  second  perusal  than  when  read  a  first  time  for  the 
sake  of  the  story,  the  incidents  of  which  are  few  and  meagre. 

The  Introductory  Epistle  is  written,  in  Lucio's  phrase, 
"  according  to  the  trick,"  and  would  never  have  appeared 
had  the  writer  meditated  making  his  avowal  of  the  work.t 
As  it  is  the  privilege  of  a  mask  or  incognito  to  speak  in  a 
feigned  voice  and  assumed  .character,  the  Author  attempted, 
while  in  disguise,  some  liberties  of  the  same  sort;  and  while 
he  continues  to  plead  upon  the  various  excuses  which  the 
Introduction  contains,  the  present  acknowledgment  must 
serve  as  an  apology  foi-  a  species  of  "  hoity  toity,  whisky 

*  See  Alsatian  Characters.    Note  3. 

t  Dedicaiion  to  the.  Squire  of  Alsatia,  ShadweH's  Works,  vol.  iv. 

j  See  Lockharfs  Life,  vol.  vi.,  p.  407,  and  vol.  vii.,  p.  26. 


INTRODUCTION  TO   TEE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL     xiU 

frisky  "  pertness  of  manner,  which,  in  his  avowed  character, 
the  Author  should  have  considered  as  a  departure  from  the 
rules  of  civility  and  good  taste. 

Abbotsford,  1st  July,  1831. 


INTRODUCTORY  EPISTLE. 
CAPTAIN  CLUTTERBUCK 

TO 

THE  REVEREND  DR.  DRYASDUST. 

Dear  Sir, 

I  readily  accept  of,  and  reply  to,  the  civilities  with  which 
you  have  been  pleased  to  honor  rae  in  your  obliging  letter, 
and  entirely  agree  with  your  quotation,  of  "  Quam  bonum 
et  quam  jucundum  ! ''''  We  may  indeed  esteem  ourselves  as 
come  of  the  same  family  or,  according  to  our  country 
proverb,  as  being  all  one  man's  bairns  ;  and  there  needed  no 
apology  on  your  part,  reverend  and  dear  sir,  for  demanding 
of  me  any  information  which  I  may  be  able  to  supply  re- 
specting the  subject  of  your  curiosity.  The  interview  which 
you  allude  to  took  place  in  the  course  of  last  winter,  and  is 
so  deeply  imprinted  in  my  recollection  that  it  requires  no 
effort  to  collect  all  its  most  minute  details. 

You  are  aware  that  the  share  which  I  had  in  introducing 
the  romance  called  The  Monastery  to  public  notice  has  given 
me  a  sort  of  character  in  the  literature  of  our  Scottish 
metropolis.  I  no  longer  stand  in  the  outer  shop  of  our 
bibliopolists,  bargaining  for  the  objects  of  my  curiosity  with 
an  unrespective  shop-lad,  hustled  among  boys  who  come  to 
buy  Corderies  *  and  copy-books,  and  servant-girls  cheapen- 
ing a  pennyworth  of  paper,  but  am  cordially  welcomed  by 
the  bibliopolist  himself,  with,  "  Pray,  walk  into  the  back 
shop,  captain.  Boy,  get  a  chair  for  Captain  Clutterbuck. 
There  is  the  newspaper,  captain — to-day's  paper  ;  "  or,  "  Here 
is  the  last  new  work  ;  tliere  is  a  folder,  make  free  with  the 
'eaves  ; "  or,  "  Put  it  in  your  pocket  and  carry  it  home  ;  "  or, 

•One  of  the  most  common  school-books  of  the  last  century— CoWo^wtorum  Ce»i- 
Iwria  iSelecia  Maturini  Corderii  (Laing). 


xiy  WAVE  RLE  Y  NOVELS 

""We  will  Muke  a  bookseller  of  yoU;,sir,You  shall  have  it  at  tradb 
price.''  O'",  perhaps,  if  it  is  the  wortJiy  trader's  own  publica- 
tion, his  liberality  may  even  extend  itself  to — "  Never  mind 
booking  such  a  trifle  to  you,  sir  ;  it  is  an  over-copy.  Pray, 
mention  the  work  to  your  reading  friends."  I  say  nothing  of 
the  snug,  well-selected  literary  party  arranged  around  a  tur- 
bot,  leg  of  five-year-old  mutton,  or  some  such  gear,  or  of  the 
circulation  of  a  quiet  bottle  of  Robert  Cockburn's  *  choi- 
cest black — nay,  perhaps  of  his  best  blue — to  quicken  our 
talk  about  old  books,  or  our  plans  for  new  ones.  All  these 
are  comforts  reserved  to  such  as  are  freemen  of  the  corpora- 
tion of  letters,  and  I  have  the  advantage  of  enjoying  then\ 
in  perfection. 

But  all  things  change  under  the  sun  ;  and  it  is  with  no 
ordinary  feelings  of  regret  that,  in  my  annual  visits  to  the 
metropolis,  I  now  miss  the  social  and  warm-hearted  welcome 
of  the  quick-witted  and  kindly  friend  f  who  first  introduced 
me  to  the  public,  who  had  more  original  wit  than  would 
have  set  up  a  dozen  of  j)rof essed  sayers  of  good  things,  and 
more  racy  humor  than  would  have  made  the  fortune  of  as 
many  more.  To  this  great  deprivation  has  been  added,  I 
trust  for  a  time  only,  the  loss  of  another  bibliopolical  friend,;!^ 
whose  vigorous  intellect  and  liberal  ideas  have  not  only  ren- 
dered his  native  country  the  mart  of  her  own  literature,  but 
established  there  a  court  of  letters,  which  must  command 
respect,  even  from  those  most  inclined  to  dissent  from  many 
of  its  canons.  The  effect  of  these  clianges,  operated  in  a 
great  measure  by  the  strong  sense  and  sagacious  calculations 
of  an  individual  who  knew  how  to  avail  himself,  to  an  un- 
hoped-for extent,  of  the  various  kinds  of  talent  which  his 
country  produced,  will  probably  appear  more  clearly  tc  the 
generation  which  shall  follow  the  present. 

I  entered  the  shop  at  the  Cross,  to  inquire  after  the  health 
of  my  worthy  friend,  and  learned  with  satisfaction  that  his 
residence  in  the  south  had  abated  the  rigor  of  the  symptoms 
of  his  disorder.  Availing  myself,  then,  of  the  privileges  to 
which  I  have  alluded,  I  strolled  onward  in  that  labyrinth  of 
small  dark  rooms  or  crypts,  to  speak  our  own  antiquarian 
language,  which  form  the  extensive  back-settlements  of  that 
celebrated  publishing-house.  Yet,  as  I  proceeded  from  one 
obscure  recess  to  another,  filled,  some  of  them  with  old  vol- 

*  Late  wine-merchant  in  Edinburgh  (Jjaing). 

+  Sir.  John  Ballantyne,  bookseller  (Lanig).    See  Bride  of  Lammermoor,  Note  3 
p.  816. 

i  Mr.  Archibald  Constable  {Laing). 


INTUODUCTION  TO  THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL       xv 

unies,  some  willi  such  as,  from  the  equality  of  their  rank  on 
the  slielves,  I  suspected  to  he  the  less  salable  modern  books 
of  the  concern,  I  could  not  help  feeling  a  holy  horror  creep 
upon  me,  when  I  thought  of  the  risk  of  intruding  on  some 
estatic  bard  giving  vent  to  his  poetical  fury;  or,  it  might  be, 
on  the  yet  more  formidable  j^rivacy  of  a  band  of  critics,  in 
the  act  of  worrying  the  game  which  they  had  just  run  down. 
In  such  a  sujjposed  case,  I  felt  by  anticipation  the  horrors  of 
the  Highland  seers,  Avhom  their  gift  of  deuteroscopy  com- 
pels to  witness  things  unmeet  for  mortal  eye;  and  who,  to 
use  the  expression  of  Collins, 

Heartless,  oft,  like  moody  madness,  stare, 
To  see  the  phantom  train  their  secret  work  prepare. 

Still,  however,  the  irresistible  impulse  of  an  undefined 
curiosity  drove  me  on  through  this  succession  of  darksome 
chambers,  till,  like  the  jeweller  of  Delhi  in  the  house  of  the 
magician  Bennaskar,  I  at  length  reached  a  vaulted  room, 
dedicated  to  secrecy  and  silence,  and  beheld,  seated  by  a 
lamp,  and  employed  in  reading  a  blotted  revise,*  the  person, 
or  perhaps  I  should  rather  say  the  eidolon,  or  representative 
vision,  of  the  Author  of  ''Waverley!"  You  will  not  be 
surprised  at  the  filial  instinct  which  enabled  me  at  once  to 
acknowledge  the  features  borne  by  this  venerable  apparition, 
and  that  I  at  once  bended  the  knee,  with  the  classical  salu- 
tation of.  Salve,  magne  2}cirefis  !  The  vision,  however,  cut 
me  short  by  pointing  to  a  seat,  intimating  at  the  same  time 
that  my  presence  was  not  unexpected,  and  that  he  had  some- 
thing to  say  to  me. 

I  sat  down  with  humble  obedience,  and  endeavored  to 
note  the  features  of  him  with  whom  I  now  found  myself  so 
unexpectedly  in  society.  But  on  this  point  I  can  give  your 
reverence  no  satisfaction;  for,  besides  tlie  obscurity  of  the 
apartment,  and  the  fluttered  state  of  my  own  nerves,  I 
seemed  to  myself  overwhelmed  by  a  sense  of  filial  awe,  which 
prevented  ray  noting  and  recording  what  it  is  probable  the 
personage  before  me  might  most  desire  to  have  concealed. 
Indeed,  his  figure  was  so  closely  veiled  and  wimpled,  either 
with  a  mantle,  morning-gown,  or  some  such  loose  garb,  that 
the  verses  of  Spenser  might  have  well  been  applied — 

Yet,  certes,  by  her  face  and  physnomy, 
Whether  she  man  or  woman  only  were, 
That  could  not  any  creature  well  descry. 

*  The  uainltiated  must  be  informed  that  a  second  proof-sheet  Is  so  called 


XV)  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

I  miist,  howe^  "^r,  go  on  as  I  have  begun,  to  apply  the  mas 
culiue  gender;  for,  notwithstanding  very  ingenious  reasons, 
and  indeed  something  like  positive  evidence,  have  been 
Oil'ered  to  prove  the  Author  of  Waverley  to  be  two  ladies  of 
talent,  I  must  abide  by  the  general  opinion,  that  he  is  of  the 
rougher  sex.     There  are  in  his  writings  too  many  things 

Quae  maribus  sola  tribuuntur, 

to  permit  me  to  entertain  any  doubt  on  that  subject.  I  will 
proceed,  in  the  manner  of  dialogue,  to  repeat  as  nearly  as  I 
can  what  passed  betwixt  us,  only  observing  that,  in  the 
course  of  the  conversation,  my  timidity  imperceptibly  gave 
way  under  the  familiarity  of  his  address;  and  that,  in  the 
concluding  part  of  our  dialogue,  I  perhaps  argued  with  fully 
as  much  confidence  as  was  beseeming. 

AutJior  of  Waverley.  I  was  willing  to  see  yon.  Captain 
Clutterbuck,  being  the  person  of  my  family  whom  I  have 
most  regard  for,  since  the  death  of  Jedediah  Cleishbotham; 
and  I  am  afraid  I  may  have  done  you  some  wrong  in  assign- 
ing to  you  The  Monastery  as  a  portion  of  my  effects.  I  have 
some  thoughts  of  making  it  up  to  you,  by  naming  you  god 
father  to  this  yet  unborn  babe — (he  indicated  the  proof- 
sheet  with  his  finger).  But  first,  touching  The  Monastery 
— how  says  the  world?    You  are  abroad  and  can  learn. 

Captain  ClutterMch.  Hem!  hem!  The  inquiry  is  deli- 
cate.    I  have  not  heard  any  complaints  from  the  publishers. 

Author.  That  is  the  principal  matter;  but  ye',  i*n  indiffer- 
ent work  is  sometimes  towed  on  by  those  which  have  left 
harbor  before  it,  with  the  breeze  in  their  poop.  What  say 
the  critics? 

Captain.  There  is  a  general — feeling — that  the  White 
Lady  is  no  favorite. 

A  uthor.  I  think  she  is  a  failure  myself;  but  rather  in 
execution  than  conception.  Could  I  have  evoked  an  esprit 
foUet,  at  the  same  time  fantastic  and  interesting,  capricious 
and  kind;  a  sort  of  wildfire  of  the  elements,  bound  by  no 
fixed  laws  or  motives  of  action,  faithful  and  fond,  yet  teas- 
ing and  uncertain 

Captain.  If  you  will  pardon  the  interruption,  sir,  I  think 
you  are  describing  a  pretty  woman. 

Author.  On  my  word,  I  believe  I  am.  I  must  invest  my 
elementary  spirits  with  a  little  human  flesh  and  blood  :  they 
are  too  fine-drawn  for  the  present  taste  of  the  public. 

Captain.  They  object,  too,  that  the  object  of  your  nixiu 


INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL     xvii 

ought  to  liave  been  more  uniformly  noble.     Her  ducking  the 
priest  was  no  Naiad-like  amusement. 

Author.  Ah  !  they  ought  to  allow  for  the  capriccios  of 
what  is,  after  all,  but  a  better  sort  of  goblin.  The  bath  into 
which  Ariel,  the  most  delicate  creation  of  Shakespeare's  im- 
agination, seduces  our  jolly  friend  Trinculo,  was  not  of 
amber  or  rose-water.  But  no  one  shall  find  me  rowing 
against  the  stream.  I  care  not  who  knows  it,  I  write  for 
general  amusement ;  and,  though  I  never  will  aim  at  popu- 
larity by  what  I  think  unwortliy  means,  I  will  not,  on  the 
other  hand,  be  pertinacious  in  the  defence  of  my  own  errors 
against  the  voice  of  the  public. 

Captain.  You  abandon,  then,  in  the  present  work  (look- 
ing, in  my  turn,  towards  the  proof-sheet),  the  mystic,  and  the 
magical,  and  the  whole  system  of  signs,  wonders,  and  omens? 
There  are  no  dreams,  or  presages,  or  obscure  illusions  to 
future  events  ? 

Author.  Not  a  Cock  Lane  scratch,  my  son — not  one 
bounce  on  the  drum  of  Tedworth — not  so  much  as  the  poor 
tick  of  a  solitary  death-watch  in  the  wainscot.  All  is  clear 
and  above  board  :  a  Scots  metaphysician  might  believe  every 
word  of  it. 

Captain.  And  the  story  is,  I  hope,  natural  and  probable  ; 
commencing  strikingly,  proceeding  naturally,  ending  hap- 
pily, like  the  course  of  a  famed  river,  which  gushes  from  the 
mouth  of  some  obscure  and  romantic  grotto  ;  then  gliding 
on,  never  pausing,  never  precipitating  its  course,  visiting,  as 
it  were,  by  natural  instinct,  whatever  worthy  subjects  of  in- 
terest are  presented  by  the  country  through  which  it  passes  ; 
widening  and  deepening  in  interest  as  it  flows  on  ;  and  at 
length  arriving  at  the  final  catastrophe  as  at  some  mighty 
haven,  where  ships  of  all  kinds  strike  sail  and  yard  ? 

Author.  Hey  !  hey  !  what  the  deuce  is  cill  this  ?  Why, 
'tis  Ercles's  vein,  and  it  would  require  some  one  much  more 
like  Hercules  than  I  to  produce  a  story  which  should  gush, 
and  glide,  and  never  pause,  and  visit,  and  widen,  and 
deepen,  and  all  the  rest  on't.  I  should  be  chin-deep  in  the 
grave,  man,  before  I  had  done  with  my  task  ;  and,  in  the 
meanwhile,  all  the  quirks  and  quiddities  which  I  might  have 
devised  for  my  reader's  amusement  would  lie  rotting  in  my 
gizzard,  like  Sancho's  suppressed  witticisms,  when  he  was 
under  his  master's  displeasure.  There  never  was  a  novel 
written  on  this  plan  while  the  world  stood. 

Captain.   Pardon  me — Tom  Jones. 

Author,  True,  and  perhaps   Amelia  al&o.     Fielding  ha(] 


xviii  WAVERLJSY  NOVELis 

high  notions  o':  ^i~o  dignity  of  an  art  which  ho  may  be  con- 
sidered as  havivig  founded.  He  challenges  a  comparison 
between  the  novel  and  the  epic.  Smollett,  Le  Sage,  and 
others,  einanci})ating  themselves  from  the  strictness  of  the 
rnles  he  has  laid  down,  have  written  rather  a  history  of  the 
miscellaneous  adventures  which  befall  an  individual  in  the 
course  of  life  than  the  plot  of  a  regular  and  connected 
epopojia,  where  every  step  brings  us  a  point  nearer  the  final 
catastrophe.  These  great  masters  have  been  satisfied  if  they 
amused  the  reader  upon  the  road  ;  though  the  conclusion 
only  arrived  because  the  tale  must  have  an  end,  Just  as  the 
traveller  alights  at  the  inn  because  it  is  evening.. 

Captain.  A  very  commodious  mode  of  travelling,  for  the 
author  at  least.  In  short,  sir,  you  are  of  opinion  with 
Bayes— "What  the  devil  does  the  plot  signify,  except  to  bring 
in  fine  things?" 

Author.  Grant  that  I  were  so,  and  that  I  should  write 
with  sense  and  spirit  a  few  scenes  unlabored  and  loosely  put 
together,  but  which  had  sufficient  interest  in  them  to  arnuse 
in  one  corner  the  pain  of  body  ;  in  another,  to  relieve 
anxiety  of  mind  ;  in  a  third  place,  to  unwrinkle  a  brow  bent 
with  the  furrows  of  daily  toil  ;  in  another,  to  fill  the  place  of 
bad  thoughts,  or  to  suggest  better;  in  yet  another,  to  induce  an 
idler  to  s'tudy  the  history  of  his  country  ;  in  all,  save  where 
the  perusal  interrupted  the  discharge  of  serious  duties,  to 
furnish  harmless  amusement — might  not  the  authorof  such 
a  work,  however  inartificially  executed,  plead  for  his  errors 
and  negligences  the  excuse  of  the  slave,  who,  about  to  bo 
punished  for  having  spread  the  fali^e  report  of  a  victory, 
saved  himself  by  exclaiming — '•  Am  I  to  blame,  0  Athenians, 
who  have  given  you  one  happy  day  ?" 

Captain.  Will  your  goodness  permit  me  to  mention  an 
anecdote  of  my  excellent  grandmother  ? 

Author.  I  see  little  she  can  have  to  do  with  the  subject, 
Captain  Clutterbuck. 

Captain.  It  may  come  into  our  dialogue  on  Bayes's  plan. 
The  sagacious  old  lady— rest  her  soul! — was  a  good  friend  to 
the  church,  and  could  never  hear  a  minister  maligned  by  evil 
tongues  without  taking  his  part  warmly.  There  was  one 
fixed  point,  lioAvever,  at  which  she  always  abandoned  the 
cause  of  her  reverend  protege:  it  was  so  soon  as  she  learned 
he  had  preached  a  regular  sermon  against  slanderers  and 
-   backbiters. 

AufJ/or.  And  what  is  that  to  the  purpose? 

Captain.  Only  that  I  have  heard  engineers  say  that  one 


INTRODtCTION  TO  THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL     :  ix 

may  oetray  the  ^veak  point  to  the  enemy  by  too  much  osten- 
tation of  fortifying  it. 

Author.  And,  once  more  I  pray,  what  is  that  to  the  pur- 
pose? 

Captain.  Xay,  then,  without  farther  metaphor,  I  am 
afraid  this  new  production,  in  which  your  generosity  seems 
willing  to  give  me  some  concern,  will  stand  much  in  need  of 
apology,  since  you  think  proper  to  begin  your  defence  before 
the  case  is  on  trial.  The  story  is  kiistily  huddled  up;  I  will 
venture  a  pint  of  claret. 

Author.  A  pint  of  port,  I  suppose  you  mean? 

Captain.  I  say  of  claret — good  claret  of  the  monastery. 
Ah.  sir,  would  you  but  take  the  advice  of  your  friends,  and 
try  to  deserve  at  least  one-half  of  the  public  favor  you  have 
met  with,  we  might  all  drink  Tokay! 

Author.  I  care  not  what  I  drink,  so  the  liquor  be  whole 
some. 

Captain.   Care  for  your  reputation'  then — for  your  fame. 

Author.  My  fume  !  I  will  answer  you  as  a  very  in- 
genious, able,  and  experienced  friend,  being  counsel  for  the 
notorious  Jem  McCoul,*  replied  to  the  opposite  side  of  the 
bar,  when  they  laid  weight  on  his  client's  refusing  to  answer 
certain  queries,  which  they  said  any  man  who  had  a  regard 
for  his  reputation  would  not  hesitate  to  reply  to.  "My 
client,'"'  said  he  — by  the  way,  Jem  was  standing  behind  him 
at  the  time,  and  a  rich  scene  it  was — "is  so  unfortunate  as  to 
have  no  regard  for  his  reputation  ;  and  I  should  deal  very 
uncandidly  with  the  court  should  I  say  he  had  any  that  was 
worth  his  attention."  I  am,  though  from  very  different  rea- 
sons, in  Jem's  happy  state  of  indifference.  Let  fame  follow 
those  who  have  a  substantial  shape.  A  shadow — and  an  im- 
personal author  is  nothing  better— can  cast  no  shade. 

Captain.  You  are  not  now,  perhaps,  so  impersonal  as 
neretofore.  These  Letters\  to  the  Member  for  the  Univer- 
sity of  Oxford 

Author.  Show  the  wit,  genius,  and  delicacy  of  the  au- 
thor, which  I  heartily  wish  to  see  engaged  on  a  subject  of 
more  importance;  and  show,  besides,  that  the  preservation 
of  my  character  of  incognito  has  engaged  early  talent  in  the 
discussion  of  a  curious  question  of  evidence.  But  a  cause, 
however  ingeniously  pleaded,  is  not  therefore  gained.     You 

*  This  character  \ras  a  native  of  London,  who  was  tried  and  convicted  in  1820  of 
robbing  a  Glasgow  bank  of  £20.000  CLaing). 

f  Letters  to  Richard  Heber.  Esq..  Af ember  for  the  University  \of  Oxford,  con 
tattling  Critical  Remarks  on  the  Wavvrley  Novels,  and  a7i  Attempt  to  ascertain 
the  Author.    By  J.  L.  Adolphus,  Lond.,  l&Jl  (Laing^. 


XX  WAVEELEY  NOVELS 

may  remember  the  neatly- wrought  chain  of  circumstantial 
evidence,  so  artificially  brought  forward  to  prove  Sir  Philip 
Francis's  title  to  the  Letters  of  Junius,  seemed  at  lirst  irre- 
fragable; yet  the  influence  of  the  reasoning  has  passed  away, 
and  Junius,  in  the  general  opinion,  is  as  much  unknown  as 
ever.  But  on  this  subject  I  will  not  be  soothed  or  provoked 
into  saying  one  word  more.  To  say  who  I  am  not  would  be 
one  step  towards  saying  who  I  am;  and  as  I  desire  not,  any 
more  than  a  certain  Justice  of  peace  mentioned  by  Shenstone, 
the  noise  or  report  such  things  make  in  the  world,  I  shall 
continue  to  be  silent  on  a  subject  which,  in  my  opinion,  is 
very  undeserving  the  noise  that  has  been  made  about  it, 
and  still  more  unworthy  of  the  serious  employment  of  such 
ingenuity  as  has  been  displayed  by  the  young  letter-writer. 

Captain.  But  allowing,  my  dear  sir,  that  you  care  not  for 
your  personal  reputation,  or  for  that  of  any  literary  person 
upon  whose  shoulders  your  faults  may  be  visited,  allow  me 
to  say  that  common  gratitude  to  the  public,  which  has  re- 
ceived you  so  kindly,  and  to  the  critics  who  have  treated  you 
so  leniently,  ought  to  induce  you  to  bestow  more  pains  on 
your  story. 

Author.  I  do  entreat  you,  my  son,  as  Dr.  Johnson  would 
have  said,  "  free  your  mind  from  cant."  For  the  critics,  they 
have  their  business,  and  I  mine;  as  the  nursery  proverb 
goes— 

The  children  in  Holland  take  pleasure  in  making 

What  the  childi'en  in  England  take  pleasure  in  breaking. 

I  am  their  humble  Jackal,  too  busy  in  providing  food  for 
them  to  have  time  for  considering  whether  they  swallow  or 
reject  it.  To  the  public  I  stand  pretty  nearly  in  the  relation 
of  the  postman  who  leaves  a  packet  at  the  door  of  an  indi- 
vidual. If  it  contains  pleasing  intelligence — a  billet  from  a 
mistress,  a  letter  from  an  absent  son,  a  remittance  from  a 
correspondent  supposed  to  be  bankrupt — the  letter  is  accept- 
ably welcome,  and  read  and  reread,  folded  up,  filed,  and 
safely  deposited  in  the  bureau.  If  the  contents  are  disagree- 
able, if  it  comes  from  a  dun  or  from  a  bore,  the  correspon- 
dent is  cursed,  the  letter  is  thrown  into  the  fire,  and  the 
expense  of  postage  is  heartily  regretted;  while  all  the  time 
the  bearer  of  the  dispatches  is,  in  either  case,  as  little 
thought  on  as  the  snow  of  last  Christmas.  The  utmost  ex- 
tent of  kindness  between  the  author  and  the  public  which 
can  really  exist  is,  that  the  world  are  disposed  to  be  some- 
what indulgent  to  the  succeeding  works  of  an  original  favor- 


INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL       xxi 

ite,  were  it  but  on  account  of  the  habit  whicli  the  public 
mind  has  acquired;  while  the  author  very  naturally  thinks 
well  of  their  taste  who  have  so  liberally  applauded  Ins  pro- 
ductions. But  I  deny  there  is  any  call  for  gratitude,  proper- 
ly so  called,  either  on  one  side  or  the  other. 

Captain.  Eespect  to  yourself,  then,  ought  to  teach 
caution. 

Author.  Ay,  if  caution  could  augment  the  chance  of 
my  success.  But,  to  confess  to  you  the  truth,  the  works  and 
passages  in  which  I  hav3  succeeded  have  uniformly  been 
written  with  the  greatest  rapidity  ;  and  Avhen  I  have  seen 
some  of  these  placed  in  opj^osition  with  others,  and  com- 
mended as  more  highly  finizlicu,  I  could  appeal  to  pen  and 
standish  that  the  parte  in  \.hich  I  have  come  feebly  off  were 
by  much  the  more  labored.  Besides,  I  doubt  the  beneficial 
effect  of  too  much  delay,  both  on  account  of  the  author  and 
the  public.  A  man  should  strike  while  the  iron  is  hot,  and 
hoist  sail  while  the  wind  is  fair.  If  a  successful  author 
keep  not  the  stage,  another  instantly  takes  his  ground.  If 
a  writer  lie  by  for  ten  years  ere  he  produces  a  second  work, 
he  is  superseded  by  others  ;  or,  if  the  age  is  so  poor  of  genius 
that  this  does  not  happen,  his  own  reputation  becomes  his 
greatest  obstacle.  The  public  will  expect  the  new  work  to 
be  ten  times  better  than  its  predecessor  ;  the  author  will 
expect  it  should  be  ten  times  more  popular,  and  'tis  a  hun- 
dred to  ten  that  both  are  disapj)ointed. 

Captain.  This  may  justify  z  certain  degree  of  rapidity 
in  publication,  but  not  that  which  is  proverbially  said  to  be 
no  speed.     You  should  take  time  at  least  to  arrange  your  story. 

Author.  That  is  a  sore  point  with  me,  my  son.  Believe 
me,  I  have  not  been  fool  enough  to  neglect  ordinary  pre- 
cautions. I  have  repeatedly  laid  do^Ti  my  future  work  to 
scale,  divided  it  into  volumes  and  chapters,  and  endeavored 
to  construct  a  story  which  I  meant  should  evolve  itself 
gradually  and  strikingly,  maintain  suspense,  and  stimulate 
curiosity  ;  and  which,  finally,  should  terminate  in  a  striking 
catastrophe.  But  I  think  there  is  a  demon  who  seats  him- 
self on  the  feather  of  my  pen  when  I  begin  to  write,  and 
leads  it  astray  from  the  purpose.  Characters  expand  under 
my  hand  ;  incidents  are  multiiDlied  ;  the  story  lingers,  while 
the  materials  increase  ;  my  regular  mansion  turns  out  a 
Gothic  anomaly,  and  the  work  is  closed  long  before  I  have 
attained  the  point  I  proposed. 

Captain.  Eesolution  and  determined  forbearance  might 
remedy  that  evil. 


xxU  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

I, 

Author.  Alas  !  my  dear  sir,  you  do  not  know  the  force  of 
paternal  affection.  When  I  light  on  such  a  character  as 
Bailie  Jarvie,  or  Dalgetty,  my  imagination  brightens,  and 
my  conception  becomes  clearer  at  every  step  which  I  take  in 
his  company,  althougli  it  leads  me  many  a  weary  mile  away 
from  the  regular  road,  and  forces  me  to  leap  hedge  and  ditch 
to  get  back  into  the  route  again.  If  I  resist  the  temptation, 
as  you  advise  me,  my  thoughts  become  prosy,  flat  and  dull  ; 
I  Avrite  painfully  to  myself,  and  under  a  consciousness  of 
flagging  which  makes  me  flag  still  more  :  the  sunshine  with 
which  fancy  had  invested  the  incidents  departs  from  them, 
and  leaves  everything  dull  and  gloomy.  I  am  no  more  the 
same  author  I  was  in  my  better  mood  than  the  dog  in  a 
wheel,  condemned  to  go  round  and  round  for  hours,  is  like 
the  same  dog  merrily  chasing  his  own  tail,  and  gambolling 
in  all  the  frolic  of  unrestrained  freedom.  In  short,  sir,  on 
such  occasions  I  think  I  am  bewitched. 

Captain.  Nay,  sir,  if  you  plead  sorcery,  there  is  no  more 
to  be  said  :  lie  must  needs  go  whom  the  devil  drives.  And 
this,  I  suppose,  sir,  is  the  reason  why  you  do  not  make  the 
theatrical  attempt  to  which  you  have  been  so  often  urged  ? 

Author.  It  may  pass  for  one  good  reason  for  not  writing 
a  play,  that  I  cannot  form  a  plot.  But  the  truth  is,  that 
the  idea  adopted  by  too  favorable  judges,  of  my  having  some 
aptitude  for  that  department  of  poetry,  has  been  much 
founded  on  those  scraps  of  old  plays  which,  being  taken 
from  a  source  inaccessible  to  collectors,  they  have  hastily  con- 
sidered the  offspring  of  my  mother-wit.  Now,  the  manner 
in  which  I  became  possessed  of  these  fragments  is  so  extra- 
ordinary that  I  cannot  help  telling  it  to  you. 

You  must  know  that,  some  twenty  years  since,  I  went 
down  to  visit  an  old  friend  in  Worcestershire,  who  had 
served  with  me  in  the  Dragoons. 

Captain.   Then  you  have  served,  sir? 

Author.  I  have — or  I  have  not,  which  signifies  the  same 
thing;  captain  is  a  good  travelling  name.  I  found  my  friend^s 
house  unexpectedly  crowded  with  guests,  and,  as  usual,  was 
condemned — the  mansion  being  an  old  one — to  the  haunted 
apartment.  I  have,  as  a  great  modern  said,  seen  too  many 
ghosts  to  believe  in  them,  so  betook  myself  seriously  to  my 
repose,  lulled  by  the  wind  rustling  among  the  lime-trees,  the 
branches  of  which  checkered  tlie  moonlight  which  fell  on 
the  floor  through  the  diamonded  casement,  when,  behold,  a 
darker  shadow  interposed  itself,  and  I  beheld  visibly  on  the 
floor  of  the  apartment 


IMRODUCTION  TO  THE  FORTL'MJS  OF  NIGEL      xxiii 

Capf(ii?i.  The  White  Lady  of  Avenel,  I  suppose?  You 
have  told  the  very  story  before. 

Author.  No — I  beheld  a  female  form,  with  mob-cap, 
bib,  and  apron,  sleeves  tucked  up  to  tlie  elbow,  a  dredging- 
box  in  the  one  hand,  and  in  the  other  a  sauce-ladle.  I  con- 
cluded, of  course,  that  it  was  my  friend  s  cook-maid  walking 
in  her  sleep;  and  as  I  knew  he  had  a  value  for  Sally,  who 
could  toss  a  pancake  with  any  girl  in  the  country,  I  got  up 
to  conduct  her  safely  to  the  door.  But  as  I  approached  her, 
she  said,  "Hold,  sirll  am  not  whatyou  takeme  for" — words 
which  seemed  so  apposite  to  the  circumstances,  that  I  should 
p.ot  have  much  minded  them,  had  it  not  been  for  the  pecu- 
liarly hollow  sound  in  which  they  were  uttered.  "Know, 
then,"  she  said,  in  the  same  unearthly  accents, '-that  I  am  the 
spirit  of  Betty  Barnes."  "Who  hanged  herself  for  love  of  the 
stage-coachman,"  thought  I;  "this  is  a  proper  sjiot  of  work  I" 
"Of  that  unhappy  Elizabeth  or  Betty  Barnes,  long  cook-maid 
to  Mr.  Warburton,  the  painful  collector,  but  ah!  the  too 
careless  custodier,  of  the  largest  collection  of  ancient  plays 
ever  known — of  most  of  which  the  titles  only  are  left  to 
gladden  the  Prolegomena  of  the  Variorum  Shakespeare.  Yes, 
stranger,  it  was  these  ill-fated  hands  that  consigned  to  grease 
and  conflagration  the  scores  of  small  quartos,  which,  did 
they  now  exist,  would  drive  the  whole  Roxburghe  Club  out 
of  their  senses;  it  was  these  unhappy  pickers  and  stealers 
that  singed  fat  fowls  and  wiped  dirty  trenchers  with  the  lost 
works  of  Beaumont  and  Fletcher,  Massinger,  Jon^on, 
Webster — what  shall  I  say?  even  of  Shakespeare  him- 
self!" 

Like  every  dramatic  antiquary,  my  ardent  curiosity  after 
some  play  named  in  the  book  of  the  Master  of  Eevels  had 
often  been  checked  by  finding  the  object  of  my  research 
numbered  among  the  holocaust  of  victims  which  this  un- 
happy woman  had  sacrificed  to  the  God  of  Good  Cheer.  It 
is  no  wonder  then,  that,  like  the  Hermit  of  Parnell, 

I  broke  the  bands  of  fear  and  madly  cried, 

"You  careless  jade  !"     But  scarce  the  words  began, 

When  Betty  brandish'd  high  her  saucing-pan. 

"Beware,"  she  said,  "  yon  do  not,  by  your  ill-time  danger, 
cut  off  the  opportunity  I  yet  have  to  indemnify  the  world  for 
the  errors  of  my  ignorance.  In  yonder  coal-hole,  not  used 
for  many  a  year,  repose  the  few  greasy  and  blackened 
fragments  of  the  elder  drama  which  were  not  totally  de- 
stroyed.    Do  thou  then "     Why,  what  do  you  stare  at. 


xxiv  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

captain  !  By  my  soul,  it  is  true;  as  my  friend  Major 
Longbow  says,  "What  should  I  tell  you  a  lie  for?" 

Ctipfnin.  Lie,  sir!  Na}^,  Heaven  forbid  I  should  apply 
the  word  to  a  person  so  veracious.  You  are  only  inclined 
to  chase  your  tail  a  little  this  morning,  that's  all.  Had  you 
not  better  reserve  this  legend  to  form  an  introduction  to 
Three  Recovered  Dramas,  or  so? 

Author.  You  are  quite  right;  habit's  a  strange  thing, 
my  son.  I  had  forgot  whom  I  was  speaking  to.  Yes,  plays 
for  the  closet,  not  for  the  stage 

Captain.  Right,  and  so  you  are  sure  to  be  acted;  for 
the  managers,  while  thousands  of  volunteers  are  desirous  of 
serving  them,  are  wonderfully  partial  to  pressed  men. 

Author.  I  am  a  living  witness,  having  been,  like  a 
second  Laberius,  made  a  dramatist  whether  I  would  or  not. 
I  believe  my  muse  would  be  Terrijfied  *  into  treading  the 
stage,  even  if  I  should  write  a  sermon. 

Captain.  Truly,  if  you  did,  I  am  afraid  folks  might 
make  a  farce  of  it;  and,  therefore,  should  you  change  your 
style,  I  still  advise  a  volume  of  dramas  like  Lord  Byron's. 

Author.  No,  his  lordship  is  a  cut  above  me:  I  won't 
run  my  horse  against  his,  if  I  can  help  myself.  But  there 
is  my  friend  Allan  has  written  just  such  a  play  as  I  might 
write  myself,  in  a  very  sunny  day,  and  with  one  of  Bramah's 
extra  patent-pens.  I  cannot  make  neat  work  without  such 
appurtenances. 

Captain.  Do  you  mean  Allan  Ramsay  ? 

Author.  No,  nor  Barbara  Allan  either.  I  mean  Allan  Cun- 
ningham, who  has  just  published  his  tragedy  of  Sir  Marma- 
duhe  Maxwell,  full  of  merry-making  and  murdering,  kissing 
and  cutting  of  throats,  and  passages  which  lead  to  nothing,  and 
which  are  very  pretty  passages  for  all  that.  Not  a  glimpse  of 
probability  is  there  about  the  plot,  but  so  much  animation  in 
particular  passages,  and  such  a  vein  of  poetry  through  the 
whole,  as  I  dearly  wish  I  could  infuse  into  my  Culinary 
Remains,  should  1  ever  be  tempted  to  publish  them.  With 
a  popular  impress,  people  would  read  and  admire  the  beau- 
ties of  Allan  ;  as  it  is,  they  may  perhaps  only  note  his 
defects — or,  what  is  worse,  not  note  him  at  all.  But  never 
mind  them,  honest  Allan  ;  you  are  a  credit  to  Caledonia  for 
all  that.     There  are  some  lyrical  eifusions  of  his,  too,  which 

*A  jocular  allusion  to  the  Author's  friend  Daniel  Terry,  a  celebrated  comedian, 
who  dramatized  more  than  nne  of  the  Waverley  Novels,  which  were  brought  on  the 
stage  with  great  succ  'ss.  Sir  Walter  himself  might  have  been  seen  as  a  spectator, 
enjoying  the  performance  as  much  as  any  one  iLaing). 


INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL       xxv 

you  would  do  well  to  read,  captain.  "  It's  hame,  and  it's 
liame,"  is  equal  to  Burns. 

Captain.  I  will  take  the  hint.  The  chip  at  Kennaquhair 
are  turned  fastidious  since  Catalani  visited  the  Abbey.  My 
Poortith  Caiild  has  been  received  both  poorly  and  coldly,  and 
The  Banks  of  Bonnie  Boon  have  been  positively  coughed 
down.      Tempora  mutantur. 

Author.  They  cannot  stand  still,  they  will  change  with 
all  of  us.     What  then  ? 

A  man's  a  man  for  a'  that. 

But  the  hour  of  parting  approaches. 

Captain.  You  are  determined  to  proceed  then  in  your 
own  system  ?  Are  you  aware  that  an  unworthy  motive  may  be 
assigned  for  this  rapid  succession  of  publication  ?  You  will 
be  supposed  to  work  merely  for  the  lucre  of  gain. 

Author.  Supposing  that  I  did  permit  the  great  advan- 
tages which  must  be  derived  from  success  in  literature  to 
join  with  other  motives  in  inducing  me  to  come  more  fre- 
quently before  the  public,  that  emolument  is  the  voluntary 
tax  which  the  public  pays  for  a  certain  sj)ecies  of  literary 
amusement;  it  is  extorted  from  no  one,  and  paid,  I  presume,  by 
those  only  who  can  afford  it,  and  who  receive  gratification 
in  proportion  to  the  expense.  If  the  capital  sum  which 
these  volumes  have  put  into  circulation  be  a  very  large  one, 
has  it  contributed  to  my  indulgences  only  ?  or  can  I  not 
say  to  hundreds,  from  honest  Duncan  the  paper-manu- 
facturer to  the  most  snivelling  of  the  printer's  devils,  "Didst 
thou  not  share  ?  Hadst  thou  not  fifteen  pence  ?"  I  profess 
I  think  our  Modern  Athens  much  obliged  to  me  for  having 
established  such  an  extensive  manufacture  ;  and  when 
universal  suffrage  comes  in  fashion,  I  intend  to  stand  for 
a  seat  in  the  House  on  the  interest  of  all  the  unwashed  arti- 
ficers connected  with  literature. 

Captain.  This  would  be  called  the  language  of  a  calico- 
manufacturer. 

Author.  Cant  again,  my  dear  son  :  there  is  lime  in  this 
sack,  too  ;  nothing  but  sophistication  in  this  world  !  I  do  say 
it,  in  spite  of  Adam  Smith  and  his  followers,  that  a  success- 
ful author  is  a  productive  laborer,  and  that  his  works  consti- 
tute as  effectual  a  part  of  the  public  wealth  as  that  which  is 
created  by  any  other  manufacturer.  If  a  new  commodity, 
having  an  actually  intrinsic  and  commercial  value,  be  the 
result  of  the  operation,  why  are  the  author's  bales  of  books 
to  be  esteemed  a  less  profitable  part  of  the  public  stock  than 


xxvl  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

the  goods  of  ap.y  other  manufacturer  ?  I  speak  with  refer^ 
euce  to  the  diffi'ision  of  the  wealth  arising  to  the  public,  and 
the  degree  of  industry  which  even  such  a  trifling  work  as  the 
present  must  stimulate  and  reward,  before  the  volumes 
leave  the  publish'^ir's  shop.  Without  me  it  could  not  exist, 
and  to  this  extent  I  am  a  benefactor  to  the  country.  As  for 
my  own  emolume''it,  it  is  won  by  my  toil,  and  I  account 
myself  answerable  ^o  Heaven  only  for  the  mode  in  which  I 
expend  it.  The  candid  may  hope  it  is  not  all  dedicated  to 
selfish  purposes ;  and.  without  much  pretensions  to  merit  in 
him  who  disburses  it,  Hpart  may  "wander,  heaven-directed, 
to  the  poor." 

Captain.  Yet  it  is  generally  held  base  to  write  from  the 
mn-e  motives  of  gain. 

A  uthor.  It  would  be  base  to  do  so  exclusively,  or  even 
to  make  it  a  principal  motive  for  literary  exertion.  Nay, 
I  will  venture  to  say  that  no  work  of  imagination,  proceed- 
in '^  from  the  mere  consideration  of  a  certain  sum  of  copy- 
money,  ever  did,  or  ever  will,  succeed.  So  the  lawyer  who 
pleads,  the  soldier  who  fights,  th^  physician  who  prescribes, 
the  clergyman — if  such  there  be — who  preaches,  without 
a.iy  zeal  for  his  profession,  or  without  any  sense  of  its 
dignity,  and  merely  on  account  of  the  fee,  pay  or  stipend, 
d_^o-rade  themselves  to  the  rank  of  sordid  mechawies. 
Accordingly,  in  the  case  of  two  of  the  learned  faculties  at 
least,  their  services  are  considered  as  unappreciable,  and  ai'e 
acknowledged,  not  by  any  exact  estim.ate  of  the  services 
rendered,  but  by  a  honorarium,  or  voluntary  acknowledg- 
ment. But  let  a  client  or  patient  make  the  experiment  of 
omitting  this  little  ceremony  of  the  honorarium,  which  is 
cense  to  be  a  thing  entirely  out  of  consideration  between 
them,  and  mark  how  the  learned  gentleman  will  look  upoiv 
his  case.  Cant  set  apart  is  the  same  thing  with  literary 
emolument.  No  man  of  sense,  in  any  rank  of  life,  is,  or 
0  ic^ht  to  be,  above  accepting  a  just  recompense  for  his  time., 
and  a  reasonable  share  of  the  capital  which  owes  its  very 
existence  to  his  exertions.  When  Czar  Peter  wrought  in  the 
trenches,  he  took  the  pay  of  a  common  soldier ;  and  nobles^ 
statesmen  and  divines,  the  most  distinguished  of  their  time, 
have  not  scorned  to  square  accounts  with  their  bookseller- 

Captain.  {Sings.) 

O  if  it  were  a  mean  tiling, 

The  gentles  would  not  use  it , 
And  if  it  were  ungodly, 
The  clergy  would  refuse  it. 


INTRODUCTION  TO   THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIOEL      xxvii 

Author.  You  say  well.  But  no  man  of  honor,  genius, 
or  spirit  would  make  the  mere  love  of  gain  the  chief,  far  less 
the  only,  purpose  of  his  labors.  For  myself,  I  am  not  dis- 
pleased to  find  the  game  a  winning  one  ;  )-et  while  I  pleased 
the  public,  I  should  probably  continue  it  merely  for  tlie 
pleasure  of  playing  ;  for  I  have  felt  as  strongly  as  most  folks 
that  love  of  C()mi)Osition  which  is  perhaps  the  strongest  of 
all  instincis,  driving  the  author  to  the  pen,  the  painter  to 
tlie  palette,  often  without  either  the  chance  of  fame  or  the 
prospect  of  reward.  Perhaps  I  have  said  too  much  of  this. 
I  might,  perhaps,  with  as  much  truth  as  most  people,  excul- 
pate inyst'lf  from  the  charge  of  being  either  of  a  greedy  or 
mercenary  disposition  ;  but  I  am  not,  therefore,  hypocrite 
enough  to  disclaim  the  ordinary  motives,  on  account  of 
which  the  whole  world  around  me  is  toiling  unremittingly, 
to  tlie  sacrifice  of  ease,  comfort,  health,  and  life.  I  do  not 
affect  the  disinterestedness  of  tliat  ingenious  association  of 
gentlemen  mentioned  by  Goldsmith,  who  sold  their  maga- 
zine for  sixpence  apiece,  merely  for  their  own  amusement. 

Captain.  I  have  but  one  thing  more  to  hint.  'i'he 
world  sa}'^  you  will  run  yourself  out. 

Author.  The  world  say  true  ;  and  what  then  ?  When 
they  dance  no  longer,  I  will  no  longer  pipe  ;  and  I  shall 
not  want  flappers  enough  to  remind  me  of  the  apoplex3\ 

Captain.  And  what  will  become  of  us  then,  3'our  poor 
family  ?     We  shall  fall  into  contempt  and  oblivion. 

Author.  Like  many  a  poor  fellow,  already  overwhelmed 
with  the  number  of  his  family,  I  cannot  help  going  on  to 
increase  it.  "  'Tis  my  vocation,  Hal."  Such  of  you  as 
deserve  oblivion — perhaps  the  whole  of  you — may  be  con- 
signed to  it.  At  any  rate,  you  have  been  read  in  your  day, 
which  is  more  than  can  be  said  of  some  of  your  contempo- 
raries of  less  fortune  and  more  merit.  The}^  cannot  say  but 
that  you  lead  the  crown.  It  is  always  something  to  have 
engaged  the  public  attention  for  seven  years.  Had  I  only 
written  Waverley,  I  should  have  long  since  been,  according 
to  the  established  phrase,  "  the  ingenious  author  of  a  novel 
much  admired  at  the  time."  I  believe,  on  my  soul,  that  th.e 
reputation  of  Waverley'i^  sustained  verj'  much  by  the  praises 
of  those  who  may  be  inclined  to  prefer  that  tale  to  its  suc- 
cessors. 

Captain.  You  are  willing,  then,  to  barter  future  repu- 
tation for  present  popularity  ? 

Author.  Meliora  spero.  Horace  himself  expected  not 
to  survive  in  all  his  works  \  I  may  hope  to  live  in  some  of 


xxviil  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

mine.  Non  omms  monar.  It  is  some  consolation  to  reflect 
that  the  best  authors  in  all  countries  have  been  the  most 
voluminous  ;  and  it  lias  often  happened  that  those  who  have 
been  best  received  in  their  own  time  have  also  continued  to 
be  acceptable  to  posterity.  I  do  not  think  so  ill  of  the 
->rcsent  generation  as  to  suppose  that  its  present  favor  neces- 
6    ily  infers  future  condemnation. 

Captain.  Were  all  to  act  on  such  principles,  the  public 
ould  be  inundated. 

Author.  Once  more,  my  dear  son,  beware  of  cant.  You 
speak  as  if  the  public  were  obliged  to  read  books  merely 
because  they  are  printed  ;  your  friends  the  booksellers  would 
thank  you  to  make  the  proposition  good.  The  most  serious 
grievance  attending  such  inundations  as  you  talk  of  is  that 
they  make  rags  dear.  The  multiplicity  of  publications  does 
the  present  age  no  harm,  and  may  greatly  advantage  that 
which  is  to  succeed  us. 

Captain.  I  do  not  see  how  that  is  to  happen. 

Author.  The  complaints  in  the  time  of  Elizabeth  and 
James  of  the  alarming  fertility  of  the  press  were  as  loud  as 
they  are  at  present  ;  yet  look  at  the  shore  over  which  the 
inundation  of  that  age  flowed,  and  it  resembles  now  the 
Rich  Strand  of  the  Faery  Queene — 

Bestrew'd  all  with  rich  array, 
Of  pearl  and  precious  stones  of  great  assay  ; 
And  all  the  gravel  luix'd  with  golden  ore. 

Believe  me,  that  even  in  the  most  neglected  works  of  ''he 
present  age  the  next  may  discover  treasures. 

Captain.  Some  books  will  defy  all  alchemy. 

Author.  They  will  be  but  few  in  number;  since,  as  for 
writers  who  are  possessed  of  no  merit  at  all,  unless  indeed 
they  publish  their  works  at  their  own  expense,  like  Sir  Eich- 
ard  Blackmore,  their  power  of  annoying  the  public  will  be  soon 
limited  by  the  difficulty  of  finding  undertaking  booksellers. 

Captain.  You  are  incorrigible.  Are  there  no  bounds  to 
your  audacity? 

Author.  There  are  the  sacred  and  eternal  boundaries  cf 
honor  and  virtue.  My  course  is  like  the  enchanted  chambei' 
of  Britomart — 

Whei-e  as  she  looL:'d  about,  she  did  behold 
How  over  that  same  dnor  was  likewise  writ, 
Be  Bold— Be  Buhl,  and  everywhere  Be  Bold.^ 
Whereat  she  mused,  and  could  not  construe  it; 
At  last  she  spied  at  that  room's  upper  end 
Another  iron  door,  on  which  was  writ — 
BExNOT  too  Bold, 


INTRO DVCTlOy  TO   THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL    xxix 

Captain.  Well,  you  must  take  the  risk  of  proceeding  on 
your  own  principles. 

Author.  Do  you  act  on  yours,  and  take  cai-e  you  do  not 
stay  idling  here  till  the  dinner-hour  is  over.  I  will  add  this 
work  to  your  patrimony,  valeat  quantuni. 

Here  our  dialogue  terminated;  for  a  little  sooty-faced 
Apollyon  from  the  Canongate  came  to  demand  the  proof- 
sheet  on  the  part  of  Mr.  M'Corkindale;  *  and  I  heard  Mr, 
C.  rebuking  Mr.  F.  in  another  compartment  of  the  same 
labyrinth  I  have  described  for  suffering  any  one  to  penetrate 
so  far  into  the  penetralia  of  their  temple. 

I  leave  it  to  you  to  form  your  own  opinion  concerning 
the  import  of  this  dialogue,  and  I  cannot  but  believe  I  shall 
meet  the  wishes  of  our  common  parent  in  prefixing  this  let- 
ter to  the  work  which  it  concerns. 

I  am,  reverend  and  dear  Sir, 

Very  sincerely  and  affectionately 

Yours,  etc.  etc. 

CUTHBERT  ClUTTERBUCK. 
Kennaquhair,  Isf  April,  1823. 

*  This  painstaking  man  was  for  many  years  foremen  in  Ballantyne's  printing 
office  QLcung}. 


THE   FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL 


CHAPTER  I 

Now  Scot  and  English  are  agreed, 

And  Saunders  hastes  to  cross  the  Tweed, 

Wliere,  such  the  splendors  that  attend  him. 

His  very  mother  scarce  had  kenn'd  him. 

His  metamorphosis  behold. 

From  Glasgow  frieze  to  cloth  of  gold; 

His  back-sword,  with  the  iron  hilt, 

Torapier  fairly  hatch'd  aiul  gilt; 

AVas  ever  seen  a  gallant  braver  ? 

His  very  bonnet's  grown  a  beaver. 

The  Reformation. 

The  long-contiuued  hostilities  which  had  for  centuries  sepa 
rated  the  south  and  north  divisions  of  the  Island  of  Brituir 
had  been  happily  terminated  by  the  succession  of  the  pacific 
James  I.  to  the  English  crown.  But,  although  the  united 
crown  of  England  and  Scotland  was  worn  by  the  same 
individual,  it  required  a  long  lapse  of  time,  and  the  suc- 
cession of  more  than  one  generation,  ere  the  inveterate 
national  prejudices  which  had  so  long  existed  betwixt  the 
sister  kingdoms  were  removed,  and  the  subjects  of  either  side 
of  the  Tweed  brought  to  regard  those  upon  the  oj)posite 
bank  as  friends  and  as  brethren. 

These  prejudices  were,  of  course,  most  inveterate  during 
the  reign  of  King  James.  The  English  subjects  accused  him 
of  partiality  to  those  of  his  ancient  kingdom;  while  the 
Scots,  with  equal  injustice,  charged  him  with  having  for- 
gotten the  land  of  his  nativity,  and  with  neglecting  those 
?arly  friends  to  whose  allegiance  he  had  been  so  much 
indebted. 

The  temper  of  the  King,  peaceable  even  to  timidity,  in- 
clined him  perpetually  to  interfere  as  mediator  between  the 
contending  factions,  whose  brawls  disturbed  the  court.  But, 
iiotwithstaiiding  all  his  precautions,  historians  have  recorded 


2  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

many  inBtances  where  the  mutual  hatred  of  two  nations,  who, 
after  being  enemies  for  a  thousand  years,  had  been  so  very 
recently  united,  broke  forth  with  a  fury  which  menaced  a 
general  convulsion;  and,  spreading  from  the  liighest  to  the 
lowest  classes,  as  it  occasioned  debates  in  council  and  parlia- 
ment, factions  in  the  court,  and  duels  among  the  gentry',  was 
no  less  productive  of  riots  and  brawls  among  the  lower  orders. 

While  these  iieart-burnings  were  at  the  highest,  there 
flourished  in  the  city  of  London  an  ingenious,  but  whimsical 
and  self-opinioned,  mechanic,  much  devoted  to  abstract 
studies,  David  Ramsay  *  by  name,  who,  whether  recommended 
by  his  great  skill  in  his  profession,  as  the  courtiers  alleged, 
or,  as  was  murmured  by  his  neiglibors,  by  his  birthplace  in 
tlie  good  town  of  Dalkeith,  near  Edinburgh,  held  in  James's 
household  the  post  of  maker  of  watches  and  horologes  to  his 
Majesty.  He  scorned  not,  however,  to  keep  open  shop 
within  Temple  Bar,  a  few  yards  to  the  eastward  of  St.  Dun- 
stan's  Church. 

The  shop  of  a  London  tradesman  at  that  time,  as  it  may 
be  supposed,  was  something  very  different  from  tliose  we 
now  see  in  the  same  locality.  The  goods  were  exposed  to  sale 
in  cases,  only  defended  from  the  weather  by  a  coveiing  of 
canvas,  and  the  whole  resembled  the  stalls  and  booths  now 
erected  for  the  temporary  accommodation  of  dealers  at  a 
country  fair,  rather  than  the  established  emporium  of  a 
respectable  citizen.  But  most  of  the  shopkeepers  of  note, 
and  David  Ramsay  among  others,  had  their  booth  connected 
with  a  small  apartment  which  opened  backward  from  it,  and 
bore  the  same  resemblance  to  the  front  shop  that  Robinson 
Crusoe's  cavern  did  to  the  tent  which  he  erected  before  it. 
To  this  Master  Ramsay  was  often  accustomed  to  retreat  to 
the  labor  of  his  abstruse  calculations;  for  he  aimed  at  im- 
provement and  discoveries  in  his  own  art,  and  sometimes 
pushed  his  researches,  like  Napier  and  other  mathematicians 
of  tlie  period,  into  abstract  science.  When  thus  engaged,  he 
left  the  outer  posts  of  his  commercial  establisliment  to  be 
maintained  by  two  stout-bodied  and  strong-voiced  apprentices, 
who  kept  up  the  cry  of,  *'  What  d'ye  lack  ? — what  d'ye  lack  ?  " 
accompanied  with  the  appropriate  recommendations  of  the 
articles  in  which  they  dealt.  This  direct  and  personal  appli- 
cation for  custom  to  those  who  chanced  to  pass  by  is  now, 
we  believe,  limited  to  Monmouth  Street  (if  it  still  exists  even 
in  that  repository  of  ancient  garments),  under  tlie  guardian- 
ship of  the  scattered  remnant  of  Israel.  But  at  the  time  we 
are  speaking  of  it  was  practised  alike  by  Jew  and.  Gentile,  and. 
^.  *  See  Note  4. 


THE  FORTLWES  OF  NIGEL  3 

Berveu,  instead  of  all  our  present  newspaper  puffs  and  adver- 
tisements, to  solicit  the  attention  of  the  pnl)lic  in  general, 
and  of  friends  in  particular,  to  the  unrivalled  excellence  of 
the  goods  wliicli  they  offered  to  sale,  upon  such  easy  terms 
that  it  might  fairly  appear  that  the  venders  had  rather  a  view 
to  the  general  service  of  he  public  than  to  their  own  partic- 
ular advantage. 

The  verbal  proclaimers  of  the  excellence  of  their  com- 
modities had  the  advantage  over  those  who,  in  the  present 
day,  use  the  public  papers  for  the  same  purpose,  that  they 
could  in  many  cases  adapt  their  address  to  the  peculiar  appear- 
ance and  apparent  taste  of  the  passengers.  (This,  as  we 
have  said,  was  also  the  case  in  Monmouth  Street  in  our 
remembrance.  "We  have  ourselves  been  reminded  of  the 
deficiencies  of  our  femoral  habiliments,  and  exhorted  upon 
that  score  to  fit  ourselves  more  beseemingly;  but  this  is  a 
digression.)  This  direct  and  personal  mode  of  invitation  to 
customers  became,  however,  a  dangerous  temptation  to  the 
wags  who  were  employed  in  the  task  of  solicitation  during  the 
absence  of  the  principal  person  interested  in  the  traffic;  and 
confiding  in  their  numbers  and  civic  union,  the  'prentices  of 
London  were  often  seduced  into  taking  liberties  with  the 
passengers,  and  exercising  their  wit  at  the  expense  of  those 
whom  they  had  no  hopes  of  converting  into  customers  by 
their  eloquence.  If  this  were  resented  by  any  act  of  violence, 
the  inmates  of  each  shop  were  ready  to  pour  forth  in  succor; 
and  in  the  words  of  an  old  song  which  I)r.  Johnson  was  used 
to  hum — 

Up  then  rose  the  'prentices  all, 

Living  in  London,  both  proper  and  talL 

Desperate  riots  often  arose  on  such  occasions,  especially 
when  the  Templars,  or  other  youths  connected  with  the  aris- 
tocracy, were  insulted,  or  conceived  themselves  to  be  so.  Upon 
8uch  occasions,  bare  steel  was  frequently  opposed  to  the  clubs 
of  the  citizens,  and  death  sometimes  ensued  on  both  sides. 
The  tardy  and  inefficient  police  of  the  time  had  no  other 
resource  than  by  the  alderman  of  the  ward  calling  out  the 
householders,  and  putting  a  stop  to  the  strife  by  overpower- 
ing numbers,  as  the  Capulets  and  Montagues  are  separated 
upon  the  stage. 

At  the  period  when  such  was  the  universal  custom  of  the 
most  respectable,  as  well  as  the  most  inconsiderable,  shop- 
keepers in  London,  David  Ramsay,  on  the  evening  to  which 
we  solicit  the  attention  of  the  reader,  retiring  to  more 
abstruse  and  private  labors,  left  the  administration  of  hia 


t  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

outer  shop,  or  booth,  to  the  aforesaid  sharp-wittecT,  active, 
able-bodied,  and  well-voiced  apprentices,  namely,  Jenkin 
Vincent  and  Frank  Tunstall. 

Vincent  had  been  educated  at  the  excellent  foundation  of 
Christ's  Chnrch  Jlos])ital,  and  was  bred,  therefore,  as  well  as 
born,  a  Londoner,  with  alltheacuteness,  address,  and  :;udacity 
which  belong  peculiarly  to  the  yonth  of  a  metropolis.  He 
was  now  about  twenty  years  old,  short  in  stature,  bu*,  romark- 
ably  strong  made,  eminent  for  his  feats  upon  holidays  at 
football  and  other  gymnastic  exercises;  scarce  rivalled  in  the 
broad-sword  play,  though  hitherto  only  exercised  in  the  form 
of  single-stick.  He  knew  every  Line,  blind  alley,  and  se- 
questered court  of  the  ward  better  than  his  catechism;  was 
alike  active  in  his  master's  affairs  and  in  his  own  adventures 
of  fun  and  mischief;  and  so  managed  matters  that  the  credit 
he  acquired  by  the  former  bore  him  out,  or  at  least  served 
for  his  apology,  wdien  the  latter  propensity  led  him  into 
scrapes,  of  which,  however,  it  is  but  fair  to  state  that  they 
had  hitherto  inferred  nothing  mean  or  discreditable.  Some 
aberrations  there  were,  which  David  Eamsay,  his  master, 
endeavored  to  reduce  to  regular  order  when  he  discovered 
them,  and  others  which  he  winked  i'.t,  supposing  them  to 
answer  the  purpose  of  the  escapement  of  a  watch,  Avhich  dis- 
poses of  a  certain  quantity  of  the  extra  power  of  that  mechan- 
ical impulse  which  puts  the  wdiole  in  notion. 

The  physiognomy  of  Jin  Yin — by  which  abbreviation  he 
was  familiarly  known  through  the  wari — corresponded  Avith 
the  sketch  w^e  have  given  of  his  chararter.  His  head,  upon 
which  his  'prentice's  flat  cap  was  generji.''ly  flung  in  a  careless 
and  oblique  fashion,  was  closely  covered  with  thick  hair  of 
raven  black,  which  curled  naturally  and  rlosely,  and  would 
have  grown  to  great  length  but  for  tie  modest  custom 
enjoined  by  his  state  of  life,  and  strictlr  enforced  by  his 
master,  which  compelled  him  to  keep  it  short-cropped — not 
unreluctantly,  as  he  looked  with  envy  on  the  flowing  ring- 
lets in  which  the  courtiers  and  aristocratic  f^tudents  of  the 
neighboring  Temple  began  to  indulge  themselves,  as  marks 
of  superiority  and  of  gentility.  Vincent's  ey^s  were  deep 
set  in  his  head,  of  a  strong  vivid  black,  full  of  fire,  roguery, 
and  intelligence,  and  conveying  a  humorous  expreesion,  even 
while  he  was  uttering  the  usual  small-talk  of  his  trade,  as  if 
he  ridiculed  those  who  were  disposed  to  give  any  M-^ight  to 
his  commonplaces.  He  had  address  enough,  howe"or,  to 
add  little  touches  of  his  own,  wdiich  gave  a  turn  of  drvdlery 
even  to  this  ordinary  routine  of  the  booth;  and  the  alacrity  of  his 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  5 

manuer,  his  ready  and  obvious  wish  to  oblige,  his  intelligence 
and  civilit}",  when  he  thought  civility  necessary,  made  him 
a  universal  favorite  with  his  master's  customers.  His 
features  were  far  from  regular,  for  his  nose  was  flattish,  his 
mouth  tending  to  the  larger  size,  and  his  complexion  in- 
clining to  be  more  dark  than  was  then  thought  consistent 
with  masculine  beauty.  But,  in  spite  of  his  having  always 
breathed  the  air  of  a  crowded  city,  his  complexion  had 
the  ruddy  and  manly  expression  of  redundant  health;  his 
turned-up  nose  gave  an  air  of  spirit  and  raillery  to  what  he 
said,  and  seconded  the  laugh  of  his  eyes;  and  his  wide  mouth 
was  garnished  with  a  pair  of  well-formed  and  well-colored 
lips,  which,  when  he  laughed,  disclosed  a  range  of  teeth 
strong  and  well  set,  and  as  white  as  the  very  pearl.  Sucb 
was  the  elder  apprentice  of  David  Eamsay,  memory's  moni- 
tor, watchmaker,  and  constructor  of  horologes  to  his  most 
sacred  Majesty  James  I. 

Jenkin's  companion  was  the  younger  apprentice,  though, 
perhaps,  he  might  be  the  elder  of  the  two  in  years.  At  any 
rate,  he  was  of  a  much  more  staid  and  composed  temper. 
Francis  Tunstall  was  of  that  ancient  and  proud  descent  who 
claimed  the  style  of  the  "  unstained; ''  because,  amid  the 
various  chances  of  the  long  and  bloody  wars  of  the  Eoses, 
they  had,  with  undeviating  faith,  followed  the  house  of 
Lancaster,  to  which  they  had  originally  attached  themselves. 
The  meanest  sprig  of  such  a  tree  attached  importance  to  the 
root  from  which  it  derived  itself;  and  Tunstall  was  supposed 
to  nourish  in  secret  a  proportion  of  that  family  pride  which 
had  extorted  tears  from  his  widowed  and  almost  indigent 
mother  when  she  saw  herself  obliged  to  consign  him  to  a  line 
of  life  inferior,  as  her  prejudices  suggested,  to  the  course 
held  by  his  progenitors.  Yet,  Avith  all  this  aristocratic  preju- 
dice, his  master  found  the  well-born  youth  more  docile,  reg- 
ular, and  strictly  attentive  to  his  duty  than  his  far  more 
active  and  alert  comrade.  Tunstall  also  gratified  his  master 
by  the  particular  attention  which  he  seemed  disposed  to 
bestow  on  the  abstract  principles  of  science  connected  with 
the  trade  which  he  was  bound  to  study,  the  limits  of  which 
were  daily  enlarged  with  the  increase  of  mathematical 
science. 

Vincent  beat  his  companion  beyond  the  distance-post  in 
everything  like  the  practical  adaptation  of  thorough  practice 
in  the  dexterity  of  hand  necessary  to  execute  the  mechanical 
branches  of  the  art,  and  double-distanced  him  in  all  respect- 
ing the  commercial  affairs  of  the  shop.     Still  David  Ramsay 


6  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

was  wont  to  say  that,  if  Vincent  knew  how  to  do  a  thing  the 
better  of  the  two,  Tunstall  was  much  better  acquainted  with 
the  principles  on  which  it  ought  to  be  done;  and  he  some- 
times objected  to  the  latter,  that  he  knew  critical  excellence 
too  well  ever  to  be  satisfied  with  practical  mediocrity. 

The  disposition  of  Tunstall  was  shy,  as  well  as  studious; 
and,  though  perfectly  civil  and  obliging,  he  never  seemed  to 
feel  himself  in  his  place  while  he  went  through  the  duties  of 
the  shop.  He  was  tall  and  handsome,  with  fair  hair,  and 
well-formed  limbs,  good  features,  well-opened  light  blue  eyes, 
a  straight  Grecian  nose,  and  a  countenance  which  expressed 
both  good-humor  and  intelligence,  but  qualified  by  a  gravity 
unsuitable  to  his  years,  and  which  almost  amounted  to  dejec- 
tion. He  lived  on  the  best  terms  with  his  companion,  and 
readily  stood  by  him  Avhenever  he  was  engaged  in  any  of  the 
frequent  skirmishes  which,  as  we  have  already  observed, 
often  disturbed  the  city  of  London  about  this  period.  But, 
though  Tunstall  was  allowed  to  understand  quarter-staff  (the 
weapon  of  the  North  country)  in  a  superior  degree,  and 
though  he  was  naturally  both  strong  and  active,  his  inter- 
ference in  such  affrays  seemed  always  matter  of  necessity; 
and,  as  he  never  voluntarily  joined  either  their  brawls  or 
their  sjDorts,  he  held  a  far  lower  place  in  the  opinion  of  the 
youth  of  the  ward  than  his  hearty  and  active  friend  Jin  Vin. 
Xay,  had  it  not  been  for  the  interest  made  for  his  comrade 
by  the  intercession  of  Vincent,  Tunstall  would  have  stood 
some  chance  of  being  altogether  excluded  from  the  society  of 
his  contemporaries  of  the  same  condition,  Avho  called  him,  in 
scorn,  the  Cavaliero  Cuddy  and  the  Gentle  Tunstall.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  lad  himself,  deprived  of  the  fresh  air  in 
which  he  had  been  brought  up,  and  foregoing  the  exercise 
to  which  he  had  been  formerly  accustomed,  while  the  inhabi- 
tant of  his  native  mansion,  lost  gradually  the  freshness  of  his 
complexion,  and,  without  showing  any  formal  symptoms  of 
disease,  grew  more  thin  and  pale  as  he  grew  older,  and  at 
length  exhibited  the  appearance  of  indifferent  health,  with- 
out anything  of  the  habits  and  complaints  of  an  invalid,  ex- 
cepting a  disposition  to  avoid  society,  and  to  spend  his 
leisure  time  in  private  study,  rather  than  mingle  in  the 
sports  of  his  companions,  or  even  resort  to  the  theatres,  then 
the  general  rendezvous  of  his  class;  where,  according  to 
high  authority,  they  fought  for  half-bitten  apples,  cracked 
nuts,  and  filled  the  upper  gallery  with  their  clamors. 

Such  were  the  two  youths  who  called  David  Eamsay 
master  ;  and  with  both  of  whom  he  used  to  fret  from  morn- 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIQEL  7 

ing  till  niglit,  as  their  peculiarities  interfered  with  his  own, 
or  with  the  quiet  and  beneficial  course  of  his  traffic. 

Upon  the  whole,  however,  the  youths  Avere  attached  to 
their  master,  and  he,  a  good-natured,  though  an  absent  and 
whimsical,  man,  Avas  scarce  less  so  to  them  ;  and,  when  a 
little  Avarmed  Avith  AA^ine  at  an  occasional  junketing,  he  used 
to  boast,  in  liis  northern  dialect,  of  his  '"'twa  bonny  lads,  and 
the  looks  that  the  court  ladies  threw  at  them,  when  visiting 
his  shop  in  their  caroches,  Avlien  on  a  frolic  into  the  city/* 
But  David  Ramsay  never  failed,  at  the  same  time,  to  draAV 
up  his  own  tall,  thin,  lathy  skeleton,  extend  his  lean  jaAvs 
into  an  alarming  grin,  and  indicate,  by  a  nod  of  his  yard-long 
visage  and  a  tAvinkle  of  his  little  gray  eye,  that  there  might 
be  more  faces  in  Fleet  Street  Avorth  looking  at  than  those  of 
Frank  and  Jenkin. 

His  old  neighbor,  Widow  Simmons,  the  seamstress,  Avho 
had  served,  in  her  day,  the  very  tip-top  revellers  of  the  Tem- 
ple Avith  ruffs,  cuffs,  and  bands,  distinguished  more  deeply 
the  sort  of  attention  paid  by  the  females  of  quality  Avho  so 
regularly  visited  David  Eamsay's  shop  to  its  inmates.  "  The 
boy  Frank,^'  she  admitted,  "  used  to  attract  the  attention  of 
the  young  ladies,  as  having  something  gentle  and  doAvncast 
in  his  looks  ;  but  then  he  could  not  better  himself,  for  the 
poor  youth  had  not  a  word  to  throw  at  a  dog.  Now  Jin  Vin 
was  so  full  of  his  jibes  and  his  jeers,  and  so  Avilling,  and  so 
ready,  and  so  serviceable,  and  so  mannerly  all  the  while, 
Avith  a  step  that  sprung  like  a  buck^s  in  Epping  Forest,  and 
his  eye  that  tAvinkled  as  black  as  a  gypsey's,  that  no  Avoman 
who  knew  the  world  would  make  a  comparison  betwixt  the 
lads.  As  for  poor  neighbor  Ramsay  himself,  the  man,*' 
she  said,  "was  a  ciAdl  neighbor,  and  a  learned  man,  doubt- 
less, and  might  be  a  rich  man  if  he  had  common  sense  to 
bacV  his  learning ;  and  doubtless,  for  a  Scot,  neighbor 
Ra_asay  Avas  nothing  of  a  bad  man,  but  he  was  so  constantly 
grimed  Avith  smoke,  gilded  with  brass  filings,  and  smeared 
with  lamp-black  and  oil,  that  Dame  Simmons  judged  it 
would  require  his  whole  shopful  of  Avatches  to  induce  any 
feasible  woman  to  touch  the  said  neighbor  Ramsay  witn 
anything  save  a  pair  of  tongs." 

A  still  higher  authority.  Dame  Ursula,  wife  to  Benjamin 
Suddlechop,  the  barber,  was  of  exactly  the  same  opinion. 

Such  were,  in  natural  qualities  and  public  estimation,  the 
two  youths  who,  on  a  fine  April  day,  having  first  rendered 
their  dutiful  service  and  attendance  on  the  table  of  their 
master  and  his  daughter,  at  their  dinner  at  one  o'clock,— 


«  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

such,  0  ye  lads  of  London,  was  tlie  severe  discipline  under- 
gone by  your  predecessors  ! — and  having  regaled  themselves 
upon  the  fragments,  in  company  with  two  female  domestics, 
one  a  cook  and  maid  of  all  work,  the  other  called  Mistress 
Margaret's  maid,  now  relieved  their  master  in  tlie  duty  ot 
the  outward  shop  ;  and,  agreeably  to  the  established  custom, 
were  soliciting,  by  their  entreaties  and  recommendations  of 
their  masters  manufacture,  the  attention  and  encouragement 
of  the  passengers. 

In  this  species  of  service  it  may  be  easily  supposed  that 
Jenkin  Vincent  left  his  more  reserved  and  bashful  comrade 
far  in  the  background.  The  latter  could  only  articulate 
with  difficulty,  and  as  an  act  of  duty  which  he  was  rather 
ashamed  of  discharging,  the  established  words  of  form — 
"  What  d'ye  lack  ?  What  d'ye  lack  ?  Clocks— watches- 
barnacles  ?  What  d'ye  lack  ?  Watches — clocks — barnacles  ? 
AVhat  d'ye  lack,  sir  ?  What  d'ye  lack,  madam  ?  Barnacles — 
watches — clocks  ?" 

But  this  dull  and  dry  iteration,  however  varied  by  diver- 
sity of  verbal  arrangement,  sounded  flat  when  mingled  with 
the  rich  and  recommendatory  oratory  of  the  bold-faced,  deep- 
mouthed,  and  ready-witted  Jenkin  Vincent.  "What  d'ye 
lack,  noble  sir  ?  What  d'ye  lack,  beauteous  madam  ?"  he 
said,  in  a  tone  at  once  bold  and  soothing,  which  often  was 
so  applied  as  both  to  gratify  the  persons  addressed  and  to 
excite  a  smile  from  other  hearers.  "  God  bless  your  rever- 
ence," to  a  beneficed  clergyman  ;  "  the  Greek  and  Hebrew 
have  harmed  your  reverence's  eyes.  Buy  a  pair  of  David 
Ramsay's  barnacles.  The  King  —  God  bless  his  sacred 
Majesty  ! — never  reads  Hebrew  or  Greek  without  them." 

"  Are  you  well  advised  of  that  ?"  said  a  fat  parson  from 
the  Vale  of  Evesliam.  "  Nay,  if  the  head  of  the  church 
wears  them — God  bless  his  sacred  Majesty! — I  will  try  what 
they  can  do  for  me  ;  for  I  have  not  been  able  to  distinguish 
one  Hebrew  letter  from  another  since — I  cannot  remember  the 
time — when  I  had  a  bad  fever.  Choose  me  a  pair  of  his 
most  sacred  Majesty's  own  wearing,  my  good  youth." 

*'  This  is  a  pair,  and  please  your  reverence,"  said  Jenkin, 
producing  a  pair  of  spectacles  which  he  touched  with  an  aii 
of  great  deference  and  respect,  '^  which  his  most  blessed 
Majesty  placed  this  day  three  weeks  on  his  own  blessed  nose; 
and  would  have  kept  them  for  his  own  sacred  use,  but  that 
the  setting  being,  as  your  reverence  sees,  of  the  purest  jet, 
was,  as  his  sacred  Majesty  was  pleased  to  say,  fitter  for  a 
bishop  than  for  a  secular  prince. 


THE  FORTUNES  OP  NIGEL  9 

^'  His  sacred  Majesty  the  King,"  said  the  worthy  diving. 
''  was  ever  a  very  Daniel  in  his  judgment.  Give  me  the  bar- 
nacles, my  good  youth,  and  who  can  say  what  nose  they  may 
bestride  in  two  years  hence  ?  Our  reverend  brother  of 
(iloucester  waxes  in  years."  He  then  pulled  out  his  purse, 
paid  for  the  spectacles,  and  lel't  the  shop  with  even  a  more 
important  step  than  that  which  had  paused  to  enter  it. 

"For  shame,"  said  Tunstall  to  his  companion;  "these 
glasses  will  never  suit  one  of  his  years." 

"  You  are  a  fool,  Frank,"  said  Vincent,  in  reply  ;  "had  the 
good  doctor  wished  glasses  to  read  with  he  would  have  tried 
them  before  buying.  He  does  not  want  to  look  through 
them  himself,  and  these  will  serve  the  purpose  of  being 
looked  at  by  other  folks  as  well  as  the  best  magnifiers  in  the 
shop.  AVliat  d'ye  lack?  "  he  cried,  resuming  his  solicitations. 
"Mirrors  for  your  toilet,  my  pretty  madam;  your  head- 
gear is  something  awry — pity,  since  it  is  so  well  fancied." 
The  woman  stopped  and  bought  a  mirror.  "  What  d'ye 
lack? — a  watch,  Master  Sergeant — a  watch  that  will  go  as 
long  as  a  lawsuit,  as  steady  and  true  as  your  own  elo- 
quence?" 

"  Hold  your  peace,  sir,"  answered  the  Knight  of  the  Coif, 
who  was  disturbed  by  Vin's  address  while  in  deep  consulta- 
tion with  an  eminent  attorney — "hold  your  peace!  You 
are  the  loudest-tongued  varlet  betwixt  the  Devil's  Tavern 
and  Guildhall." 

"  A  watch,"  reiterated  the  undaunted  Jenkin,  "  that 
shall  not  lose  thirteen  minutes  in  a  thirteen  years'  lawsuit. 
He's  out  of  hearing.  A  watch  with  four  wheels  and  a  bar- 
movement.  A  watch  that  shall  tell  you.  Master  Poet,  how 
long  the  patience  of  the  audience  will  endure  your  next 
])iece  at  the  Black  Bull."  The  bard  laughed,  and  fumbled 
in  the  pocket  of  his  slops  till  he  chased  into  a  corner,  and 
fairly  caught,  a  small  piece  of  coin. 

"  Here  is  a  tester  to  cherish  thy  wit,  good  boy,"  he  said. 

''  Gramercy,"  said  Yin  ;  "  at  the  next  play  of  yours  I 
will  bring  do^\Ti  a  set  of  roaring  boys  that  shall  make  all  the 
critics  in  the  pit  and  the  gallants  on  the  stage  civil,  or  else 
the  curtain  shall  smoke  for  it." 

"Now,  that  I  call  mean,"  said  Tunstall,  "to  take  the 
poor  rhymer's  money,  who  has  so  little  left  behind." 

"  You  are  an  owl  once  again,"  said  Vincent ;  "  if  he  has 
nothing  left  to  buy  cheese  and  radishes,  he  will  only  dine  a 
day  the  sooner  with  some  patron  or  some  player,  for  that  is 
his  fate  five  days  out  of  the  seven.     It  is  unnatural  that  a 


IC  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

poet  snouicl  pay  for  his  own  pot  of  beer  ;  I  will  drink  his 
tester  for  him,  to  save  liim  from  such  shame  ;  and  when  his 
third  night  comes  round  lie  shall  have  pennyworths  for  his 
coin,  I  promise  you.  But  here  conies  another-guess  cus- 
tomer. Look  at  that  strange  fellow  ;  see  how  he  gapes  at 
every  shop,  as  if  he  would  swallow  the  wares.  0  !  tSt.  Dun- 
stan  has  caught  his  eye ;  pray  God  he  swallow  not  the 
images.  See  how  he  stands  astonished,  as  old  Adam  and 
Eve  ply  their  ding-dong  !  Come,  Frank,  thou  art  a  scholar  : 
construe  me  that  same  fellow,  with  his  blue  cap  with  9, 
cock's  feather  in  it,  to  show  he's  of  gentle  blood,  God  wot, 
his  gray  eyes,  his  yellow  hair,  his  sword  with  a  ton  of  iron 
in  the  handle,  his  gray,  threadbare  cloak,  his  step  like  a 
Frenchman,  his  look  like  a  Spaniard,  a  book  at  his  girdle, 
and  a  broad  dudgeon-dagger  on  the  other  side  to  show  him 
half -pedant,  half-bully.  How  call  you  that  pageant, 
Frank?" 

''A  raw  Scotsman,"  said  Tunstall ;  ''just  come  up,  I 
suppose,  to  help  the  rest  of  his  countrymen  to  gnaw  Old 
England's  bones  :  a  palmer-worm,  I  reckon,  to  devour  what 
the  locust  has  spared." 

"Even  so,  Frank,"  answered  Vincent;  "just  as  the 
poet  sings  sweetly — 

"  '  In  Scotland  he  was  born  and  bred, 
And,  though  a  beggar,  must  be  fed.'" 

"  Hush  ! "  said  Tunstall,  "  remember  our  master/' 

"  Pshaw  ! "  answered  his  mercurial  companion  ;  "  he 
knows  on  which  side  his  bread  is  buttered,  and  I  warrant 
you  lias  not  lived  so  long  among  Englishmen,  and  by  Eng- 
lishmen, to  quarrel  with  us  for  bearing  an  English  mind. 
But  see,  our  Scot  has  done  gazing  at  St.  Dunstan's,  and 
conies  our  way.  By  this  light,  a  proper  lad  and  a  sturdy,  in 
spite  of  freckles  and  sunburning.  He  comes  nearer  still ;  I 
will  have  at  him." 

"And  if  you  do,"  said  his  comrade,  "you  may  get  a 
broken  head  :  he  looks  not  as  if  he  would  carry  coals." 

"  A  fig  for  your  threat,"  said  Vincent,  and  instantly  ad- 
dressed the  stranger,  "  Buy  a  watch,  most  noble  northern 
thane — buy  a  watch,  to  count  the  hours  of  plenty  since  the 
blessed  moment  you  left  Berwick  behind  you.  Buy  barna- 
cles, to  see  the  English  gold  lies  ready  for  your  grip.  Buy 
what  you  will,  you  shall  have  credit  for  three  days  ;  for,  were 
your  pockets  as  bare  as  Father  Fergus's,  you  are  a  Scot  in 
London,   and  you   will   be  stocked   in   that    time."      The 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  11 

stranger  looked  sternly  at  the  waggish  apprentice,  and 
seemed  to  grasp  his  cudgel  in  rather  a  menacing  fashion. 
''Buy  pliA'sic/'  said  the  undaunted  Vincent,  "  if  you  will 
buy  neither  time  nor  light — physic  for  a  proud  stomach,  sir 
— there  is  a  Apothecary's  shop  on  the  other  side  of  the  way." 

Here  the  probationary  disciple  of  Galen  vrho  stood  at  his 
master's  door  in  his  flat  cap  and  canvas  sleeves,  with  a  large 
wooden  pestle  in  his  hand,  took  up  the  ball  which  was  flung 
to  him  by  Jenkin,  with,  "  What  d'ye  lack,  sir?  Buy  a  choice 
Caledonian  slave,  Flos  stilphvr.  cum  butyro  quant,  suff." 

'■•To  be  taken  after  a  gentle  rubbing-down  with  an  Eng- 
lish oaken  towel,"  said  Vincent. 

The  bonny  Scot  had  given  full  scope  to  the  play  of  this 
small  artillery  of  city  wit,  by  halting  his  steady  pace  and 
viewing  grimly  first  the  one  assailant  and  then  the  other, 
as  if  menacing  either  repartee  or  more  violent  revenge.  But 
phlegm  or  prudence  got  the  better  of  his  indignation,  and 
tossing  his  head  as  one  who  valued  not  the  raillery  to  which 
he  had  been  exposed,  he  walked  down  Fleet  Street,  pursued 
by  the  horse-laugh  of  his  tormentors. 

''  The  Scot  will  not  fight  till  he  see  his  own  blood,"  said 
Tunstall,  whom  his  north  of  England  extraction  had  made 
familiar  with  all  manner  of  proverbs  against  those  who  lay 
jet  farther  north  than  himself. 

"  Faith,  I  know  not,"  said  Jenkin  ;  ''  he  looks  dangerous, 
that  fellow  :  he  will  hit  some  one  over  the  noddle  before  he 
goes  far.     Hark  I — they  are  rising." 

Accordingly,  the  well-known  cry  of  "  Trentices — 'pren- 
tices! Clubs — clubs!'  now  rang  along  Fleet  Street ;  and  Jen- 
kin, snatching  up  his  weapon,  which  lay  beneath  the  counter 
ready  at  the  slightest  notice,  and  calling  to  Tunstall  to  take 
his  bat  and  follow,  leaped  over  the  hatch-door  which  pro- 
tected the  outer  shop,  and  ran  as  fast  as  he  could  towards  the 
affray,  echoing  the  cry  as  he  ran,  and  elbowing,  or  shoving 
aside,  whoever  stood  in  his  way.  His  comrade,  first  calling 
to  his  master  to  give  an  eye  to  the  shop,  followed  Jenkin's 
example,  and  ran  after  him  as  fast  as  he  could,  but  with 
more  attention  to  the  safety  and  convenience  of  others  ; 
while  old  David  Ramsay,  with  hands  and  eyes  uplifted,  a 
green  apron  before  him,  and  a  glass  which  he  had  been  pol- 
ishing thrust  into  his  bosom,  came  forth  to  look  after  the 
safety  of  his  goods  and  chattels,  knowing,  by  old  experience, 
that,  when  the  cry  of  "Clubs"  once  arose,  he  would  have 
little  aid  on  the  part  of  his  apprentices. 


CHAPTER  II 

This,  sir  is  one  among  the  seignory, 
Has  wealth  at  will,  and  will  to  use  his  wealth, 
And  wit  to  increase  it.     Marry,  his  worst  folly 
Lies  in  a  thriftless  sort  of  charity 
That  goes  a-gadding  sometimes  after  objects 
Which  wise  men  will  not  see  when  thrust  upon  them. 

The  Old  Couple. 

The  ancient  gentleman  bustled  about  his  shop,  in  pettish 
displeasure  at  being  summoned  hither  so  hastily,  to  the  inter- 
ruption of  his  more  abstract  studies  ;  and,  unwilling  to 
renounce  the  train  of  calculation  which  he  had  put  in  prog- 
ress, he  mingled  whimsically  with  the  fragments  of  the 
arithmetical  operation  his  oratory  to  the  passengers  and 
angry  reflections  on  his  idle  apprentices.  "  What  d'ye  lack, 
sir1'  Madam,  what  d'ye  lack — clocks  for  hall  or  table — night- 
watches — day- watches?  Locking  wheel  being  48 — the  power 
of  retort  8 — the  striking  pins  are  48 — What  d  ye  lack,  honored 
sir? — The  quotient — the  multiplicand — That  the  knaves 
should  have  gone  out  at  this  blessed  minute! — the  accelera- 
tion being  at  the  rate  of  5  minutes,  55  seconds,  53  thirds,  59 
fourths — I  will  switch  them  both  when  they  come  back — I 
will,  by  the  bones  of  the  immortal  Xapier  !" 

Here  the  vexed  philosopher  was  interrupted  by  the 
entrance  of  a  grave  citizen  of  a  most  respectable  appearance, 
who,  saluting  him  familiarly  by  the  name  of  ' '  Davie,  my  old 
acquaintance,"  demanded  what  had  put  him  so  much  out  of 
sorts,  and  gave  him  at  the  same  time  a  cordial  grasp  of  his 
hand. 

The  stranger's  dress  was,  though  grave,  rather  richer  than 
usual.  His  paned  hose  were  of  black  velvet,  lined  with  pur- 
ple silk,  whic-h  garniture  appeared  at  the  slashes.  His  doub- 
let was  of  purple  cloth,  and  his  short  cloak  of  black  velvet, 
to  correspond  with  his  hose  ;  and  both  were  adorned  with  a 
great  number  of  small  silver  buttons  richly  wrought  in  fila- 
gree. A  triple  chain  of  gold  hung  round  his  neck  ;  and,  u\ 
place  of  a  sword  or  dagger,  he  Avore  at  his  belt  an  ordinary 
knife  for  the  purpose  of  the  table,  with  a  small  silver  case, 
which  appeare^i  to  contain  writing-materials.  He  might 
have  seemed  some  secretary  or  clerk  engaged  in  the  service 
of  the  public,  only  that  his  low,  flat,  and  unadorned  cap, 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  IS 

and  his  well-blacked,  shining  shoes,  indicated  that  he 
belonged  to  tlie  city.  He  was  a  well-mude  man,  about  the 
middle  size,  and  seemed  firm  in  health,  though  advanced  in 
years.  His  looks  expressed  sagacity  and  good-humor  ;  and 
the  air  of  respectability  which  his  dress  announced  was  well 
supported  bv  his  clear'eye,  ruddy  cheek,  and  gray  hair.  He 
used  the  Scottish  idiom  in  his  first  address,  but  in  such  a 
manner  that  it  could  hardly  be  distinguished  whether  he  was 
passing  upon  his  friend  a  sort  of  jocose  mockery  or  whether 
it  was  his  own  native  dialect,  for  his  ordinary  discourse  had 
little  provincialism. 

In  auswer  to  the  queries  of  his  respectable  friend,  Ramsay 
groaned  heavilv,  answering  by  echoing  back  the  question, 
"  What  ails  me.  Master  George?  Why,  everything  ails  me! 
I  profess  to  you  that  a  man  may  as  well  live  in  Fairyland  as 
in  the  ward  of  Farringdon  Without.  My  apprentices  are 
turned  into  mere  goblins:  they  appear  and  disappear  like 
spunkies,  and  have  no  more  regularity  in  them  than  a  watch 
Avithout  a  scapement.  If  there  is  a  ball  to  be  tossed  up,  or  a 
bullock  to  be  driven  mad.  or  a  queen  to  be  ducked  for  scold- 
ing, or  a  head  to  be  broken,  Jenkin  is  sure  to  be  at  the  one 
end  or  the  other  of  it,  and  then  away  skips  Francis  Tunstall 
for  company.  I  think  the  prize-fighters,  bear-leaders,  and 
mountebanks  are  in  a  league  against  me,  my  dear  friend, 
and  that  they  pass  my  house  ten  times  for  any  other  in  the 
city.  Here's  an  Italian  fellow  come  over,  too,  that  they  call 
Punchinello;  and,  altogether " 

-'  Well,''  interrupted  Master  George,  "  but  wdiat  is  all 
this  to  the  present  case?" 

"  Why,"  replied  Ramsay,  "  here  has  been  a  cry  of  thieves 
or  murder — I  hope  that  will  prove  the  least  of  it  among 
these  English  pock-pudding  swine!— and  I  have  been  inter- 
rupted in  the  deepest  calculation  ever  mortal  man  plunged 
into.  Master  George." 

''What,  man!"  replied  Master  George,  "you  must  take 
patience.  You  are  a  man  that  deals  in  time,  and  can  make 
it  go  fast  and  slow  at  pleasure;  you,  of  all  the  world,  have 
least  reason  to  complain  if  a  little'  of  it  be  lost  now  and  then. 
But  here  come  vour  boys,  and  bringing  in  a  slain  man  be- 
twixt them,  I  think:  here  has  been  serious  mischief,  I  am 
afraid." 

"  The  more  mischief  the  better  sport,"  said  the  crabbed 
old  watchmaker.  "  I  am  blythe,  though,  that  it's  neither  of 
the  twa  loons  themselves.  What  are  ye  bringing  a  corpse 
here  for,  ye   fause  villains?"  he  added,  addressing  the  two 


14  WAVERLEV  NOVELS 

apprentices,  who  at  the  head  of  a  considerable  mob  of  their 
own  chiss,  some  of  wliom  bore  evident  marks  of  a  recent 
fray,  were  carrying  the  body  betwixt  them. 

"  He  is  not  dead  yet,  sir,"  answered  TnnstaU. 

"  Carry  liim  into  the  apothecary's,  then,"  replied  his  mas- 
tor.  "D'ye  think  I  can  set  a  man's  life  in  motion  again,  as 
ir  he  were  a  clock  or  a  timepiece?" 

"  For  God's  sake,  old  friend,'* said  his  acquaintance,  "  let 
us  have  him  here  at  the  nearest;  he  seems  only  in  a  swoon." 

"  A  swoon!"  said  llamsay,  *'  and  what  business  had  he  to 
swoon  in  the  streets?  Only,  if  it  will  oblige  my  friend 
Master  George,  I  would  take  in  all  the  dead  men  in  8t.  Dun- 
stan's  parish.     Call  Sam  Porter  to  look  after  the  shop." 

So  saying,  the  stunned  man,  being  the  identical  Scots- 
man who  had  passed  a  short  time  before  amid  the  jeers  of 
the  apprentices,  was  carried  into  the  back  shop  of  the  artist, 
and  there  placed  in  an  arm-chair  till  the  apothecary  from 
over  the  way  came  to  his  assistance.  This  gentleman,  as 
sometimes  happens  to  those  of  the  learned  professions,  had 
rather  more  lore  than  knowledge,  and  began  to  talk  of  the 
sinciput  and  occiput,  and  cerebrum  and  cerebellum,  until 
he  exhausted  David  Kamsay's  brief  stock  of  patience. 

"  Bell-um  !  bell-ell-um!"  he  repeated,  with  great  indigna- 
tion. "^  What  signify  all  the  bells  in  London,  if  you  do  not 
put  a  plaster  on  the  chield's  crown?" 

Master  George,  with  better-directed  zeal,  asked  the  apothe- 
cary whether  bleeding  might  not  be  useful;  when,  after 
humming  and  hawing  for  a  moment,  and  being  unable,  upon 
the  spur  of  the  occasion,  to  suggest  anything  else,  the  man 
of  pharmacy  observed,  that  "it  would,  at  all  events,  relieve 
the  brain  or  cerebrum,  in  case  there  was  a  tendency  to  the 
depositation  of  any  extravasated  blood,  to  operate  as  a  press- 
ure upon  that  delicate  organ."  Fortunately  he  was  adequate 
to  performing  this  operation;  and,  being  powerfully  aided 
by  Jenkin  Vincent  (who  was  learned  in  all  cases  of  broken 
heads)  with  plenty  of  cold  water  and  a  little  vinegar,  applied 
according  to  the  scientific  method  practised  by  the  bottle- 
holders  in  a  modern  ring,  the  man  began  to  raise  himself  on 
his  chair,  draw  his  cloak  tightly  around  him,  and  look  about 
like  one  who  struggles  to  recover  sense  and  recollection. 

"  He  had  better  lie  down  on  the  bed  in  the  little  back 
closet,"  said  Mr.  Eamsay's  visitor,  who  seemed  perfectly 
familiar  with  the  accommodations  which  the  house  afforded. 

"  He  is  welcome  to  my  share  of  the  trundle,"  said  Jen- 
kin,   for  in  the  said  back  closet  were  the  two  apprentices 


THE  FORTUNES  OB'  MGEL  15 

accommodated  in  one  trundle-bed;  ''lean  sleep  under  the 
counter." 

''So  can  I,"  said  Tunstall,  "and  the  poor  fellow  can 
have  the  bed  all  night." 

"Sleep,"  said  the  apothecary,  "is,  in  the  opinion  of 
Galen,  a  restorative  and  febrifuge,  and  is  most  naturally 
taken  in  a  trundle-bed." 

"  Where  a  better  cannot  be  come  by,"  said  Master  George; 
"  but  these  are  two  honest  lads,  to  give  up  their  beds  so  will- 
ingly. Come,  off  with  his  cloak,  and  let  us  bear  him  to  his 
couch.  I  will  send  for  Dr.  Irving,  the  king's  chirurgeon; 
he  does  not  live  far  off,  and  that  shall  be  my  share  of  the 
Samaritan's  duty,  neighbor  Ramsay." 

"  Well,  sir,"  said  the  apothecary,  "it  is  at  your  pleasure 
to  send  for  other  advice,  and  I  shall  not  object  to  consult 
with  Dr.  Irving  or  any  other  medical  person  of  skill,  neither 
to  continue  to  furnish  such  drugs  as  may  be  needful  from 
my  pharmacopoeia.  However,  whatever  Dr.  Irving,  who,  I 
think,  hath  had  his  degrees  in  Edinburgh,  or  Dr.  Any-one- 
Beside,  be  he  Scottish  or  English,  may  say  to  the  contrary, 
sleep,  taken  timeously,  is  a  febrifuge,  or  sedative,  and-also  a 
restorative." 

He  muttered  a  few  more  learned  words,  and  concluded 
by  informing  Ramsay's  friend,  in  English  far  more  intelligi- 
ble than  his  Latin/that  he  would  look  to  him  as  his  pay- 
master for  medicines,  care,  and  attendance,  furnished,  or  to 
be  furnished,  to  this  party  unknown. 

Master  George  only  replied  by  desiring  him  to  send  his 
bill  for  what  he  had  already  to  charge,  and  to  give  himself 
no  farther  trouble  unless  he  heard  from  him.  The  pharma- 
copolist,  who,  from  discoveries  made  by  the  cloak  falling  a 
little  aside,  had  no  great  opinion  of  the  faculty  of  this 
chance  patient  to  make  reimbursement,  had  no  sooner  seen 
his  case  espoused  by  a  substantial  citizen  than  he  showed 
some  reluctance  to  quit  possession  of  it,  and  it  needed  a 
short  and  stern  hint  from  Master  George,  which,  with  all 
his  good -humor,  he  was  capable  of  expressing  when  occasion 
required,  to  send  to  his  own  dwelling  this  Esculapius  of 
Temple  Bar. 

When  they  were  rid  of  Mr.  Raredrench,  the  charitable 
efforts  of  Jenkin  and  Francis  to  divest  the  patient  of  his 
long  gray  cloak  were  firmly  resisted  on  his  own  part.  "  My 
life  suner — my  life  suner,"  he  muttered  in  indistinct  mur- 
murs. In  these  efforts  to  retain  his  upper  garment,  which 
was  too  tender  to  resist  ruuch  handling,  it  gave  way  at  length 


16  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

with  a  loud  rent,  which  ahnost  threw  the  patient  into  a  sec- 
ond syncope,  and  lie  sat  before  them  in  his  under  garments, 
tlie  looped  and  repaired  wretchedness  of  which  moved  at 
once  pity  and  laughter,  and  had  certainly  been  the  cause  of 
his  unwillingness  to  resign  the  mantle,  which,  like  the 
virtue  of  charity,  served  to  cover  so  many  imperfections. 

The  man  himself  cast  his  eyes  on  his  poverty-struck  garb^ 
and  seemed  so  much  ashamed  of  the  disclosure  that,  mutter- 
ing between  his  teeth  that  he  Avould  be  too  late  for  an  ap- 
pointment, he  made  an  effort  to  rise  and  leave  the  shop, 
which  was  easily  prevented  by  Jenkin  Vincent  and  his  com- 
rade, who,  at  the  nod  of  Master  George,  laid  hold  of  and  de- 
tained him  in  his  chair.  The  patient  next  looked  round  him 
for  a  moment,  and  then  said  faintly,  in  his  broad,  northern 
language — "What  sort  of  usage  ca'  ye  this,  gentlemen,  to  a 
stranger  a  sojourner  in  your  town?  Ye  hae  broken  my  head, 
ye  hae  riven  my  cloak,  and  now  ye  are  for  restraining  my 
personal  liberty!  They  were  wiser  than  me,'Mie  said,  after  a 
moment's  pause, '^  that  counselled  me  to  wear  my  warst  claith- 
ing  in  the  streets  of  London;  and,  if  I  could  have  got  ony 
things  warse  than  these  mean  garments  ("Which  would 
have  been  very  difficult,"  said  Jin  Vin,  in  a  whisper  to  his 
companion),  they  would  have  been  e'en  ower  gude  for  the 
grip  o'  men  sae  little  acquented  with  the  laws  of  honest 
civility." 

"  To  say  the  truth,"  said  Jenkin,  unable  to  forbear  any 
longer,  although  the  discipline  of  the  times  prescribed  to 
those  in  his  situation  a  degree  of  respectful  distance  and 
humility  in  the  presence  of  parents,  masters,  or  seniors  of 
which  the  present  age  has  no  idea — ''to  say  the  truth,  the 
good  gentleman's  clothes  look  as  if  they  would  not  brook 
much  handling." 

"Hold  your  peace,  young  man,"  said  Master  George, 
with  a  tone  of  authority:  "never  mock  the  stranger  or  the 
poor.  The  black  ox  has  not  trod  on  your  foot  yet;  you 
know  not  what  lands  you  may  travel  in,  or  what  clothes  you 
may  wear,  before  you  die." 

Vincent  held  down  his  head  and  stood  rebuked;  but  the 
stranger  did  not  accept  the  apology  which  was  made  for 
him. 

"I  a7n  a  stranger,  sir,"  said  he,  "that  is  certain;  though 
methinks  that,  being  such,  I  have  been  somewhat  familiarly 
treated  in  this  town  of  yours;  but,  as  for  my  being  poor,  I 
think  I  need  not  be  charged  with  poverty  till  I  seek  siller 
of  somebody." 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  17 

'*TIie  dear  conntry  all  over/' said  Master  George,  in  a 
v^iisper,  to  David  Ramsay — "  pride  and  poverty/' 

But  David  had  taken  out  his  tablets  and  silver  pen,  and, 
deeply  immersed  in  calculations,  in  which  he  rambled  over 
all  the  terms  of  arithmetic,  from  the  simple  unit  to  millions, 
billions,  and  trillions,  neither  heard  nor  answered  the  obser- 
vation of  his  friend,  who,  seeing  his  abstraction,  turned 
again  to  the  Scot. 

"  I  fancy  now.  Jockey,  if  a  stranger  were  to  offer  you  a 
noble,  you  would  chuck  it  back  at  his  head?" 

''Not  if  I  could  do  him  honest  service  for  it,  sir,"  said 
the  Scot;  *'  I  am  willing  to  do  what  I  may  to  be  useful, 
though  I  come  of  an  honorable  house,  and  may  be  said  to  be 
in  a  sort  indifferently  weel  provided  for." 

"  Ay  !"  said  the  interrogator,  "  and  what  house  may  claim 
the  honor  of  your  descent?" 

''  An  ancient  coat  belongs  to  it,  as  the  play  says,"  whis- 
pered Vincent  to  his  compaiiion. 

"  Come,  Jockey,  out  with  it,"  continued  Master  George, 
observing  that  the  Scot,  as  usual  with  his  countrymen  when 
asked  a  blunt,  straightforward  question,  took  a  little  time 
before  answering  it. 

"  I  am  no  more  Jockey,  sir,  than  you  uio  John,"  said  the 
stranger,  as  if  offended  at  being  addressed  by  a  name  which 
at  that  time  was  used,  as  Sawney  now  is,  for  a  general  appel- 
lative of  the  Scottish  nation.  "  My  name,  if  you  must  know 
it,  is  Eichie  Moniplies;  and  I  come  of  the  old  and  honorable 
house  of  Castle  Collop,  weel  kenn'd  at  the  West  Port  of 
Edinburgh." 

"  What  is  that  you  call  the  West  Port?  "  proceeded  the 
interrogator. 

"  Why,  an  it  like  your  honor,"  said  Richie,  who  now, 
having  recovered  his  senses  sufKciently  to  observe  the  re- 
spectable exterior  of  Master  George,  threw  more  civility  into 
his  manner  than  at  first,  ''  the  West  Port  is  a  gate  of  our 
city,  as  yonder  brick  arches  at  Whitehall  form  tlie  entrance 
of  the  King's  palace  here,  only  that  the  West  Port  is  of 
stonern  work,  and  mair  decorated  with  architecture  and  the 
policy  of  bigging." 

"  Nouns,  man,  the  Whitehall  gateways  were  planned  by 
the  great  Holbein,"  answered  Master  George;  "■  1  suspect 
your  accident  has  jumbled  your  brains,  my  good  friend.  I 
suppose  you  will  tell  me  next,  you  have  at  Edinburgh  as  fine 
a  navigable  river  as  the  1'hames,  with  all  its  ship})ing?" 

"  'I'He  Thames!"  exclaimed  Richie,  in  a  tone  of  ineffable 


18  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

contempt.  "  God  bless  your  honor's  judgment,  we  have  at 
Edinburgh  tlie  Water  of  Leith  and  the  Nor'  Lo(;li!  " 

"  And  tlie  Tow  Burn,  and  the  Quarry  Holes,  and  the 
Gusedub,  ye  faiTse  loon!"  answered  Master  George,  speaking 
Scotch  with  a  strong  and  natural  emphasis;  ''it  is  such 
landloupers  as  you  that,  with  your  falset  and  fair  fashions, 
bring  reproach  on  our  whole  country." 

''  God  forgie  me,  sir,"  said  Richie,  much  surprised  at 
finding  the  supposed  Southron  converted  into  a  native  Scot. 
"I  took  your  honor  for  an  Englisher!  But  I  hope  there 
was  naething  wrang  in  standing  up  for  ane's  ain  country's 
credit  in  a  strange  land,  where  all  men  cry  her  down  ?  " 

"  Do  you  call  it  for  your  country's  credit  to  show  that  she 
has  a  lying,  pufKng  rascal  for  one  of  her  children?"  said 
Master  George.  "  But  come,  man,  never  look  grave  on  it; 
as  you  have  found  a  countryman,  so  you  have  found  a  friend, 
if  you  deserve  one,  and  especially  if  you  answer  me  truly." 

"  I  see  nae  gude  it  wad  do  me  to  speak  aught  else  but 
truth,"  said  the  worthy  North  Briton. 

"  Well,  then,  to  begin,"  said  Master  George,  "  I  suspect 
you  are  a  son  of  old  Mungo  Moniplies,  the  fiesher,  at  the 
West  Port." 

"  Your  honor  is  a  witch,  I  think,"  said  Richie,  grinning. 

"  And  how  dared  you,  sir,  to  uphold  him  for  a  noble?  " 

"  I  dinna  ken,  sir,"  said  Richie,  scratching  his  head;  "  1 
hear  muckle  of  an  Earl  of  Warwick  in  these  southern  parts — 
Guy,  I  think  his  name  was — and  he  has  great  reputation 
here  for  slaying  dun  cows,  and  boars,  and  such-like;  and  I 
am  sure  my  father  has  killed  more  cows  and  boars,  not  to 
mention  bulls,  calves,  sheep,  ewes,  lambs,  and  pigs,  than  the 
haill  baronage  of  England," 

"  Go  to!  you  are  a  shrewd  knave,"  said  Master  George; 
"  charm  your  tongue,  and  take  care  of  saucy  answers.  Your 
father  was  an  honest  burgher,  and  the  deacon  of  his  craft. 
I  am  sorry  to  see  his  son  in  so  poor  a  coat." 

"  Indifferent,  sir,"  said  Richie  Moniplies,  looking  down 
on  his  garments — "  very  indifferent;  but  it  is  the  wonted 
livery  of  poor  burghers'  sons  in  our  country — one  of  Luckie 
Want's  bestowing  upon  us — rest  us  patient!  The  King's 
leaving  Scotland  has  taken  all  custom  frae  Edinburgh;  and 
there  is  hay  made  at  the  cross,  and  a  dainty  crop  of  fouats  in 
the  Grassmarket.  There  is  as  much  grass  grows  where  my 
father's  stall  stood  as  might  have  been  a  good  bite  for  the 
beasts  he  was  used  to  kill." 

*'It  is  even  too  true,"  said  Master  George;  *'and  while  we 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  i^ 

make  fortunes  here,  our  old  neighbors  and  their  families  are 
starving  at  home.  Tliis  should  be  thought  upon  oftener. 
And  how  came  you  by  that  broken  head,  Eieliie  ?  tell  me 
honestly. " 

"Troth,  sir,  Fse  no  lee  about  the  matter,"  answerea 
Moniplies.  "1  was  coming  along  the  street  here,  and  ilkane 
was  at  me  with  their  Jests  and  roguery.  So  I  thought  to 
mysell,  '  Ye  are  ower  mony  for  me  to  mell  with  ;  but  let 
me  catch  ye  in  Barford's  Park,  or  at  the  fit  of  the  Vennel,  I 
could  gar  some  of  ye  sing  another  sang.^  Sae  ane  auld 
hirpling  deevil  of  a  potter  behoved  just  to  step  in  my  way 
and  offer  me  a  pig,  as  he  said,  just  to  put  my  Scotch 
ointment  in,  and  I  gave  him  a  push,  as  but  natural,  and  the 
tottering  deevil  coupit  ower  amang  his  ain  pigs,  and  dam- 
aged a  score  of  them.  And  then  the  reird  raise,  and  hadna 
these  twa  gentlemen  helped  me  out  of  it,  murdered  I  suld 
hae  been,  without  remeid.  And  as  it  was,  just  when  they 
got  hand  of  my  arm  to  have  me  out  of  the  fray,  I  got  the  lick 
that  donnerit  me  from  a  left-handed  lighterman." 

Master  George  looked  to  the  apprentices  as  if  to  demand 
the  truth  of  this  story. 

'•It  is  just  as  he  says,  sir,"  replied  Jenkin;  "only  I  heard 
nothing  about  pigs.  The  people  said  he  had  broken  some 
crockery,  and  that — I  beg  pardon,  sir — nobody  could  thrive 
within  the  kenning  of  a  Scot." 

"Well,  no  matter  what  they  said,  you  were  an  honest 
fellow  to  help  the  weaker  side.  And  you,  sirrah,"  continued 
Master  George,  addressing  his  countryman,  "will  call  at  my 
house  to-morrow  morning,  agreeably  to  this  direction." 

"I  will  Avait  upon  your  honor,"  said  the  Scot,  bowing  very 
low;  "that  is,  if  my  honorable  master  will  permit  me." 

"Thy  master?"  said  George.  "Hast  thou  any  other  master 
save  Want,  whose  livery  you  say  you  wear  ?" 

"Troth,  in  one  sense,  if  it  please  your  honor,  I  serve  twa 
masters,"  said  Eichie;  "for  both  my  master  and  me  are 
slaves  to  that  same  beldam,  whom  we  thought  to  show  our 
heels  to  by  coming  off  from  Scotland.  So  that  you  see,  sir,  I 
hold  in  a  sort  of  black  ward  tenure,  as  we  call  it  in  our 
country,  being  the  servant  of  a  servant." 

"And  what  is  your  master's  name?"  said  Master  George; 
and  observing  that  Richie  hesitated,  he  added,  "Nay,  do  not 
tell  me,  if  it  is  a  secret." 

"A  secret  that  there  is  little  use  in  keeping,"  said  Eichie; 
*'only  ye  ken  that  our  northern  stomachs  are  ower  proud  to 
call  in  witnesses  to  our   fli^tress.     No  that  my  master  is  in 


20  WAVER  LEY  NOVELS 

mair  than  present  pinch,  sir,"  he  added,  looking  towards  the 
two  Englisli  apprentices,  ''having  a  large  sura  in  the  royal 
treasury— that  is,"  he  continued,  in  a  whisper  to  Master 
George,  "the  King  is  owing  him  a  lot  of  siller;  but  it's  ill 
getting  at  it,  it's  like.  M}^  master  is  the  young  Lord  Glen- 
yarloch." 

Master  George  testified  surprise  at  the  name.  "You  one 
of  the  young  Lord  Glenvarloch's  followers,  and  in  such  a 
condition! " 

"Troth,  and  I  am  all  the  followers  he  has,  for  the  present 
that  is;  andblythe  would  I  be  if  he  were  muckle  better  afl 
than  I  am,  though  I  were  to  bide  as  I  am."' 

"I  have  seen  his  father  with  four  gentlemen  and  ten 
lackeys  at  his  heels,"  said  Master  George,  "rustling  in  their 
laces  and  velvets.  Well,  this  is  a  changeful  world,  but  there 
is  a  better  beyond  it.  The  good  old  house  of  Glenvarloch, 
that  stood  by  king  and  country  five  hundred  years!" 

"Your  honor  may  say  a  thousand,"  said  the  follower. 

"I  will  say  what  I  know  to  be  true,  friend,"  said  the 
citizen,  "and  not  a  word  more.  You  seem  well  recovered 
now;  can  yon  walk?" 

"Bravely,  sir,"  said  Richie;  "it  was  but  a  bit  dover.  I 
was  bred  at  the  West  Port,  and  my  cantle  will  stand  a  clour 
wad  bring  a  stot  down." 

"AVhere  does  your  master  lodge?" 

"We  pit  up,  an  it  like  your  honor,"  replied  the  Scot,  "in 
a  sma'  house  at  the  fit  of  ane  of  the  wynds  that  gang  down 
to  the  water-side,  with  a  decent  man,  John  Christie,  a  ship- 
chandler,  as  they  ca't.  His  father  came  from  Dundee.  I 
wotna  the  name  of  the  wynd,  but  it's  right  anent  the  mickle 
kirk  yonder;  and  your  honor  will  mind  that  we  pass  only  by 
our  family  name  of  simple  Mr.  Nigel  Olifaunt,  as  keeping 
ourselves  retired  for  the  present,  though  in  Scotland  we  be 
called  the  Lord  Nigel." 

"It  is  wisely  done  of  your  master,"  said  the  citizen.  "1 
will  find  out  your  lodgings,  though  your  direction  be  none 
of  the  clearest."  So  saying,  and  slipping  a  piece  of  money 
at  the  same  time  into  Eichie  Moniplies's  hand,  he  bade  him 
hasten  home,  and  get  into  no  more  affrays. 

"I  will  take  care  of  that  now,  sir,"  said  Eichie,  with  a 
look  of  importance,  "having  a  charge  about  me.  And  so, 
wussing  ye  a'  weel,  with  special  thanks  to  these  twa  young 
gentlemen " 

"I  am  no  gentleman,"  said  Jenkin,  flinging  his  cap  on 
his  head;  "I  am_  a  tight  London  'prentice,  and  hope  to  be  a 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  21 

freemau  one  day.     Frank  niav  write   huii-self  gentleman,  if 
he  will." 

*'!  was  a  gentleman  once/'  said  Tunstall,  ''and  I  hope  I 
have  done  nothing  to  lose  the  name  of  one." 

''Weel — weel,  as  ye  list,"  said  Richie  Moniplies;  "but  I 
am  muckle  beholden  to  ye  baith,  and  I  am  not  a  hair  the  less 
like  to  bear  it  in  mind  that  I  say  but  little  about  it  just  now. 
Gude-night  to  you,  my  kind  countryman."  So  saying,  he 
thrust  out  of  the  sleeve  of  his  ragged  doublet  a  long  bony 
hand  and  arm,  on  which  the  muscles  rose  like  whip-cord. 
Master  George  shook  it  heartily,  while  Jenkin  and  Frank 
exchanged  sly  looks  with  each  other. 

Richie  Moniplies  would  next  have  addressed  his  thanks  to 
the  master  of  the  shop,  but  seeing  him,  as  he  afterwards  said, 
"scribbling  on  his  bit  bookie,  as  if  he  were  demented,"  he 
contented  his  politeness  with  "giving  him  a  hat,"  touching, 
that  is,  his  bonnet,  in  token  of  salutation,  and  so  left  the 
shop. 

"Now,  there  goes  Scotch  Jockey,  w^ith  all  his  bad  and  good 
about  him,"  said  Master  George  to  Master  David,  who  sits- 
pended,  though  unwillingly,  the  calculations  with  which  he 
was  engaged,  and  keeping  his  pen  within  an  inch  of  the 
tablets,  gazed  on  his  friend  with  great  lack-lustre  eyes,  which 
expressed  anything  rather  than  intelligence  or  interest  in  the 
discourse  addressed  to  him.  "  That  fellow,  "  proceeded 
Master  George,  without  heeding  his  friend's  state  of  abstrac- 
tion, "  shows,  with  great  liveliness  of  coloring,  how  our 
Scotch  pride  and  poverty  make  liars  and  braggarts  of  us;  and 
yet  the  knave,  wiiose  every  third  word  to  an  Englishman  is 
a  boastful  lie,  wall,  I  warrant  you,  be  a  true  and  tender  friend 
and  follower  to  his  master,  and  has  perhaps  parted  with  his 
mantle  to  him  in  the  cold  blast,  although  he  himself  walked 
in  cuerpo,  as  the  Don  says.  Strange  !  that  courage  and 
fidelity — for  I  wall  warrant  that  the  knave  is  stout — should 
have  no  better  companion  than  this  swaggering  braggadocio 
humor.     But  you  mark  me  not,  friend  Davie." 

"I  do — I  do,  most  heedfully,"  said  Davie.  "For,  as  the 
suu  goeth  round  the  dial-plate  in  twenty-four  hours,  add, 
for  the  moon,  fifty  minutes  and  a  half " 

"You  are  in  the  seventh  heavens,  man,"  said  his  com- 
panion. 

"I  crave  your  pardon,"  replied  Davie.  "  Let  the  wheel 
A  go  round  in  twenty-four  hours — I  have  it — and  the 
Avheel  B  in  twenty-four  hours,  fifty  minutes  and  a  half — fifty- 
seven    being  to  fifty [ twenty] -four^   as    fifty-nine  to  twenty- 


22  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

four  hours,  fifty  minutes  and  a  half,  or  very  nearly, — I  crave 
your  forgiveness.  Master  George,  and  heartily  wish  you  good- 
even." 

"Good-even  !'  said  Master  George;  ''why,  you  have  not 
wished  me  good-day  yet.  Come,  old  friend,  lay  by  these 
tablets,  or  you  will  crack  the  inner  machinery  of  your  skull, 
as  our  friend  yonder  has  got  the  outer  case  of  his  damaged. 
Good-night,  quotha  !  I  mean  not  to  part  with  you  so  easily. 
I  came  to  get  my  four  hours'  nunchion  from  you,  man, 
besides  a  tune  on  the  lute  from  my  god-daughter,  Mrs. 
Marget." 

"Good  faith!  I  was  abstracted,  Master  George;  but  you 
know  me.  Whenever  I  get  among  the  wheels/'  said  Mi. 
Ramsay,  ''why,  'tis " 

"  Lucky  that  you  deal  in  small  ones,"  said  his  friend,  as, 
awakened  from  his  reveries  and  calculations,  Ramsay  led  the 
way  up  a  little  back  stair  to  the  first  story,  occupied  by  his 
daughter  and  his  little  household. 

The  apprentices  resumed  their  places  in  the  front  shop 
and  relieved  Sam  Porter;  Avhen  Jenkin  said  to  Tunstall — 
"Didst  see,  Frank,  how  the  old  goldsmith  cottoned  in  with 
his  beggarly  countryman  ?  When  would  one  of  his  wealth 
have  shaken  hands  so  courteously  Avith  a  poor  Englishman? 
Well,  I'll  say  that  for  the  best  of  the  Scots,  that  they  will 
go  over  head  and  ears  to  serve  a  countryman,  when  they  will 
not  wet  a  nail  of  their  finger  to  save  a  Southron,  as  they  call 
us,  from  drowning.  And'yet  Master  George  is  but  half-bred 
Scot  neither  in  that  respect;  for  I  have  known  him  do  many 
a  kind  thing  to  the  English  too." 

"But  hark  ye,  Jenkin,"  said  Tunstall,  "I  think  you  are 
but  half-bred  English  yourself.  How  came  you  to  strike  on 
the  Scotsman's  side  after  all?" 

"Why,  you  did  so,  too,"  answered  Vincent. 

"Ay,  because  I  saw  you  begin;  and,  besides,  it  is  no 
Cumberland  fashion  to  fall  fifty  upon  one,"  replied  Tunstall. 

"And  no  Christ  Church  fashion  neither,"  said  Jenkin. 
"Fair  play  and  Old  England  forever  !  Besides,  to  tell  you  a 
secret,  his  voice  had  a  twang  in  it — in  the  dialect  I  mean — 
reminding  me  of  a  little  tongue  which  I  think  sweeter — 
sweeter  than  the  last  toll  of  St.  Dunstan's  will  sound  on  the 
day  that  I  am  shot  of  my  indentures.  Ha  !  you  guess  who  I 
mean,  Frank  ?" 

"Not  I,  indeed,"  answered  Tunstall.  "Scotch  Janet,  I 
suppose,  the  laundress." 

"Off  with  Janet  in  her  own  bucking-basket! — no,  no. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  2^ 

no!     Y'jix  olind  buzzard,  do  you  not   know  I  mean  pretty 
Mrs.  Marget  ?"' 

"Umph!''  answered  Tunstall,  dryly. 

A  flash  of  anger,  not  unmingled  with  suspicion,  snot 
from  Jenkin's  keen  black  eyes. 

"Umph!  and  what  signifies  '  umph?  '  I  am  not  the  first 
'prentice  has  married  his  master's  daughter,  I  suppose  ?" 

"They  kept  their  own  secret,  I  fancy,"  said  Tunstall, 
"at  least  till  they  were  out  of  their  time." 

"I  tell  you  what  it  is,  Frank," answered  Jenkin,  sharply, 
"that  may"'be  the  fashion  of  you  gentlefolks,  that  are  taught 
from  your  biggin  to  carry  two  faces  under  the  same  hood, 
but  it  shall  never  bo  mine." 

"There  are  the  stairs,  then,"  said  Tunstall,  coolly  ;  "go 
up  and  ask  Mrs.  Marget  of  our  master  just  now,  and  see 
what  sort  of  a  face  he  will  wear  under  his  hood." 

"No,  I  wonnot,"  answered  Jenkin  ;  "I  am  not  such  a  fool 
as  that  neither.  But  I  will  take  my  own  time;  and  aU  the 
counts  in  Cumberland  shall  not  cut  my  comb,  and  this  is 
that  which  you  may  depend  upon." 

Francis  "made  no  reply ;  and  they  resumed  their  usual 
attention  to  the  business  of  the  shop,  and  their  usual  solicita- 
tions to  the  passengers.* 

*  See  George  Heriol.    Note  5 


CTIAPTEKTir 

Bohadil.    I  pray  you,  possess  no  gallant  of  your  acquaintance 
with  a  knowledge  of  my  lodging. 

Master  Matthew.   Wlio,  I,  sir  ?   Lord,  sir  ! 

Ben  Jonson. 

The  next  morning  found  Nige?  Olifannt,  the  young  Lord 
of  Glenvarloch,  seated,  sad  and  solitary,  in  his  little  apartment 
in  the  mansion  of  John  Cliristia,  the  ship-chandler;  which 
that  honest  tradesman,  in  gratitude  perhaps  to  the  profes- 
sion from  which  he  derived  his  chief  support,  appeared  to 
have  constructed  as  nearly  as  possible  upon  the  plan  of  a 
ship's  cabin. 

It  was  situated  near  to  Paul's  Wharf,  at  the  end  of  one 
of  those  intricate  and  narrow  lanes  which,  until  that  part 
of  the  city  was  swept  away  by  the  Great  Fire  in  1666,  con- 
stituted an  extraordinary  labyrinth  of  small,  dark,  damp, 
and  unwholesome  streets  and  alleys,  in  one  corner  or  other 
of  which  the  plague  was  then  as  surely  found  lurking  as  in 
the  obscure  corners  of  Constantinople  in  our  own  time. 
But  John  Christie's  house  looked  out  upon  the  river,  and 
had  the  advantage,  therefore,  of  free  air,  impregnated,  how- 
ever, with  the  odoriferous  fumes  of  the  articles  in  which  the 
ship-chandler  dealt,  with  the  odor  of  pitch,  and  the  natural 
scent  of  the  ooze  and  sludge  left  by  the  reflux  of  tlie  tide. 

Upon  the  whole,  except  that  his  dwelling  did  not  float 
with  the  flood-tide  and  become  stranded  with  the  ebb,  the 
young  lord  was  nearly  as  comfortably  accommodated  as  he 
was  while  on  board  the  little  trading  brig  from  the  long 
town  of  Kirkcaldy,  in  Fife,  by  which  he  had  come  a  pas- 
senger to  London.  He  received,  however,  every  attention 
which  could  be  paid  him  by  his  honest  landlord,  John 
Christie  ;  for  Eichie  Moniplies  had  not  thought  it  necessary 
to  preserve  his  master's  incognito  so  completely  but  that  the 
honest  ship-chandler  could  form  a  guess  that  his  guest's 
quality  was  superior  to  his  appearance.  As  for  Dame  Nelly, 
his  wife,  a  rouxid,  buxom,  laughter-loving  dame,  with  black 
eyes,  a  tight,  Avell-laced  bodice,  a  green  apron,  and  a  red 
petticoat  edged  with  a  slight  silver  lace,  and  judiciously 
shortened  so  as  to  show  that  a  short  heel  and  a  tight,  clean 
ankle  rested  upon  her  well-burnished  shoe — she,  of  course, 
felt  interested  in  a  young  man  who,  besides  being  very  hand- 
si 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  25 

gome,  good-humored,  and  easily  satisfied  with  the  accom- 
modations her  house  aii'orded,  was  evidently  of  a  rank,  as 
well  as  manners,  highly  superior  to  the  skippers  (or  captains, 
as  they  called  themselves)  of  merchant  vessels,  who  were  the 
usual  tenants  of  the  apartments  which  she  let  to  hire,  and 
at  whose  departure  she  was  sure  to  find  her  well-scrubbed 
floor  soiled  with  the  relics  of  tobacco,  which,  spite  of  King 
Jameses  Counterblast,*  was  then  forcing  itself  into  use,  and 
her  best  curtains  impregnated  with  the  odor  of  Geneva  and 
strong  waters,  to  Dame  I^elly's  great  indignation ;  for, 
as  she  truly  said,  the  smell  of  the  shop  and  warehouse  was 
bad  enough  without  these  additions. 

But  all  Mr.  Olifaunt's  haljits  were  regular  and  cleanly, 
and  his  address,  though  frank  and  simple,  showed  so  much 
of  the  courtier  and  gentleman  as  formed  a  strong  contrast 
with  the  loud  halloo,  coarse  jests,  and  boisterous  impatience 
of  her  maritime  inmates.  Dame  Nelly  saw  that  her  guest 
was  melancholy  also,  notwithstanding  his  efforts  to  seem 
contented  and  cheerful  ;  and,  in  short,  she  took  that  sort  of 
interest  in  him,  without  being  herself  aware  of  its  extent, 
which  an  unscrupulous  gallant  might  have  been  tempted  to 
improve  to  the  prejudice  of  honest  John,  who  was  at  least  a 
score  of  years  older  than  his  helpmate.  Olifaunt,  however, 
had  not  only  other  matters  to  think  of,  but  would  have 
regarded  such  an  intrigue,  had  the  idea  ever  occurred  to  him, 
as  an  abominable  and  ungrateful  encroachment  upon  the 
laws  of  hospitality,  his  religion  having  been  by  his  late 
father  formed  upon  the  strict  principles  of  the  national 
faith,  and  his  morality  upon  those  of  the  nicest  honor.  He 
had  not  escaped  the  predominant  weakness  of  his  countr}^ — 
an  overweening  sense  of  the.  pride  of  birth,  and  a  disposition 
to  value  the  worth  and  consequence  of  others  according  to 
the  number  and  the  fame  of  their  deceased  ancestors  ;  but 
this  pride  of  family  was  well  subdued,  and  in  general  almost 
entirely  concealed,  by  his  good  sense  and  general  courtesy. 

Such  as  we  have  described  him,  iS'igel  Olifaunt,  or 
rather  the  young  Lord  Glenvarloch,  was,  when  our  narrative 
takes  him  up,  under  great  perplexity  respecting  the  fate  of 
his  trusty  and  only  folloAver,  Kichard  Moniplies,  who  had 
been  dispatched  by  his  young  master  early  the  preceding 
morning  as  far  as  the  court  at  Westminster,  but  had  not  yet 
returned.  His  evening  adventures  the  reader  is  already 
acquainted  with,  and  so  far  knows  more  of  Eichie  than  did 

*  See  Note  6. 


26  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

his  master,  who  had  not  heard  of  him  for  twenty-four  hours. 
Dame  Nelly  Christie,  in  the  mean  time,  regarded  her  guest 
with  some  anxiety,  and  a  great  desire  to  comfort  him  if 
possible.  She  placed  on  the  breakfast-table  a  noble  piece  of 
cold  powdered  beef,  with  its  usual  guards  of  turniiD  and  car- 
rot, recommended  her  mustard  as  coming  direct  from  her 
cousin  at  Tewkesbury,  and  spiced  the  toast  with  her  own 
hands,  and  with  her  own  hands,  also,  drew  a  jug  of  stout 
and  nappy  ale,  all  of  which  were  elements  of  the  substantial 
breakfast  of  the  period. 

When  she  saw  that  her  guest's  anxiety  prevented  him 
from  doing  justice  to  the  good  cheer  which  she  set  before 
him,  she  commenced  her  career  of  verbal  consolation  with 
the  usual  volubility  of  those  women  in  her  station  who,  con- 
scious of  good  looks,  good  intentions,  and  good  lungs^  enter- 
tain no  fear  either  of  wearying  themselves  or  of  fatiguing 
their  auditors. 

"  Now,  what  the  goody  ear  !  are  we  to  send  you  do-mi  to 
Scotland  as  thin  as  you  came  up  ?  I  am  sure  it  would  be 
contrary  to  the  course  of  nature.  There  was  my  goodman's 
father,  old  Sandie  Christie,  I  have  heard  he  was  an  atomy 
when  he  came  up  from  the  North,  and  I  am  sure  he  died, 
St.  Barnaby  was  ten  years,  at  twenty  stone  weight.  I  was  a 
bare-headed  girl  at  the  time,  and  lived  in  tlie  neighbor- 
hood, though  I  had  little  thought  of  marrying  John  then, 
who  had  a  score  of  years  the  better  of  me — but  he  is  a  thriv- 
ing man  and  a  kind  husband — and  his  father,  as  I  was  say- 
ing, died  as  fat  as  a  church-warden.  Well,  sir,  but  I  hope  I 
have  not  offended  you  for  my  little  joke  ;  and  I  hope  the  ale 
is  to  your  honor's  liking — and  the  beef — and  the  mustard  ?"' 

"All  excellent — all  too  good,"  answered  Olifaunt ;  "you 
have  everything  so  clean  and  tidy,  dame,  that  I  shall  not 
know  how  to  live  when  I  go  back  to  my  own  country — if  ever 
I  go  back  there.'' 

This  was  added  as  it  seemed  involuntarily,  and  with  a 
deep  sigh. 

"  I  warrant  your  honor  go  back  again  if  you  like  it," 
said  the  dame  ;  "unless  you  think  rather  of  taking  a  pretty, 
well-dowered  English  lady,  as  some  of  your  countryfolk 
have  done.  I  assure  you,  some  of  the  best  of  the  city  have 
married  Scotsmen.  There  was  Lady  Trebleplumb,  Sir 
Thomas  Trebleplumb  the  great  Turkey  merchant's  widow, 
married  Sir  Awley  Macauley,  whom  your  honor  knows, 
doubtless ;  and  pretty  Mistress  Doublefee,  old  Sergeant 
Doublefee's  daughter,  jumped  out  of  window  and  was  mar- 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  27 

ried  at  Mayfair  to  a  Scotsman  with  a  hard  name  ;  and  old 
Pitchpost  the  timber  merchant's  daughters  did  little  better, 
for  they  married  two  Irishmen  ;  and  when  folks  jeer  me 
about  having  a  Scotsman  for  lodger,  meaning  your  honor,  I 
tell  them  they  are  afraid  of  their  daughters  and  their  mis- 
tresses ;  and  sure  I  have  a  right  to  stand  up  for  the  Scots, 
since  John  Christie  is  half  a  Scotsman,  and  a  thriving  man> 
and  a  good  husband,  though  there  is  a  score  of  years  between 
us  ;  and  so  I  would  have  your  honor  cast  care  away,  and 
mend  your  breakfast  with  a  morsel  and  a  draught." 

*'  At  a  word,  my  kind  hostess,  I  cannot,"  said  Olifaunt; 
"  I  am  anxious  about  this  knave  of  mine,  who  has  been  so 
long  absent  in  this  dangerous  town  of  yours." 

It  may  be  noticed  in  passing,  that  Dame  Nelly's  ordinary 
mode  of  consolation  was  to  disprove  the  existence  of  any 
cause  for  distress;  and  she  is  said  to  have  carried  this  so  far 
as  to  comfort  a  neighbor,  who  had  lost  her  husband,  with  the 
assurance  that  the  dear  defunct  Avould  be  better  to-morrow, 
which  perhaps  might  not  have  proved  an  appropriate,  even  if 
it  had  been  a  possible,  mode  of  relief.  On  this  occasion  she 
denied  stoutly  that  Richie  had  been  absent  altogether  twenty 
hours;  and  as  for  people  being  killed  in  the  streets  of  London, 
to  be  sure  two  men  had  been  found  in  Tower  Ditch  last  week, 
but  that  was  far  to  the  east;  and  the  other  poor  man  that 
had  his  throat  cut  in  the  fields  had  met  his  mishap  near  by 
Islington;  and  he  that  was  stabbed  by  the  young  Templar  in 
a  drunken  frolic,  by  St.  Clement's  in  the  Strand,  was  an 
Irishman — all  which  evidence  she  produced  to  show  that 
none  of  these  casualties  had  occurred  in  a  case  exactly  paral- 
lel with  that  of  Richie,  a  Scotsman,  and  on  his  return  from 
Westminster. 

"  My  better  comfort  is,  my  good  dame,"  answered 
Olifaunt,  "  that  the  lad  is  no  brawler  or  quarreller,  unless 
strongly  urged,  and  that  he  has  nothing  valuable  about  him 
to  any  one  but  me." 

"  Your  honor  speaks  very  well,"  retorted  the  inexhausti- 
ble hostess,  who  protracted  her  task  of  taking  away  and 
putting  to  rights,  in  order  that  she  might  prolong  her  gossip. 
"I'll  uphold  Master  Moniplies  to  be  neither  reveller  nor 
brawler,  for  if  he  liked  such  things  he  might  be  visiting  and 
junketing  with  the  young  folks  about  here  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  he  never  dreams  of  it;  and  when  I  asked  theyoung 
man  to  go  as  far  as  my  gossip's.  Dame  Drinkwater,  to  taste  a 
glass  of  aniseed  and  a  bit  of  the  groaning  cheese — for  Dame 
Drinkwater  has  had  twins,  as  I  told  your  honor,  sir — and  I 


28  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

meant  it  quite  civilly  to  the  young  man,  biit  he  chose  to  sit 
and  keep  house  with  John  Christie;  and  I  dare  say  there  is  a 
score  of  years  between  them,  for  your  honor's  servant  looks 
scarce  much  older  than  I  am.  I  wonder  what  they  could 
have  to  say  to  each  other.  I  asked  John  Christie,  but  he  bid 
me  go  to  sleep." 

*'  If  he  comes  not  soon,"  said  his  master,  "  I  will  thank 
you  to  tell  me  what  magistrate  I  can  address  myself  to;  for, 
besides  my  anxiety  for  the  poor  fellow's  safety,  he  has  papers 
of  importance  about  him." 

"0!  your  honor  may  be  assured  he  will  be  back  in  a 
quarter  of  an  hour,"  said  Dame  Nelly:  "  he  is  not  the  lad  to 
stay  out  twenty-four  hours  at  a  stretch.  And  for  the  papers, 
I  am  sure  your  honor  will  pardon  him  for  just  giving  me  a 
peep  at  the  corner,  as  I  was  giving  him  a  small  cup,  not  so 
large  as  my  thimble,  of  distilled  waters,  to  fortify  his  stom- 
ach against  the  damps,  and  it  was  directed  to  the  King's 
Most  Excellent  Majesty;  and  so  doubtless  his  Majesty  has 
kept  Richie  out  of  civility  to  consider  of  your  honor's  letter, 
and  send  back  a  fitting  reply." 

Dame  Nelly  here  hit  by  chance  on  a  more  available  topic 
of  consolation  than  those  she  had  hitherto  touched  upon;  for 
the  youthful  lord  had  himself  some  vague  hopes  that  his 
messenger  might  have  been  delayed  at  court  until  a  fitting 
and  favorable  answer  should  be  dispatched  back  to  him. 
Inexperienced,  however,  in  public  affairs  as  he  certainly  was, 
it  required  only  a  moment's  consideration  to  convince  him 
of  the  improbability  of  an  expectation  so  contrary  to  all  he 
had  heard  of  etiquette,  as  well  as  the  dilatory  proceedings 
in  a  court  suit,  and  he  answered  the  good-natured  hostess 
with  a  sigh,  that  he  doubted  whether  the  King  would  even 
look  on  the  paper  addressed  to  him,  far  less  take  it  into  his 
immediate  consideration. 

"Now,  out  upon  you  for  a  faint-hearted  gentleman!" 
said  the  good  dame;  "and  why  should  he  not  do  as  mucl 
for  us  as  our  gracious  Queen  Elizabeth?  Many  people  say 
this  and  thac  about  a  queen  and  a  king,  but  I  think  a  king 
conies  more  natural  to  us  English  folks;  and  this  good  gen- 
tleman goes  as  often  down  by  water  to  Greenwich,  and 
employs  as  many  of  the  bargemen  and  watermen  of  all  kinds; 
and  maintains,  in  his  royal  grace,  John  Taylor,  the  Water 
Poet,  who  keeps  both  a  sculler  and  a  pair  of  oars.  And  he 
has  made  a  comely  court  at  AVhitehall,  just  by  the  river;  and 
since  the  King  is  so  good  a  friend  to  the  Thames,  I  can- 
not see,  if  it  please  your  honor,  why  all  his  subjects,  and 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  29 

vour  honor  in  specialty,  should  not  have  satisfaction  by  his 
hands." 

"  True,  dame — true ;  let  us  hope  for  the  best ;  but  I  must 
take  my  cloak  and  rapier,  and  pray  your  husband  in  cour- 
tesy to  teach  me  the  way  to  a  magistrate." 

*'  Sure,  sir,"  said  the  prompt  dame, ''  I  can  do  that  as  well 
as  he,  who  has  been  a  slow  man  of  his  tongue  all  his  life, 
though  I  will  give  him  his  due  for  being  a  loving  husband, 
and  a  man  as  well  to  pass  in  the  world  as  any  betwixt  us  and 
the  top  of  the  lane.  And  so  there  is  the  sitting  alderman, 
that  is  always  at  the  Guildhall,  which  is  close  by  PauFs,  and 
so  I  warrant  you  he  puts  all  to  rights  in  the  city  that  wisdom 
can  mend  ;  and  for  the  rest  there  is  no  help  but  patience. 
But  I  wish  I  were  as  sure  of  forty  pounds  as  I  am  that  the 
young  man  will  come  back  safe  and  sound." 

Olifaunt,  in  great  and  anxious  doubt  of  what  the  good 
dame  so  strongly  averred,  flung  his  cloak  on  one  shoulder, 
and  was  about  to  belt  on  his  rapier,  when  first  the  voice  of 
Kichie  Moniplies  on  the  stair,  and  then  that  faithful  emis- 
sary's appearance  in  the  chamber,  put  the  matter  beyond 
question.  Dame  Nelly,  after  congratulating  Moniplies  on 
his  return,  and  paying  several  compliments  to  her  own  sagac- 
ity for  having  foretold  it,  was  at  length  pleased  to  leave  the 
apartment.  The  truth  was,  that,  besides  some  instinctive 
feelings  of  good-breeding  which  combated  her  curiosity,  she 
saw  there  was  no  chance  of  Eichie's  proceeding  in  his  nar- 
rative while  she  was  in  the  room,  and  she  therefore  retreated, 
trusting  that  her  own  address  would  get  the  secret  out  of  one 
or  other  of  the  young  men,  when  she  should  have  either  by 
himself. 

"  Now,  in  Heaven's  name,  what  is  the  matter?"  said  Nigel 
Olifaunt.  "  Where  have  you  been  or  what  have  you  been 
about?  You  look  as  pale  as  death.  There  is  blood  on  your 
hand,  and  your  clothes  are  torn.  AVhat  barns-breaking  have 
you  been  at?     You  have  been  drunk,  Richard,  and  fighting." 

"  Fighting  I  have  been,"  said  Richard,  "  in  a  small  way  ; 
but  for  being  drunk,  that's  a  job  ill  to  manage  in  this  town, 
without  money  to  come  by  liquor  ;  and  as  for  barns-breaking, 
the  deil  a  thing's  broken  but  my  head.  It's  not  made  of 
iron,  I  wot,  nor  my  claithes  of  chenzie-raail ;  so  a  club 
smashed  the  ane,  and  a  claught  damaged  the  tither.  Some 
misleard  rascals  abused  my  country,  but  I  think  I  cleared 
the  causey  of  them.  However,  the  haill  hive  was  ower  mony 
for  me  at  last,  and  I  got  this  eclipse  on  the  crown,  and  then 
I  was  carried,  beyond  my  kenning,  to  a  sma'  booth  at  the 


30  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

Temple  Port,  wliare  they  sell  the  whirligigs  and  mony-go- 
rounds  that  measure  out  time  as  a  man  wad  measure  a  tartan 
web  ;  and  tiien  they  bled  me,  wold  I  nold  I,  and  were  rea- 
sonably civil,  especially  an  auld  countryman  of  ours,  of  whom 
more  hereafter." 

"  And  at  what  o'clock  might  this  be?"'  said  Nigel. 

"  The  twa  iron  carles  yonder,  at  the  kirk  beside  the  Port,* 
were  just  banging  out  sax  o'  the  clock." 

"  And  why  came  you  not  home  as  soon  as  you  recovered?'' 
said  Nigel. 

"  In  troth,  my  lord,  every  why  has  its  wherefore,  and 
this  has  a  gude  ane,"  answered  his  follower.  "  To  come 
hame,  I  behoved  to  ken  whare  hame  was  ;  now,  I  had  clean 
tint  the  name  of  the  W3md,  and  the  mair  I  asked,  the  mair 
the  folk  leugh,  and  the  farther  they  sent  me  wrang ;  sae  I 
gave  it  up  till  God  should  send  daylight  to  help  me  ;  and  as 
I  saw  mysell  near  a  kirk  at  the  lang  run,  I  e'en  crap  in  to 
take  up  my  night's  quarters  in  the  kirkyard." 

"In  the  churchyard?  "  said  Nigel.  "  But  I  need  not  ask 
what  drove  you  to  such  a  pinch." 

''It  wasna  sae  much  the  want  o'  siller,  my  Lord  Nigel," 
said  Richie,  with  an  air  of  mysterious  importance,  "for  I 
was  no  sae  absolute  without  means,  of  whilk  mair  anon  ;  but 
I  thought  I  wad  never  ware  a  saxpence  sterling  on  ane  of 
their  saucy  chamberlains  at  a  hostelry,  sae  lang  as  I  could 
sleep  fresh  and  fine  in  a  fair,  dry,  spring  night.  Mony 
a  time,  when  I  liae  come  hame  ower  late,  and  faund  the 
West  Port  steekit,  and  the  waiter  ill-willy,  I  have  garr'd  the 
sexton  of  St.  Cuthbert's  calf-ward  serve  me  for  my  quarters. 
But  then  there  are  dainty  green  graffs  in  St.  Cuthbert's  kirk- 
yard, where  ane  may  sleep  as  if  they  w^ere  in  a  down-bed,  till 
they  hear  the  lavrock  singing  up  in  the  air  as  high  as  the 
Castle  ;  whereas,  and  behold,  these  London  kirkyards  are 
causeyed  with  through-stanes,  j)anged  hard  and  fast  the- 
gither  ;  and  my  cloak,  being  something  threadbare,  made 
but  a  thin  mattress,  so  I  was  fain  to  give  up  my  bed  before 
every  limb  about  me  was  crippled.  Dead  folks  may  sleep 
yonder  sound  enow,  but  deil  haet  else." 

"'  And  what  became  of  you  next?  "  said  his  master. 

"  I  just  took  to  a  canny  bulkhead,  as  they  ca'  them  here; 
that  is,  the  boards  on  the  tap  of  their  bits  of  outshots  of 
stalls  and  booths,  and  there  1  sleepit  as  sound  as  if  I  was  in 
a  castle.     Not  but  I  was  disturbed  wnth  some  of  the  night- 

*  The  old  church  of  St.  Dunstan's  in  Fleet  Street  had  an  overhanging  clock 
with  two  bells,  which  were  struck  at  the  quarters  by  two  wooden  figure^  armed 
with  clubs  iLainy). 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  3i 

walking  queens  and  swaggering  billies,  but  when  they  found 
there  was  nothing  to  be  got  by  me  but  a  slash  of  my  Andrew 
Ferrara,  they  bid  me  good-night  for  a  beggarly  Scot;  and  I 
was  e'en  weel  pleased  to  be  sae  cheap  rid  of  them.  And  in 
the  morning  I  cam  daikering  here;  but  sad  wark  I  had  to 
find  the  way,  for  I  had  been  east  as  far  as  the  place  they  ca' 
Mile  End,  though  it  is  mair  like  sax-mile-end." 

"  Well,  Eichie,"  answered  Nigel,  "  I  am  glad  all  this  has 
ended  so  well.  Go  get  something  to  eat.  I  am  sure  you 
need  it." 

'*  In  troth  do  I,  sir,"  replied  Moniplies;  "  but,  with  your 
lordship's  leave " 

"  Forget  the  lordship  for  the  present,  Eichie,  as  I  have 
often  told  you  before." 

"  Faith,"  replied  Eichie,  "  I  could  weel  forget  that  your 
honor  was  a  lord,  but  then  I  behoved  to  forget  that  I  am  a 
lord's  man,  and  that's  not  so  easy.  But  however,"  he  added, 
assisting  his  description  with  the  thumb  and  the  two  fore- 
fingers of  his  right  hand,  thrust  out  after  the  fashion  of  a 
bird's  claw,  while  the  little  finger  and  ring-finger  were  closed 
upon  the  palm,  "  to  the  court  I  went,  and  my  friend  that 
promised  me  a  sight  of  his  Majesty's  most  gracious  presence 
was  as  gude  as  his  word,  and  carried  me  into  the  back 
offices,  where  I  got  the  best  breakfast  I  have  had  since  we 
came  liere,  and  it  did  me  gude  for  the  rest  of  the  day  ;  for 
as  to  what  I  have  eaten  in  this  accursed  town,  it  is  aye 
sauced  with  the  disquieting  thought  that  it  maun  be  paid  for. 
After  a',  there  was  but  beef  banes  and  fat  brose;  but  king's 
cauff,  your  honor  kens,  is  better  than  ither  folks'  corn;  at 
ony  rate,  it  was  a'  in  free  awmous.  But  I  see,"  he  added, 
stopping  short,  "that  3'our  honor  waxes  impatient." 

"By  no  means,  Eichie,"  said  the  young  nobleman,  with 
an  air  of  resignation,  for  he  well  knew  his  domestic  would 
not  mend  his  pace  for  goading;  "  you  have  suffered  enough 
in  the  embassy  to  have  a  right  to  tell  the  story  in  your  own 
way.  Only  let  me  pray  for  the  name  of  the  friend"^  who  was 
to  introduce  you  into  the  King's  presence.  You  were  very 
mysterious  on  the  subject,  when  you  undertook,  through  his 
means,  to  have  the  supj)lication  put  into  his  Majesty  s  own 
hands,  since  those  sent  heretofore,  I  have  every  reason  to 
think,  went  no  farther  than  his  secretary's." 

"Weel,  my  lord,"  said  Eichie,  "I  did  not  tell  you  his  name 
and  quality  at  first,  because  I  thought  you  would  be  affronted 
at  the  like  of  him  having  to  do  in  your  lordship's  affairs. 
But  mony  a  man  climbs  up  in  court  by  waur  help.    It  was  just 


32  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

Laurie  Linklater,   one  of  the  yeomen  of  the  kitchen,  that 
was  my  father's  apprentice  hmg  syne." 

_  "A  yeoman  of  the  kitchen-^a  scullion  !"  exclaimed  Lord 
Nigel,  pacing  the  room  in  displeasure. 

"But  consider,  sir,"  said  Eichie,  composedly,  "that  a' 
your  great  friends  hung  back,  and  shunned  to  own  you,  or 
to  advocate  your  petition  ;  and  then,  though  I  am  sure  I 
wish  Laurie  a  higher  office,  for  your  lordship's  sake  and  for 
mine,  and  specially  for  his  aiu  sake,  being  a  friendly  lad,  yet 
your  lordship  must  consider,  that  a  scullion,  if  a  yeoman  of 
the  king's  most  royal  kitchen  may  be  called  a  scullion,  may 
weel  rank  with  a  master  cook  elsewhere  ;  being  that  king's 

cauil,  as  I  said  before,  is  better  than " 

"  You  are  right,  and  I  was  wrong,"  said  the  young  noble- 
man. "  I  have  no  choice  of  means  of  making  my  case 
known,  so  that  they  be  honest." 

"  Laurie  is  as  honest  a  lad  as  ever  lifted  a   ladle,"  said 
Richie  ;  "  not  but  what  I  dare  to  say  he  can  lick  his  fingers 
like  other  folk,  and  reason  good.     But,   in  fine,  for   I  sec 
your  honor  is  waxing  impatient,  he  brought  me  to  the  palace, 
where  a'  was  astir  for  the  King  going  out  to  hunt  or  hawk 
on  Blackheath,  I  think  they  ca'd  it.     And  there  was  a  horse 
stood  with  all  the  quarries  about  it,  a  bonny  gray  as  ever 
was  foaled  ;  and  the  saddle  and  the  stirrups,  and  the  curb 
and  bit,  o'  burning  gowd,  or  silver  gilded  at  least  ;  and  down, 
sir,  came  the  King,  with  all  his  nobles,  dressed  out  in  his 
hunting-suit  of  green,   doubly  laced,   and  laid   down   with 
gowd.     I  minded  the  very  face  o'  him,  though  it  was  lang 
since  I  saw  him.     But  '  My  certie,  lad,'  thought  I,  '  times 
are  changed  since  ye  came  fleeing  down  the  back  stairs  of 
auld  Holyrood  House,  in  grit  fear,  having  your  breeks  in 
your  hand  without  time  to  put  them  on,  and  Prank  Stewart, 
the  wild  Earl  of  Bothwell,  hard  at  your  haunches  ;  and  if 
auld  Lord  Glenvarloch  hadna  cast  his  mantle  about  his  arm, 
and  taken  bluidy  wounds  mair  than  ain  in  your  behalf,  you 
wad  not  have  craw'd  sae  crouse   this  day  ; '  and  so  saying,  I 
could  not  but  think  your  lordship's  sifflication  could  not  be  less 
than  most  acceptable  ;  and  so  I  banged  in  among  the  crowd 
of   lords.     Laurie   thought   me    mad,  and    held    me   by  the 
cloak-lap  till  the  cloth  rave  in  his  hand  ;  and  so  I  banged  in 
right  before  the  King  Just  as  he  mounted,  and  crammed  the 
sifflication  into  his  hand,  and  he  oj)ened  it  like  in    amaze  ; 
and  just  as  he  saw  the  first  line,  I  was  minded  to  make   a 
reverence,  and  I  had  the  ill  luck  to  hit  his  Jaud  o'  a  beast  on 
the  nose  with  my  hat  and  scaur  the  creature,  and  she  swarved 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  38 

aside,  and  the  King,  that  sits  na  mickle  better  than  a  draff 
pock  on  the  saddle,  was  like  to  have  gotten  a  clean  coup,  and 
that  might  have  cost  my  craig  a  raxing  ;  and  he  flung  down 
the  paper  amang  the  beast's  feet,  and  cried,  '  Away  wi 
the  fause  loon  tliat  brought  it ! '  And  they  grippit  me,  anc 
cried  '  Treason  ;'  and  I'thought  of  the  Kuthvens  that  were 
dirked  in  their  ain  house,  for,  it  may  be,  as  small  a  forfeit. 
However,  they  spak  only  of  scourging  me,  and  had  me  away 
to  the  porter's  lodge  to  try  the  tawse  on  my  back,  and  I  was 
crying  mercy  as  loud  as  l"could  ;  and  the  King,  when  he  had 
righted  himself  on  the  saddle,  and  gathered  his  breath,  cried 
to" do  me  nae  harm.  '  For,'  said  he,  '  he  is  ane  of  our  ain 
Norland  stots,  I  ken  by  the  rowt  of  him;'  and  they  a'  laughed 
and  rowted  loud  eneugh.  And  then  he  said,  '  Gie  him  a 
copy  of  the  proclamation,  and  let  him  go  down  to  the  North 
by  the  next  light  collier,  before  waur  come  o't.'  So  they 
let  me  go,  and  rode  out,  a'  sniggering,  laughing,  and  round- 
ing in  ilk  ither's  lugs.  A  sair  life  I  had  wi'  Laurie  Link- 
later;  for  he  said  it  wad  be  the  ruin  of  him.  And  then,  when 
I  told  him  it  was  in  your  matter,  he  said  if  he  had  known 
before  he  would  have  risked  a  scauding  for  you,  because  he 
minded  the  brave  old  lord,  your  father.  And  then  he  showed 
how  I  su\l  have  done,  and  that  I  suld  have  held  up  my  hand 
to  my  brow,  as  if  the  grandeur  of  the  King  and  his  horse- 
graitli  thegither  had  casten  the  glaiks  in  my  een,  and  mair 
jackanape  tricks  I  suld  hae  played,  instead  of  offering  the 
sifflication,  he  said,  as  if  I  had  been  bringing  guts  to  a  bear.* 
'  For,'  said  he,  '  Richie,  the  King  is  a  weel-natured  and  just 
man  of  his  ain  kindly  nature,  but  he  has  a  wheen  maggots 
that  maun  be  cannily  guided  ;  and  then,  Richie,'  says  he, 
in  a  very  laigh  tone,  '  I  would  tell  it  to  nane  but  a  wise  man 
like  yoursell,  but  the  King  has  them  about  him  Avad  corrupt 
an  angel  from  Heaven  ;  but  I  could  have  gi'en  you  avise- 
ment  how  to  have  guided  him,  but  now  it's  like  after  meat 
mustard.'  *  Aweel — aweel,  Laurie,' said  I,  'it  maybe  as 
you  say;  but  since  I  am  clear  of  the  tawse  and  the  porter's 
lodge,  siiiiicate  wha  like,  deil  hae  Richie  Moniplies  if  he 
come  siffl-icating  here  again.'  And  so  away  I  came,  and  I 
wasna  far  by  the  Temple  Port,  or  Bar,  or  whatever  they  ca' 
it,  when  I  met  with  the  misadventure  that  I  tauld  you  of 
before." 

"Well,  my  honest  Richie,"  said  Lord  Nigel,  "your  at- 
tempt Avas  well  meant,  and  not  so  ill  conducted,  I  think,  as 
to  have  deserved  so  bad  an  issue  ;  but  go  to  your  beef  and 
mustard,  and  Ave'll  talk  of  the  rest  afterwards." 

•  See  James's  Love  of  Flattery.    Note  7. 


U  WAVEMLEY  NOVELS 

"  There  is  nae  mair  to  be  spoken,  sir,"  said  his  follower, 
"  except  that  I  met  ane  very  honest,  fair-spoken,  weel-put-on 
gentleman,  or  rather  burgher,  as  1  think,  that  was  in  the 
whigmaleery  man's  back  shop  ;  and  when  he  learned  wha  1 
was,  behold  he  was  a  kindly  Scot  himsell,  and,  what  is  more, 
a  town's-bairn  o"  the  gude  town,  and  he  behoved  to  compel 
me  to  take  this  Portugal  piece,  to  drink  forsooth — '  My 
certie,'  thought  I,  '  we  ken  better,  for  we  will  eat  it' — and 
he  spoke  of  paying  your  lordship  a  visit." 

"  You  did  not  tell  him  where  I  lived,  you  knave  ?"  said 
the  Lord  Nigel,  angrily.  "  'Sdeath  !  I  shall  have  every 
clownish  burgher  from  Edinburgh  come  to  gaze  on  my  dis- 
tress, and  pay  a  shilling  for  having  seen  the  motion  of  the 
poor  noble!" 

''  Tell  him  where  you  lived  ?"  said  Richie,  evading  the 
question.  '•  Hoav  could  I  tell  him  what  I  kenn'dna  mysell  ? 
If  I  had  minded  the  name  of  the  wynd,  I  need  not  have 
slept  in  the  kirkyard  yestreen." 

"  See,  then,  that  you  give  no  one  notice  of  our  lodging," 
said  the  young  nobleman;  *'th«se  with  whom  I  have  business 
I  can  meet  at  Paul's  or  in  the  Court  of  Requests." 

"  This  is  steeking  the  stable-door  when  the  steed  is 
stolen,"  thought  Richie  to  himself;  "  but  I  must  put  him  on 
another  pin," 

So  thinking,  he  asked  the  young  lord  Avhat  was  in  the  proc- 
lamation which  he  still  held  folded  in  his  hand  ;  "  for,  hav- 
ing little  time  to  spell  at  it,"  said  he,  "your  lordship  well 
knows  I  ken  naught  about  it  but  the  grand  blazon  at  the  tap; 
the  lion  has  gotten  a  claught  of  our  auld  Scottish  shield  now, 
but  it  was  as  weel  upheld  when  it  had  a  unicorn  on  ilk  side 
of  it." 

Lord  Nigel  read  the  proclamation,  and  he  colored  deep 
with  shame  and  indignation  as  he  read;  for  the  purport  was, 
to  his  injured  feelings,  like  the  pouring  of  ardent  spirits 
upon  a  recent  wound. 

"  What  deil's  in  the  paper,  my  lord  ?"  said  Richie,  un- 
able to  suppress  his  curiosity  as  he  observed  his  master 
change  color.  "I  wadna  ask  such  a  thing,  only  the  proc- 
lamation is  not  a  private  thing,  but  is  meant  for  a'  men's 
hearing." 

"It  is  indeed  meant  for  all  men's  hearing,"  replied  Lord 
Nigel,  "and  it  proclaims  the  shame  of  our  country  and  the 
ingratitude  of  our  prince." 

"  Now  the  Lord  preserve  n"'  and  to  publish  it  in  London, 
tool"  ejaculated  Moniplies. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  35 

''Hark  3-e,  Eichard,"  said  Xigel  Olifaunt,  "in  this  paper 
the  Lords  of  the  Council  set  forth  tliat,  '  In  consideration 
of  the  resort  of  idle  persons  of  low  condition  forth  from  his 
Majesty's  kingdom  of  Scotland  to  his  English  court,  filling 
the  same  with  their  suits  and  supplications,  and  dishonoring 
the  roval  presence  with  tlieir  base,  poor,  and  beggarly  per- 
sons, to  the  disgrace  of  their  country  in  the  estimation  of  the 
English — these  are  to  prohibit  the  skippers,  masters  of  ves- 
sels and  others,  in  every  part  of  Scotland,  from  bringing 
such  miserable  creatures  up  to  court,  under  pain  of  fine  and 
imprisonment/" 

'•'  I  marie  the  skipper  took  us  on  board,"  said  Eichie. 

''Then  3-ou  need  not  marvel  how  you  are  to  get  back 
again,"  said' Lord  Xigel,  "for  here  is  a  clause  which  says 
that  such  idle  suitors  are  to  be  transported  back  to  Scotland 
at  his  Majesty's  expense,  and  punished  for  their  audacity 
with  stripos,  stocking,  or  incarceration,  according  to  their 
demerits;  that  is  to  say,  I  suppose,  according  to  the^ degree 
of  their  povertv,  for  I  see  no  other  demerit  specified." 

"  This  wiir scarcely,"  said  Eichie,  "square  with  our  old 

proverb — 

"  '  A  king's  face 

Should  give  grace.' 

But  what  says  the  paper  farther,  my  lord?" 

"  Oh,  only  a  small  clause  which  especially  concerns  us, 
making  some  still  heavier  denunciations  against  those  suitors 
who  shall  be  so  bold  as  to  approach  the  court,  under  pretext  of 
seeking  payment  of  old  debts  due  to  them  by  the  King, 
which,  the  paper  states,  is,  of  all  species  of  importunity, 
that  which  is  most  odious  to  his  Majesty."  * 

"  The  King  has  neighbors  in  that  matter,"  said  Eichie; 
"but  it  is  not  every  one  that  can  shift  off  that  sort  of  cattle 
so  easily  as  he  does." 

Their  conversation  was  here  interrupted  by  a  knocking  at 
the  door.  Olifaunt  looked  out  at  the  window,  and  saw  an 
elderly  respectable  person  whom  he  knew  not.  Eichie  also 
peeped,  and  recognized,  but,  recognizing,  chose  not  to 
acknowledge,  his  friend  of  the  preceding  evening.  Afraid 
that  his  share  in  the  visit  might  be  detected,  hemade  his 
escape  out  of  the  apartment  under  pretext  of  going  to  his 
breakfast;  and  left  their  landlady  the  task  of  ushering  Mas- 
ter George  into  Lord  Xigel's  apartment,  which  she  per- 
formed with  much  courtes}'. 

*  See  Proclamation  against  the  Scots.    Note  8. 


CHAPTER  IV 

Ay,  sir,  the  clouted  shoe  hath  ofttimes  craft  in't, 

As  says  the  rustic  proverb  ;  and  yf)tir  citizen, 

In's  grogram  suit,  gold  chain,  and  well-black'd  shoes, 

Bears  under  Lis  tiat  cap  ofttimes  a  brain 

Wiser  than  burns  beneath  the  cap  and  feather, 

Or  seethes  witliin  the  statesman's  velvet  nightcap. 

Read  me  my  Riddle. 

The  young  Scottish  nobleman  received  the  citizen  with  dis- 
tant politeness,  expressing  that  sort  of  reserve  by  which  those 
of  the  higher  ranks  are  sometimes  willing  to  make  a  j^lebeian 
sensible  that  he  is  an  intruder.  But  Master  George  seemed 
neither  displeased  nor  disconcerted.  He  assumed  the  chair 
Avhich,  in  deference  to  his  respectable  appearance.  Lord 
Xigel  offered  to  him,  and  said,  after  a  moment's  pause,  dur- 
ing Avhich  he  had  looked  attentively  at  the  young  man,  with 
respect  not  unmingled  with  emotion — "  You  will  forgive 
me  for  this  rudeness,  my  lord  ;  but  I  was  endeavoring  to 
trace  in  your  youthful  countenance  the  features  of  my  good 
old  lord,  your  excellent  father." 

There  was  a  moment's  pause  ere  young  Glenvarloch  re- 
plied, still  with  a  reserved  manner — "  I  have  been  reckoned 
like  my  father,  sir ;  and  am  happy  to  see  any  one  that  re- 
spects his  mamory.  Bttt  the  business  which  calls  me  to  this 
city  is  of  a  hasty  as  well  as  a  private  nature,  and " 

"  I  understand  the  hint,  my  lord,"  said  Master  George. 
"  and  would  not  be  guilty  of  long  detaining  you  from  busi- 
ness or  more  agreeable  conversation.  My  errand  is  almost 
done  when  I  have  said  that  my  name  is  George  Heriot, 
warmly  befriended,  and  introduced  into  the  employment  of 
the  royal  family  of  Scotland,  more  than  twenty  years  since, 
by  your  excellent  father  ;  and  that,  learning  from  a  follower 
of  yours  that  your  lordship  Avas  in  this  city  in  prosecution 
of  some  business  of  importance,  it  is  my  duty — it  is  my 
pleasure — to  wait  on  the  son  of  my  respected  patron ;  and, 
as  I  am  somewhat  known  both  at  the  court  and  in  the  city, 
to  offer  him  such  aid  in  the  furthering  of  his  affairs  as  my 
credit  and  experience  may  be  able  to  afford." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  of  either.  Master  Heriot,"  said  Lord 
Nigel,  "and  I  thank  you  heartily  for  the  good-will  with 
which  you  have  placed  them  at  a  stranger's  disposal  ;  but 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  37 

my  business  at  court  is  done  and  ended,  and  I  intend  to 
leave  London,  and,  indeed,  the  island,  for  foreign  travel  and 
military  service.  I  may  add,  that  the  suddenness  of  mj  de- 
parture occasions  my  having  little  time  at  my  disposal.' 

Master  Heriot  did  not  take  the  hint,  but  sat  fast,  with 
an  embarrassed  countenance,  however,  like  one  who  had 
something  to  say  that  he  knew  not  exactly  how  to  make 
effectual.  At  length  he  said,  with  a  dubious  smile,  "You 
are  fortunate,  my  lord,  in  having  so  soon  dispatched  your 
business  at  court.  Your  talking  landlady  informs  me  you 
have  been  but  a  fortnight  in  this  city.  It  is  usually  months 
and  years  ere  the  court  and  a  suitor  shake  hands  and  part." 

*'My  business,"  said  Lord  Nigel,  with  a  brevity  which 
was  intended  to  stop  further  discussion,  "was  summarily 
dispatched." 

Still  Master  Heriot  remained  seated,  and  there  was  a 
cordial  good-humor  added  to  the  reverence  of  his  appear- 
ance, which  rendered  it  impossible  for  Lord  Nigel  to  be 
more  explicit  in  requesting  his  absence. 

"  Your  lordship  has  not  yet  had  time,"  said  the  citizen, 
still  attempting  to  sustain  tlie  conversation,  "  to  visit  the 
places  of  amusement — the  playhouses  and  other  places  to 
which  youth  resort.  But  I  see  "in  your  lordship's  hand  one 
of  the  new-invented  plots  *  of  the  piece,  which  they  hand 
about  of  late.     May  I  ask  what  play?  " 

'•  Oh!  a  well-known  piece,"  said  Lord  Nigel,  impatiently 
throwing  do^ni  the  proclamation,  which  he  had  hitherto 
been  twicting  to  and  fro  in  his  hand — "  an  excellent  and 
well-approved  piece — A  New  Way  to  Pay  Old  Debts." 

Master  Heriot  stooped  down,  saying,  "  Ah  !  my  old  ac- 
quaintance, Philip  Massinger  ; "  but,  having  opened  the 
paper  and  seen  the  purport,  he  looked  at  Lord  Nigel  with 
surprise,  saying,  "  I  trust  your  lordship  does  not  think  this 
prohibition  can  extend  either  to  your  person  or  your 
claims  ?  " 

"  I  should  scarce  have  thought  so  myself,"  said  the 
young  nobleman  ;  "  but  so  it  proves.  His  Majesty,  to  close 
this  discourse  at  once,  has  been  pleased  to  send  me  this  proc- 
lamation, in  answer  to  a  respectful  supplication  for  the 
repayment  of  large  loans  advanced  by  my  father  for  the 
service  of  the  state,  in  the  King's  utmost  emergencies." 

"  It  is  impossible;  "  said  the  citizen — "  it  is  absolutely 
impossible!  If  the  King  could  forget  what  was  due  to  your 
father's  memory,  still  he  would  not  have  wished — would  not. 

*  Meaning,  orobabb'.  playbills. 


38  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

I  may  say,  have  dared — to  be  so  flagrantly  unjust  to  thft 
memory  of  such  a  man  as  your  father,  who,  dead  in  the 
body,  Avill  long  live  in  the  memory  of  the  Scottish  people." 

"I  should  have  been  of  your  opinion,"  answered  Lord 
Nigel,  in  the  same  tone  as  before;  "but  there  is  no  fighting 
with  facts." 

"  What  was  the  tenor  of  this  supplication?"  said  Ileriot; 
"or  by  whom  was  it  presented?  Something  strange  there 
must  have  been  in  the  contents,  or  else " 

"  You  may  see  my  original  draught,"  said  the  young 
lord,  taking  it  out  of  a  small  travelling  strong-box;  "the 
technical  part  is  by  my  lawyer  in  Scotland,  a  skilful  and  sen- 
sible man;  the  rest  is  my  own,  drawn,  I  hope,  with  due 
deference  and  modesty." 

Master   Heriot  hastily   cast  his    eye  over   the    draught. 
"  Nothing,"  he  said,  "can  be  more  well-tempered  and  re- 
spectful.    Is  it  possible  the  King  can  have  treated  this  pet^ 
tion  with  contempt  ?  " 

"  He  threw  it  down  on  the  pavement,"  said  the  Lord  o 
Glenvarloch,  "and  sent  me  for  answer  that  proclamation^ 
in  which  he  classes  me  with  the  paupers  and  mendicants  from 
Scotland,  who  disgrace  his  court  in  the  eyes  of  the  proud 
English — that  is  all.  Had  not  my  father  stood  by  him  with 
heart,  sword,  and  fortune,  he  might  never  have  seen  the 
court  of  England  himself." 

"  But  by  whom  was  this  supplication  presented,  my 
lord?  "  said  Heriot;  "  for  the  distaste  taken  at  the  messenger 
will  sometimes  extend  itself  to  the  message." 

"By  my  servant,"  said  the  Lord  Nigel — "by  the  man 
you  saw,  and,  I  think,  Avere  kind  to." 

"By  your  servant,  my  lord?"  said  the  citizen;  "he 
seems  a  shrcAvd  fellow,  and  doubtless  a  faithful;  but 
surely " 

"  Yon  would  say,"  said  Lord  Nigel,  "he  is  no  fit  messen- 
ger to  a  king's  presence?  Surely  he  is  not;  but  what  could  J 
do?  Every  attempt  I  had  made  to  lay  my  case  before  the 
King  had  miscarried,  and  my  petitions  got  no  farther  than 
the  budgets  of  clerks  and  secretaries;  this  fellow  pretended 
he  had  a  friend  in  the  household  that  would  bring  him  to  the 
King's  presence,  and  so " 

"  I  understand,"  said  Heriot;  "  but,  my  lord,  why  should 
you  not,  in  right  of  your  rank  and  birth,  have  appeared  at 
court,  and  required  an  audience,  which  could  not  have  been 
denied  to  you?" 

The  young  lord  blushed  a  little^  and  looked  at  his  dress, 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  39 

which  was  very  phiin;  and,  though  in  perfect  good  order, 
had  the  appearance  of  having  seen  service. 

"  I  know  not  wliy  I  shoiild  be  asliamed  of  speaking  the 
truth,"  lie  said,  after  a  momentary  hesitation:  "I  had  no 
dress  suitable  for  appearing  at  court.  I  am  determined  to 
incur  no  expenses  which  I  cannot  discharge;  and  I  think 
you,  sir,  would  not  advise  me  to  stand  at  the  palace  door  in 
person  and  deliver  my  petition  along  with  those  who  are  in 
very  deed  pleading  their  necessity  and  begging  an  alms." 

^"That  had  been,  indeed,  unseemly,"  said  the  citizen; 
"but  yet,  my  lord,  my  mind  runs  strangely  that  there  must 
be  some  mistake.     Can  I  speak  with  your  domestic?" 

"  I  see  little  good  it  can  do,"  answered  the  young  lord, 
"but  the  interest  you  take  in  my  misfortunes  seems  sincere, 

and  therefore "     He  stamped  on  the  floor,  and  in  a  few 

seconds  afterwards  Moniplies  appeared,  wiping  from  his 
beard  and  mustache  the  crumbs  of  bread  and  the  froth  of 
the  ale-pot,  which  plainly  showed  how  he  had  been  em- 
ployed. "  Will  your  lordship  grant  permission,"  said  Heriot, 
"  that  I  ask  your  groom  a  few  questions?" 

"' His  lordship'^  page.  Master  George,"  answered  Moni- 
plies, with  a  nod  of  acknowledgment,  "  if  you  are  minded  to 
speak  according  to  the  letter." 

"Hold  your  saucy  tongue,"  said  his  master,  "and  reply 
distinctly  to  the  questions  you  are  to  be  asked." 

"'  And  tndi/,  if  it  like  your  pageship,"  said  the  citizen, 
"for  you  may  remember  I  have  a  gift  to  discover  falset," 

"  Weel — weel — weel,"  replied  the  domestic,  somewhat 
embarrassed,  in  spite  of  his  effrontery,  "'  though  I  think  that 
the  sort  of  truth  that  serves  my  master  may  weel  serve  ony 
ane  else." 

"  Pages  lie  to  their  masters  by  right  of  custom,"  said  the 
citizen;  "and  you  write  yourself  in  that  band,  though  I 
think  you  be  among  the  oldest  of  such  springakh;  but  to  me 
you  must  speak  truth,  if  you  would  not  have  it  end  in  the 
whipping-post." 

"And  that's  e'en  a  bad  resting-place,"  said  the  well- 
grown  page;  "so  come  away  Avith  your  questions.  Master 
George." 

"Well,  then,"  demanded  the  citizen,  "I  am  given  to 
understand  that  you  yesterday  presented  to  his  Majesty's 
hand  a  supplication,  or  petition,  from  this  honorable  lord, 
your  master." 

"  Troth,  there's  nae  gainsaying  that,  sir,"  replied  Moni- 
plies; "  there  were  enow  to  spe  it  besides  me." 


40  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

"  And  you  pretend  that  his  Majesty  flnng  it  from  him 
with  contempt .'"' said  the  citizen.  "Take  heed,  fori  liave 
means  of  knowing  the  truth;  and  you  were  better  up  to  the 
neck  in  the  Nor'  Loch,  which  you  like  so  well,  than  tell  a 
leasing  where  his  Majesty's  name  is  concerned." 

''There  is  nae  occasion  for  leasing-making  about  the  mat- 
ter," answered  Moniplies,  firmly;  "  his  Majesty  e'en  flung  it 
frae  him  as  if  it  had  dirtied  his  fingers." 

"  You  hear,  sir,"  said  Olifaunt,  addressing  Heriot. 

"  Hush  !  "  said  the  sagacious  citizen;  "  this  fellow  is  not  ill 
named:  he  has  more  plies  than  one  in  his  cloak.  Stay,  fel- 
low," for  Moniplies,  muttering  somewhat  about  finishing  hie 
breakfast,  was  beginning  to  shamble  towards  the  door, 
"  answer  me  this  farther  question:  When  you  gave  your 
master's  petition  to  his  Majesty,  gave  you  nothing  with  it  ?  '■ 

"  Ou,  what  should  I  give  wi'it,  ye  ken.  Master  George  ?  *' 

"  That  is  what  I  desire  and  insist  to  know,"  replied  his 
interrogator. 

"  AVeel,  then — I  am  not  free  to  say  that  maybe  I  might 
not  just  slip  into  the  king's  hand  a  wee  bit  sifflication  of 
mine  ain,  along  with  my  lord's — just  to  save  his  Majesty 
trouble,  and  that  he  might  consider  them  baith  at  ance." 

"  A  supplication  of  your  own,  you  varlet !  "  said  his  mas- 
ter. 

"  Ou  dear,  ay,  my  lord,  "  said  Richie;  "  puir  bodies  hae 
their  bits  of  sifflications  as  weel  as  their  betters." 

"  And  pray,  what  might  your  worshipful  petition  import?" 
said  Master  Heriot.  "Nay,  for  Heaven's  sake,  my  lord,  keep 
your  patience,  or  we  shall  never  learn  the  truth  of  this  strange 
matter.  Speak  out,  sirrah,  and  I  will  stand  your  friend  with 
my  lord." 

"  It's  a  lang  story  to  tell — but  the  upshot  is,  that  it's  a 
scrape  of  an  auld  accompt  due  to  my  father's  yestate  by  her 
Majesty,  the  King's  maist  gracious  mother,  when  she  lived 
in  the  Castle,  and  had  sundry  providings  and  furnishings 
forth  of  our  booth,  whilk  nae  doubt  was  an  honor  to  my 
father  to  supply,  and  whilk,  doubtless,  it  will  be  a  credit  to 
his  Majesty  to  satisfy,  as  it  will  be  grit  convenience  to  me  to 
receive  the  saam." 

"  What  string  of  impertinence  is  this  ?  "  said  his  master. 

"  Every  word  as  truease'er  John  Knox  spoke,"  said  Richie; 
"  here's  the  bit  double  of  the  sifflication." 

Master  George  took  a  crumpled  paper  from  the  fellow's 
hand,  and  said,  muttering  betwixt  his  teeth:  "'Humbly 
slioweth — um — um — his  Majesty's  maist  gracious  mother — um 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  4 1 

— um — justly  addebted  and  owing  the  sum  of  fifteen  merks 
— the  compt  whereof  foUoweth:  Twelve  nowte's  feet  for 
jellies — ane  lamb,  being  Christmas — ane  roasted  capin  in 
grease  for  the  privy  chalmer,  where  my  Lord  of  Bothwell 
Buppit  with  her  Grace/  1  think,  my  lord,  you  can  hardly 
be  surprised  that  the  King  gave  this  petition  a  brisk  recep- 
tion; and  I  conclude.  Master  Page,  that  you  took  care  to 
present  your  own  supplication  before  your  master's  ?" 

"Troth  did  I  not,"  answered  Moniplies;  "I  thought  to 
have  given  my  lord's  first,  as  was  reason  gude;  and  besides 
that,  it  wad  have  redd  the  gate  for  my  ain  little  bill.  But 
what  wi'  the  dirdum  an'  confusion,  an'  the  loupin'  here  and 
there  of  the  skeigh  brute  of  a  horse,  I  believe  I  crammed 
them  baith  into  his  hand  cheek-by-jowl,  and  maybe  my  ain 
was  buueniost;  and  say  there  was  aught  wrang,  I  am  sure  I 
had  a'  the  fright  and  a'  the  risk " 

"  And  shall  have  all  the  beating,  you  rascal  knave,"  said 
Nigel.  '•  Am  I  to  be  insulted  and  dishonored  by  your  prag- 
matical insolence,  in  blending  your  base  concerns  with 
mine  ?" 

'•'Nay — nay — nay,  my  lord,"  said  the  good-humored  citi- 
zen, interposing;  "  I  have  been  the  means  of  bringing  the 
fellow's  blunder  to  light,  allow  me  interest  enough  with  your 
lordship  to  be  bail  for  his  bones.  You  have  cause  to  be 
angry,  but  still  I  think  the  knave  mistook  more  out  of  con- 
ceit than  of  purpose;  and  I  judge  you  will  have  the  better 
service  of  him  another  time  if  you  overlook  this  fault.  Get 
you  gone,  sirrah;  I'll  make  your  peace." 

"  Na — na,"  said  Moniplies,  keeping  his  ground  firmly,  "  if 
he  likes  to  strike  a  lad  that  has  followed  him  for  pure  love, 
for  I  think  there  has  been  little  servant's  fee  between  us,  a' 
the  way  frae  Scotland,  just  let  my  lord  be  doing,  and  see  the 
credit  he  will  get  by  it;  and  I  would  rather — mony  thanks  to 
you  though.  Master  George — stand  by  a  lick  of  his  baton 
than  it  suld  e'er  be  said  a  stranger  came  between  us." 

''  Go,  then,"  said  his  master,  ''  and  get  outof  my  sight." 

"  Aweel  I  wot  that  is  snne  done,"  said  Moniplies,  retiring 
slowly;  "  I  did  not  come  without  I  had  been  ca'd  for,  and  I 
wad  have  been  away  half  an  hour  since  with  my  gude  will, 
only  Maister  George  keepit  me  to  answer  his  interrogation, 
forsooth,  and  that  has  made  a'  this  stir." 

And  so  he  made  his  grumbling  exit,  with  the  tone  much 
rather  of  one  who  has  sustained  an  injury  than  who  has  done 
wrong. 

•'  There  never  was  a  man  so    plagued  aa  I  am  with  a 


42  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

malapert  knave  !  The  fellow  is  shrewd,  and  I  have  found 
him  faithful.  I  believe  he  loves  me,  too,  and  he  has  given 
proofs  of  it  ;  but  then  ho  is  so  uplifted  in  his  own  conceit,  so 
self-willed,  and  so  self-opinioned,  that  he  seems  to  become 
the  master  and  I  the  man  ;  and  whatever  blunder  he  com- 
mits, he  is  sure  to  make  as  loud  complaints  as  if  the  whole 
error  lay  with  me,  and  in  no  degree  with  himself." 

"Cherish  him,  and  maintain  him,  nevertheless,"  said  the 
citizen  ;  "  for  believe  my  gray  hairs,  that  affection  and  fidelity 
are  now  rarer  qualities  in  a  servitor  than  when  the  world  was 
younger.  Yet,  trust  him,  my  good  lord,  with  no  commis- 
sion above  his  birth  or  breeding,  for  you  see  yourself  how  it 
may  chance  to  fall." 

"  It  is  but  too  evident.  Master  Heriot,"  said  the  young 
nobleman  ;  "and  I  am  sorry  I  have  done  injustice  to  my  sover- 
eign, and  your  master.  But  I  am,  like  a  true  Scotsman,  wise 
behindhand  ;  the  mistake  has  happened,  my  supplication 
has  been  refused,  and  my  only  resource  is  to  employ  the  rest  of 
my  means  to  carry  Moniplies  and  myself  to  some  counter- 
scarp, and  die  in  the  battle-front  like  my  ancestors." 

"  It  were  better  to  live  and  serve  your  country  like 
your  noble  father,  my  lord,"  replied  Master  George.  "  Na;, 
— nay,  never  look  down  or  shake  your  head.  The  King 
has  not  refused  your  supplication,  for  he  has  not  seen  it  : 
you  ask  but  justice,  and  that  his  place  obliges  him  to  give  to 
his  subjects — ay,  my  lord,  and  I  will  say  that  his  naturt;! 
temper  doth  in  this  hold  bias  with  his  duty." 

"I   were   well     pleased    to    think    so,  and  yet "  said 

Nigel  Olifaunt.  "  I  speak  not  of  my  own  wrongs,  but  my 
country  hath  many  that  are  unredressed." 

"My  lord,"  said  Master  Heriot,  "  I  speak  of  my  royal 
master  not  only  with  the  respect  due  from  a  subject,  the 
gratitude  to  be  paid  by  a  favored  servant,  but  also  with  the 
frankness  of  a  free  and  loyal  Scotsman.  The  King  is  him- 
self well  disposed  to  hold  the  scales  of  justice  even  ;  but 
there  are  those  around  him  who  can  throw  without  detection 
their  own  selfish  wishes  and  base  interests  into  the  scale.  You 
are  already  a  sufferer  by  this,  and  without  your  knowing  it." 

"  I  am  surprised.  Master  Heriot,"  said  the  young  lord, 
"  to  hear  you,  upon  so  short  an  acquaintance,  talk  as  if  you 
were  familiarly  acquainted  with  my  affairs." 

"  My  lord,"  replied  the  goldsmith,  "  the  nature  of  my 
employment  affords  me  direct  access  to  the  interior  of  the 
palace  ;  I  am  well  known  to  be  no  meddler  in  intrigues  or 
party  affairs,  so  that  no  favorite  has  as  yet  endeavored  to 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  43 

shut  against  me  the  door  of  the  royal  closet ;  on  the  con- 
trary, I  have  stood  v.'ell  with  each  while  he  was  in  power, 
and  I  have  not  shared  the  fall  of  any.  But  I  cannot  be  tlius 
connected  witli  the  court  without  hearing,  even  against  my 
will,  what  wheels  are  in  motion,  and  how  they  are  checked 
or  forwarded.  Of  course,  when  I  choose  to  seek  such  intelli- 
gence,! know  the  sources  in  which  it  is  to  be  traced.  I  have 
told  you  why  I  was  interested  in  your  lordship's  fortunes.  It 
was  last  night  only  that  I  knew  you  were  in  this  city,  yet  I 
have  been  able,  in  coming  hither  this  morning,  to  gain  for  you 
some  information  respecting  the  impediments  to  your  suit.'' 

"'  Sir,  I  am  obliged  by  your  zeal,  however  little  it  may  be 
merited,"  answered  Nigel,  still  with  some  reserve;  ''yet  I 
hardly  know  how  I  have  deserved  this  interest." 

"  First  let  me  satisfy  you  that  it  is  real,"  said  the  citizen. 
''  I  blame  you  not  for  being  unwilling  to  credit  the  fair  pro- 
fessions of  a  stranger  in  my  inferior  class  of  society,  when 
you  have  met  so  little  friendship  from  relations  and  those  of 
your  own  rank,  bound  to  have  assisted,  you  by  so  many  ties. 
But  mark  the  cause.  There  is  a  mortgage  over  your  father's 
extensive  estate,  to  the  amount  of  40,000  merks,  due  ostensi- 
bly to  Peregrine  Peterson,  the  Conservator  of  Scottish 
Privileges  at  Campvere." 

"  I  know  nothing  of  a  mortgage,"  said  the  young  lord  ; 
''but  there  is  a  wadset  for  such  a  sum,  which,  if  unredeemed, 
will  occasion  the  forfeiture  of  my  Avhole  paternal  estate,  for 
a  sum  not  above  a  fourth  of  its  value  ;  and  it  is  for  that  very 
reason  that  I  press  the  King's  government  for  a  settlement 
of  the  debts  due  to  my  father,  that  I  may  be  able  to  redeem 
my  land  from  this  rapacious  creditor." 

"  A  wadset  in  Scotland,"  said  Heriot,  "is  the  same  with 
a  mortgage  on  this  side  of  the  Tweed ;  but  you  are  not 
acquainted  with  your  real  creditor.  The  Conservator  Peter- 
son only  lends  his  name  to  shroud  no  less  a  man  than  the 
Lord  Chancellor  of  Scotland,  who  hopes,  under  cover  of  this 
debt,  to  gain  possession  of  the  estate  himself,  or  perhaps  to 
gratify  a  yet  more  powerful  third  party.  He  will  probably 
suffer  his  creature  Peterson  to  take  possession,  and  when 
the  odium  of  the  transaction  shall  be  forgotten,  the  property 
and  lordship  of  Glenvarloch  will  be  conveyed  to  the  great 
man  by  his  obsequious  instrument,  under  cover  of  a  sale 
or  some  similar  device." 

"Can  this  be  possible?"  said  Lord  Nigel.  "The  chan- 
cellor wept  wlien  I  took  leave  of  him — called  me  his  cousin, 
even  his  son — furnished  me  with  letters,  and,  tliough  I  asked 


44  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

hini  for  no  pecuniary  assistance,  excused  himself  unnecesb.t- 
rily  for  not  pressing  it  on  me,  alleging  the  expenses  of  his 
rank  and  his  large  family.  No,  I  cannot  believe  a  nobleman 
would  carry  deceit  so  far/' 

"lam  not,  it  is  true,  of  noble  blood,"  said  the  citizen; 
"  but  once  more  I  bid  you  look  on  my  gray  hairs,  and  think 
what  can  be  my  interest  in  dishonoring  them  with  falsehood 
in  affairs  in  which  I  have  no  interest,  save  as  they  regard  the 
son  of  my  benefactor.  Reflect  also,  have  you  had  any  advan- 
tage from  the  Lord  Chancellor's  letters?" 

"None,"  said  Nigel  Olifaunt,  ''except  cold  deeds  and  fair 
words.  I  have  thought  for  some  time,  their  only  object  was 
to  get  rid  of  me;  one  yesterday  pressed  money  on  me  when 
I  talked  of  going  abroad,  in  order  that  I  might  not  want  the 
means  of  exiling  myself." 

''Right,"  said  Heriot;  "rather  than  you  fled  not,  they 
would  themselves  furnish  wings  for  you  to  fly  withal." 

"I  will  to  him  this  instant,"  said  the  incensed  youth, 
"and  tell  him  my  mind  of  his  baseness." 

"Under  your  favor,"  said  Heriot,  detaining  him,  "you 
shall  not  do  so.  By  a  quarrel  you  would  become  the  ruin  of 
me  your  informer;  and  though  I  would  venture  half  my  shop 
to  do  your  lordship  a  service,  I  think  you  would  hardly  wish 
me  to  come  by  damage,  when  it  can  be  of  no  service  to  you." 

The  word  "shop"  sounded  harshly  in  the  ear  of  the 
young  nobleman,  who  replied  hastily,  "Damage,  sir!  So  far 
am  I  from  wishing  you  to  incur  damage,  that  I  would  to 
Heaven  you  would  cease  your  fruitless  offers  of  serving  one 
whom  there  is  no  chance  of  ultimately  assisting." 

"Leave  me  alone  for  that,"  said  the  citizen;  "you  have 
now  erred  as  far  on  the  bow-hand.  Permit  me  to  take  this 
supplication;  I  will  have  it  suitably  engrossed,  and  take  my 
own  time — and  it  shall  be  an  early  one — for  placing  it,  with 
more  prudence,  I  trust,  than  that  used  by  your  follower,  in 
the  King's  hand.  I  will  almost  answer  for  his  taking  up  the 
matter  as  you  would  have  him;  but  should  he  fail  to  do  so, 
even  then  I  will  not  give  up  the  good  cause." 

"Sir,"  said  the  young  nobleman,  "your  speech  is  so 
friendly,  and  my  own  state  so  helpless,  that  I  know  not  how 
to  refuse  your  kind  proffer,  even  while  I  blush  to  accept  it  at 
the  hands  of  a  stranger." 

"We  are,  I  trust,  no  longer  such,"  said  the  goldsmith; 
"and  for  my  guerdon,  when  my  mediation  proves  successful, 
and  your  fortunes  are  re-established,  you  shall  order  youi 
first  cupboard  of  plate  from  George  Heriot." 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  45 

•'Yoa  would  have  a  bad  paymaster.  Master  Heriot,"  said 
Lord  Nigel. 

''I  do  not  fear  that/'  replied  the  goldsmith;  "and  I  am 
glad  to  see  you  smile,  my  lord — metliinks  it  makes  you  look 
still  more  like  the  good  old  lord  your  father;  and  it  em- 
boldens me,  besides,  to  bring  out  a  small  request,  that  you 
would  take  a  homely  dinner  with  me  to-morrow.  1  lodge 
hard  by,  in  Lombard  Street.  For  the  cheer,  my  lord,  a  mess 
of  white  broth,  a  fat  capon  well  larded,  a  dish  of  beef  collops 
for  auld  Scotland's  sake,  and  it  may  be  a  cup  of  right  old 
wine,  that  was  barrelled  before  Scotland  and  England  Avere 
one  nation.  Then  for  company,  one  or  two  of  our  own  lov- 
ing countr}Tnen;  and  maybe  my  housewife  may  find  out  a 
bonny  Scots  lass  or  so." 

"I  would  accept  your  courtesy.  Master  Heriot,"  said 
Nigel,  "but  I  hear  the  city  ladies  of  London  like  to  see  a  man 
gallant;  I  would  not  like  to  let  down  a  Scottish  nobleman  in 
their  ideas,  as  doubtless  you  have  said  the  best  of  our  poor 
country,  and  I  rather  lack  the  means  of  bravery  for  the 
present.'' 

"My  lord,  your  frankness  leads  me  a  step  farther,"  said 
Master  George.  "I — I  owed  your  father  some  monies,  and — 
nay,  if  your  lordship  looks  at  me  so  fixedly,  I  shall  never  tell 
my  story — and,  to  speak  plainly — for  I  never  could  carry  a 
lie  well  through  in  my  life — it  is  most  fitting  that,  to 
solicit  this  matter  properly,  your  lordship  should  go  to  court 
in  a  manner  beseeming  your  quality.  I  am  a  goldsmith,  and 
live  by  lending  money  as  well  as  by  selling  plate.  I  am  am- 
bitious to  put  a  hundred  pounds  to  be  at  interest  in  your  hands, 
till  your  affairs  are  settled." 

"And  if  thev  are  never  favorably  settled?"  said  Nigel. 

"Then,  my  lord,"  returned  the  citizen,  "the  miscarriage 
of  such  a  sum"  will  be  of  little  consequence  to  me,  compared 
with  other  subjects  of  regret." 

"  Master  Heriot,"  said  the  Lord  Nigel,  "  your  favor  is 
generously  offered,  and  shall  be  frankly  accepted.  I  must 
presume  tliat  you  see  your  way  through  this  business,  though 
I  hardly  do  ;  for  I  tliink  you  would  be  grieved  to  add  any 
fresh  burden  to  me,  by  persuading  me  to  incur  debts  which 
I  am  not  likely  to  discharge.  I  will  therefore  take  your 
money,  under  the  hope  and  trust  that  you  will  enable  me  to 
repay  you  punctually." 

"  I  will  convince  you,  my  lord,"  said  the  goldsmith, 
"that  I  mean  to  deal  with  you  as  a  creditor  [debtor]  from 
whom  I  expect  payment  ;  and  therefore  you  shall,  with  your 


45  WAVERLEV  NOVELS 

OAvn  good  pleasure,  sign  un  ackuowlodginent  for  these  monies, 
and  an  obligation  to  content  and  repay  me." 

He  then  took  from  his  girdle  his  writing-materials,  and, 
writing  a  few  lines  to  the  purport  he  expressed,  pulled  out  a 
small  bag  of  gold  from  a  side-pouch  under  his  cloak,  and, 
observing  that  it  should  contain  a  hundred  j)ounds,  proceeded 
to  tell  out  the  contents  very  methodically  upon  the  table. 
Nigel  Olifaunt  could  not  help  intimating  that  this  was 
an  unnecessary  ceremonial,  and  that  he  Avould  take  the 
bag  of  gold  on  the  word  of  his  obliging  creditor  ;  but  this 
was  repugnant  to  the  old  man's  forms  of  transacting  busi- 
ness. 

"  Bear  with  me,"  he  said,  "  my  good  lord  ;  we  citizens 
are  a  wary  and  thrifty  generation,  and  I  should  lose  my 
good  name  forever  within  the  toll  of  Paul's  were  I  to  grant 
quittance  or  take  acknowledgment  without  bringing  the 
money  to  actual  talc.  I  think  it  be  right  now  ;  and,  body 
of  me,"  he  said,  looking  out  at  the  window,  "yonder  come 
my  boys  with  my  mule  ;  for  I  must  westward  ho.  Put  your 
monies  aside,  my  lord  ;  it  is  not  well  to  be  seen  with  such 
goldfinches  chirping  about  one  in  the  lodgings  of  London. 
I  think  the  lock  of  your  casket  be  indifferent  good  ;  if  not,  I 
can  serve  you  at  an  easy  rate  with  one  that  has  held  thou- 
sands ;  it  was  the  good  old  Sir  Faithful  Frugal's  ;  his  spend- 
thrift son  sold  the  shell  when  ho  had  eaten  the  kernel — and 
there  is  the  end  of  a  city  fortune." 

"I  hope  yours  will  make  a  better  termination.  Master 
Heriot,"  said  the  Lord  Nigel. 

"  I  hope  it  will,  my  lord,"  said  the  old  man,  with  a  smile  ; 
"  but," — to  use  honest  John  Bunyan's  phrase,  "  therewithal 
the  water  stood  in  his  eyes," — •'  it  has  pleased  God  to  try  me 
Avith  the  loss  of  two  children  ;  and  for  one  adopted  child  who 
lives — ah  !  woe  is  me  !  and  Avell-a-day  !  But  I  am  patient 
and  thankful  ;  and  for  the  wealth  God  has  sent  me,  it  shall 
not  want  inheritors  while  there  are  orphan  lads  in  Auld  Reekie- 
I  wish  you  good-morrow,  my  lord." 

"  One  orphan  has  cause  to  thank  you  already,"  said  Nigel, 
as  he  attended  him  to  the  door  of  his  chamber,  where,  resist- 
ing furtlier  escort,  the  old  citizen  made  his  escape. 

As,  in  going  downstairs,  he  passed  the  shop,  wdiere  Dame 
Christie  stood  beckoning,  he  made  civil  inquiries  after  her 
husband.  The  dame  of  course  regretted  his  absence  ;  but 
"Mie  was  down,"  she  said,  "at  Deptford,  to  settle  with  a 
Dutch  shiiDmaster." 

"  Our  way  of  business,  sir,"  she  said,  "  takes  him  much 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  41 

from  home,  and  my  husband  must  be  the  slave  of  every  tarry 
jacket  that  Avants  but  a  pound  of  oakum." 

"  All  business  must  be  minded,  dame,"  said  the  gold- 
smith. '^  Make  my  remembrances — George  Heriot  of  Lom- 
bard Street's  remembrances — to  your  goodman.  I  have  dealt 
with  him  ;  he  is  just  and  punctual,  true  to  time  and  engage- 
ments. Be  kind  to  your  noble  guest,  and  see  he  wants 
nothing.  Though  it  be  his  jjleasure  at  present  to  lie  private 
and  :"etired,  there  be  those  that  care  for  him,  and  I  have  a 
charge  to  see  him  supplied  ;  so  that  you  may  let  me  know  by 
your  husband,  my  good  dame,  how  my  lord  is,  and  whether 
he  wants  aught." 

"  And  so  he  is  a  real  lord  after  all  ?"  said  the  good  dame. 
''I  am  sure  I  always  thought  he  looked  like  one.  But  why 
does  he  not  go  to  Parliament,  then  T' 

"lie  will,  dame,"  answered  Heriot,  "to  the  Parliament 
of  Scotland,  which  is  his  own  country." 

"  Oh  !  he  is  but  a  Scots  lord,  then,"  said  the  good  dame  ; 
"  and  tliat's  the  thing  makes  him  ashamed  to  take  the  title, 
as  they  say  ?" 

"  Let  him  not  hear  you  say  so,  dame,"  replied  the  citizen. 
"  Who,  I,  sir  ?"  answered  she  ;  "no  such  matter  in  my 
thought,  sir.  Scot  or  English,  he  is  at  any  rate  a  likely  man, 
and  a  cinl  man  ;  and  rather  than  he  should  want  anything, 
I  would  wait  upon  him  myself,  and  come  as  far  as  Lombard 
Street  to  wait  upon  your  Avorship  too." 

"  Let  your  husband  come  to  me,  good  dame,"  said  the 
goldsmith,  Avho,  with  all  his  experience  and  worth,  was 
somewhat  of  a  formalist  and  disciplinarian.  "  The  proverb 
says,  *  House  goes  mad  when  women  gad  ;'  and  let  his 
lordship's  own  man  wait  upon  his  master  in  his  chamber  ;  it 
is  more  seemly.     God  give  ye  good-morrow." 

"  Good-morrow  to  your  worship,"  said  the  dame,  some- 
what coldly  ;  and,  so  soon  as  the  adviser  was  out  of  hearing, 
was  ungracious  enough  to  mutter,  in  contempt  of  his  counsel. 
Marry  guep  of  your  advice,  for  an  old  Scotch  tinsmith,  as 
you  are  !  My  husband  is  as  wise,  and  very  near  as  old,  as 
yourself  ;  and  if  I  please  him,  it  is  well  enough  ;  and  though 
he  is  not  just  so  rich  just  now  as  some  folks,  yet  I  hope  to  see 
liim  ride  upon  his  movie,  with  a  foot-cloth,  and  have  his  two 
bluecoats  after  him,  as  well  as  they  do." 


CHAPTER  V 

Wherefore  come  ye  not  to  court? 
Certain  'tis  the  rarest  spert; 
There  are  silks  and  jewels  glistening, 
Prattling  fools  and  wise  men  listening. 
Bullies  among  brave  men  justling, 
Beggars  amongst  nobles  bustling, 
Low-breath'd  talkers,  minion  lispers. 
Cutting  honest  throats  by  whispers; 
Wherefore  come  ye  not  to  court  ? 
Skelton  swears  'tis  glorious  sport. 

Skelton  Skeltonizeth. 

It  was  not  entirely  out  of  parade  that  the  benevolent  citizen 
was  mounted  and  attended  in  that  manner  which,  as  the 
reader  has  been  informed,  excited  a  gentle  degree  of  spleen 
on  the  part  of  Dame  Christie,  which,  to  do  her  justice,  van- 
ished in  the  little  soliloquy  which  we  have  recorded.  The 
good  man,  besides  the  natural  desire  to  maintain  the  exterior 
of  a  man  of  worship,  Avas  at  present  bound  to  Whitehall  in 
order  to  exhibit  a  piece  of  valuable  workmanship  to  King 
James,  which  he  deemed  his  Majesty  might  be  pleased  to 
view,  or  even  to  purchase.  He  himself  was  therefore  mounted 
upon  his  caparisoned  mule,  that  he  might  the  better  make 
his  way  through  the  narrow,  dirty,  and  crowded  streets;  and 
while  one  of  his  attendants  carried  under  his  arm  the  piece 
of  plate,  wrapped  up  in  red  baize,  the  other  two  gave  an  eye 
to  its  safety;  for  such  was  then  the  state  of  the  police  of  the 
metropolis,  that  men  were  often  assaulted  in  the  public  street 
for  the  sake  of  revenge  or  of  plunder;  and  those  who  appre- 
hended being  beset  usually  endeavored,  if  their  estate  ad- 
mitted such  expense,  to  secure  themselves  by  the  attendance 
of  armed  followers.  And  this  custom,  which  was  at  first 
limited  to  the  nobility  and  gentry,  extended  by  degrees  to 
those  citizens  of  consideration  who,  being  understood  to 
travel  with  a  charge,  as  it  was  called,  might  otherwise  have 
been  selected  as  safe  subjects  of  plunder  by  the  street-robber. 
As  Master  George  Heriot  paced  forth  westward  with  this 
gallant  attendance,  he  paused  at  the  shop  door  of  his  country- 
man and  friend,  the  ancient  horologer,  and  having  caused 
Tunstall,  who  was  in  attendance,  to  adjust  his  watch  by  the 
real  time,  he  desired  to  speak  with  his  master;  in  consequence 
of  which  summons,  the  old  time-meter  came  forth  from  his 


THE  FORTUyES  OF  NIGEL  49 

flen.  his  face  like  a  bronze  bust,  darkened  with  dnst,  and 
plistenin^  here  and  there  witli  copper  tilings,  and  his  senses 
so  bemused  in  the  intensity  of  calculation,  that  he  gazed  on 
his  friend  the  goldsmith  for  a  minute  before  he  seemed  per- 
fectly to  comprehend  who  he  was,  and  heard  him  express  his 
invitation  to  David  Eamsay  and  pretty  Mistress  Margaret, 
his  daughter,  to  dine  with  him  next  day  at  noon,  to  meet 
with  a  noble  young  countryman,  without  returning  any 
answer. 

•*'  I'll  make  thee  speak,  with  a  murrain  to  thee,"  muttered 
Ileriot  to  himself;  and  suddenly  changing  his  tone,  he  said 
aloud — ''  I  pray  you,  neighbor  David,  when  are  you  and  I 
to  have  a  settlement  for  the  bullion  wherewith  I  supplied 
you  to  mount  yonder  hall  clock  at  Theobald's;  and  that  other 
"whirligig  that  you  made  for  the  Duke  of  Buckingham?  I 
have  had  the  Spanish  house  to  satisfy  for  the  ingots,  and  I 
must  needs  put  you  in  mind  that  you  have  been  eight  months 
behindhand." 

There  is  something  so  sharp  and  aigre  in  the  demand  of  a 
peremptory  dun,  that  no  human  tympanum,  however  inac- 
cessible to  other  tones,  can  resist  the  application.  David 
Ramsay  started  at  once  from  his  reverie,  and  answered  in  a 
pettish  tone,  "  Wow,  George,  man,  what  needs  aw  this  din 
about  sax  score  o'  pounds?  Aw  the  world  kens  I  can  answer 
aw  claims  on  me,  and  you  proffered  yourself  fair  time,  till 
his  maist  gracious  Majesty  and  the  noble  Duke  suld  make 
settled  accounts  wi'  me;  and  ye  may  ken,  by  your  ain  expe- 
rience, that  I  canna  gang  rowting  like  an  unmannered  High- 
land stot  to  their  doors,  as  ye  come  to  mine." 

Heriot  laughed,  and  replied,  ''  Well,  David,  I  see  a  demand 
of  money  is  like  a  bucket  of  water  about  your  ears,  and 
makes  you  a  man  of  the  world  at  once.  And  now,  friend, 
will  you  tell  me,  like  a  Christian  man,  if  you  will  dine  with 
me  to-morrow  at  noon,  and  bring  pretty  Mistress  Margaret, 
my  goddaughter,  with  you,  to  meet  with  our  noble  young 
<jountryman,  the  Lord  of  Glenvarloch  ?" 

"  The  young  Lord  of  Glenvarloch !"  said  the  old  mechan- 
ist; "  wi'  aw  my  heart,  and  blythe  I  will  be  to  see  him  again. 
We  have  not  met  these  forty  years;  he  was  twa  years  before 
me  at  the  humanity  classes;  he  is  a  sweet  youth." 

"That  was  his  father — his  father — his  father!  you  old 
dotard  Dot-and-carry-Oiie  that  you  are,"  answered  the  gold- 
smith. "  A  sweet  youth  he  would  have  been  by  this  time,  had 
he  lived,  worthy  nobleman  I  This  is  his  son,  the  Lord  Nigel." 
*'  His  son  I"  said  Ramsay.     '^  Maybe  he  will  want  some- 


50  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

tiling  of  a  clironometcr,  or  watch;  few  gallants  care  to  be 
without  them  nowadays/' 

"  lie  may  buy  half  your  stock  in  trade,  if  ever  he  comes  to 
his  own,  for  what  I  know,"  said  his  friend;  "but,  Davie, 
remember  your  bond,  and  use  me  not  as  you  did  when  my 
liousewife  had  the  sheep's-head  and  the  cock-a-leeky  boiling 
for  you  as  late  as  two  of  the  clock  afternoon." 

"  She  had  the  more  credit  by  her  cookery,"  answered 
David,  now  fully  awake;  '"'a  sheep's-head  over-boiled  were 
poison,  according  to  our  saying." 

"Well,"  a'jiswered  JVIaster  George,  "but  as  there  will  be 
no  sheep's-head  to-morrow,  it  may  chance  you  to  spoil  a  din- 
ner which  a  proverb  cannot  mend.  It  may  be  you  may  fore- 
gather with  your  friend.  Sir  Mungo  Malagrowther,  for  I 
purpose  to  ask  his  worship;  so,  be  sure  and  bide  tryste, 
Davie.' 

"  That  will  I — I  will  be  true  as  a  chronometer,"  said 
liamsay. 

"I  will  not  trust  you,  though,"  replied  Heriot.  "  Hear 
you,  Jenkin  boy,  tell  Scots  Janet  to  tell  pretty  Mistress  Mar- 
garet, my  godchild,  she  must  put  her  father  in  remembrance 
to  put  on  his  best  doublet  to-morrow,  and  to  bring  him  to 
Lombard  Street  at  noon.  Tell  her  they  are  to  meet  a  brave 
young  Scots  lord." 

Jenkin  coughed  that  sort  of  dry  short  cough  uttered  by 
those  who  are  either  charged  with  errands  which  they  do  not 
like,  or  hear  opinions  to  which  they  must  not  enter  a  dissent. 

"Umph!"  repeated  Master  George,  who,  as  we  have 
already  noticed,  was  something  of  a  martinet  in  domestic 
discipline — "what  does  'umpli'  mean?  Will  you  do  my 
errand  or  not,  sirrah?" 

"  Sure,  Master  George  Heriot,"  said  the  apprentice,  touch- 
ing his  cap,  "  I  only  meant  that  Mistress  Margaret  was  not 
likely  to  forget  such  an  invitation." 

"  Why,  no,"  said  Master  George;  "  she  is  a  dutiful  girl 
to  her  godfather,  though  I  sometimes  call  her  a  j ill-flirt. 
And,  hark  ye,  Jenkin,  you  and  your  comrade  had  best  come 
with  your  clubs,  to  see  your  master  and  her  safely  home;  but 
first  shut  shop,  and  loose  the  bull-dog,  and  let  the  porter 
stay  in  the  foreshop  till  your  return.  I  will  send  two  of  my 
knaves  with  you;  for  I  hear  these  wild  youngsters  of  the 
Temple  are  broken  out  worse  and  lighter  than  ever." 

"  We  can  keep  their  steel  in  order  with  good  hand-bats," 
said  Jenkin,  "  and  never  trouble  your  servants  for  the 
matter." 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  51 

''  Or,  if  need  be/'  said  Tnnstall,  "  we  have  swords  as  well 
as  the  Templars." 

"  Fie  upon  it — fie  upon  it,  young  man,"  said  the  citizen. 
''An  apprentice  with  a  Bword!  Marry,  Heaven  foref  end!  I 
Avould  as  soon  see  him  in  :.  hat  and  feather." 

"  Well,  sir,"  said  Jenkin,  "  we  will  find  arms  fitting  to 
our  station,  and  will  defend  our  master  and  his  daughter,  if 
we  should  tear  up  the  very  stones  of  the  joavement." 

"  There  spoke  a  London  'prentice  hold,"  said  the  citizen; 
"and  for  your  comfort,  my  lads,  you  shall  crush  a  cup  of 
wine  to  the  health  of  the  fathers  of  the  city.  I  have  my 
eye  on  both  of  you  :  you  are  thriving  lads,  each  in  his  own 
Avay.  God  be  wi'  you,  Davie.  Forget  not  to-morrow  at 
noon."  And  so  saying,  he  again  turned  his  mule's  head 
H'estward,  and  crossed  Temple  Bar  at  that  slow  and  decent 
amble  which  at  once  became  his  rank  and  civic  importance 
and  put  his  pedestrian  followers  to  no  inconvenience  to  keep 
up  with  him. 

At  the  Temple  gate  he  again  paused,  dismounted,  and 
sought  his  way  into  one  of  the  small  booths  occupi:d  hy  scriv- 
eners in  the  neighborhood.  A  young  man,  with  lank  smooth 
hair  combed  straight  to  his  ears  and  then  crojiped  short,  rose, 
v.'ith  a  cringing  reverence,  pulled  off  a  slouched  hat,  which 
he  would  upon  no  signal  replace  on  his  head,  and  answered, 
with  much  demonstration  of  reverence,  to  the  goldsmith's 
question  of,  "  How  goes  business,  Andrew?  "  "  Aw  the  better 
for  your  Avorship's  kind  countenance  and  maintenance." 

"  Get  a  large  sheet  of  paper,  man,  and  make  a  new  pen, 
with  a  sharp  nib  and  fine  hair-stroke.  Do  not  slit  the  quill 
up  too  high,  it's  a  wastrife  course  in  your  trade,  Andrew: 
they  that  do  not  mind  corn-j^ickles  never  come  to  forepits.  I 
have  known  a  learned  man  write  a  thousand  pages  with  one 
quill."  * 

"  Ah!  sir,"  said  the  lad,  who  listened  to  the  goldsmith, 
though  instructing  him  in  his  own  trade,  with  an  air  of  ven- 
eration and  acquiescence,  "  how  sune  ony  puir  creature  like 
mysell  may  rise  in  the  world,  wi'  the  instruction  of  such  a 
man  as  your  worship!  " 

"My  instructions  are  few,  Andrew,  soon  told,  and  not 
hard  to  practise.  Be  honest — be  industrious — be  frugal,  and 
you  will  soon  win  wealth  and  worship.  Here,  copy  me  this 
supplication  in  your  best  and  most  formal  hand.  I  will  wait 
by  3'ou  till  it  is  done." 

The  youth  lifted  not  his  eye  from  the  paper,  and  laid  not 

*  See  Gill's  Commentarj'.    Note  9. 


52  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

the  pen  from  his  hand,  until  the  task  was  finished  to  his 
employer's  satisfaction.  The  citizen  then  gave  "-.he  young 
scrivener  an  angel  ;  and  bidding  him,  on  his  life,  he  secret 
in  all  business  intrusted  to  him,  again  mounted  his  mule- 
and  rode  on  westward  along  the  Strand. 

It  may  be  worth  while  to  remind  our  readers  that  the 
Temple  Bar  Avhieh  Ileriot  passed  was  not  the  arched  screen, 
or  gateway,  of  the  present  day  ;  but  an  open  railing  or  pali- 
sade, which,  at  night  and  times  of  alarm,  was  closed  with  a 
barricade  of  posts  and  chains.  The  Strand  also,  along  whicli 
he  rode,  was  not,  as  now,  a  continued  street,  although  it  was 
beginning  already  to  assume  that  character.  It  still  might 
be  considered  as  an  open  road,  along  the  south  side  of  which 
stood  various  houses  and  hotels  belonging  to  the  nobility, 
having  gardens  behind  them  down  to  the  water-side,  with 
stairs  to  the  river,  for  the  convenience  of  taking  boat ;  which 
mansions  have  bequeathed  the  names  of  their  lordly  owners 
to  many  of  the  streets  leading  from  the  Strand  to  the 
Thames.  The  north  side  of  the  Strand  was  also  a  long  line 
of  houses,  behind  which,  as  in  St.  Martin's  Lane  and  other 
points,  buildings  were  rapidly  arising ;  but  Covent  Garden 
was  still  a  garden,  in  the  literal  sense  of  the  word,  or  at  least 
but  beginning  to  be  studded  with  irregular  buildings.  All 
that  was  passing  around,  however,  marked  the  rapid  increase 
of  a  capital  which  had  long  enjoyed  peace,  wealth,  and  a  reg- 
ular government.  Houses  were  rising  in  every  direction  ; 
and  the  shrewd  eye  of  our  citizen  already  saw  the  period  not 
distant  which  should  convert  the  nearly  open  highway  on 
which  he  travelled  into  a  connected  and  regular  street,  unit- 
ing the  court  and  the  town  with  the  city  of  London. 

He  next  passed  Charing  Cross,  which  was  no  longer  the 
pleasant  solitary  village  at  which  the  judges  were  wont  to 
breakfast  on  their  way  to  Westminster  Hall,  but  began  to 
resemble  the  artery  through  which,  to  use  Johnson's  expres- 
sion, "pours  the  full  tide  of  London  population."  The 
buildings  were  rapidly  increasing,  yet  certainly  gave  not  even 
a  faint  idea  of  its  present  appearance. 

At  last  Whitehall*  received  our  traveller,  who  passed 
under  one  of  the  beautiful  gates  designed  by  Holbein,  and 
composed  of  tessellated  brick-work,  being  the  same  to  which 
Moniplies  had  profanely  likened  the  West  Port  of  Edinburgh, 
and  entered  the  ample  precincts  of  the  palace  of  Whitehall, 
now  full  of  all  the  confusion  attending  improvement. 

It  was  just  at  the  time  when   James — little  suspectii^ 

•See  Note  10. 


THE  FORTUXES  OF  NIGEL  58 

that  he  was  employed  in  constructing  a  palace  from  the 
window  of  which  his  only  son  was  to  pass  in  order  that  he 
might  die  upon  a  scaffold  before  it — was  busied  in  removing 
the  ancient  and  ruinous  buildings  of  De  Burgh,  Henry  VIIL, 
and  Queen  Elizabeth,  to  make  way  for  the  superb  archi- 
tecture on  which  Inigo  Jones  exerted  all  his  genius.  The 
King,  ignorant  of  futurity,  was  now  engaged  in  pressing 
on  his  work  ;  and,  for  that  purpose,  still  maintained 
his  royal  apartments  at  Whitehall,  amid  the  rubbish  of  old 
buildings,  and  the  various  confusion  attending  the  erection 
of  the  new  pile,  which  formed  at  present  a  labyrinth  not 
easily  traversed. 

The  goldsmith  to  the  royal  household,  and  who,  if  fame 
spoke  true,  oftentimes  acted  as  their  banker — for  these  pro- 
fessions were  not  as  yet  separated  from  each  other — was  a  per- 
son of  too  much  importance  to  receive  the  slightest  inter- 
ruption from  sentinel  or  porter  ;  and,  leaving  his  mule  and 
two  of  his  followers  in  the  outer  court,  he  gently  knocked  at 
a  postern  gate  of  the  building,  and  was  presently  admitted, 
while  the  most  trusty  of  his  attendants  followed  him  closely, 
with  the  piece  of  plate  under  his  arm.  This  man  also  he 
left  behind  him  in  an  anteroom,  where  three  or  four  pages  in 
the  royal  livery,  but  untrussed,  unbuttoned,  and  dressed 
more  carelessly  than  the  place  and  nearness  to  a  king's  person 
seemed  to  admit,  were  playing  at  dice  and  draughts,  or 
stretched  upon  benches  slumbering  with  half-shut  eyes.  A 
corresponding  gallery,  which  opened  from  the  anteroom,  was 
occupied  by  two  gentlemen-ushers  of  the  chamber,  who  gave 
each  a  smile  of  recognition  as  the  wealthy  goldsmith  entered. 

No  word  was  spoken  on  either  side  ;  but  one  of  the  ushers 
looked  first  to  Heriot  and  then  to  a  little  door  half-covered 
by  the  tapestry,  which  seemed  to  say  as  plain  as  a  look  could, 
"  Lies  your  business  that  way  ?  "  The  citizen  nodded  ;  and 
the  court  attendant,  moving  on  tiptoe,  and  with  as  much 
caution  as  if  the  floor  had  been  paved  with  eggs,  advanced  to 
the  door,  opened  it  gently,  and  spoke  a  few  words  in  a  low 
tone.  The  broad  Scottish  accent  of  King  James  was  heard 
in  reply — "  Admit  him  instanter.  Maxwell.  Have  you 
hairbored  sae  lang  at  the  court,  and  not  learned  that  gold  and 
silver  are  ever  welcome  ?  " 

The  usher  signed  to  Heriot  to  advance,  and  the  honest 
citizen  was  presently  introduced  into  the  cabinet  of  the 
sovereign. 

The  scene  of  confusion  amid  which  he  found  the  King 
seated  was  no  bad  picture  of  the  state  and  quality  of  James's 


54  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

own  mind.  There  was  much  that  was  rich  and  costly  i] 
cabinet  pictures  and  vahiable  ornaments ;  but  they  were 
arrancred  in  a  slovenly  manner,  covered  with  dust,  and  lost 
half  their  value,  or  at  least  their  effect,  from  the  manner  in 
wliich  tliey  were  presented  to  the  eye.  Tlie  table  was  loaded 
with  huge  folios,  among  which  lay  light  books  of  jest  and 
ribaldry  ;  and  among  notes  of  unmercifully  long  orations 
and  essays  on  kingcraft  were  mingled  miserable  roundels  snd 
ballads  by  the  Royal  Trentice,  as  he  styled  himself,  in  the 
art  of  poetry,  and  schemes  for  the  general  pacificati>^  of 
Europe,  with  a  list  of  the  names  of  the  King's  hounds^  '  ^. 
remedies  against  canine  madness. 

His  Majesty's  dress  was  of  green  velvet,  quilted  so  ^i"_"..  as 
to  be  dagger-proof,  which  gave  him  the  appearance  ol 
clumsy  and  ungainly  protuberance  ;  while  its  being  buttoned 
awry  communicated  to  his  figure  an  air  of  distortion.  Over 
his  green  doublet  he  wore  a  sad -colored  nightgown,  out  of 
the  pocket  of  which  peeped  his  hunting-horn.  His  high- 
crowned  gray  hat  lay  on  the  floor,  covered  with  dust,  but 
encircled  by  a  carcanet  of  large  balas  rubies  ;  and  he  wore  a 
blue  velvet  nightcap,  in  the  front  of  which  was  placed  the 
plume  of  a  heron,  which  had  been  struck  down  by  a  favorite 
hawk  in  some  critical  moment  of  the  flight,  in  remembrance 
of  which  the  King  wore  this  highly  honored  feather. 

But  such  inconsistencies  in  dress  and  appointments  were 
mere  outward  types  of  those  which  existed  in  the  royal  char- 
acter ;  rendering  it  a  subject  of  doubt  among  his  con- 
temporaries, and  bequeathing  it  as  a  problem  to  future  his- 
torians. He  was  deeply  learned,  without  possessing  useful 
knowledge ;  sagacious  in  many  individual  cases,  without 
having _  real  wisdom  ;  fond  of  his  power,  and  desirous  to 
maintain  and  augment  it,  yet  willing  to  resign  the  direction 
of  that,  and  of  himself,  to  the  most  unworthy  favorites  ;  a 
big  and  bold  assertor  of  his  rights  in  words,  yet  one  who 
tamely  saw  them  trampled  on  in  deeds  ;  a  lover  of  nego- 
tiations, in  which  he  was  always  outwitted  :  and  one  who 
feared  war,  where  conquest  might  have  been  easy.  He  was 
fond  of  his  dignity,  while  he  was  perpetually  degrading  it  by 
undue  familiarity  ;  capable  of  much  public  labor,  yet  often 
neglecting  it  for  the  meanest  amusement ;  a  wit,  though  a 
pedant ;  and  a  scholar,  though  fond  of  the  conversation  of 
the  ignorant  and  uneducated.  Even  his  timidity  of  temper 
was  not  uniform  ;  and  there  were  moments  of  his  life,  and 
those  critical,  in  which  he  shoAved  the  spirit  of  his  ancestors. 
He  was  laborious  in  triflf^s,  and  a  t^-ifler  Avhere  serious  labor 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  55 

was  required  ;  devout  in  his  sentiments,  and  yet  too  often 
profane  in  his  language  ;  just  and  beneficent  by  nature,  he 
yet  gave  way  to  the  iniquities  and  oppression  of  others.  He 
was  penurious  respecting  money  whicli  he  had  to  give  from 
his  own  hand,  yet  inconsiderately  and  unboundedly  profuse 
of  that  wliich  he  did  not  see.  In  a  word,  those  good  qual- 
ities which  displayed  themselves  in  particular  cases  and 
occasions  were  not  of  a  nature  suflficiently  firm  and  compre- 
hensive to  regulate  his  general  conduct ;  and,  showing  them- 
selves as  they  occasionally  did,  only  entitled  James  to  the 
character  bestowed  on  him  by  Sully  :  that  he  was  the  wisest 
fool  in  Christendom. 

That  the  fortunes  of  this  monarch  might  be  as  little  of 
a  piece  as  hie  character,  he,  certainly  the  least  able  of  all  the 
Stuarts,  succeeded  peaceably  to  that  kingdom  against  the 
power  of  which  his  predecessors  had,  with  so  much  difficulty, 
defended  his  native  throne  ;  and,  lastly,  although  his  reign 
appeared  calculated  to  insure  to  Great  Britain  that  lasting 
tranquility  and  internal  peace  which  so  much  suited  the 
King's  disposition,  yet,  during  that  very  reign  were  sown 
those  seeds  of  dissension  which,  like  the  teeth  of  the  fabulous 
dragon,  had  their  harvest  in  a  bloody  and  universal  civil 
war.* 

Such  was  the  monarch  who,  saluting  Heriot  by  the  name 
of  Jingling  Geordie,  for  it  was  his  well-known  custom  to 
give  nicknames  to  all  those  with  whom  he  was  on  terms  of 
familiarity,  inquired,  "  AYhat  new  clatter-traps  he  had 
brought  with  him,  to  chea-t  his  lawful  and  native  prince  out 
of  his  siller." 

"  God  forbid,  my  liege,"  said  the  citizen,  "  that  I  should 
have  any  such  disloyal  purpose.  I  did  but  bring  a  piece  of 
plate  to  show  to  your  most  gracious  Majesty,  which,  both  for 
the  subject  and  for  the  workmanship,  I  were  loth  to  put 
into  the  hands  of  any  subject  until  I  knew  your  Majesty's 
pleasure  anent  it." 

"  Body  o'  me,  man,  let's  see  it,  Heriot;  though,  by  my 
saul,  3teenie's  service  of  plate  was  sae  dear  a  bargain,  1  had 
'maist  paAvned  my  word  as  a  royal  king  to  keep  my  ain  gold 
and  silver  in  future,  and  let  you,  Geordie,  keep  yours." 

"  Respecting  the  Duke  of  Buckingham's  plate,"  said  the 
goldsmith,  "  your  M:.jesty  was  pleased  to  direct  that  no  ex- 
pense should  be  spared,  and " 

"  What  signifies  what  I  desired,  man  ?  when  a  wise  man 
is  with  fules  and  bairns,  he  maun  e'en  play  at  the  chucks. 
But  you  should  have  had  mair  sense  and  consideration  than 

*  See  King  James.    N^to  11. 


56  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

to  gie  Baby  Charles  and  Steenie  tlieir  ain  gate  ;  they  Avad 
hae  floored  the  very  rooms  wi'  silver,  and  1  wonder  thev 
didna/' 

George  Ileriot  bowed,  and  said  no  more.  He  knew  his 
master  too  well  to  vindicate  himself  otherwise  than  by  a  dis- 
tant allusion  to  his  order;  and  James,  with  whom  economy 
was  only  a  transient  and  momentary  twinge  of  conscience, 
became  immediately  afterwards  desirous  to  see  the  piece  of 
plate  which  the  goldsmith  proposed  to  exhibit,  and  dispatched 
Maxwell  to  bring  it  to  his  presence.  In  the  mean  time  he 
demanded  of  the  citizen  whence  he  had  procured  it. 

''  From  Italy,  may  it  please  your  Majesty,"  replied  Heriot. 

"  It  has  naething  in  it  tending  to  Papistrie  ?"  said  the 
King,  looking  graver  than  his  wont. 

"  Surely  not,  please  your  Majesty,"  said  Heriot;  "I  were 
not  wise  to  bring  anything  to  your  presence  that  had  the 
mark  of  the  beast." 

"  You  would  be  the  mair  beast  yourself  to  do  so,"  said 
the  King;  ''it  is  weel  kenn'd  that  I  wrestled  wi'  Dagon  in 
my  youth,  and  smote  him  on  the  groundsill  of  his  own  tem- 
ple— a  gude  evidence  that  I  should  be  in  time  called,  how- 
ever unworthy,  the  Defender  of  the  Faith.  But  here  comes 
Maxwell,  bonding  under  his  burden,  like  the  golden  ass  of 
Apuleius." 

Heriot  hastened  to  relieve  the  usher,  and  to  place  the 
embossed  salver,  for  such  it  was,  and  of  extraordinary  dimen- 
sions, in  a  light  favorable  for  his  Majesty's  viewing  the 
sculpture. 

*'Saul  of  my  body,  man,"  said  the  King,  "it  is  a  curious 
piece,  and,  as  I  think,  fit  for  a  king's  chalmer;  and  the  sub- 
ject, as  you  say.  Master  George,  vera  adequate  and  beseeming, 
being,  as  I  see,  the  judgment  of  Solomon — a  prince  in  whose 
paths  it  weel  becomes  a'  leeving  monarchs  to  waik  witli 
emulation." 

''  But  whose  footsteps,"  said  Maxwell,  ''only  one  of  tnem — 
if  a  subject  may  say  so  much — hath  ever  overtaken.  ' 

"  Hand  your  tongue  for  a  fause  fleeching  loon  said  the 
King,  but  with  a  smile  on  his  face  that  showed  thv.  flatteiT 
had  done  its  part.  "Look  at  the  bonny  piece  of  workman- 
ship, and  baud  your  clavering  tongue.  And  whase  handi- 
work may  it  be,  Geordie?" 

"  It  was  wrought,  sir,"  replied  the  goldsmith,  "  by  the 
famous  Florentine,  Benvenuto  Cellini,  and  designed  for 
Francis  the  First  of  France  ;  but  I  hope  it  will  find  a  fitter 
master.'* 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  ol 

"  Francis  of  France  I"  said  the  King;  ''send  Solomon,  king 
of  the  Jews,  to  Francis  of  France!  Body  of  me,  man,  it 
would  have  kythed  Cellini  mad,  had  he  never  done  anything 
out  of  the  gate,  Francis  !  why,  he  was  a  fighting  fule,  man 
— a  mere  fighting  fule  :  got  himsell  ha'en  at  Pavia,  like  our 
ain  David  at  Durham  lang  syne  :  if  they  could  liae  sent  him 
Solomon's  wit,  and  love  of  peace,  and  godliness,  they  wad 
hae  dune  him  a  better  turn.  But  Solomon  should  sit  in 
other  gate  company  than  Francis  of  France." 

'■  I  trust  that  such  will  be  his  good  fortune,"  said  Ileriot. 

*''■'  It  is  a  curios  and  vera  artificial  sculpture,"  said  the 
King,  in  continuation  :  "  but  yet,  methinks,  the  carnifex, 
or  executioner,  there  is  brandishing  his  gulley  ower  near  the 
king's  face,  seeing  he  is  within  reach  of  his  weapon.  I 
think  less  wisdom  than  Solomon's  wad  have  taught  him  that 
there  was  danger  in  edge-took,  and  that  he  wad  have  bid- 
den the  smaik  either  sheath  his  shabble  or  stand  farther 
back." 

G-eorge  Heriot  endeavored  to  alleviate  this  objection  by 
assuring  the  King  that  the  vicinity  betwixt  Solomon  and 
the  executioner  was  nearer  in  appearance  than  in  reality, 
and  that  the  perspective  should  be  allowed  for. 

"  Gang  to  the  deil  Avi'  your  perspective,  man,"  said  the 
King  ;  "there  canna  be  a  waur  persjDective  for  a  lawfu' 
king;  wha  wishes  to  reign  in  luve,  and  die  in  peace  and 
honor,  than  to  have  naked  swords  flashing  in  his  een.  I  am 
accounted  as  brave  as  maist  folks  ;  and  yet  I  profess  to  ye  I 
could  never  look  on  a  bare  blade  without  blinking  and  wink- 
ing. But  a'thegither  it  is  a  brave  piece  ;  and  what  is  the 
price  of  it,  man  i  " 

The  goldsmith  replied  by  observing  that  it  was  not  his 
own  property,  but  that  of  a  distressed  countryman. 

"  Whilk  you  mean  to  mak  your  excuse  for  asking  the 
double  of  its  worth,  I  warrant  ?"  answered  the  King.  ''I 
ken  the  tricks  of  your  burrows-town  merchants,  man." 

"  I  have  no  hopes  of  baffling  your  Majesty's  sagacity," 
said  Heriot ;  "  the  j)iece  is  really  what  I  say,  and  the  price  a 
hundred  and  fifty  pounds  sterling,  if  it  pleases  your  Majesty 
to  make  present  payment." 

"A  hundred  and  fifty  punds,  man!  and  as  mony 
witches  and  warlocks  to  raise  them  ! "  said  the  irritated 
monarch.  "  My  saul,  Jingling  Geordie,  ye  are  minded  that 
your  purse  shall  jingle  to  a  bonny  tune  !  How  am  I  to  tell 
you  down  a  hundred  and  fifty  punds  for  what  will  not 
weigh  as  mary  merks  ?     And  ye  ken  that  my  very  house- 


58  W AVE  RLE  Y  NOVELS 

hold  servitors,  and  tlic  oniccrs  of  my  mouth,  are  sax  months 
in  arreur  I  " 

Tlie  goldsmith  stood  his  ground  against  all  this  objurga- 
tion, being  what  he  was  well  accustomed  to,  and  only 
answered,  that  if  his  Majesty  liked  the  piece,  and  desired  to 
possess  it,  the  price  could  easily  be  settled.  It  was  true  that 
the  party  required  the  money,  but  he,  George  Heriot,  would 
advance  it  on  his  Majesty's  account,  if  such  was  his 
pleasure,  and  wait  his  royal  convenience  for  payment,  foi 
that  and  other  matters ;  the  money,  meanwhile,  lying  at 
the  ordinary  usage. 

"  By  my  honor,''  said  James,  "  and  that  is  speaking  like 
an  honest  and  honorable  tradesman.  We  maun  get  another 
subsidy  frae  the  Commons,  and  that  will  make  ae  compting 
of  it.  Awa'  wi'  it.  Maxwell — awa'  wi'  it,  and  let  it  be  set 
where  Steenie  and  Baby  Charles  shall  see  it  as  they  return 
from  Richmond.  And  now  that  Ave  are  secret,  my  good 
auld  friend  Geordie,  I  do  truly  opine  that,  speaking  of 
Solomon  and  ourselves,  the  haill  wisdom  in  the  country  left 
Scotland  when  we  took  our  travels  to  the  Southland  here." 

George  Heriot  was  courtier  enough  to  say,  that  "  The 
wise  naturally  follow  the  wisest,  as  stags  follow  their  leader." 

"  Troth,  I  think  there  is  something  in  wdiat  thou 
sayest,"  said  James  ;  "  for  we  ourselves,  and  those  of  our  court 
and  household,  as  thou  thyself,  for  example,  are  allowed  by 
the  English,  for  as  self-opinioned  as  they  are,  to  pass  for 
reasonable  good  wits ,  but  the  brains  of  those  we  have  left 
behind  are  all  astir,  and  run  clean  hirdie-girdie,  like  sae 
niony  warlocks  and  witches  on  the  Devil's  Sabbath-e'en." 

"I  am  sorry  to  hear  this,  my  liege,"  said  Heriot.  "  May 
it  please  your  Grace  to  say  what  our  countrymen  have  done  to 
deserve  such  a  character  ?  " 

"  They  are  become  frantic,  man — clean  brain-crazed," 
answered  the  King.  "  I  cannot  keep  them  out  of  the  court 
by  all  the  proclamations  that  the  heralds  roar  themselves 
hoarse  with.  Yesterday,  nae  farther  gane,  just  as  we  were 
mounted  and  about  to  ride  forth,  in  rushed  a  thorough 
Edinburgh  gutter-blood — a  ragged  rascal,  every  dud  upon 
whose  back  was  bidding  good-day  to  the  other,  with  a  coat 
and  hat  that  would  have  served  a  pease-bogle,  and,  without 
havings  or  reverence,  thrusts  into  our  hands,  like  a  sturdy 
beggar,  some  supplication  about  debts  owing  by  our  gracious 
mother,  and  sic-like  trash  ;  whereat  the  horse  spangs  on  end, 
and,  but  for  our  admirable  sitting,  wherein  we  have  been 
thought  to  excel  maist  sovereign  princes,  as  well  as  subjects,  in 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  59 

Europe,  I  promise  you  we  would  have  been  laid  endlang  on 
the  causeway/' 

"  Your  Majesty,"  said  Heriot,  "is  their  common  father, 
and  therefore  they  are  the  holder  to  press  into  your  gracious 
presence." 

"I  ken  I  am  pater 2iatri(B  v^cW  enough,"  said  James; 
'*  but  one  would  think  tliey  had  a  mind  to  squeeze  my  pud- 
dings out,  that  they  may  divide  the  inheritance.  Ud's  death, 
(reordie,  there  is  not  a  loon  among  them  can  deliver  a  sup- 
plication as  it  suld  be  done  in  the  face  of  majesty." 

"  I  would  I  knew  the  most  fitting  and  beseeming  mode  to 
do  so,"  said  Ileriot,  ''were  it  but  to  instruct  our  poor  coun- 
trymen in  better  fashions." 

"  By  my  halidome,"  said  the  King,  "  ye  are  a  ceevileezed 
fellow,  Geordie,  and  I  carena  if  I  fling  aAva"  as  much  time  as 
may  teach  ye.  And,  first,  see  you,  sir,  ye  sliall  approach  the 
presence  of  majesty  thus — shadowing  your  eyes  with  your 
hand,  to  testify  that  you  are  in  the  presence  of  the  vicegerent 
of  Heaven.  Vera  weel,  George,  that  is  done  in  a  comely 
manner.  Then,  sir,  ye  sail  kneel,  and  make  as  if  ye  would 
kiss  the  hem  of  our  garment,  the  latch  of  our  shoe,  or  such- 
like. Very  weel  enacted.  Whilk  we,  as  being  willing  to  be 
debonair  and  pleasing  towards  our  lieges,  prevent  thus — and 
motion  to  you  to  rise;  whilk,  having  a  boon  to  ask,  as  yet 
you  obey  not,  but,  gliding  your  hand  into  your  pouch,  bring 
forth  your  supplication,  and  place  it  reverentially  in  our  open 
palm."  The  goldsmith,  who  had  complied  with  great  accu- 
racy with  all  the  prescribed  points  of  the  ceremonial,  here  com- 
pleted it,  to  James's  no  small  astonishment,  by  placing  in 
his  hand  the  petition  of  the  Lord  of  Glenvarloch.  "What 
means  this,  ye  fause  loon?"  said  he,  reddening  and  sputter- 
ing; "  hae  I  been  teaching  you  the  manual  exercise,  that  ye 
suld  present  your  piece  at  our  ain  royal  body?  Now,  by  this 
light,  I  had  as  lief  that  ye  had  bended  a  real  pistolet  against 
me,  and  yet  this  hae  ye  done  in  my  very  cabinet,  where 
naught  suld  enter  but  at  my  ain  pleasure." 

"  I  trust  your  Majesty,"  said  Heriot,  as  he  continued  to 
kneel,  "  will  forgive  my  exercising  the  lesson  you  conde- 
scended to  give  me  in  the  behalf  of  a  friend  ?  " 

"  Of  a  friend!"  said  the  King,  '*'so  much  the  waur — so 
much  the  waur,  I  tell  3^ou.  If  it  had  been  something  to  do 
yoursell  good  there  would  have  been  some  sense  in  it,  and 
some  chance  that  you  wad  hot  have  come  back  on  me  in  a 
hurry;  but  a  man  may  have  a  hundred  friends,  and  petitions 
for  every  ane  of  them,  ilk  ane  after  other." 


60  XfjiVERLEY  NOVELS 

"  Your  Majesty,  I  trust,"  said  Ileriot,  ''will  judge  me  by 
former  experience,  and  will  not  suspect  me  of  such  presump- 
tion." 

"  I  kenna,"  said  the  placable  monarch;  "  the  world  goes 
daft,  I  think — sed  semel  insanivitmis  omnes — thou  art  my 
old  and  faithful  servant,  that  is  the  truth;  and,  were't  any- 
thing for  thy  own  behoof,  man,  thou  shouldst  not  ask  twice. 
But,  troth,  8teenie  loves  me  so  dearly  that  he  cares  not  that 
any  one  should  ask  favors  of  me  but  himself.  Maxwell  [for 
the  usher  had  re-entered  after  having  carried  off  the  plate], 
get  into  the  antechamber  wi'  your  lang  lugs.  In  conscience, 
Geordie,  I  think  as  that  thou  hast  been  mine  ain  auld  fidu- 
ciary, and  wert  my  goldsmith  Avhen  I  might  say  with  the 
ethnic  poet — Non  vied  renidet  in  dorno  lacunar;  for,  faith, 
they  had  pillaged  my  mither's  auld  house  sae,  that  beechen 
bickers,  and  treen  trenchers,  and  latten  platters  were  whiles 
the  best  at  our  board,  and  glad  we  were  of  something  to  put 
on  them,  without  quarrelling  with  the  metal  of  the  dishes. 
D'ye  mind,  for  thou  wert  in  maist  of  our  complots,  how  we 
were  fain  to  send  sax  of  the  Blue-banders  to  harry  the  Lady 
Loganhouse's  dow-cot  and  poultry-yard,  and  what  an  awfu' 
plaint  the  poor  dame  made  against  Jock  of  Milch  and  the 
thieves  of  Annandale,  wha  were  as  sackless  of  the  deed  as  I 
am  of  the  sin  of  murder?" 

"  It  was  the  better  for  Jock,"  said  Heriot;  "  for,  if  I  re- 
member weel,  it  saved  him  from  a  strapping  up  at  Dumfries, 
which  he  had  weel  deserved  for  other  misdeeds." 

"  Ay,  man,  mind  ye  that!  "  said  the  King;  "  but  he  had 
other  virtues,  for  he  was  a  tight  huntsman,  moreover,  that 
Jock  of  Milch,  and  could  halloo  to  a  hound  till  all  the  woods 
rang  again.  But  he  came  to  an  Annandale  end  at  the  last, 
for  Lord  Torthor  wald  run  his  lance  out  through  him. 
Cocksnails,  man,  when  I  think  of  these  wild  passages,  in  my 
conscience,  I  am  not  sure  but  we  lived  merrier  in  auld  Holy- 
rood  in  those  shifting  days  than  now  when  we  are  dwelling 
at  heck  and  manger.  Cantalit  vacuus:  we  had  but  little  to 
care  for." 

*'  And  if  your  Majesty  please  to  remember,"  said  the  gold- 
smith, "  the  awful  task  we  had  to  gather  silver  vessail  and 
gold-work  enough  to  make  some  show  before  the  Spanish 
ambassador." 

"  Vera  true,"  said  the  King,  now  in  a  full  tide  of  gossip, 
"and  I  mind  not  the  name  of  the  right  real  lord  that  helped 
us  with  every  unce  he  had  in  his  house,  that  his  native  prince 
might  have  some  credit  in  the  eyes  of  them  that  had  the 
Indians  at  their  beck.^ 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  61 

"1  think,  if  yoni  Majesty,"  said  the  citizen,  "will  cast  your 
eye  on  the  p;iper  in  your  hand,  you  will  recollect  his  namcv" 
**.\  ,-I"  said  the  King, ''say  ye  sae,man?  Lord  GleriA'arloch, 
that  was  his  name  indeed.  Justus  et  tenaxjiruposHi, — a  just 
man,  but  as  obstinate  as  ii  baited  bull.  He  stood  whiles 
against  us,  that  Lord  Randal  [Ochtred]  Olifaunt  of  Gleiivar 
loch,  but  he  was  a  loving  and  a  leal  subject  in  the  main.  But 
this  supplicator  maun  be  his  son — Randal  has  been  long  gone 
where  king  and  lord  must  go,  Geordie,  as  weel  as  the  like  of 
you — and  what  does  his  son  want  with  us?" 

*'Tlie  settlement^''  answered  the  citizen,  "of  a  large  debt 
due  by  your  Majesty's  treasury,  for  money  advanced  to  vour 
Majestv  in  great  state  emergency,  about  the  time  of  the  liaid 
of  Ruthven." 

"I  mind  the  thing  weel,"  said  King  James.  "Od's  death, 
man,  I  was  just  out  of  the  clutches  of  the  Master  of  Glamis 
and  his  complices,  and  there  was  never  siller  mair  welcome 
to  a  born  prince — the  mair  the  shame  and  pity  that  crowned 
king  should  need  sic  a  petty  sum.  But  what  need  he  dun  us 
for  it,  man,  like  a  baxter  at  the  breaking?  We  aught  him 
the  siller,  and  will  pay  him  wi'  our  convenience,  or  make  it 
otherwise  up  to  him,  whilk  is  enow  between  prince  and  sub- 
ject. We  are  not  in  meditatione  fugm,  man,  to  be  arrested 
thus  peremptorily." 

"Alas  !  an  it  j^lease  your  Majesty,"  said  the  goldsmith, 
shaking  his  head,  "it  is  the  poor  young  nobleman's  extreme 
necessity,  and  not  his  will,  that  makes  him  importunate;  for 
he  must  have  money,  and  that  briefly,  to  discharge  a  d_"  t 
due  to  Peregrine  Peterson,  Conservator  of  the  Privileges  at 
Campvere,  or  his  haill  hereditary  barony  and  estate  of  Glen- 
varloch  will  be  evicted  in  virtue  of   an  unredeemed  wadset." 

"How  say  ye,  man — how  say  ye?"  exclaimed  the  King, 
impatiently;  "the  carle  of  a  conservator,  the  son  of  a  Low- 
Dutch  skipper,  evict  the  auld  estate  and  lordship  of  the 
house  of  Olifaunt?  God's  bread,  man,  that  maun  not  be;  we 
maun  suspend  the  diligence  by  Avrit  of  favor  or  otherAvise." 

"I  doubt  that  may  hardly  be,"  answered  the  citizen,  "if 
it  please  your  ^Majesty;  your  learned  counsel  in  the  law  of 
Scotland  advise  that  there  is  no  remeid  but  in  paying  the 
money." 

"IJd's  fish,"  said  the  King,  "let  him  keep  baud  by  the 
strong  hand  against  tlie  carle,  nntil  we  can  take  some  order 
about  his  affairs." 

"Alas  !"  insisted  the  goldsmith,  "if  it  like  your  Majesty, 
your  own  pacific  government,  and  your  doing  of  equal  justice 


62  WAVE  RLE  Y  NOVELS 

to  all  men,  has  made  main   force  a   kittle   line  to   walk   by, 
unless  just  witliin  the  bounds  of  the  Highlands/' 

"Weel — weel — weel,  man/'  said  the  perplexed  monarch, 
whose  ideas  of  ju^  tice,  expedience,  and  convenience  became 
on  such  occasions  .strangely  embroiled;  "just  it  is  we  should 
pay  our  debts,  that  the  young  man  may  pay  his;  and  he 
must  be  paid,  and  171  vcrho  regis  he  shall  be  paid;  but  how  to 
come  by  the  siller,  man,  is  a  difficult  chapter.  Ye  maun  trv 
the  city,  Geordie/' 

''To  say  the  truth,'^  answered  Heriot,  "please  your 
gracious  Majesty,  what  betwixt  loans,  and  benevolences,  and 
subsidies,  the  city  is  at  this  present — — " 

"Dinna  tell  me  of  what  the  city  is,"  said  King  James; 
"our  exchequer  is  as  dry  as  Dean  Giles's  discourses  on  the 
penitentiary  psalms.  Ex  nihilo  nihil  Jit:  it's  ill  taking  the 
breeks  aff  a  wild  Highlandman.  They  that  come  to  me  for 
siller  should  tell  me  how  to  come  by  it.  The  city  ye  maun 
try,  Heriot;  and  dinna  think  to  be  called  Jingling  Geordie 
for  nothing;  and  in  verba  regis  I  Avill  pay  the  lad  if  you  get 
me  the  loan,  I  wonnot  hnggle  on  the  terms;  and  between  you 
and  me,  Geordie,  Ave  will  redeem  the  brave  auld  estate  of 
Glenvarloch.  But  wherefore  comes  not  the  young  lord  to 
court,  Heriot?  Is  he  comely — is  he  presentable  in  the 
presence  ?" 

"No  one  can  be  more  so,'^  said  George  Heriot;  "but " 

"Ay,  I  understand  ye,"  said  his  Majesty — "I  under- 
stand ye — res  angusta  domi — puir  lad — puir  lad!  and  his 
father  a  right  true  leal  Scots  heart,  though  stiff  in  some 
opinions.  Hark  ye,  Heriot,  let  the  lad  have  twa  hundred 
pounds  to  fit  him  out.  And,  here — here  [taking  the  carcanet 
of  rubies  from  his  old  hat] — ye  have  had  these  in  pledge 
before  for  a  larger  sum,  ye  auld  Levite  that  ye  are.  Keep 
them  in  gage,  till  I  gie  ye  back  the  siller  out  of  the  next 
subsidy." 

"If  it  please  your  Majesty  to  give  me  such  directions  in 
writing,"  said  the  cautious  citizen. 

*'The  deil  is  in  your  nicety,  George,"  said  the  King;  "ye 
are  as  preceese  as  a  Puritan  in  form,  and  a  mere  Nullifidian 
in  the  marrow  of  the  matter.  May  not  a  king's  word  serve 
you  for  advancing  your  pitiful  twa  hundred  pounds?" 

"But  not  for  detaining  the  crown  jewels,"  said  George 
Heriot. 

And  the  King,  who  from  long  experience  was  inured  to 
dealing  with  suspicious  creditors,  wrote  an  order  upoii 
George  Heriot,  his  well-beloved  goldsmith  and  jeweller,  foi 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  63 

the  sum  of  two  liundroi]  poiuuls,  to  be  paid  ])resentl3^  to 
Nigel  Olifiumt,  Lord  of  Glenvurloch,  to  be  imputed  as  so 
much  debts  due  to  liim  by  the  crown;  and  autiiorizing  the 
retention  of  acarcanet  of  b;das  rubies,  with  a  great  diamond, 
as  described  in  a  catah)gue  of  his  Majesty's  jewels,  to  remain 
in  possession  of  the  said  George  Ileriot,  advancer  of  the  said 
sum,  and  so  forth,  until  he  was  lawfully  contented  and  paid 
thereof.  By  another  rescript,  his  Majesty  gave  the  said 
George  Heriot  directions  to  deal  with  some  of  the  monied 
men,  upon  equitable  terms,  for  a  sum  of  money  for  his 
Majesty's  present  use,  not  to  be  under  50,000  merks,  but  as 
much  more  as  could  conveniently  be  procured. 

''And  has  he  ony  lair,  this  Lord  Nigel  of  ours  ?"  said  the 
King. 

George  Heriot  could  not  exactly  answer  this  question  ; 
but  believed  "the  young  lord  had  studied  abroad." 

"He  shall  have  our  own  advice,"  said  the  King,  "how  to 
carry  on  his  studies  to  maist  advantage;  and  it  may  be  we 
Avill  have  him  come  to  court,  and  study  with  Steenie  and 
Baby  Charles.  And,  now  we  think  on't,  away — away. 
George;  for  the  bairns  will  be  coming  hame  presently,  aiid 
we  would  not  as  yet  they  kenn'd  of  this  matter  Ave  have  been 
treating  anent.  Propera  jjedem,  0  Georgie.  Clap  your 
mule  between  your  houghs,  and  God-den  Avith  you." 

Thus  ended  the  conference  betwixt  the  gentle  King  Jamie 
and  his  benevolent  jeweller  and  goldsmith. 


CHAPTER  VI 

O,  I  do  know  him:  'tis  the  mouldy  lemon 
Which  our  court  wits  will  wet  their  lips  withal, 
When  they  would  sauce  their  honied  conversation 
With  somewhat  sharper  flavor.     Marry,  sir, 
That  virtue's  well-nigh  left  him:  all  the  juice 
That  was  so  sharp  and  poignant  is  squeezed  out; 
While  the  poor  rind,  although  as  sour  as  ever, 
Must  season  soon  the  draff  we  give  our  grunters. 
For  two-legg"d  things  are  weary  on't. 

Tlie  Chamberlain,  a  Comedy, 

The  good  company  invited  by  the  hospitable  citizen  assem- 
bled at  his  house  in  Lombard  Street  at  the  "hollow  and 
hungry  liour  "  of  noon,  to  partake  of  that  meal  which  divides 
the  day;  l)eing  about  the  time  when  modern  persons  of  fash- 
ion, turning  tliemselves  upon  their  pillow,  begin  to  think, 
not  without  a  great  many  doubts  and  much  hesitation,  that 
they  will  by  and  by  commence  it.  Thither  came  the  young 
Nigel,  arrayed  plainly,  but  in  a  dress,  nevertheless,  more 
suitable  to  his  age  and  quality  than  he  had  formerly  worn, 
accompanied  by  his  servant  Moniplies,  whose  outside  also  Avas 
considerably  imjDroved.  His  solemn  and  stern  features 
glared  forth  from  under  a  blue  velvet  bonnet,  fantastically 
placed  sidewise  on  his  head;  he  had  a  sound  and  tough  coat 
of  English  blue  broadcloth,  Avhich,  unlike  his  former  vest- 
ment, would  have  stood  the  tug  of  all  the  apprentices  in 
Fleet  Street.  The  buckler  and  broadsword  he  wore  as  the 
arras  of  his  condition,  and  a  neat  silver  badge,  bearing  his 
lord's  arms,  announced  that  he  Avas  an  appendage  of  aristoc- 
racy. He  sat  down  in  the  good  citizen's  buttery,  not  a  little 
pleased  to  find  ♦his  attendance  upon  the  table  in  the  hall  was 
likely  to  be  revrarded  Avith  his  share  of  a  meal  such  as  he  had 
seldom  partaken  of. 

Mr.  David  Eamsay,  that  profound  and  ingenious  me- 
chanic, Avas  safely  conducted  to  Lombard  Street,  according 
to  promise,  well  Avashed,  brushed,  and  cleaned  from  the  soot 
of  the  furnace  and  tlie  forge.  His  daughter,  Avho  came  with 
him,  Avas  about  tAventy  years  old.  very  pretty,  very  demure, 
yet  Avith  lively  black  eyes,  that  ever  and  anon  contradicted 
the  expression  of  sobriety  to  Avhich  silence,  reserve,  a  plain 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  Go 

velvet  hood,  and  a  cambric  ruff  had  condemned  Mistress  Mar- 
get,  as  the  daughter  of  a  quiet  citizen. 

There  were  also  two  citizens  and  merchants  of  London, 
men  ample  in  cloak  and  many-linked  golden  chain,  well  to 
pass  in  the  world,  and  experienced  in  their  craft  of  mer- 
chandise, but  who  require  no  particular  description.  There 
was  an  elderly  clergyman  also,  in  his  gown  and  cassock,  a 
decent  venerable  man,  partaking  in  his  manners  of  the  plain- 
ness of  the  citizens  among  whom  he  had  his  cure. 

These  may  be  dismissed  with  brief  notice;  but  not  so  Sir 
Mungo  Malagrowther,  of  Girnigo  Castle,  Avho  claims  a  little 
more  attention,  as  an  original  character  of  the  time  in  which 
he  flourished. 

That  good  knight  knocked  at  Master  Heriot's  door  just 
as  the  clock  began  to  strike  twelve,  and  was  seated  in  his 
chair  ere  the  last  stroke  had  chimed.  This  gave  the  knight 
an  excellent  opportunity  of  making  sarcastic  observations  on 
all  who  came  later  than  himself,  not  to  mention  a  few  rubs 
at  the  expense  of  those  who  had  been  so  superfluous  as  to  ap- 
pear earlier. 

Having  little  or  no  property  save  his  bare  designation. 
Sir  Mungo  had  been  early  attaclied  to  court  in  the  capacity 
of  whipping-boy,  as  the  ofiice  was  then  called,  to  King  James 
the  Sixth,  and,  with  his  Majesty,  trained  to  all  polite  learn- 
ing by  his  celebrated  preceptor,  George  Buchanan.  The 
office  of  Avhipping-boy  doomed  its  unfortunate  occupant  to 
undergo  all  the  corporeal  punishment  which  the  Lord's  an- 
ointed, Avhose  proper  person  was  of  course  sacred,  might 
chance  to  incur  in  the  course  of  travelling  through  his 
grammar  and  prosody.  Lender  the  stern  rule,  indeed,  of 
George  Buchanan,  who  did  not  approve  of  the  vicarious 
mode  of  punishment,  James  bore  the  penance  of  his  own 
faults,  and  Mungo  Malagrowther  enjoyed  a  sinecure;  but 
James's  other  pedagogue,  Master  Peter  Young,  went  more 
ceremoniously  to  work,  and  appalled  the  very  soul  of  the 
youthful  King  by  the  floggings  which  he  bestowed  on  the 
whipping-boy,  when  the  royal  task  was  not  suitably  per- 
formed. And  be  it  told  to  Sir  Mungo's  praise,  that  there 
were  points  about  him  in  the  highest  respect  suited  to  liis 
official  situation.  He  had  even  in  youth  a  naturally  irregu- 
lar and  grotesque  set  of  features,  which,  wlien  distorted  by 
fear,  pain,  and  anger,  looked  like  one  of  the  whimsical  faces 
which  present  themselves  in  a  Gothic  cornice.  His  voice  also 
was  high-pitched  and  querulous,  so  that,  when  smarting  un- 
der Master  Peter  Young's  unsparing  inflictions,  the  expres- 


66  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

sion  of  his  grotesque  pliysiognomy,  and  the  superhuman  yells 
which  he  uttered,  were  well  suited  to  produce  all  the  elJects 
on  the  monarch  who  deserved  the  lash  that  could  ])0ssibly  be 
produced  l)y  seeing  another  and  an  innocent  individual  suffer- 
ing for  his  delict. 

Sir  Mungo  Maiagrowther,  for  such  he  became,  thus  got 
an  early  footing  at  court,  which  another  Avould  have  im- 
proved and  maintained.  But,  when  he  grew  too  big  to  be 
whipped,  he  had  no  other  means  of  rendering  himself  accept- 
able. A  bitter,  caustic,  and  backbiting  humor,  a  malicious 
Avit,  and  an  envy  of  others  more  prosperous  than  the  possessor 
of  such  amiable  qualities,  have  not,  indeed,  always  been 
found  obstacles  to  a  courtier's  rise;  but  then  they  must  be 
amalgamated  with  a  degree  of  selfish  cunning  and  prudence 
of  which  Sir  Mungo  had  no  share.  His  satire  ran  riot,  his 
envy  could  not  conceal  itself,  and  it  was  not  long  after  his 
majority  till  he  had  as  many  quarrels  upon  his  hands  as 
would  have  required  a  cat's  nine  lives  to  answer.  In  one  of 
these  rencontres  he  received,  perhaps  we  should  say  fortu- 
nately, a  wound  which  served  him  as  an  excuse  for  answer- 
ing no  invitations  of  the  kind  in  future.  Sir  Eullion  Rattray 
of  Eanagullion  cut  off,  in  mortal  combat,  three  of  the  fingers 
of  his  right  hand,  so  that  Sir  Mungo  never  could  hold  sword 
again.  At  a  later  period,  having  written  some  satirical 
verses  upon  the  Lady  Cockpen,  he  received  so  severe  a  chas- 
tisement from  some  persons  employed  for  the  purpose,  that 
he  was  found  half  dead  on  the  spot  where  they  had  thus 
dealt  with  him,  and  one  of  his  thighs  having  been  broken, 
and  ill  set,  gave  him  a  hitch  in  his  gait,  with  which  he  hob- 
bled to  his  grave.  The  lameness  of  his  leg  and  hand,  besides 
that  they  added  considerably  to  the  grotesque  appearance  of 
this  original,  procured  him  in  future  a  personal  immunity 
from  the  more  dangerous  consequences  of  his  own  humor; 
and  he  gradually  grew  old  in  the  service  of  the  court,  in 
safety  of  life  and  limb,  though  without  either  making  friends 
or  attaining  preferment.  Sometimes,  indeed,  the  King  was 
amused  with  his  caustic  sallies,  but  he  had  never  art  enough 
to  improve  the  favorable  opportunity;  and  his  enemies,  who 
were,  for  that  matter,  the  whole  court,  always  found  means 
to  throw  him  out  of  favor  again.  The  celebrated  Archie 
Armstrong  offered  Sir  Mungo,  in  his  generosity,  a  skirt  of 
his  own  fool's  coat,  proposing  thereby  to  communicate  to  him 
the  privileges  and  immunities  of  a  professed  jester.  "  For," 
said  the  man  of  motley,  *'  Sir  Mungo,  as  he  goes  on  just  now, 
gets  no  more  for  a  good  jest  than  just  the  King's  pardon  for 
having  made  it." 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  67 

Even  in  London,  the  golden  shower  which  fell  around 
him  did  not  moisten  the  bliglited  fortunes  of  Sir  Mungo 
Malagrowther.  He  grew  old,  deaf,  and  peevish  ;  lost  even 
the  spirit  which  had  formerly  animated  his  strictures  ;  and 
was  barely  endured  by  James,  who,  though  himself  nearly  as 
far  stricken  in  years,  retained,  to  an  unusual  and  even  an 
absurd  degree,  the  desire  to  be  surrounded  by  young  people. 

Sir  Mungo,  thus  fallen  into  the  yellow  leaf  of  years  and 
fortune,  showed  his  emaciated  form  and  faded  embroidery  at 
court  as  seldom  as  his  duty  permitted  ;  and  spent  his  time 
in  indulging  his  food  for  satire  in  the  public  walks  and  in 
the  aisles  of  St.  Paul's,  which  were  then  the  general  resort 
of  newsmongers  and  characters  of  all  descriptions,  associating 
himself  chiefly  with  such  of  his  countrymen  as  he  accounted 
of  inferior  birth  and  rank  to  liimself.  In  this  manner,  hat- 
ing and  contemning  commerce  and  those  who  pursued  it,  he 
nevertheless  lived  a  good  deal  among  the  Scottish  artists  and 
merchants  who  had  followed  the  court  to  London.  To 
these  he  could  show  his  cynicism  without  much  oifence  ;  for 
some  submitted  to  his  jeers  and  ill-humor  in  deference  to  his 
birth  and  knighthood,  which  in  those  days  conferred  high 
privileges  ;  and  others,  of  more  sense,  pitied  and  endured 
the  old  man,  unhappy  alike  in  his  fortune  and  his  temper. 

Among  the  latter  was  George  Heriot,  who,  though  his 
habits  and  education  induced  him  to  carry  aristocratical  feel- 
ings to  a  degree  which  would  now  be  thought  extravagant, 
had  too  much  spirit  and  good  sense  to  permit  himself  to  be 
intruded  upon  to  an  unauthorized  excess,  or  used  with  the 
slightest  improper  freedom,  by  such  a  person  as  Sir  Mungo, 
to  whom  he  was,  nevertheless,  not  only  respectfully  civil,  but 
essentially  kind,  and  even  generous. 

Accordingly,  this  appeared  from  the  manner  in  which 
Sir  Mungo  Malagrowther  conducted  himself  upon  entering 
the  apartment.  He  jjaid  his  respects  to  Master  Heriot,  and 
a  decent,  elderly,  somewhat  severe-looking  female,  in  a  coif, 
who,  by  the  name  of  Aunt  Judith,  did  the  honors  of  his 
house  and  table,  with  little  or  no  portion  of  the  supercilious 
acidity  which  his  singular  physiognomy  assumed  when  he 
made  his  bow  successively  to  David  Kamsay  and  the  two 
sober  citizens.  He  thrust  himself  into  the  conversation  of 
the  latter,  to  observe  he  had  heard  in  Paul's  that  the  bank- 
rupt concern  of  Pindivide,  a  great  merchant,  "who,"  as  he 
expressed  it,  "had  given  the  crows  a  pudding,"  and  on 
whom  he  knew,  from  the  same  authority,  each  of  the  honest 
citizens  had  some  unsettled  claim,  was  like  to  prove  a  total 


68  WAVER  LEY  NOVELS 

loss — "  stock  and  block,  ship  and  cargo,  keel  and  rigging- 
all  lost,  now  and  forever." 

The  two  citizens  grinned  at  each  other  ;  but,  too  prudent 
to  make  their  private  affairs  the  subject  of  public  discussion, 
drew  their  heads  together,  and  evaded  farther  conversation 
by  speaking  in  a  whisper. 

The  old  Scots  kniglit  next  attacked  the  watchmaker  with 
the  same  disrespectful  familiarity.  "  Davie,"  he  said — 
*'  Davie,  ye  donnard  auld  idiot,  have  ye  no  gane  mad  yet, 
with  applying  your  mathematical  science,  as  ye  call  it,  to 
the  Book  of  Apocalypse  ?  I  expected  to  have  heard  ye  make 
out  the  sin  of  the  beast  as  clear  as  a  tout  on  a  bawbee 
whistle." 

"  Why,  Sir  Mungo,"  said  the  mechanist,  after  making 
an  effort  to  recall  to  his  recollection  what  had  been  said  to 
him,  and  by  whom,  '^  it  may  be  that  ye  are  nearer  the  mark 
than  ye  are  yoursell  aware  of  ;  for,  taking  the  ten  horns  o' 
the  beast,  ye  may  easily  estimate  by  your  digitals " 

"  My  digits  !  you  d — d  auld,  rusty,  good-for-nothing 
time-piece  ! "  exclaimed  Sir  Mungo,  while,  betwixt  jest  and 
earnest,  he  laid  on  his  hilt  his  hand,  or  rather  his  claw,  for 
Sir  Rullion's  broadsword  had  abridged  it  into  that  form. 
"  D'ye  mean  to  upbraid  me  with  my  mutilation?" 

Master  Heriot  interfered.  "  I  cannot  persuade  our 
friend  David,"  he  said,  "  that  scriptiiral  prophecies  are  in- 
tended to  remain  in  obscurity  until  their  unexpected  accom- 
plishment shall  make,  as  in  former  days,  that  fulfilled  which 
was  written.  But  you  must  not  exert  your  knightly  valor 
on  him  for  all  that." 

"  By  my  saul,  and  it  would  be  throwing  it  away,"  said  Sir 
Mungo,  laughing.  "^  I  would  as  soon  set  out,  with  hound 
and  horn,  to  hunt  a  sturdied  sheep;  for  he  is  in  a  doze  again, 
and  up  to  the  chin  in  numerals,  quotients,  and  dividends. 
Mistress  Margaret,  my  pretty  honey,"  for  the  beauty  of  the 
young  citizen  made  even  Sir  Mungo  Malagrowther's  grim 
features  relax  themselves  a  little,  "  is  your  father  always  as 
entertaining  as  he  seems  just  now?  " 

Mistress  Margaret  simj^ered,  bridled,  looked  to  either  side, 
then  straight  before  her;  and,  having  assumed  all  the  airs  of 
bashful  embarrassment  and  timidity  which  were  necessary,  as 
she  thought,  to  cover  a  certain  shrewd  readiness  which  really 
belonged  to  her  character,  at  length  replied,  "  That  indeed 
her  father  was  very  thoughtful,  but  she  had  heard  that  he 
took  the  habit  of  mind  from  her  grandfather." 

"  Your  grandfather!  "  said  Sir  Mungo,  after  doubting  if 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  09 

he  had  heard  her  aright.  '  Said  she  her  grandfather!  The 
lassie  is  distraught!  I  ken  nae  Avench  on  this  side  of  Temple 
Bar  that  is  derived  from  so  distant  a  relation." 

"  She  has  got  a  godfather,  however,  Sir  Mungo,"  said 
George  Heriot,  again  interfering;  "  and  I  hope  you  will 
allow  him  interest  enough  with  you  to  request  you  will  not 
put  his  pretty  godchild  to  so  deep  a  blush." 

''The  better — the  better,"  said  Sir  Mungo.  ''It  is  a 
credit  to  her  that,  bred  and  born  within  the  sound  of  Bow 
Bell,  she  can  blush  for  anything;  and,  by  my  saul,  Master 
George,"  he  continued,  chucking  the  irritated  and  reluctant 
damsel  under  the  chin,  "she  is  bonny  enough  to  make 
amends  for  her  lack  of  ancestry — at  least,  in  such  a  region 
as  Cheapside,  Avhere,  d'ye  mind  me,  the  kettle  cannot  call 
the  porridge-pot " 

The  damsel  blushed,  but  not  so  angrily  as  before.  Mas- 
ter George  Heriot  hastened  to  interrupt  the  conclusion  of 
Sir  Mungo's  homely  proverb,  by  introducing  him  personally 
to  Lord  Xigel. 

Sir  Mungo  could  not  at  first  understand  what  his  host 
said — "  Bread  of  Heaven,  wha  say  ye,  man  ?" 

Upon  tlie  name  of  Xigel  Olifaunt,  Lord  Glenvarloch, 
being  again  hallooed  into  his  ear,  he  drew  up,  and,  regarding 
his  entertainer  Avith  some  austerity,  rebuked  him  for  not 
making  persons  of  quality  acquainted  with  each  other,  that 
they  might  exchange  courtesies  before  they  mingled  with 
other  folks.  He  then  made  as  handsome  and  courtly  a  con- 
gee to  his  new  acquaintance  as  a  man  maimed  in  foot  and 
hand  could  do;  and,  observing  he  had  known  my  lord'  his 
father,  bid  him  welcome  to  London,  and  hoped  he  should 
see  him  at  court. 

Nigel  in  an  instant  comprehended,  as  well  from  Sir 
Mungo's  manner  as  from  a  strict  compression  of  their  enter- 
tainer's lips,  which  intimated  the  suppression  of  a  desire  to 
laugh,  that  he  was  dealing  with  an  original  of  no  ordinary 
description,  and  accordingly  returned  his  courtesy  with  suit- 
able punctiliousness.  Sir  Mungo,  in  the  mean  while,  gazed 
on  him  with  much  earnestness;  and,  as  the  contemplation  of 
natural  advantages  was  as  odious  to  him  as  that  of  wealth  or 
other  adventitious  benefits,  he  had  no  sooner  completely 
perused  the  handsome  form  and  good  features  of  the  young 
lord,  than,  like  one  of  the  comforters  of  the  Man  of  Uz,  he 
drew  close  up  to  him,  to  enlarge  on  the  former  grandeur 
of  the  Lords  of  Glenvarloch,  and  the  regret  with  which  he 
had  heard  that  their  representative  was  not  likely  to  possess 


70  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

the  domains  of  liis  ancestry.  Anon,  he  enlarged  upon  the 
beauties  of  tlie  principal  mansion  of  Glenvurloch;  the  com- 
manding site  of  the  old  castle;  the  noble  expanse  of  the  lake, 
stocked  Avitli  wild-fowl  for  hawking;  the  commanding  screen 
of  forest,  terminating  in  a  mountain-ridge  abounding  with 
deer;  and  all  the  other  advantages  of  that  fine  and  ancient 
barony  iill  Nigel,  in  spite  of  every  etfort  to  the  contrary, 
was  unwillingly  obliged  to  sigh. 

Sir  Mungo,  skilful  in  discerning  when  the  withers  of 
those  he  conversed  with  were  wrung,  observed  that  his  new 
acquaintance  Avinced,  and  would  willingly  have  pressed  the 
discussion;  but  the  cook's  impatient  knock  upon  the  dresser 
with  the  haft  of  his  dudgeon-knife  now  gave  a  signal  loud 
enough  to  be  heard  from  the  top  of  the  house  to  the  bottom, 
summoning,  at  the  same  time,  the  serving-men  to  place  the 
dinner  upon  the  table  and  the  guests  to  partake  of  it. 

Sir  Mungo,  who  was  an  admirer  of  good  cheer — a  taste 
which,  by  the  w^ay,  might  have  some  weight  in  reconciling 
his  dignity  to  these  city  visits — was  tolled  off  by  the  sound, 
and  left  Nigel  and  the  other  guests  in  peace,  until  his  anxiety 
to  arrange  himself  in  his  due  place  of  pre-eminence  at  the 
genial  board  was  duly  gratified.  Here,  seated  on  the  left 
hand  of  Aunt  Judith,  he  beheld  Nigel  occupy  the  station  of 
yet  higher  honor  on  the  ri^ht,  dividing  that  matron  from 
pretty  Mistress  Margaret;  but  he  saw  this  with  the  more 
patience,  that  there  stood  betwixt  him  and  the  young  lord  a 
superb  larded  capon. 

.The  dinner  proceeded  according  to  the  form  of  the  times. 
All  was  excellent  of  the  kind;  and,  besides  the  Scottish  cheer 
promised,  the  board  displayed  beef  and  inidding,  the  statu- 
tory dainties  of  Old  England.  A  small  cupboard  of  plate, 
very  choicely  and  beautifully  wrought,  did  not  escape  the 
compliments  of  some  of  the  company,  and  an  oblique  sneer 
from  Sir  Mungo,  as  intimating  the  owner's  excellence  in  his 
own  mechanical   craft. 

''lam  not  ashamed  of  the  workmanship.  Sir  Mungo," 
said  the  honest  citizen.  "  They  say  a  good  cook  knows  how 
to  lick  his  own  fingers;  and,  methinks,  it  were  unseemly  that 
I,  who  have  furnished  half  the  cupboards  in  broad  Britain, 
should  have  myoAvn  covered  with  paltry  pewter." 

The  blessing  of  tlie  clergyman  now  left  the  guests  at  lib- 
erty to  attack  what  was  placed  oefore  them  ;  and  the  meal 
went  forward  with  great  decorum,  until  Aunt  Judith,  in  far- 
ther recommendation  of  the  capon,  ass.a-ed  her  company 
that  it  was  of  a  celebrated  breed  of  poultry  which  she  had 
herself  brought  from  Scotland. 


•      THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  71 

"  Then,  like  some  of  his  countrymen,  madam,"  said  the 
pitiless  Sir  Mungo,  not  without  a  glance  towards  his  landlord, 
"  he  has  been  well  larded  in  England/' 

"  There  are  some  others  of  his  countrymen/'  answered 
Master  Ileriot,  "to  whom  all  the  lard  in  England  has  not 
been  able  to  render  that  good  office." 

Sir  ^lungo  sneered  and  reddened,  the  rest  of  the  company 
lauo"hed  ;  and  the  satirist,  who  had  his  reasons  for  not  com- 
ino-  to  extremity  with  Master  George,  was  silent  for  the  rest 
of  the  dinner. 

The  dishes  were  exchanged  for  confections  and  wine  of 
the  highest  quality  and  flavor  ;  and  Nigel  saw  the  entertain- 
ments of  the  wealthiest  burgomasters  which  he  had  witnessed 
abroad  fairly  outshone  by  the  hospitality  of  a  London  citizen. 
Yet  there  was  nothing  ostentatious,  or  which  seemed  incon- 
sistent with  the  degree  of  an  opulent  burgher. 

While  the  collation  proceeded,  Nigel,  according  to  the 
good-breeding  of  the  time,  addressed  his  discourse  principally 
to  Mrs.  Judith  ;  whom  he  found  to  be  a  woman  of  a  strong 
Scottish  ' nderstanding,  more  inclined  towards  the  Puritans 
than  was  .ler  brother  George  (for  in  that  relation  she  stood 
to  him,  though  he  always  called  her  aunt),  attached  to  him 
in  the  strongest  degree,  and  sedulously  attentive  to  all  his 
comforts.  As  the  conversation  of  this  good  dame  was  neither 
lively  nor  fascinating,  the  young  lord  naturally  addressed 
himself  next  to  the  old  horologer's  very  pretty  daughter,  who 
sat  upon  his  right  hand.  From  her,  however,  there  was  no 
extracting  any  reply  beyond  the  measure  of  a  monosyllable, 
and  when  the  young  gallant  had  said  the  best  and  most 
complaisant  things  which  his  courtesy  supplied,  the  smile 
that  mantled  upon  her  pretty  mouth  was  so  slight  and 
evanescent  as  scarce  to  be  discernible. 

Nigel  was  beginning  to  tire  of  his  company,  for  the  old 
citizens  were  speaking  with  his  host  of  commercial  matters  in 
language  t  him  totally  unintelligible,  when  Sir  Mungo 
Malagrowthor  suddenly  summoned  their  attention. 

That  amiable  personage  had  for  some  time  withdraw^n 
from  the  company  into  the  recess  of  a  projecting  win- 
dow, so  formed  and  placed  as  to  command  a  view  of  the 
door  of  the  house  and  of  the  street.  This  situation  was 
probably  preferred  by  Sir  Mungo  on  account  of  the  number 
of  objects  which  the  streets  of  a  metropolis  usually  offer  of  a 
kind  congenial  to  the  thoughts  of  a  splenetic  man.  What  he 
had  hitherto  seen  passing  there  was  probably  of  little  con- 
sequence ;  but  now  a  trampling  of  horse  was  heard  without. 


72  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

and  tlic  kniglit  smldenly  exclaimed,  "By  my  faith,  Master 
George,  you  had  better  go  look  to  shop ;  for  here  comes 
Knighton,  the  Duke  of  Buckingham's  groom,  and  two 
fellows  after  him,  as  if  he  were  my  lord  duke  himself." 

"My  cash-keeper  is  below,"  said  Ileriot,  without  disturb- 
ing himself,  "and  he  will  let  me  know  if  his  Grace's  com- 
mands require  my  immediate  attention." 

"Umph  !  cash-keeper!"  muttered  8ir  Mungo  to  himself; 
"he  would  have  had  an  easy  office  when  I  first  kenn'd  ye. 
But,"  said  he,  speaking  aloud,  "will  you  not  come  to  the 
window,  at  least  ?  for  Knighton  has  trundled  a  piece  of 
silver  plate  into  your  house — ha  !  ha  !  ha  ! — trundled  it  upon 
its  edge,  as  a  callan'  would  drive  a  hoop.  I  cannot  help 
laughing — ha  !  ha  !  ha  I — at  the  fellow's  impudence." 

"I  believe  you  could  not  help  laughing,"  said  George 
Heriot,  rising  up  and  leaving  the  room,  "if  your  best  friend 
lay  dying." 

"Bitter  that,  my  lord — ha  !"  said  Sir  Mungo,  addressing 
Nigel.  "Our  friend  is  not  a  goldsmith  for  nothing  :  he  hath 
no  leaden  wit.     But  I  will  go  down  and  see  what  comes  on't." 

Heriot,  as  he  descended  the  stairs,  met  his  cash-keeper 
coming  up  with  some  concern  in  his  face.  "AVhy,  how  now, 
Eoberts,"  said  the  goldsmith,  "what  means  all  this,  man  ?" 

"It  is  Knighton,  Master  Heriot,  from  the  court— Knigli- 
ton,  the  Duke's  man.  He  brought  back  the  salver  you 
carried  to  Whitehall,  flung  it  into  the  entrance  as  if  it  had 
been  an  old  pewter  platter,  and  bade  me  tell  3'ou,  the  King 
would  have  none  of  your  trumpery." 

"Ay,  indeed?"  said  George  Heriot.  "None  of  my 
trumpery !  Come  hither  into  the  compting-room,  Eoberts. 
Sir  Mungo,"  he  added,  bowing  to  the  knight,  who  had  joined, 
and  was  preparing  to  follow,  them,  "pray  your  forgiveness 
for  an  instant." 

In  virtue  of  this  prohibition.  Sir  Mungo,  who,  as  well  as 
the  rest  of  the  company,  had  overheard  what  passed  betwixt 
George  Heriot  and  his  cash-keeper,  saw  himself  condemned 
to  wait  in  the  outer  business-room,  where  he  would  have 
endeavored  to  slake  his  eager  curiosity  by  questioning  Knigh- 
ton ;  but  that  emissary  of  greatness,  after  having  added  to 
the  uncivil  message  of  his  master  some  rudeness  of  his  own, 
had  again  scampered  westward,  with  his  satellites  at  his 
heels. 

In  the  mean  Avhile,  the  name  of  the  Duke  of  Buckingham, 
the  omnipotent  favorite  both  of  the  King  and  the  Prince  of 
Wales,  had  struck  some  anxiety  into  the  party  which  remaira^i 


TEE  FORTUNES  OF  MGEL  73 

in  the  great  parlor.  He  was  more  feared  than  beloved,  and, 
if  not  absolutely  of  a  tyrannical  disposition,  was  accounted 
haughty,  violent,  and  vindictive.  It  pressed  on  Xigel's  heart 
that  he  himself,  though  he  could  not  conceive  how  nor  why, 
might  be  the  original  cause  of  the  resentment  of  the  duke 
against  his  benefactor.  The  otliers  made  their  comments  in 
whispers,  until  the  sounds  reached  Ramsay,  wlio  had  not 
heard  a  word  of  what  had  previously  passed,  but,  phinged  in 
those  studies  with  which  he  connected  every  other  incident 
and  event,  took  up  only  the  catchword,  and  replied — "The 
Duke — the  Duke  of  Buckingham — George  Villiers  ;  ay,  I 
have  ?poke  with  Lambe  about  him.  " 

'*  Our  Lord  and  our  Lady  !  Xow,  how  can  you  say  so, 
father  ?"  said  his  daughter,  who  had  shrewdness  enough  to 
see  that  her  father  was  touching  upon  dangerous  ground. 

**  Why,  ay,  child,"  answered  Ramsay  ;  "the  stars  do  but 
incline,  they  cannot  compel.  But  well  you  wot,  it  is  com- 
monly said  of  his  Grace,  by  those  who  have  the  skill  to  cast 
nativities,  that  there  was  a  notable  conjunction  of  Mars  and 
Saturn,  the  apparent  or  true  time  of  which,  reducing  the  cal- 
culations of  Eichstadius  made  for  the  latitude  of  Oranien- 
burgh  to  that  of  London,  gives  seven  hours,  fifty-five  minutes, 
and  forty-one  seconds " 

"Hold  your  peace,  old  soothsayer,"  said  Heriot,  who  at 
that  instant  entered  the  room  with  a  calm  and  steady  coun- 
tenance. "Your  calculations  are  true  and  undeniable  when 
they  regard  brass  and  wire  and  mechanical  force  ;  but  future 
events  are  at  the  pleasure  of  Him  who  bears  the  hearts  of 
kings  in  His  hands." 

"Ay,  but,  George,"  answered  the  watchmaker,  "  there  was 
a  concurrence  of  signs  at  this  gentleman's  birth  Avhich  showed 
his  course  would  be  a  strange  one.  Long  has  it  been  said  of 
him,  he  was  born  at  the  very  meeting  of  night  and  day,  and 
under  crossing  and  contending  influences  that  may  affect  both 
us  and  him. 

"  '  Full  moon  and  high  sea, 
Great  man  shalt  thou  be  ; 
Red  dawning,  stormy  sky. 
Bloody  death  shalt  thou  die.' " 

"It  is  not  good  to  speak  of  such  things,"  said  Heriot, 
"  especially  of  tlie  great ;  stone  walls  have  ears,  and  a  bird  of 
the  air  shall  carry  the  matter." 

Several  of  the  guests  seemed  to  be  of  their  host's  opinion. 
The  two  merchants  took  brief  leave,  as  if  under  consciousness 
that  sometLing  was  wrong.     Mistress  Margaret,  her   body- 


74  WAVERLEV  NOVELS 

guard  of  'prentices  being  in  readiness,  plucked  lier  father  by 
the  sleeve,  and,  rescuing  him  from  a  brown-study  (whether 
referring  to  the  wheels  of  Time  or  to  that  of  Fortune,  is 
uncertain),  wished  good-night  to  her  friend  Mrs.  Judith 
and  received  her  godfather's  blessing,  who,  at  the  same  time, 
put  upon  her  slender  linger  a  ring  of  mucli  taste  and  some 
value ;  for  he  seldom  suffered  her  to  leave  him  without  some 
token  of  his  affection.  Thus  honorably  dismissed,  and  ac- 
companied by  her  escort,  she  set  forth  on  her  return  to  Fleet 
Street. 

Sir  Mungo  had  bid  adieu  to  Master  Heriot  as  he  came  out 
from  the  back  compting-roora ;  but  such  was  the  interest 
which  he  took  in  the  affairs  of  his  friend,  tliat,  when  Master 
George  went  upstairs,  he  could  not  help  walking  into  that 
sanchwi  sanctorum  to  see  how  Master  Roberts  was  employed. 
The  knight  found  the  cash-keeper  busy  in  making  extracts 
from  those  huge  brass-clasped,  leathern-bound  manuscript 
folios  which  are  the  pride  and  trust  of  dealers,  and  the  dread 
of  customers  whose  year  of  grace  is  out.  The  good  knight 
leaned  his  elbows  on  the  desk,  and  said  to  the  functionary 
in  a  condoling  tone  of  voice — "What!  you  have  lost  a  good 
customer,  I  fear.  Master  Roberts,  and  are  busied  in  making 
out  his  bill  of  charges  ?" 

Now,  it  chanced  that  Roberts,  like  Sir  Mungo  himself,  was 
a  little  deaf,  and,  like  Sir  Mungo,  knew  also  how  to  make  the 
most  of  it ;  so  that  he  answered  at  cross  purposes — ''I  humbly 
crave  your  pardon,  Sir  Mungo,  for  not  having  sent  in  your  bill 
of  cha'^rge  sooner,  but  my  master  bade  me  not  disturb  you.  I 
will  bring  the  items  together  in  a  moment."  So  saying,  he 
began  to'turn  over  the  leaves  of  his  book  of  fate,  murmuring, 
'' Repairing  ane  silver  seal — new  clasp  to  his  chain  of  office — 
ane  over-gilt  brooch  to  his  hat,  being  a  St.  Andrew's  cross, 
with  thistles — a  copper  gilt  pair  of  spurs, — this  to  Daniel 
Driver,  we  not  dealing  in  the  article." 

He  would  have  proceeded;  but  Sir  Mungo,  not  preparea 
to  endure  the  recital  of  the  catalogue  of  his  own  petty  debts, 
and  still  less  willing  to  satisfy  them  on  the  spot,  wished  the 
book-keeper,  cavalierly,  good-night,  and  left  the  house  with- 
out farther  ceremony.  "The  clerk  looked  after  him  with  a 
civil  city  sneer,  and  immediately  resumed  the  more  serious 
labors  which  Sir  Mungo's  intrusion  had  interrupted.* 

*  See  Sir  Mungo  Malagrowther.    Note  12. 


CHAPTER    VII 

Things  needful  we  have  thought  on ;  but  the  thing 
Of  all  most  needful— that  which  Scripture  terms, 
As  if  alone  it  merited  regard. 
The  ONE  thing  needful— that's  yetunconsider'd. 

The  Chamberlain, 

WpEisr  the  rest  of  tlie  company  had  taken  their  departure 
from  Master  Heriot's  house,  the  young  Lord  of  Glenvarloch 
ilso  offered  to  take  leave;  but  his  host  detained  him  for  a  few 
minutes,  until  all  were  gone  excepting  the  clergyman. 

'■'My  lord,"  then  said  the  worthy  citizen,  "we  have  had 
our  permitted  hour  of  honest  and  hospitable  pastime,  and  now 
I  would  fain  delay  you  for  another  and  graver  purpose,  as  it 
is  our  custom,  when  we  have  the  benefit  of  good  Mr.  Wind- 
sor's company,  that  he  reads  the  prayers  of  the  church  for 
the  evening  before  we  separate.  Your  excellent  father,  my 
lord,  would  not  have  departed  before  family  worship;  I  hope 
the  same  from  your  lordship." 

"With  pleasure,  sir,"  answered  Nigel;  ''and  you  add  in 
the  invitation  an  additional  obligation  to  those  with  which 
you  have  loaded  me.  When  young  men  forget  what  is  their 
duty,  they  owe  deep  thanks  to  the  friend  who  will  remind 
them  of  it." 

While  they  talked  together  in  this  manner,  the  serving- 
men  had  removed  the  folding-tables,  brought  forward  a  port- 
able reading-desk,  and  placed  chairs  and  hassocks  for  their 
master,  their  mistress,  and  the  noble  stranger.  Another  low 
chair,  or  rather  a  sort  of  a  stool,  was  placed  close  beside  that 
of  Master  Heriot;  and  though  the  circumstance  was  trivial, 
Nigel  was  induced  to  notice  it,  because,  Avhen  about  to  occu- 
py that  seat,  he  was  prevented  by  a  sign  from  the  old  gentle- 
man, and  motioned  to  another  of  somewhat  more  elevation. 
The  clergyman  took  his  station  behind  the  reading-desk.  The 
domestics,  a  numerous  family  both  of  clerks  and  servants, 
including  Moniplies,  attended  with  great  gravity,  and  were 
accommodated  with  benches. 

The  houseliold  were  all  seated,  and,  externally,  at  least, 
composed  to  devout  attention,  when  a  low  knock  was  heard 
at  the  door  of  the  apartment ;  Mrs.  Judith  looked  anxiously 
at  her  brother,  as  if  desiring  to  know  his  pleasure.  He 
nodded   his  head  gravely,  and  looked   to  tlie   door.     Mrs. 

76 


76  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

Judith  immediately  crossed  the  cliamber,  opened  the  door, 
and  led  into  the  apartment  a  beautiful  creature,  whose  sudden 
and  singular  ajapearance  might  liave  made  her  almost  pass 
for  an  apparition.  She  Avas  deadly  pale  ;  there  was  not  the 
least  shade  of  vital  red  to  enliven  features  which  were  exquis- 
itely formed,  and  might,  but  for  that  circumstance,  have 
been  termed  transcendently  beautiful.  Her  long  black  hair 
fell  down  over  her  shoulders  and  down  her  back,  combed 
smoothly  and  regularl}^,  but  without  the  least  appearance  of 
decoration  or  ornament,  which  looked  very  singular  at  a 
period  when  head-gear,  as  it  was  called,  of  one  sort  or  other 
was  generally  used  by  all  ranks.  Her  dress  was  of  pure 
white,  of  the  simplest  fashion,  and  hiding  all  her  person 
excepting  the  throat,  face,  and  hands.  Her  form  Avas  rather 
beneath  than  above  the  middle  size,  but  so  justly  propor- 
tioned and  elegantly  made,  that  the  spectator's  attention  was 
entirely  withdrawn  from  her  size.  In  contradiction  of  the 
extreme  plainness  of  all  the  rest  of  her  attire,  she  wore  a 
necklace  which  a  duchess  might  have  envied,  so  large  and 
lustrous  Avere  the  brilliants  of  Avhich  it  Avas  composed  ;  and 
around  her  Avaist  a  zone  of  rubies  of  scarce  inferior  value. 

AVhen  this  singular  figure  entered  the  apartment,  she  cast 
her  eyes  on  Nigel,  and  paused,  as  if  uncertain  whether  to 
advance  or  retreat.  The  glance  Avhich  she  took  of  him 
seemed  to  be  one  rather  of  uncertainty  and  hesitation  than  of 
bashfulness  or  timidity.  Aunt  Judith  took  her  by  the  hand 
and  led  her  slowly  forward  ;  her  dark  eyes,  however,  con- 
tinued to  be  fixed  on  Nigel,  Avith  an  expression  of  melan- 
choly by  Avhich  he  felt  strangely  affected.  Even  when  she 
Avas  seated  on  the  vacant  stool,  Avhich  Avas  placed  there  prob- 
ably for  her  accommodation,  she  again  looked  on  him  more 
than  once  with  the  same  pensive,  lingering,  and  anxious 
expression,  but  without  either  shyness  or  embarrassment,  not 
even  so  much  as  to  call  the  slightest  degree  of  complexion 
into  her  cheek. 

So  soon  as  this  singular  female  had  taken  up  the  prayer- 
book  Avhicli  AA'as  laid  upon  her  cushion,  she  seemed  immersed 
in  devotional  duty  ;  and  although  Nigel's  attention  to  the 
service  Avas  so  much  disturbed  by  this  extraordinary  appari- 
tion that  he  looked  toAA'ards  her  rejDcatedly  in  the  course  of 
the  service,  he  could  never  observe  that  her  eyes  or  her 
thoughts  stra3^ed  so  much  as  a  single  moment  from  the  task 
in  which  she  was  engaged,  Nigel  himself  was  less  attentive, 
for  the  appearance  of  this  lady  seemed  so  extraordinary,  that, 
strictly  as  he  had  been  bred  up  by  his  father  to  pay  the  most 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  V 

reverential  attention  during  performance  of  divine  service, 
his  tlioughts  in  sjnte  of  himself  were  disturbed  by  lier  pres- 
ence, and  he  earnestly  wished  the  prayers  were  ended,  that 
his  curiosity  might  obtain  some  gratification.  When  the 
service  was  concluded,  and  each  had  remained,  according  to 
the  decent  and  edifying  practice  of  the  church,  concentrated 
in  mental  devotion"for  a  short  space,  the  mysterious  visitant 
arose  ere  any  other  person  stirred  ;  and  Nigel  remarked  that 
none  of  the  domestics  left  their  places,  or  even  moved,  until 
she  had  first  kneeled  on  one  knee  to  Heriot,  who  seemed  to 
bless  her  with  his  hand  laid  on  her  head,  and  a  melancholy 
solemnity  of  look  and  action  ;  she  then  bended  her  body,  but 
without  kneeling,  to  ]\Irs.  Judith  ;  and  having  performed 
these  two  acts  of  reverence,  she  left  the  room  ;  yet  just  in  the 
act  of  her  departure,  she  once  more  turned  her  penetrating 
eyes  on  Nigel  with  a  fixed  look,  which  compelled  him  to 
turn  his  own  aside.  When  he  looked  towards  her  again,  he 
saw  only  the  skirt  of  her  white  mantle  as  she  left  the  apart- 
ment. 

The  domestics  then  rose  and  dispersed  themselves  ;  wine, 
and  fruit,  and  spices,  were  offered  to  Lord  Nigel  and  to  the 
clergyman,  and  the  latter  took  his  leave.  The  young  lord 
would  fain  have  accompanied  him,  in  hoj)e  to  get  some 
explanation  of  the  apparition  which  he  had  beheld,  but  he 
was  stopped  by  his  host,  who  requested  to  speak  with  him  in 
his  compting-room. 

"1  hope,  my  lord,"  said  the  citizen,  "that  your  prepara- 
tions for  attending  court  are  in  such  forwardness  that  you 
can  go  thither  the  day  after  to-morrow.  It  is,  perhaps,  the 
last  day,  for  some  time,  that  his  Majesty  will  hold  open  court 
for  all  who  have  pretensions  by  birth,  rank,  or  office  to  attend 
upon  him.  On  the  subsequent  day  he  goes  to  Theobald's, 
where  he  is  so  much  occupied  with  hunting  and  other 
pleasures  that  he  cares  not  to  be  intruded  on." 

*'I  shall  be  in  all  outward  readiness  to  pay  my  duty,"  said 
the  young  nobleman,  ''yet  I  have  little  heart  to  do  it.  The 
friends  from  whom  I  ought  to  have  found  encouragement 
and  protection  have  proved  cold  and  false  :  I  certainly  will 
not  trouble  them  for  their  countenance  on  this  occasion  ;  and 
yet  I  must  confess  my  childish  unwillingness  to  enter  quite 
alone  upon  so  new  a  scene." 

"It  is  bold  of  a  mechanic  like  me  to  make  such  an  offer 
to  a  nobleman,"  said  Heriot;  "  but  I  must  attend  at  court 
[the  day  after]  to-morrow.  I  can  accompany  you  as  far  as 
the  presence-chamber,   from  my  privilege  as  being   of  the 


78  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

household.  I  can  facilitate  your  entrance,  should  you  find 
ditticulty,  and  1  can  point  out  the  proper  manner  and  cime 
of  approaching  the  King.  But  I  do  not  know/'  he  added, 
smiling,  "  Avliether  these  little  advantages  will  not  be  over- 
'^alauced  by  the  incongruity  of  a  nobleman  receiving  them 
Au  the  hands  of  an  old  smith." 

"From  the  hands  rather  of  the  only  friend  I  have  found  in 
London,"  said  Nigel,  offering  his  hand. 

"Nay,  if  you  think  of  the  matter  in  that  way,"  replied 
the  honest  citizen,  "  there  is  no  more  to  be  said ;  I  will  come 
for  you  [the  day  after]  to-morrow  with  a  barge  proper  to  the 
occasion.  But  remember,  my  good  yonng  lord,  that  I  do  not, 
like  some  men  of  my  degree,  wish  to  take  opportunity  to  step 
beyond  it  and  associate  with  my  superiors  in  rank,  and  there- 
fore do  not  fear  to  mortify  my  presumption  by  suffering  me 
to  keep  my  distance  in  the  presence,  and  where  it  is  fitting 
for  both  of  ns  to  separate;  and  for  what  remains,  most  truly 
happy  shall  I  be  in  proving  of  service  to  the  son  of  my  ancient 
patron." 

The  style  of  conversation  led  so  far  from  the  point  which 
had  interested  the  young  nobleman's  curiosity,  that  there 
Avas  no  returning  to  it  that  night.  He  therefore  exchanged 
thanks  and  greeting  with  George  Heriot,  and  took  his  leave, 
promising  to  be  equipped  and  in  readiness  to  embark  with 
him  on  the  second  successive  morning  at  ten  o'clock. 

The  generation  of  the  linkboys,  celebrated  by  Count 
Anthony  Hamilton  as  peculiar  to  London,  had,  already,  in  the 
reign  of  James  I.,  begun  their  functions,  and  the  service  of 
one  of  them  with  his  smoky  torch  had  been  secured  to  light 
the  young  Scottish  lord  and  his  follower  to  their  lodgings, 
which,  though  better  acquainted  than  formerly  with  the  city, 
they  might  in  the  dark  have  run  some  danger  of  missing. 
This  gave  the  ingenious  Mr.  Moniplies  an  opportunity  of 
gathering  close  up  to  his  master,  after  he  had  gone  through 
the  form  of  slipping  his  left  arm  into  the  handles  of  his 
buckler,  and  loosening  his  broadsword  in  the  sheath,  that  he 
might  be  ready  for  whatever  should  befall. 

"  If  it  Avere  not  for  the  wine  and  the  good  cheer  which  we 
have  had  in  yonder  old  man's  house,  my  lord,"  said  this 
sapient  follower,  "and  that  I  ken  him  by  report  to  be  a  just 
living  man  in  many  respects,  and  a  real  Edinburgh  gutter- 
blood,  I  should  have  been  Avell  pleased  to  have  seen  how  his 
feet  were  shaped,  and  whether  he  had  not  a  cloven  cloot 
under  the  braw  roses  and  cordovan  shoon  of  his." 

"Why,  you  rascal,"  ansAvered  Nigel,  "  you  have  been  too 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  7i 

kindly  treated,  and  now  that  yon  have  filled  yonr  ravenons 
stomach,  you  are  railing  on  the  good  gentleman  that  relieved 
you." 

"Under  favor,  no,  my  lord,"  said  Moniplies;  ''I  would 
only  like  to  see  something  mair  of  him.  I  have  eaten  liis  meat, 
it  is  true — more  shame  that  the  like  of  him  should  have  meat 
to  give,  Avhen  your  lordship  and  me  could  scarce  have  gotten, 
on  our  own  account,  brose  and  a  bear  bannock.  I  have 
drunk  his  wine,  too." 

"  I  see  you  have,"  replied  his  master,  "a  great  deal  more 
than  you  should  have  done." 

"Under  your  patience,  my  lord,"  said  Monijilies,  "you 
are  pleased  to  say  that,  because  I  crushed  a  quart  with  that 
jolly  boy  Jenkin,  as  they  call  the  'prentice  boy,  and  that  was 
out  of  mere  acknowledgment  for  his  former  kindness.  I 
own  that  I,  moreover,  sung  the  good  old  song  of  'Elsie 
Marley,'  so  as  they  never  heard  it  chanted  in  their  lives." 

"And  withal,"  as  John  Bunyan  says,  "as  they  went  on 
their  way,"  he  sung — 

"O,  do  ye  ken  Elsie  Marley,  honey — 
The  wife  that  sells  the  barley,  honey  ? 
For  Elsie  Marley 's  grown  sae  fine, 
She  winna  get  up  to  feed  the  swine. 
O,  do  ye  ken " 

Here  in  mid  career  Avas  the  songster  interrupted  by  the  stern 
grip  of  his  master,  who  threatened  to  baton  him  to  death  if 
he  brought  the  city- watch  upon  them  by  his  ill-timed  melody. 

"I  crave  pardon,  my  lord — I  humbly  crave  pardon — only 
when  I  think  of  that  Jen  Win,  as  they  call  him,  I  can  hardly 
help  humming,  '0,  do  ye  ken — '  But  I  crave  your  honor's 
pardon,  and  will  be  totally  dumb,  if  you  command  me  so." 

"No,  sirrah!"  said  Nigel,  "talk  on,  for  I  well  know  you 
would  say  and  suffer  more  under  pretence  of  holding  your 
peace  than  when  you  get  an  unbridled  license.  How  is  it, 
then?     What  have  you  to  say  against  Master  Heriot?" 

It  seems  more  than  probable  that,  in  permitting  this 
license,  the  young  lord  hoped  his  attendant  would  stumble 
upon  the  subject  of  the  young  lady  who  had  appeared  at  pray- 
ers in  a  manner  so  mysterious.  But  whether  this  was  the 
case,  or  whether  he  merely  desired  that  Moniplies  should  utter, 
in  a  subdued  and  undertone  of  voice,  those  spirits  which 
might  otherwise  have  vented  themselves  in  obstreiDcrous  song, 
it  is  certain  he  permitted  his  attendant  to  proceed  with  his 
■story  in  his  own  way. 

"  And  therefore,"  said  the  orator,  availing  himself  of  liis 


so  WAVLitLEY  NOVELS 

immunity,  "  I  would  like  to  ken  what  sort  of  a  carle  this 
Maister  Heriot  is.  He  hath  supiilied  your  lordship  with 
wealth  of  gold,  as  I  can  understand  ;  and  if  he  has,  I  make 
it  for  certain  he  hath  had  his  ain  end  in  it,  according  to  the 
fashion  of  the  Avorld.  Xow,  had  your  lordship  your  own 
good  lands  at  your  guiding,  doubtless  this  person,  with  most 
of  his  craft — goldsmiths  they  call  themselves,  I  say  usurers — 
wad  be  glad  to  exchange  so  many  pounds  of  African  dust, 
by  whilk  I  understand  gold,  against  so  many  fair  acres,  and 
hundreds  of  acres,  of  broad  Scottish  land." 

''  But  you  know  I  have  no  land,"  said  the  young  lord,  "  at 
least  none  that  can  be  affected  by  any  debt  which  I  can  at 
present  become  obliged  for.  t  think  you  need  not  have 
reminded  me  of  that." 

"True,  my  lord — most  true;  and,  as  your  lordship  says, 
open  to  the  meanest  capacity,  without  any  unnecessary  expo- 
sitions. Now,  therefore,  my  lord,  unless  Maister  George 
Heriot  has  something  mair  to  allege  as  a  motive  for  his  liber- 
ality, vera  different  from  the  possession  of  your  estate,  and 
moreover,  as  he  could  gain  little  by  the  capture  of  your  body, 
wherefore  should  it  not  be  your  soul  that  he  is  in  pursuit 
of?" 

"  My  soul,  you  rascal! "  said  the  young  lord  ;  "  what  good 
should  my  soul  do  him  ?  " 

"  V*'hat  do  I  ken  about  that?"  said  Moniplies.  "  They 
go  about  roaring  and  seeking  whom  they  may  devour  ;  doubt- 
less, they  like  the  food  that  they  rage  so  much  about ;  and, 
my  lord,  they  say,"  added  Moniplies,  drawing  up  still  closer 
to  his  master's  side — ''they  say  that  Master  Heriot  has  one 
spirit  in  his  house  already." 

"  How  or  what  do  you  mean?"  said  Xigel.  "  I  will  break 
your  head,  you  drunken  knave,  if  you  palter  with  me  any 
longer." 

"  Drunken! "  answered  his  trusty  adherent,  "  and  is  this 
the  story?  Why,  how  could  I  but  drink  your  lordship's 
health  on  my  bare  knees,  when  Master  Jenkin  began  it  to 
me?  Hang  them  that  would  not!  I  %vould  have  cut  the  im- 
pudent knave's  hams  with  my  broadsword,  that  should  make 
a  scruple  of  it,  and  so  have  made  him  kneel  when  he  should 
have  found  it  difficult  to  rise  again.  But  touching  the 
spirit,"  he  proceeded,  finding  that  his  master  made  no  answer 
to  his  valorous  tirade,  "your  lordship  has  seen  her  with  your 
own  eyes." 

"I  saw  no  spirit,"  said  Glenvarloch,  but  yet  breathing 
thick  as  one  who  expects  some  singular  disclosure  :  "  what 
mean  you  by  a  spirit?." 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  81 

**  \  >\i  gaw  a  young  lady  come  into  prayers,  that  spoke  not 
A  word  to  any  one,  only  made  becks  and  bows  to  the  old  geu- 
deman  and  lady  of  the  house — ken  ye  wha  she  is?" 

**  No,  indeed,"  answered  Nigel  ;'*  some  relation  of  the 
family,  I  suppose." 

**  Deil  a  bit — deil  a  bit,"  answered  Moniplies,  hastily — 
"  not  a  blood-drop's  kin  to  them,  if  she  had  a  drop  of  blood 
in  her  body.  I  tell  you  but  what  all  human  beings  allege  to 
do  trut-h,  that  dwell  within  hue  and  cry  of  Lombard  Street — 
r.hat  lady,  or  queen,  or  whatever  you  choose  to  call  her,  has 
been  dead  in  the  body  these  many  a  year,  though  she  haunts 
them,  as  wo  have  seen,  even  at  their  very  devotions." 

**  You  will  allow  her  to  be  a  good  spirit  at  least,"  said 
Xigel  Olifaunt,  "  since  she  chooses  such  a  time  to  visit  her 
f  rends?" 

*'  For  that  I  kenna,  my  lord,"  answered  the  superstitious 
follower.  "  I  ken  no  spirit  that  would  have  faced  the  right 
down  hammer-blow  of  Mess  John  Knox,  whom  my  father 
stood  by  in  his  very  warst  days,  bating  a  chance  time  when 
the  court,  which  my  father  supplied  with  butcher-meat,  was 
against  him.  But  yon  divine  h:is  another  airt  from  powerful 
Miister  Rollock,  and  Mess  David  Black  of  North  Leith,  and 
sic-like.  Alack-a-day!  wha  can  ken,  if  it  please  your  lord- 
ship, whether  sic  prayers  as  the  Southron  read  out  of  their 
auld  blethering  black  mess-book  there  may  not  be  as  power- 
ful to  invite  fiends  as  a  right  red-het  prayer  warm  frae  the 
heart  may  be  powerful  to  drive  them  away,  even  as  the  Evil 
Spirit  was  driven  by  the  smell  of  the  fish's  liver  from  the 
bridal -chamber  of  Sara,  the  daughter  of  Raguel?  as  to  whilk 
story,  nevertheless,  I  make  scruple  to  say  whether  it  be  truth 
or  not,  better  men  than  I  am  having  doubted  on  that  mat- 
ter." 

^'  Well— well — well,"  said  his  master,  impatiently,  "  we 
are  now  near  home,  and  I  have  permitted  you  to  speak  of 
this  matter  for  once,  that  we  may  have  an  end  of  your  prying 
folly  and  your  idiotical  superstitions  forever.  For  whom  do 
you,  or  your  absurd  authors  or  informers,  take  this  lady?" 

*'  I  can  say  naething  jireceesely  as  to  that,"  answered 
Moniplies;  ^  certain  it  is  her  body  died  and  was  laid  in  the 
grave  many  a  day  since,  notwithstanding  she  still  wanders  on 
earth,  and  chiefly  among  Maister  Heriot's  family,  though 
she  hath  been  seen  in  other  places  by  them  that  well  knew 
her.  But  who  she  is.  F  will  not  warrant  to  say.  or  how  she 
becomes  attached,  like  a  Highland  Brownie,  to  some  peculiar 
family.     They  say  she  lias  a  row  of  apartments  of  her  own, 


83  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

anteroom,  parlor,  and  bedroom;  but  deil  a  bed  she  sleeps  in 
but  her  own  cottin,  and  the  walls,  doors,  and  windows  are  so 
chinked  up  us  to  prevent  the  least  blink  of  daylight  from  en- 
tering; and  then  she  dwells  by  torchlight^ " 

'^  To  what  purpose,  if  she  be  a  spirit?"  said  Nigel  Oli- 
faunt. 

"  How  can  I  tell  your  lordship?"  answered  his  attendant. 
"I  thank  God,  I  know  nothing  of  her  likings  or  mislikings; 
only  her  coffin  is  there,  and  I  leave  your  lordship  to  guess 
what  a  live  person  has  to  do  with  a  coffin.  As  little  as  a 
ghost  with  a  lantern,  I  trow." 

**  AVhat  reason,"  repeated  Nigel,  ''can  a  creature  so 
young  and  so  beautiful  have  already  habitually  to  contem- 
plate her  bed  of  last  long  rest?" 

''  In  troth,  I  kenna,  my  lord,"  answered  Moniplies;  "but 
there  is  the  coffin,  as  they  told  me  who  have  seen  it.  It  is 
made  of  heben-wood,  with  silver  nails,  and  lined  all  through 
with  three-piled  damask,  might  serve  a  princess  to  rest  in." 

"  Singular!"  said  Nigel,  whose  brain,  like  that  of  most 
active  young  spirits,  was  easily  caught  by  the  singular  and 
the  romantic;  "does  she  not  eat  with  the  family?" 

"  Who?  she!"  exclaimed  Moniplies,  as  if  surprised  at  the 
question;  "they  would  need  a  lang  spoon  would  sup  with 
her,  I  trow.  Always  there  is  something  put  for  her  into  the 
tower,  as  they  call  i  t,  whilk  is  a  whigmaleery  of  a  Avhirling- 
box,  that  turns  round  half  on  the  tae  side  o'  the  wa',  half  on 
the  tother." 

"I  have  seen  the  contrivance  in  foreign  nunneries,"  said 
the  Lord  of  Glenvarloch.  "  And  is  it  thus  she  receives  her 
food?" 

"  They  tell  me  something  is  put  in  ilka  day,  for  fashion's 
sake,"  replied  the  attendant;  "but it's  no  to  be  supposed  she 
would  consume  it,  ony  mair  than  the  images  of  Bel  and  the 
Dragon  consumed  the  dainty  vivers  that  were  placed  before 
them.  There  are  stout  yeomen  and  chamber-queens  in  the 
house,  enow  to  play  the  part  of  Lick-it-up-a',  as  well  as  the 
threescore  and  ten  priests  of  Bel,  besides  their  wives  and 
children." 

"  And  she  is  never  seen  in  the  family  but  when  the  hour 
of  pi-ayer  arrives?"  said  the  master. 

"Never,  that  I  hear  of,"  replied  the  servant. 

"It  is  singular,"  said  Nigel  Olifaunt,  musing.  **  Were  it 
not  for  the  ornaments  which  she  wears,  and  still  more  for 
her  attendance  upon  the  service  of  the  Protestant  Church,  I 
should  know  what  to  think,  and  should  believe  her  either  a 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  83 

Catholic  votaress,  who,  for  some  cogent  reason,  was  allowed 
to  make  her  cell  here  in  London,  or  some  unhappy  Popish 
devotee^  who  was  in  tlie  course  of  undergoing  a  dreadful 
penance.     As  it  is,  I  know  not  what  to  deem  of  it." 

His  reverie  was  interrupted  by  the  linkboy  knocking  at 
the  door  of  honest  John  Cliristie,  whose  wife  came  forth 
with  ''  quips,  and  becks,  and  wreathed  smiles,"  to  welcome 
h€»r  honored  guest  on  his  return  to  his  apartment. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

Ay  !  mark  the  matron  well — and  laugh  not,  Harry, 

At  her  old  steeple  hat  and  velvet  guard — 

I've  call'd  her  like  the  ear  of  Dionysius  ; 

I  mean  that  ear-form'd  vault,  built  o'er  his  dungeon, 

To  catch  the  groans  and  discontented  murmurs 

Of  his  poor  bondsmen.     Ev'n  so  does  Martha 

Drink  up,  for  her  own  purpose,  all  that  passes, 

Or  is  supposed  to  pass,  in  this  wide  city. 

She  can  retail  it  too,  if  that  her  profit 

Shall  call  on  her  to  do  so  ;  and  retail  it 

For  your  advantage,  so  that  you  can  make 

Your  profit  jump  with  hers. 

The  Conspiracy. 

We  must  now  introduce  to  the  reader's  acquaintance  another 
character,  busy  and  important  far  beyond  her  ostensible  situ- 
ation in  society — in  a  word,  Dame  Ursuha  Suddlechop,  wife 
of  Benjamin  Suddlechop,  the  most  renowned  barber  in  all 
Fleet  Street.  This  dame  had  her  own  particular  merits,  the 
principal  part  of  which  was,  if  her  own  report  could  be 
trusted,  an  infinite  desire  to  be  of  service  to  her  fellow-crea- 
tures. Leaving  to  her  thin,  half -starved  partner  the  boast  of 
having  the  most  dexterous  snap  of  his  fingers  of  any  shaver 
in  London,  and  the  care  of  a  shop  where  starved  apprentices 
flayed  the  faces  of  those  who  were  boobies  enough  to  trust 
them,  the  dame  drove  a  separate  and  more  lucrative  trade, 
which  yet  had  so  many  odd  turns  and  windings,  that  it 
seemed  in  many  respects  to  contradict  itself. 

Its  highest  and  mOvSt  important  duties  were  of  a  very 
secret  and  confidential  nature,  and  Dame  Ursula  Suddlechop 
was  never  known  to  betray  any  transaction  intrusted  to  her, 
unless  she  had  either  been  indifferently  paid  for  her  service 
or  that  some  one  found  it  convenient  to  give  her  a  double 
douceur  to  make  her  disgorge  the  secret;  and  these  contin- 
gencies happened  in  so  few  cases,  that  her  character  for  trus- 
tiness remained  as  unimpeached  as  that  for  honesty  and 
benevolence. 

In  fact,  she  Avas  a  most  admirable  matron,  and  could  be 
useful  to  the  impassioned  and  tlie  frail  in  the  rise,  progress, 
and  consequences  of  their  passion.  She  could  contrive  an 
interview  for  lovers  who  could  show  proper  reasons  for  meet- 
ing privately;    she    could  relieve  the  frail  fair  one  of  the 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  85 

burden  of  a  guilty  passion,  and  perliaps  establisli  the  hopeful 
offspring  of  luilicensed  love  as  the  heir  of  some  family  whose 
love  was  lawful,  but  where  an'  heir  had  not  followed  the 
union.  More  than  this  she  could  do,  and  had  been  concerned 
in  deeper  and  dearer  secrets.  She  had  been  a  pupil  k^I  Mrs. 
Turner,  and  learned  from  her  the  secret  of  making  yellow 
starch,  and,  it  may  be,  two  or  three  other  secrets  of  more 
consequence,  though  perhaps  none  that  went  to  the  criminal 
extent  of  those  wliereof  her  mistress  was  accused.  But  all 
that  was  deep  and  dark  in  her  real  character  was  covered  by 
the  show  of  outward  mirth  and  good-humor,  the  hearty  laugh 
and  buxom  Jest  with  which  the  dame  knew  well  how  to  con- 
ciliate the  elder  part  of  her  neighbors,  and  the  many  petty 
arts  by  which  she  could  recommend  herself  to  the  younger, 
those  especially  of  her  own  sex. 

Dame  Ursula  was,  in  appearance,  scarce  past  forty,  and 
her  full,  but  not  overgrown,  form,  and  still  comely  features, 
although  her  person  was  plumped  out  and  her  face  somewhat 
colored  by  good  cheer,  had  a  joyous  exjjression  of  gayety  and 
good-humor,  Avhich  set  off  the  remains  of  beauty  in  the  wane. 
Marriages,  births,  and  christenings  were  seldom  thought  to 
be  performed  with  suificient  ceremony,  for  a  considerable  dis- 
tance round  her  abode,  unless  Dame  Ursley,  as  they  called 
her,  was  present.  She  could  contrive  all  sorts  of  pastimes, 
games,  and  jests  which  might  amuse  the  large  companies 
which  the  hospitality  of  our  ancestors  assembled  together  on 
such  occasions,  so  that  her  presence  was  literally  considered 
as  indispensable  in  the  families  of  all  citizens  of  ordinary  rank 
at  such  joyous  periods.  So  much  also  was  she  supposed  to 
know  of  life  and  its  labyrinths,  that  she  was  the  willing  confi- 
dante of  half  the  loving  couples  in  the  vicinity,  most  of  whom 
used  to  communicate  their  secrets  to,  and  receive  their  coun- 
sel from.  Dame  Ursley.  The  rich  rewarded  her  services  with 
rings,  owches,  or  gold  pieces,  which  she  liked  still  better;  and 
she  very  generously  gave  her  assistance  to  the  poor,  on  the 
same  mixed  principles  as  young  practitioners  in  medicine 
assist  them,  partly  from  compassion,  and  partly  to  keep  her 
hand  in  use. 

Dame  Ursley's  reputation  in  the  city  was  the  greater  that 
her  2)ractice  had  extended  beyond  Temple  Bar,  and  that  she 
had  acquaintances,  nay,  patrons  and  patronesses,  among  the 
quality,  whose  rank,  as  their  members  were  much  fewer,  and 
the  prospect  of  approaching  the  courtly  sphere  much  more 
difficult,  bore  a  degree  of  consequence  unknown  to  the  pres- 
ent day,   when  the  toe  of  the  citizen  presses  so  close  on  the 


86  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

courtier's  heel.  Dame  Ursley  maintained  her  intercourse 
with  this  superior  rank  of  customers  partly  by  driving  a 
small  trade  in  perfumes,  essences,  pomades,  head-gears  from 
France,  dishes  or  ornaments  from  China,  then  already  begin- 
ning to  be  fashionable ;  not  to  mention  drugs  of  various 
tlescriptions,  chiefly  for  the  use  of  the  ladies,  and  partly  by 
other  services  more  or  less  connected  with  the  esoteric 
branches  of  her  profession  heretofore  alluded  to. 

Possessing  such  and  so  many  various  modes  of  thriving, 
Dame  Ursley  was  nevertheless  so  poor,  that  she  might 
jn'obably  have  mended  her  own  circumstances,  as  well  as  her 
husband's,  if  she  had  renounced  them  all  and  set  herself 
quietly  down  to  the  care  of  her  own  household,  and  to  assist 
Benjamin  in  the  concerns  of  his  trade.  But  Ursula  was 
luxurious  and  genial  in  her  habits,  and  could  no  more  have 
endured  the  stinted  economy  of  Benjamin's  board  than  she 
could  have  reconciled  herself  to  the  bald  chat  of  his 
conversation. 

It  was  on  the  evening  of  the  day  on  which  Lord  Nigel 
Olifaunt  dined  with  the  wealthy  goldsmith  that  we  must 
introduce  Ursula  Suddlechop  ujjon  the  stage.  She  had  that 
morning  made  a  long  tour  to  Westminster,  was  fatigued, 
and  had  assumed  a  certain  large  elbow-chair  rendered  smooth 
by  frequent  use,  placed  on  one  side  of  her  chimmey,  in  which 
there  was  lit  a  small  but  bright  fire.  Here  she  observed, 
betwixt  sleeping  and  waking,  the  simmering  of  a  pot  of  well- 
spiced  ale,  on  the  brown  surface  of  which  bobbed  a  small 
crab-apple,  sufficiently  roasted,  while  a  little  mulatto  girl 
watched,  still  more  attentively,  the  process  of  dressing  a  veal 
sweetbread,  in  a  silver  stew-pan  which  occupied  the  other 
side  of  the  chimney.  With  these  viands,  doubtless.  Dame 
Ursula  proposed  concluding  the  well-spent  day,  of  which  she 
reckoned  the  labor  over,  and  the  rest  at  her  own  command. 
She  was  deceived,  however ;  for  just  as  the  ale,  or,  to 
speak  technically,  the  lamb's-wool,  was  fitted  for  drinking, 
and  the  little  dingy  maiden  intimated  that  the  sweetbread 
was  ready  to  be  eaten,  the  thin  cracked  voice  of  Benjamin 
was  heard  from  the  bottom  of  the  stairs. 

''Why,  Dame  Ursley — why,  wife,  I  say — why,  dame — 
why  love,  you  are  wanted  more  than  a  strop  for  a  blunt  razor 
— why,  dame " 

"  I  would  some  one  would  draw  a  razor  across  thy  wind- 
pipe, thou  bawling  ass  !"  said  the  dame  to  herself,  in  the 
first  moment  of  irritation  against  her  clamorous  helpmate  ; 
and  then  called  aloud — "  Why,  what  is  the  matter.  Master 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  8? 

Suddlechop?     I  am  just  going  to  slip   into   bed  ;    I    have 
been  daggled  to  and  fro  tlie  wbole  day." 

"  Xay,  sweetheart,  it  is  not  me,"  said  the  patient  Ben- 
jamin, "but  the  Scots  laundry-maid  from  neighbor  Eam- 
say's,  who  must  speak  with  you  incontinent." 

"  At  the  word  "  sweetheart,"  Dame  Ursley  cast  a  wistful 
look  at  the  mess  which  was  stewed  to  a  second  in  the  stew- 
pan,  and  then  replied  with  a  sigh,  "Bid  Scots  Jenny  come 
up.  Master  Suddlechop.  I  shall  be  very  happy  to  hear  what 
she  has  to  say  ;"  then  added  in  a  loAver  tone,  "  And  I  hope 
she  will  go  to  the  devil  in  the  flame  of  a  tar-barrel,  like 
many  a  Scots  witch  before  her  !" 

The  Scots  laundress  entered  accordingly,  and  having 
neard  nothing  of  the  last  kind  wish  of  Dame  Suddlechop, 
made  her  reverence  with  considerable  respect,  and  said,  her 
young  mistress  had  returned  home  unwell,  and  wished  to 
see  her  neighbor.  Dame  Ursley,  directly. 

"And  why  will  it  not  do  to-morrow,  Jenny,  my  good 
woman  ?"  said  Dame  Ursley;  "for  I  have  been  as  far  as 
Whitehall  to-day  already,  and  I  am  well-nigh  worn  off  my 
feet,  my  good  woman." 

"Aweel!"  answered  Jenny,  with  great  composure,  "and 
if  that  sae  be  sae,  I  maun  take  the  langer  tramp  myseli,  and 
maun  gae  down  the  water-side  for  auld' Mother  Eedcap,  at 
the  Hungerford  Stairs,  that  deals  in  comforting  young  crea- 
tures, e'en  as  you  do  yoursell,  hinny  ;  for  ane  o'  ye  the  bairn 
maun  see  before  she  sleeps,  and  that's  a'  that  I  ken  on't." 

So  saying,  the  old  emissary,  without  farther  entreaty, 
turned  on  her  heel,  and  was  about  to  retreat,  when  Dame 
Ursley  exclaimed — "Xo — no  ;  if  the  sweet  child,  your  mis- 
tress/ has  any  necessary  occasion  for  good  advice  and  kind 
tendance  you  need  not  go  to  Mother  Redcap,  Janet.  She 
may  do  very  well  for  skippers'  wives,  chandlers'  daughters, 
and  such-like ;  but  nobody  shall  wait  on  pretty  Mistress 
Margaret,  the  daughter  of  his  most  sacred  Majesty's  horo- 
loger,  excepting  and  saving  myself.  And  so  I  will  but  take 
my  choppins  and  my  cloak,  and  put  on  my  muffler,  and 
cross  the  street  to  neighbor  Ramsay's  in  an  instant.  But  tell 
me  yourself,  good  Jenny,  are  you  not  something  tired  of 
your  voung  ladv's  frolics  and  change  of  mind  twenty  times 
a  day"?" 

"  In  troth,  not  I,"  said  the  patient  drudge,  "  unless  it 
may  be  when  she  is  a  wee  fashions  about  washing  her  laces; 
but  I  have  been  her  keeper  since  she  was  a  bairn,  neighboi 
Suddlechop,  and  that  makes  a  difference." 


88  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

"  Ay,"  said  Dame  Ursley,  still  busied  j^utting  on  additional 
defences  against  the  night  air;  "and  you  know  for  certain 
that  she  has  two  hundred  pounds  a  year  in  good  land,  at  her 
own  free  disposal." 

"Left  by  her  grandmother,  Heaven  rest  her  soul  !"  said 
the  Scotswoman;  "and  to  a  daintier  lassie  she  could  not  have 
bequeathed  it." 

"  Very  true — very  true,  mistress  ;  for,  with  all  her  little 
whims,  I  have  always  said  Mistress  IMargaret  Kamsay  was  the 
prettiest  girl  in  the  ward  ;  and,  Jenny,  I  warrant  the  poor 
child  has  had  no  supper," 

Jenny  could  not  say  but  it  was  the  case,  "  For,  her  mas- 
ter being  out,  the  twa  'prentice  lads  had  gone  out  after  shut- 
ting shop  to  fetch  them  home,  and  she  and  the  other  maid 
had  gone  out  to  Sandy  MacGivan's,  to  see  a  friend  frae 
Scotland." 

"As  was  very  natural,  Mrs.  Janet,"  said  Dame  Ursley, 
who  found  her  interest  in  assenting  to  all  sorts  of  proposi- 
tions from  all  sorts  of  persons. 

"  And  so  the  fire  went  out,  too,"  said  Jenny. 

"  Which  was  the  most  natural  of  the  whole,"  said  Dame 
Suddlechop;  "and  so,  to  cut  the  matter  short,  Jenny,  I'll 
carry  over  the  little  bit  of  supper  that  I  was  going  to  eat. 
For  dinner  I  have'  tasted  none,  and  it  may  be  my  young 
pretty  Mistress  Marget  will  eat  a  morsel  with  me;  for  it  is 
mere  emptiness,  Mistress  Jenny,  tliat  often  puts  these  fancies 
of  illness  into  young  folks'  heads."  So  saying,  she  put  the 
silver  posset-cup  with  the  ale  into  Jenny's  hands,  and  as- 
suming her  mantle  with  the  alacrity  of  one  determined  to 
sacrifice  inclination  to  duty,  she  hid  the  stew-pan  under  its 
folds,  and  commanded  Wilsa,  the  little  mulatto  girl,  to  light 
them  across  the  street. 

"  Whither  away  so  late  ?''  said  the  barber,  whom  they 
passed  seated  with  his  starveling  boys  round  a  mess  of  stock- 
fish and  parsnips  in  the  shop  below. 

"If  I  were  to  tell  you,  galier,"  said  the  dame,  with  most 
contemptuous  coolness,  "  I  do  not  think  you  could  do  my 
errand,  so  I  will  e'en  keep  it  to  myself."  Benjamin  was  too 
much  accustomed  to  his  wife's  independent  mode  of  conduct 
to  pursue  his  inquiry  farther;  nor  did  the  dame  tarry  for 
farther  question,  but  marched  out  at  the  door,  telling  the 
eldest  of  the  boys  "to  sit  up  till  her  return,  and  look  to  the 
house  the  while." 

The  night  was  dark  and  rainy,  and  although  the  distance 
betwixt  the  two  shops  Avas  short,   it  allowed   Dame   Ursley 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  89 

leisure  enough,  while  she  strode  along  with  high-tucked 
petticoats,  to  embitter  it  by  the  following  grumbling  re- 
flections— "I  wonder  what  I  have  done,  that  I  must  needs 
trudge  at  every  old  beldam's  bidding  and  every  young  minx's 
maggot  ?  I  have  been  marched  from  Temple  Bar  to  White- 
chapel,  on  the  matter  of  a  pinmaker's  wife  having  pricked 
her  fingers — marry,  her  husband  that  made  the  weapon  might 
have  salved  the  wound.  And  here  is  this  fantastic  ape, 
pretty  Mistress  Marget,  forsooth — such  a  beauty  as  I  could 
make  of  a  Dutch  doll,  and  as  fantastic,  and  humorous,  and 
conceited  as  if  she  were  a  duchess.  I  have  seen  her  in  the 
same  day  as  changeful  as  a  marmozet,  and  as  stubborn  as  a 
mule.  I  should  like  to  know  whether  her  little  conceited 
noddle  or  her  father's  old  crazy,  calculating  jolter-pate  breeds 
most  whimsies.  But  then  there's  that  two  hundred  pounds  a 
year  in  dirty  land,  and  the  father  is  held  a  close  chulf ,  though  a 
fanciful;  he  is  our  landlord  besides,  and  she  has  begged  a 
late  day  from  him  for  our  rent;  so,  God  help  me,  I  must  be 
conformable  ;  besides,  the  little  capricious  devil  is  my  only 
key  to  get  at  Master  George  Heriot's  secret,  and  it  concerns 
my  character  to  find  that  out ;  and  so,  'andiamos,'  as  the 
lingua  franca  hath  it." 

Thus  pondering,  she  moved  forward  with  hasty  strides 
until  she  arrived  at  the  watchmaker's  habitation.  The  at- 
tendant admitted  them  by  means  of  a  pass-key.  Onward 
glided  Dame  Ursula,  now  in  glimmer  and  now  in  gloom,  not 
like  the  lovely  Lady  Christabel  through  Gothic  sculpture  and 
ancient  armor,  but  creeping  and  stumbling  among  relics  of  old 
machines,  and  models  of  new  inventions  in  various  branches 
of  mechanics,  with  which  wrecks  of  useless  ingenuity,  either 
in  a  broken  or  half-finished  shape,  the  apartment  of  the  fan- 
ciful though  ingenious  mechanist  was  continually  lumbered. 

At  length  they  attained,  by  a  very  narrow  staircase,  pretty 
Mistress  Margaret's  apartment,  where  she,  the  cynosure  of 
the  eyes  of  every  bold  young  bachelor  in  Fleet  Street,  sat  in 
a  posture  which  hovered  between  the  discontented  and  the 
disconsolate.  For  her  pretty  back  and  shoulders  Avere  rounded 
into  a  curve,  her  round  and  dimpled  chin  reposed  in  the 
hollow  of  her  little  palm,  while  the  fingers  were  folded  over 
her  mouth;  her  elbow  rested  on  a  table,  and  her  eyes  seemed 
fixed  upon  the  dying  charcoal,  which  was  expiring  in  a  small 
grate.  She  scarce  turned  her  head  when  Dame  Ursula  en- 
tered, and  when  the  presence  of  that  estimable  matron  was 
more  precisely  announced  in  Avords  by  the  old  Scotswoman, 
Mistress  Margaret,  without  changing  her  posture,  muttered 
some  sort  of  answer  that  was  wholly  unintelligible. 


90  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

"  Go  your  ways  down  to  tlie  kitchen  with  Wilsa,  good 
Mistress  Jenny/'  &aid  Dame  Ursula,  who  was  used  to  all 
sorts  of  freaks  on  the  part  of  her  patients  or  clients,  which- 
ever they  might  be  termed — ''  put  the  stew-pan  and  the  por- 
ringer by  the  fireside,  and  go  down  below;  I  must  speak  to 
my  pretty  love,  Mistress  Margaret,  by  myself;  and  there  is 
not  a  bachelor  betwixt  this  and  Bow  but  will  envy  me  the 
privilege." 

The  attendants  retired  as  directed,  and  Dame  Ursula, 
having  availed  herself  of  the  embers  of  charcoal  to  place  her 
stew-pan  to  the  best  advantage,  drew  herself  as  close  as  she 
could  to  her  jaatient,  and  began  in  a  low,  soothing,  and  con- 
fidential tone  of  voice  to  inquire  what  ailed  her  pretty  flower 
of  neighbors. 

"  Nothing,  dame,"  said  Margaret,  somewhat  pettishly, 
and  changing  her  posture  so  as  rather  to  turn  her  back  upon 
the  kind  inquirer. 

"Nothing,  lady-bird!"  answered  Dame  Suddlechop; 
''  and  do  you  use  to  send  for  your  friends  out  of  bed  at  this 
hour  for  nothing?  " 

"  It  was  not  I  who  sent  for  you,  dame,"  replied  the  mal- 
content maiden. 

"  And  who  was  it,  then?  "  said  Ursula;  "  for  if  I  had  not 
been  sent  for,  I  had  not  been  here  at  this  time  of  night,  I 
promise  you ! " 

"  It  was  the  old  Scotch  fool,  Jenny,  who  did  it  out  of  her 
own  head,  I  suppose,"  said  Margaret;  "  for  she  has  been 
stunning  me  these  two  hours  about  you  and  Mother  Eedcap." 

''_Me  and  Mother  Eedcap!"  said  Dame  Ursula,  "an  old 
fool  indeed,  that  couples  folk  up  so.  But  come — come,  my 
sweet  little  neighbor,  Jenny  is  no  such  fool  after  all:  she 
knows  young  folks  want  more  and  better  advice  than  her 
own,  and  she  knows,  too,  where  to  find  it  for  them;  so  you 
must  take  heart  of  grace,  my  pretty  maiden,  and  tell  me 
what  you  are  moping  about,  and  then  let  Dame  Ursula  alone 
for  finding  out  a  cure." 

"  Nay,  an  ye  be  so  wise.  Mother  Ursula,"  replied  the 
girl,  "  you  may  guess  what  I  ail  without  my  telling  you." 

"  Ay — ay,  child,"  answered  the  complaisant  matron,  "  no 
one  can  play  better  than  I  at  the  good  old  game  of  What  is 
niy  thought  like?  Now  I'll  warrant  that  little  head  of  yours 
is  running  on  a  new  head-tire,  a  foot  higher  than  those  our 
city  dames  wear;  or  you  are  all  for  a  trip  to  Islington  or 
Ware,  and  your  father  is  cross  and  will  not  corisent;  or " 

"  Or  you  are  an  old  fool.  Dame  Suddlechop,"  said  Mar- 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  9i 

garet,   peevislily,  "'  and   must  needs  trouble  yourself  about 
matters  you  know  nothing  of." 

''  Fool  as  much  as  you  will,,  mistress,"  said  Dame  Ursula, 
offended  in  her  turn,''' but  not  so  very  many  years  older 
than  yourself,  mistress." 

^'Oh!  we  are  angry,  are  we?"  said  the  beauty.  *' And 
pray.  Madam  Ursula,  liow  come  you,  that  are  not  so  many 
years  older  than  me,  to  talk  about  such  nonsense  to  me,  who 
am  so  many  years  younger,  and  who  yet  have  too  much  sense 
to  care  about  head-gears  and  Islington?" 

'i  Well — well,  young  mistress,"  said  the  sage  connsellor, 
rising,  "  I  perceive  I  can  be  of  no  use  here;  and  methinks, 
since  you  know  your  own  matters  so  much  better  than  other 
people  do,  you  might  dispense  with  disturbing  folks  at  mid- 
night to  ask  their  advice." 

"  Why,  now  you  are  angry,  mother,"  said  Margaret,  de- 
taining her;  "  tliis  comes  of  your  coming  out  at  eventide 
without  eating  your  supper:  I  never  heard  you  utter  a  cross 
word  after  you  had  finished  your  little  morsel.  Here,  Janet, 
a  trencher  and  salt-  for  Dame  Ursula.  And  what  have  you 
in  that  porringer,  dame?  Filthy,  clammy  ale,  as  I  would 
live.  Let  Janet  fling  it  out  of  the  window,  or  keep  it  for 
my  father's  morning  draught;  and  she  shall  bring  you  the 
pottle  of  sack  that  was  set  ready  for  him;  good  man,  he  will 
never  find  out  the  difference,  for  ale  will  wash  down  his 
dusty  calculations  quite  as  well  as  wine." 

"  Truly,  sweetheart,  I  am  of  your  opinion,"  said  Dame 
Ursula,  whose  temporary  displeasure  vanished  at  once  before 
these  preparations  for  good  cheer;  and  so,  settling  herself  on 
the  great  easy-chair,  with  a  three-legged  table  before  her,  she 
began  to  dispatch,  with  good  appetite,  the  little  delicate 
dish  which  she  had  prepared  for  herself.  She  did  not,  how- 
ever, fail  in  the  duties  of  civilit}',  and  earnestly,  but  in  vain, 
pressed  Mistress  Margaret  to  partake  her  dainties.  The 
damsel  declined  the  invitation. 

''At  least  pledge  me  in  a  glass  of  sack,"  said  Dame  Ur- 
sula.    "  I   have   heard   my  grandame  say  that,  before   the 
.    Grospellers  came  in,  the  old   Catholic  father  confessors  and 
their  penitents  always  had  a  cup  of  sack  together  before  con- 
fession; and  you  are  my  penitent." 

"  I  shall  drink  no  sack,  I  am  sure,"  said  Margaret ;  "■  and 
I  told  you  before  that,  if  you  cannot  find  out  what  ails  me, 
I  shall  never  have  the  heart  to  tell  it." 

So  saying,  she  turned  away  from  Dame  Ursula  once 
more,  and  resumed  her   musing  posture,  with  her   hand  on 


92  WAVERLEV  NOVELS 

her   elbow,    and   her  back,    at  least   one   shoulder,  turned 
towards  her  confidarite. 

"  Nay,  then,"  said  Dame  Ursula,  ''I  must  exert  my  skill 
in  good  earnest.  You  must  give  me  this  pretty  hand,  and  I 
will  tell  you  by  palmistry,  as  well  as  any  gypsey  of  them  all, 
Avhat  foot  it  is  you  halt  upon." 

"  As  if  I  halted  on  any  foot  at  all,"  said  Margaret,  some- 
thing scornfully,  but  yielding  her  left  hand  to  Ursula,  and 
continuing  at  the  same  time  her  averted  position. 

''I  see  brave  lines  here,"  said  Ursula,  "^and  not  ill  to 
read  neither — pleasure  and  wealth,  and  merry  nights  and 
late  mornings,  to  my  beauty,  and  such  an  equipage  as  shall 
shake  Whitehall.  0,  have  I  touched  you  there?  and  smile 
you  now,  my  pretty  one?  for  Avhy  should  not  he  be  Lord 
Mayor,  and  go  to  court  in  his  gilded  caroche,  as  others  have 
done  before  him  ?  " 

"  Lord  Mayor  !  pshaw  ! "  replied  Margaret. 

"  And  why  pshaw  at  my  Lord  Mayor,  sweetheart  ?  or 
perhaps  you  pshaw  at  my  prophecy?  but  there  is  a  cross  in 
every  one's  line  of  life  as  well  as  in  yours,  darling.  And 
what  though  I  see  a  'prentice's  flat  cap  in  this  pretty  palm, 
yet  there  is  a  sparkling  black  eye  under  it,  hath  not  its 
match  in  the  ward  of  Farringdon  Without." 

"Whom  do  you  mean,  dame?"  said  Margaret,  coldly. 

'' Whom  should  I  mean,"  said  Dame  Ursula,  "but  the 
prince  of  'prentices  and  king  of  good  company,  Jenkin  Vin- 
cent?" 

"  Out,  woman — Jenkin  Vincent !  A  clown — a  Cock 
ney  ! "  exclaimed  the  indignant  damsel. 

"Ay,  sets  the  wind  in  that  quarter,  beauty?"  quoth  the 
dame.  "  Why,  it  has  changed  something  since  we  spoke 
together  last,  for  then  I  would  have  sworn  it  blew  fairer  for 
poor  Jin  Vin  ;  and  the  poor  lad  dotes  on  you  too,  and  would 
rather  see  your  eyes  than  the  first  glimpse  of  the  sun  on  the 
great  holiday  on  May-day." 

"  I  would  my  eyes  had  the  power  of  the  sun  to  blind  his, 
then,"  said  Margaret,  "  to  teach  the  drudge  his  place." 

"  Nay,"  said  Dame  Ursula,  "  there  be  some  who  say  that 
Frank  Tunstall  is  as  proper  a  lad  as  Jin  Vin,  and  of  surety 
he  is  third  cousin  to  a  knighthood,  and  come  of  a  good 
house  ;  and  so  mayhap  you  may  be  for  northward  ho  ! " 

"  Maybe  I  may,"  answered  Margaret,  "  but  not  with  my 
father's  'prentice,  I  thank  you.  Dame  Ursula." 

"  Nay,  then,  the  devil  may  guess  your  thoughts  for  me,'" 
eaid  Dame  Ursula  ;  "  this  comes  of  trying  to  shoe  a  fillj 
that  is  eternally  wincing  and  shifting  gi-ound  1 " 


"•I  see  brave  lines   here,*  said    Ursula." 


I 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  93 

"  Hear  me  then/'  said  Margaret,  *'  and  mind  what  I  say. 

This  day  I  dined  abroad " 

"  I  can  tell  you  where/'  answered  her  counsellor — "  with 
your  godfather,  the  rich  goldsmith  ;  ay,  you  see  I  know 
sometliing  ;  nay,  I  could  tell  you,  an  I  would,  with  whom 
too." 

*'  Indeed  \"  said  Margaret,  turning  suddenly  round  with 
an  accent  of  strong  surprise,  and  coloring  up  to  the  eyes. 

"  With  old  Sir  Mungo  Malagrowther,"  said  the  oracular 
dame ;  "  he  was  trimmed  in  my  Benjamin's  shop  in  his  way 
to  the  city." 

"Pshaw!  the  frightful  old  mouldy  skeleton  ! "  said  the 
damsel. 

"  Indeed  you  say  true,  my  dear,"  replied  the  confidante  ; 
"  it  is  a  shame  to  him  to  be  out  of  St,  Pancras's  charnel- 
house,  for  I  know  no  other  place  he  is  fit  for,  the  foul- 
mouthed  old  railer.     He  said  to  my  husband " 

"  Somewhat  which  signifies  nothing  to  our  purpose,  I 
dare   say,"    interrupted  Margaret.     "  I  must  speak,    then. 

There  dined  with  us  a  nobleman " 

"  A  nobleman  !  the  maiden's  mad  !  "  said  Dame  Ursula. 
"  There    dined    with   us,    I   say,"   continued   Margaret, 
without  regarding  the  interruption,  "a  nobleman — a  Scot- 
tish nobleman." 

"Now,  Our  Lady  keep  her  !"  said  the  confidante,  "she 
is  quite  frantic  !  Heard  ever  any  one  of  a  watchmaker's 
daughter  falling  in  love  with  a  nobleman  ;  and  a  Scots 
nobleman,  to  make  the  matter  complete,  who  are  all  as 
proud  as  Lucifer  and  as  poor  as  Job  ?  A  Scots  nobleman, 
quotha  !  I  had  as  lief  you  told  me  of  a  Jew  peddler.  I 
would  have  you  think  how  all  this  is  to  end,  pretty  one, 
before  you  jump  in  the  dark." 

"  That  is  nothing  to  you,  Ursula  :  it  is  your  assistance," 
said  Mistress  Margaret,  "and  not  your  advice,  that  I  am  de- 
sirous to  have,  and  you  know  I  can  make  it  worth  your 
while."  _ 

"  0,  it  is  not  for  the  sake  of  lucre.  Mistress  Margaret," 
answered  the  obliging  dame  ;  "but  truly  I  would  have  you 
listen  to  some  advice  ;  bethink  you  of  your  own  condition." 
"  My  father  s  calling  is  mechanical,"  said  Margaret, 
"'  but  our  blood  is  not  so.  I  have  heard  my  father  say  that 
we  are  descended,  at  a  distance  indeed,  from  the  great  Earls 
of  Dalwolsey."  * 

"Ay — ay,"  said  Dame  Ursula,  ^'even  so.     I  never  knew 

*  See  Note  13. 


94  WAVER  LEY  NOVELS 

a  Scot  01  yon  l)ut  was  descended,  as  5'e  call  it,  from  some 
great  house  or  other,  and  a  piteous  descent  it  often  is;  and 
as  for  the  distance  you  speak  of,  it  is  so  great  as  to  put  you 
out  of  sight  of  each  other.  Yet  do  not  toss  your  pretty  head 
so  scornfully,  but  tell  me  the  name  of  this  lordly  northern 
gallant,  and  avc  will  try  what  can  be  done  in  the  matter/' 

*'  It  is  Lord  Glenvarloch,  whom  they  call  Lord  Nigel 
Olifaunt,"  said  Margaret  in  a  low  voice,  and  turning  away  to 
hide  her  blushes. 

"  Marry,  Heaven  forefend! "  exclaimed  Dame  Suddlechop; 
''this  is  the  very  devil  and  something  worse!" 

''How  mean  you?"  sffid  the  damsel,  surprised  at  the 
vivacity  of  her  exclamation. 

"Why,   know  ye  not,"  said  the  dame,  "what  powerful 

enemies  he  has  at  court?  know  ye  not But  blisters  on  my 

tongue,  it  runs  too  fast  for  my  wit;  enough  to  say,  that  you 
had  better  make  your  bridal-bed  under  a  falling  house  than 
think  of  young  Glenvarloch." 

"lie  is  unfortunate,  then!"  said  Margaret.  "I  knew  it 
— I  divined  it:  there  Avas  sorrow  in  his  voice  when  he  said 
even  what  was  gay;  there  was  a  touch  of  misfortune  in  his 
melancholy  smile;  he  had  not  thus  clung  to  my  thoughts  had 
I  seen  him  in  all  the  mid-day  glare  of  prosperity." 

"Eomances  have  cracked  her  brain!"  said  Dame  Ursula; 
"she  is  a  castaway  girl — utterly  distraught — loves  a  Scots 
lord,  and  likes  him  better  for  being  unfortunate!  Well,  mis- 
tress, I  am  sorry  this  is  a  matter  I  cannot  aid  you  in:  it  goes 
against  my  conscience,  and  it  is  an  affair  above  my  condition, 
and  beyond  my  management;  but  I  will  keep  your  counsel." 

"  You  will  not  be  so  base  as  to  desert  me,  after  having 
drawn  my  secret  from  me!"  said  Margaret,  indignantly;  "if 
you  do,  I  know  how  to  have  my  revenge;  and  if  you  do  not, 
I  will  reward  you  well.  Eemember  the  house  your  husband 
dwells  in  is  my  father's  property." 

"I  remember  it  but  too  well.  Mistress  Margaret,"  said 
Ursula,  after  a  moment's  reflection,  "and  I  would  serve  you 
in  anything  in  my  condition;  but  to  meddle  with  such  high 

matters I  shall  never  forget  poor  Mistress  Turner,*  my 

honored  patroness,  peace  be  with  her!  She  had  the  ill-luck 
to  meddle  in  the  matter  of  Somerset  and  Overbury,  and  so 
the  great  earl  and  his  lady  slipped  their  necks  out  of  the  collar, 
and  left  her  and  some  half-dozen  others  to  suffer  in  their 
stead.  I  shall  never  forget  the  sight  of  her  standing  on  the 
scaffold  with  the  ruff  round  her  pretty  neck,  all  done  up  with 

*  See  Note  14. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  95 

the  yellow  starch  wliicli  I  had  so  often  helped  her  to  make, 
and  that  was  soon  to  give  place  to  a  rough  hempen  cord. 
Such  a  sight,  sweetheart,  will  make  one  lotli  to  meddle  with 
matters  that  are  too  hot  or  heavy  for  their  handling." 

"'  Out,  you  fool ! "  answered  Mistress  Margaret;  ' '  am  I  one 
to  speak  to  you  about  such  criminal  practices  as  that  wretch 
died  for?  All  I  desire  of  you  is,  to  get  me  precise  knowledge 
of  what  affair  brings  this  young  nobleman  to  court." 

"And  when  you  have  his  secret,"  said  Ursula,  "what 
will  it  avail  3'ou,  sweetheart?  And  yet  I  would  do  your 
errand,  if  yon  could  do  as  much  for  me." 

"And  what  is  it  you  would  have  of  me?"  said  Mistress 
Margaret. 

"'  What  you  have  been  angry  with  me  for  asking  before," 
answered  Dame  Ursula.  "I  want  to  have  some  light  about 
the  story  of  your  godfathers  ghost,  that  is  only  seen  at 
prayers." 

"Xot  for  the  world,"  said  Mistress  Margaret,  "will  I  be 
a  spy  on  my  kind  godfather's  secrets.  Xo,  Ursula,  that  I 
will  never  pry  into  which  he  desires  to  keep  hidden.  But 
thou  knowest  that  I  have  a  fortune  of  my  own,  which  must 
at  no  distant  day  come  under  my  own  management;  think  of 
some  other  recompense." 

"'Ay,  that  I  well  know,"  said  the  counsellor;  "it  is  that 
two  hundred  per  year,  with  your  father's  indulgence,  that 
makes  you  so  Avilful,  sweetheart." 

"  It  may  be  so,"  said  Margaret  Eamsay;  "  meanwhile,  do 
you  serve  me  truly,  and  here  is  a  ring  of  value  in  pledge 
that,  when  my  fortune  is  in  my  own  hand,  I  will  redeem  the 
token  with  fifty  broad  pieces  of  gold." 

"Fifty  broad  pieces  of  goldl"  repeated  the  dame;  "and 
this  ring,  which  is  a  right  fair  one,  in  token  you  fail  not  of 
your  word!  Well,  sweetheart,  if  I  must  put  my  throat  in 
peril,  I  am  sure  I  cannot  risk  it  for  a  friend  more  generous 
than  you;  and  I  would  not  think  of  more  than  the  pleasure 
of  serving  you,  only  Benjamin  gets  more  idle  every  day,  and 
our  family " 

"  Say  no  more  of  it,"  said  Margaret;  "we  understand 
each  other.  And  now,  tell  me  what  you  know  of  this  young 
man's  affairs,  which  made  you  so  unwilling  to  meddle  with 
them?" 

"Of  that  I  can  say  no  great  matter  as  yet,"  answered 
Dame  Ursula ;  "  only  I  know,  the  most  powerful  among  his  own 
countrymen  are  against  him,  and  also  the  most  powerful  at 
^le  court  here.     But  I  will  learn  more  of  it ;  for  it  will  be  a 


96  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

dim  print  tliat  I  will  not  read  for  your  sake,  pretty  Mistress 
Margaret.     Know  you  where  this  gallant  dwells  ?" 

"I  heard  by  accident,"  said  Margaret,  as  if  ashamed  of 
the  minute  particularity  of  her  memory  upon  such  an  occa- 
sion, "he  lodges,  I  think — at  one  Christie's — if  I  mistake 
not — at  Paul's  Wharf — a  ship-chandler's." 

"A  proper  lodging  for  a  young  baron  !  Well,  but  cheer 
you  up.  Mistress  Margaret.  If  he  has  come  up  a  caterpillar, 
like  some  of  his  countrymen,  he  may  cast  his  slough  like 
them,  and  come  out  a  butterfly.  So  I  drink  good-night  and 
sweet  dreams  to  you  in  another  parting  cup  of  sack ;  and 
you  shall  hear  tidings  of  me  within  four-and-twenty  hours. 
And,  once  more,  I  commend  you  to  your  pillow,  my  pearl  of 
pearls,  and  Marguerite  of  Marguerites ! " 

So  saying,  she  kissed  the  reluctant  cheek  of  her  young 
friend,  or  patroness,  and  took  her  departure  with  the  light 
and  stealthy  pace  of  one  accustomed  to  accommodate  her  foot- 
steps to  the  purposes  of  dispatch  and  secrecy. 

Margaret  Ramsay  looked  after  her  for  some  time  in  anxious 
silence.  "I  did  ill,"  she  at  length  murmured,  "to  let  her 
wring  this  out  of  me ;  but  she  is  artful,  bold,  and  serviceable 
— and  I  think  faithful — or,  if  not,  she  will  be  true  at  least 
to  her  interest,  and  that  I  can  command.  I  would  I  had  not 
spoken,  however — I  have  begun  a  hopeless  work.  For  what 
has  he  said  to  me  to  warrant  my  meddling  in  his  fortunes  ? 
Nothing  but  words  of  the  most  ordinary  import — mere  table- 
talk  and  terms  of  course.     Yet   who  knows "  she  said, 

and  then  broke  off,  looking  at  the  glass  the  while ;  which,  as 
it  reflected  back  a  face  of  great  beauty,  probably  suggested 
to  her  mind  a  more  favorable  conclusion  of  the  sentence 
than  she  cared  to  trust  her  tongue  withal. 


CHAPTER  IX 

So  pitiful  a  thing  is  suitor's  state  1 
Most  miserable  man,  whom  wicked  fate 
Hath  brouglit  to  court   to  sue,  for  Had  I  tvist. 
That  few  have  found,  and  many  a  one  hath  miss'd  1 
Full  little  knowest  thou,  that  hast  not  tried, 
What  hell  it  is,  in  sueing  long  to  bide : 
To  lose  good  davs  that  might  be  better  spent ; 
To  waste  long  nights  in  pensive  discontent ; 
To  speed  to-day,  to  be  put  back  to-morrow  ; 
To  feed  on  hope,  to  pine  with  fear  and  sorrow; 
To  have  thy  prince's  grace,  yet  want  her  peers'; 
To  have  thy  asking,  yet  wait  many  years ; 
To  fret  thy  soul  with  crosses  and  with  cares  ; 
To  eat  thy  heart  through  comfortless  despairs ; 
To  fawn.'to  crouch,  to  wait,  to  ride,  to  run, 
To  spend,  to  give,  to  want,  to  be  undone. 

Mother  Huhherd's  Tale. 

Ox  the  morning  of  the  day  on  which  George  Heriot  had 
prepared  to  escort  the  young  Lord  of  Glenvarloch  to  tiie 
court  at  Whitehall,  it  may  be  reasonably  supposed  that  the 
young  man,  whose  fortunes  were  likely  to  depend  on  this 
cast,  I'elt  himself  more  than  usually  anxious.  He  rose  early, 
made  his  toilet  with  uncommon  care,  and  being  enabled, 
bv  the  generosity  of  his  more  plebeian  countryman,  to  set 
out  a  very  handsome  person  to  the  best  advantage,  he 
obtained  a  momentary  approbation  from  himself  as  he 
glanced  at  the  mirror,  and  a  loud  and  distinct  plaudit  from 
his  landlady,  who  declared  at  once  that,  in  her  judgment,  he 
would  take  the  wind  out  of  the  sail  of  every  gallant  in  the 
presence,  so  much  had  she  been  able  to  enrich  her  discourse 
with  the  metaphors  of  those  with  whom  her  husband  dealt. 

At  the  appointed  hour,  the  barge  of  ^Master  George 
Heriot  arrived,  handsomely  manned  and  appointed,  having  a 
tilt  with  his  own  cipher  and  the  arms  of  his  company 
painted  thereupon. 

The  young  Lord  of  Glenvarloch  received  the  friend  who 
had  evinced  such  disinterested  attachment  with  the  kind 
courtesv  which  well  became  him. 

Master  Heriot  then  made  him  acquainted  with  the  bounty 
of  his  sovereign;  which  he  paid  over  to  his  young  friend, 
declining  what  he  had  himself  formerly  advanced  to  him. 
r  w 


98  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

Nigel  felt  all  the  gratitude  which  the  citizen's  disinterested 
friendship  had  deserved,  and  was  not  wanting  in  expressing 
it  suitably. 

Yet,  as  the  young  and  liigh-born  nobleman  embarked  to 
go  to  the  presence  of  his  prince,  under  the  patronage  of  one 
whose  best,  or  most  distinguished,  qualification  was  his  being 
an  eminent  member  of  the  Goldsmith's  Incorporation,  he  felt 
a  little  surprised,  if  not  abashed,  at  his  own  situation^:  snd 
Richie  Moniplies,  as  he  stepped  over  the  gangway  to  take  .lis 
place  forward  in  the  boat,  could  not  help  muttering — ''It  was 
a  changed  day  betwixt  Master  Heriot  and  his  honest  father 
in  the  Kraemes;  but,  doubtless,  there  was  a  difference  between 
clinking  on  gold  and  silver  and  clattering  upon  pewter."' 

On  they  glided,  by  the  assistance  of  the  oars  of  four  stout 
watermen,  along  the  Thames,  which  then  served  for  the  prin- 
cipal high-road  betwixt  London  and  Westminster;  for  few 
ventured  on  horseback  through  the  narrow  and  crowded  streets 
of  the  city,  and  coaches  were  then  a  luxury  reserved  only  for 
the  higher  nobility,  and  to  which  no  citizen,  whatever  was 
his  wealth,  presumed  to  aspire.  The  beauty  of  the  banks, 
especially  on  the  northern  side,  where  the  gardens  oi  J:^  no- 
bility descended  from  their  hotels,  in  many  places,  down  to 
the  water's  edge,  was  pointed  out  to  Nigel  by  his  kind  con- 
ductor, and  was  pointed  out  in  vain.  The  mind  of  the  young 
Lord  of  Glenvarloch  was  filled  with  anticipations,  not  the 
most  pleasant,  concerning  the  manner  in  wliich  he  was  likely 
to  be  received  by  that  monarch,  in  whose  behalf  his  family 
had  been  nearly  reduced  to  ruin;  and  he  was,  with  the  usuiil 
mental  anxiety  of  those  in  such  a  situation,  framing  imagi- 
nary qiiestions  from  the  King,  and  over-toiling  his  spirit  in 
devising  answers  to  them. 

His  conductor  saw  the  labor  of  Nigel's  mind,  and  avoided 
increasing  it  by  farther  conversation;  so  that,  when  he  had 
explained  to  him  briefly  the  ceremonies  observed  at  court  on 
such  occasions  of  presentation,  the  rest  of  their  voyage  was 
performed  in  silence. 

They  landed  at  Whitehall  Stairs,  and  entered  the  palace 
after  announcing  their  names — the  guards  paying  to  Lord 
Glenvarloch  the  respect  and  honors  due  to  his  rank. 

The  young  man's  heart  beat  high  and  thick  within  him 
as  he  came  into  the  royal  apartments.  His  education  abroad, 
conducted,  as  it  had  been,  on  a  narrow  and  limited  scale,  had 
given  him  but  imperfect  ideas  of  the  grandeur  of  a  court; 
and  the  philosophical  reflections  which  taught  him  to  set  cere- 
monial and  exterior  splendor  at  defiance  proved,  like  othei 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  99 

maxims  of  mere  pliilosopliy,  ineffectual,  at  the  moment  they 
Were  weighed -against  the  imjjression  naturally  made  on  the 
mind  of  an  inexperienced  youth  by  the  unusual  magniticence 
of  the  scene.  The  splendid  apartments  through  which  they 
passed,  the  rich  apparel  of  the  grooms,  guards,  and  domestics 
in  waiting,  and  the  ceremonial  attending  their  2)assage  through 
the  long  suite  of  apartments,  had  something  in  it,  trifling 
and  commonplace  as  it  might  appear  to  practiced  courtiers, 
embarrassing,  and  even  alarming,  to  one  who  went  through 
these  forms  for  the  first  time,  and  who  was  doubtful  what 
sort  of  reception  was  to  accompany  his  first  appearance  before 
his  bovereign, 

Heriot,  in  anxious  attention  to  save  his  young  friend  from 
any  momentary  awkwardness,  had  taken  care  to  give  the 
necessary  password  to  the  warders,  grooms  of  the  chambers, 
ushers,  or  by  whatever  name  they  were  designated;  so  they 
passed  on  without  interruption. 

In  this  manner  they  passed  several  anterooms,  filled 
cliiefly  with  guards,  attendants  of  the  court,  and  their  ac- 
quaintances, male  and  female,  who,  dressed  in  their  best  ap- 
parel, and  with  eyes  rounded  by  eager  curiosity  to  make  the 
most  of  their  opportunity,  stood,  with  beseeming  modesty, 
ranked  against  the  wall,  in  a  manner  which  indicated  that 
they  were  spectators,  not  performers,  in  the  courtly  exhibi- 
tion. 

Through  these  exterior  apartments  Lord  Glenvarloch  and 
his  city  friend  advanced  into  a  large  and  splendid  withdraw- 
ing-room,  communicating  with  the  presence-chamber,  into 
which  anteroom  were  admitted  those  only  who,  from  birth, 
their  posts  in  the  state  or  household,  or  by  the  particular 
grant  of  the  King,  had  right  to  attend  the  court,  as  men  en- 
titled to  pay  their  respects  to  their  sovereign. 

Amid  this  favored  and  selected  company,  Nigel  observed 
Sir  Mungo  Malagrowther,  who,  avoided  and  discountenanced 
by  those  who  knew  how  low  he  stood  in  court  interest  and 
favor,  was  but  too  happy  in  the  opportunity  of  hooking  him- 
self upon  a  person  of  Lord  Glenvarloch's  rank,  who  was  as 
yet  so  inexperienced  as  to  feel  it  difficult  to  shake  off  an  in- 
truder. 

The  knight  forthwith  framed  his  grim  features  to  a 
ghastly  smile,  and,  after  a  preliminary  and  patronizing  nod 
to  George  Reriot,  accompanied  with  an  aristocratic  wave  of 
the  hand,  which  intimated  at  once  superiority  and  pro- 
tection, he  laid  aside  altogether  the  honest  citizen,  to  whom 
he  owed  many  a  dinner,  to  attach  himself  exclusively  to  the 


100  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

young  lord,  although  he  suspected  he  might  occasionally  be 
in  the  predicament  of  needing  one  as  mucli  as  himself.  And 
even  the  notice  of  tiiis  original,  singular  and  unamiable  as  he 
was,  was  not  entirely  indilferent  to  Lord  Glenvarloch,  since 
the  absolute  and  somewhat  constrained  silence  of  his  good 
frieiui  Heriot,  which  left  him  at  liberty  to  retire  painfully  to 
his  own  agitating  rellections,  was  now  relieved  ;  while,  on 
the  other  hand,  he  could  not  help  feeling  interest  in  the 
sharp  and  sarcastic  information  poured  upon  him  by  an 
observant,  though  discontented,  courtier,  to  whom  a  patient 
auditor,  and  he  a  man  of  title  and  rank,  was  as  much  a 
prize  as  his  acute  and  communicative  disposition  rendered 
him  an  entertaining  companion  to  Nigel  Olifaunt.  Heriot, 
in  the  mean  time,  neglected  by  Sir  Mungo,  and  avoiding 
every  attempt  by  which  the  grateful  politeness  of  Lord  Glen- 
varloch strove  to  bring  him  into  the  conversation,  stood  by, 
with  a  kind  of  half  smile  on  his  countenance  ;  but  whether 
excited  by  Sir  Mungo's  wit  or  arising  at  his  expense,  did  not 
exactly  appear. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  trio  occupied  a  nook  of  the  ante- 
room next  to  the  door  of  the  presence-chamber,  which  was 
not  yet  thrown  open,  when  Maxwell,  with  his  rod  of  office, 
came  bustling  into  the  apartment,  where  most  men,  except- 
ing those  of  high  rank,  made  way  for  him.  He  stopped  be- 
side the  party  in  which  we  are  interested,  looked  for  a 
moment  at  the  young  Scots  nobleman,  then  made  a  slight 
obeisance  to  Heriot,  and  lastly,  addressing  Sir  Mungo 
Malagrowther,  began  a  hurried  complaint  to  him  of  the 
misbehavior  of  the  gentlemen-pensioners  and  warders,  who 
suffered  all  sort  of  citizens,  suitors,  and  scriveners  to  sneak 
into  the  outer  apartments,  without  either  respect  or  decency. 
"  The  English,"  he  said,  "  were  scandalized,  for  such  a 
thing  durst  not  be  attempted  in  the  Queen's  days.  In  her 
time,  there  was  then  the  courtyard  for  the  mobility,  and  the 
apartments  for  the  nobility  ;  and  it  reflects  on  your  place. 
Sir  Mungo,"  he  added,  "belonging  to  the  household  as  you 
do,  that  such  things  should  not'be  better  ordered." 

Here  Sir  Mungo,  afflicted,  as  was  frequently  the  case  on 
such  occasions,  with  one  of  his  usual  fits  of  "deafness,  an 
swered,    "  It  was    no  wonder  the  mobility  used  freedoms, 
when  those  whom  they  saw  in   office  were  so  little  better  in 
blood  and  havings  than  themselves." 

''  Yon  are  right,  sir — quite  right,"  said  Maxwell,  putting 
his  hand  on  the  tarnished  embroidery  on  the  old  knight's 
sleeve  :  "  when  such  fellows  see  men  in  office  dressed  in  cast- 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  101 

e£f  suits,  like  paltry  stage-players,  it  is  no  wonder  the  court 
is  thronged  with  intruders." 

"  Were  you  lauding  the  taste  of  my  embroidery,  Maister 
Maxwell  ? "  answered  the  knight,  who  apparently  inter- 
preted the  deputy-chamberlain's  meaning  rather  from  his 
action  than  his  words.  "It  is  of  an  ancient  and  liberal 
pattern,  having  been  made  by  your  mother's  father,  auld 
James  Stitchell,  a  master-fashioner  of  lionest  repute,  in 
Merlin's  Wynd,  whom  I  made  a  point  to  employ,  as  I  am 
now  happy  to  remember,  seeing  your  father  thought  fit  to 
inter nuirry  with  sic  a  person's  daughter."  * 

Maxwell  looked  stern  ;  but,  conscious  there  was  nothing 
to  be  got  of  Sir  Mungo  in  the  way  of  amends,  and  that 
prosecuting  the  quarrel  with  such  an  adversary  would  only 
render  him  ridiculous,  and  make  public  a  misalliance  of 
which  he  had  no  reason  to  be  proud,  he  covered  his  resent- 
ment with  a  sneer  ;  and,  expressing  his  regret  that  Sir 
Mungo  was  become  too  deaf  to  understand  or  attend  to  what 
was  said  to  him,  walked  on,  and  planted  himself  beside  the 
folding-doors  of  the  presence-chamber,  at  which  he  was  to 
perform  the  duty  of  deputy-chamberlain,  or  usher,  so  soon 
as  they  should  be  opened. 

"  The  door  of  the  presence  is  about  to  open,"  said  the 
goldsmith  in  a  whisper,  to  his  young  friend  ;  "  my  condition 
permits  me  to  go  no  farther  with  you.  Fail  not  to  present 
yourself  boldly,  according  to  your  birth,  and  offer  your 
supplication  ;  which  the  King  will  not  refuse  to  accept,  and, 
as  I  hope,  to  consider  favorably." 

As  he  spoke,  the  door  of  the  presence-chamber  opened 
accordingly,  and,  as  is  usual  on  such  occasions,  the  courtiers 
began  to  advance  towards  it,  and  to  enter  in  a  slow,  but  con- 
tinuous and  uninterrupted,  stream. 

As  Xigel  presented  himself  in  his  turn  at  the  entrance, 
and  mentioned  his  name  and  title.  Maxwell  seemed  to  hesi- 
tate. "  You  are  not  known  to  any  one,"  he  said.  "  It  is 
my  duty  to  suffer  no  one  to  pass  to  the  presence,  my  lord, 
whose  face  is  unknown  to  me,  unless  upon  the  word  of  a 
responsible  person." 

"  I  came  with  Master  George  Heriot,"  said  Nigel,  in  some 
embarrassment  at  this  unexpected  interruption. 

"  Master  Heriot's  name  will  pass  current  for  much  gold  and 
silver,  mv  lord,"  replied  Maxwell,  with  a  civil  sneer,  "  but 
not  for  birtli  and  rank.  I  am  compelled  by  my  office  to  be 
peremptory.  The  entrance  is  impeded  ;  I  am  much  con- 
cerned to  say  it — your  lordship  must  stand  back." 

*SeeNotel2,  p.  444. 


103  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

''What  is  the  matter?"  said  an  old  Scotch  nobleman^ 
who  had  been  speaking  with  George  lieriot,  after  he  had  sep- 
arated from  Nigel,  and  who  now  came  forward,  observing  the 
altercation  betwixt  tlie  latter  and  Maxwell. 

"It  is  only  Master  Uejjuty-Chamberlain  Maxwell,"  said 
Sir  Mungo  Malagrowther,  "expressing  liis  joy  to  see  Lord 
Gienvarloch  at  court,  whose  father  gave  him  his  office  ;  at 
least  I  think  ho  is  speaking  to  that  purport,  for  your 
lordship  kens  my  imperfection."  A  subdued  laugh,  such 
as  the  situation  permitted,  passed  round  among  those 
who  heard  tliis  specimen  of  Sir  Mungo's  sarcastic  temper. 
But  the  old  nobleman  stepped  still  more  forward,  saying, 
"  What !  the  son  of  my  gallant  old  oj)pouent,  Ochtred 
[Randal]  Olifaunt?  I  will  introduce  him  to  the  presence 
myself." 

So  saying,  he  took  Nigel  by  the  arm,  without  farther  cere- 
mony, and  was  about  to  lead  him  forward,  when  Maxwell, 
still  keeping  his  rod  across  the  door,  said,  but  with  hesita- 
tion and  embarrassment,  "  My  lord,  this  gentleman  is  not 
known,  and  I  have  orders  to  be  scrupulous." 

" Tutti-taiti,  man,"  said  the  old  lord,  "I  will  be  answer- 
able he  is  his  fathers  son,  from  the  cut  of  his  eyebrow  ;  and 
thou.  Maxwell,  knewest  his  father  well  enough  to  have 
spared  thy  scruples.  Let  us  pass,  man,"  So  saying,  he  put 
aside  the  deputy-chamberlain's  rod  and  entered  the  presence- 
room,  still  holding  the  young  nobleman  by  the  arm. 

"  Why,  I  must  know  you,  man," he  said — *' I  must  know 
you.  I  knew  your  father  -well,  man,  and  I  have  broke  a 
lance  and  crossed  a  blade  Avith  him  ;  and  it  is  to  my  credit 
that  I  am  living  to  brag  of  it.  He  was  king's-man,  and  1 
was  queen's-man,  during  the  Douglas  Avars — young  fellows 
both,  that  feared  neither  fire  nor  steel ;  and  we  had  some  oM 
feudal  quarrels  besides  that  had  come  doAvn  from  father  to 
son,  with  our  seal-rings,  two-handed  broadswords,  and  plate 
coats,  and  the  crests  on  our  burgonets," 

"  Too  loud,  my  Lord  of  Huntinglen,"  whispered  a  gen- 
tleman of  the  chamber.     "The  King! — the  King!" 

The  old  earl  (for  such  he  proved)  took  the  hint  and  was 
silent ;  and  James,  advancing  from  a  side-door,  received  in 
succession  the  compliments  of  strangers,  while  a  little  group 
of  favorite  courtiers,  or  officers  of  the  household,  stood 
around  him,  to  whom  he  addressed  himself  from  time  to 
time.  Some  more  pains  had  been  bestowed  on  his  toilet  than 
upon  the  occasion  Avhen  Ave  first  presented  the  monarch  to 
our  readers  ;  but  there  was  a  natural  awkwardness  about  his 


THE  FORTUNES  CF  NIGEL  103 

figure  which  prevented  liis  clothes  from  sitting  handsomely, 
and  the  i^rudence  or  timidity  of  his  disposition  had  made 
him  adopt  the  custom  already  noticed,  of  wearing  a  dress 
so  thickly  quilted  as  might  withstand  the  stroke  of  a  dagger, 
which  added  an  ungainly  stiffness  to  his  whole  appearance, 
contrasting  oddly  with  the  frivolous,  ungraceful,  and  fidget- 
ing motions  with  which  he  accompanied  his  conversation. 
And  yet,  though  the  King's  deportment  was  very  undigni- 
fied he  had  a  manner  so  kind,  familiar,  and  good-humored, 
was  so  little  apt  to  veil  over  or  conceal  his  own  foibles,  and 
liad  so  much  indulgence  and  sympathy  for  those  of  others, 
that  his  address,  joined  to  his  learning  and  a  certain  propor- 
tion of  shrewd  mother-wit,  failed  not  to  make  a  favorable 
impression  on  those  Avho  approached  his  person. 

When  the  Earl  of  Huntinglen  had  presented  Nigel  to  his 
sovereign,  a  ceremony  which  the  good  peer  took  upon  him- 
self, the  King  received  the  young  lord  very  graciously,  and 
observed  to  his  introducer  that  he  "  was  fain  to  see  them  twa 
stand  side  by  side  ;  for  I  trow,  my  Lord  Huntinglen,"  con- 
tinued he,  *'  your  ancestors,  ay,  and  e'en  your  lordship's  self 
and  this  lad's  father,  have  stood  front  to  front  at  the  sword's 
point,  and  that  is  a  worse  posture." 

"  Until  your  Majesty,"  said  Lord  Huntinglen,  "  made 
Lord  Ochtred  [Randal]  and  me  cross  palms,  upon  the  mem- 
orable day  when  your  Majesty  feasted  all  the  nobles  that  were 
at  feud  together,  and  made  them  join  hands  in  your  pres- 
ence  " 

"  I  mind  it  weel,"  said  the  King — "  I  mind  it  weel ;  it 
was  a  blessed  day,  being  the  nineteen  of  September,  of  all 
days  in  the  year  ;  and  it  was  a  blythe  sport  to  see  how  some 
of  the  carle''  girned  as  they  claj)ped  loofs  together.  By  my 
saul,  I  thought  some  of  them,  mair  special  the  Hieland 
chiels,  wad  have  broken  out  in  our  own  presence  ;  but  we 
caused  the;a  to  march  hand  in  hand  to  the  Cross,  ourselves 
leading  the  way,  and  there  drink  a  blythe  cup  of  kindness 
with  ilk  other,  to  the  stanching  of  feud  and  perpetuation  of 
amity.  Auld  John  Anderson  was  provost  that  year  ;  the 
carle  grat  for  joy,  and  the  bailies  and  councillors  danced 
bareheaded  in  our  presence  like  five-year-auld  colts,  for  very 
triumph." 

''It  was  indeed  a  happy  day,"  said  Lord  Huntinglen, 
"  and  will  not  be  forgotten  in  the  history  of  your  Majesty's 
reign." 

''I  would  not  that  it  were,  my  lord,"  replied  the  mon- 
arch— "'I  would  not  that  it  were  pretermitted  in  our  annals. 


;04  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

Ay,  ay — Beati  padfici.  My  English  lieges  here  may  weel 
make  much  of  me,  for  I  would  have  them  to  know,  thej 
have  gotten  the  only  peaceable  man  that  ever  came  of  m^ 
family.  If  James  with  the  Fiery  Face  had  come  among  you,^ 
he  said,  looking  round  him,  *'ormy  great-grandsire,  of  Flod- 
den  memory!" 

"  We  should  have  sent  him  back  to  the  North  again," 
whispered  one  English  nobleman. 

"  At  least,"  said  another,  in  the  same  inaudible  tone,  "  we 
should  have  had  a  man  to  our  sovereign,  though  he  were  but 
a  Scotsman." 

"  And  now,  my  young  springald,"  said  the  King  to  Lord 
Glenvarloch,  ''  where  have  you  been  spending  your  calf- 
time?" 

"  At  Leyden,  of  late,  may  it  please  your  Majesty,"  an- 
swered Lord  Nigel. 

"Aha!  a  scholar,"  said  the  King;  "and,  by  my  saul,  a 
modest  and  ingenuous  youth,  that  hath  not  forgotten  how  to 
blush,  like  most  of  our  travelled  Monsieurs.  We  will  treat 
him  conformably." 

Then  drawing  himself  up,  coughing  slightly,  and  looking 
around  him  with  the  conscious  importance  of  superior  leaim- 
ing,  while  all  the  courtiers  who  understood,  or  understood 
not,  Latin,  pressed  eagerly  forward  to  listen,  the  sapient 
monarch  prosecuted  his  inquiries  as  follows: 

"Hem: — hem!  Salve  bis,  quaterque  salve  Glenvarlo- 
chides  uoster!  Nuperumne  ab  Lugduno  Batavorum  Britan- 
uiam  rediisti?" 

The  young  nobleman  replied,  bowing  low,  "  Imo,  Rex 
augustissime,  biennium  fere  apud  Lugdunenses  moratus 
sum." 

James  proceeded — "Biennium  dicis?  bene,  bene,  optume 
factum  est.  Non  uno  die,  quod  dicunt, — intelligisti.  Do- 
mine  G-lenvarlochiensis?     Aha!" 

Nigel  replied  by  a  reverent  bow,  and  the  King,  turning  to 
those  behind  him,  said — "  Adolescens  quidem  ingenui  vul- 
tus  ingenuique  pudoris."  Then  resumed  his  learned  queries. 
"  Et  quid  hodie  Lugdunenses  loquuntur?  Vossius  vester, 
nihilne  novi  scripsit?  nihil  certe,  quod  doleo,  typis  recenter 
edidit." 

"  Valet  quidem  Vossius,  Eex  benevole,"  replied  Nigel, 
"  ast  senex  veneratissimus  annum  agit,  ni  fallor  septuagesi- 
mum. " 

"Virum,  mehercle,  vix  tam  grandjevum  crediderim," 
replied  the  monarch.     "  Et  Vorstius  iste,  Arminii  improbi 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  10~. 

Buccessor  »que  ac  sectator — lierosne  adluic,  nt  cum  Homero 
loquar,  Zcob^  iazl  xai  i-'c  yOui^c  oiffxojui" 

Xigel,  by  good  fortune,  remembered  that  Vorstius,  the 
divine  last  mentioned  in  his  Majesty's  queries  about  the  state 
of  Dutch  literature,  had  been  engaged  in  a  personal  contro- 
versy with  James,  in  which  the  King  had  taken  so  deep  an 
interest,  as  at  lengtli  to  hint  in  his  public  correspondence 
with  the  United  States,  that  they  will  do  well  to  apply  the 
secular  arm  to  stop  the  progress  of  heresy  by  violent  meas- 
ures against  tlie  professor's  person — a  demand  which  their 
Mighty  Mightinesses'  principles  of  universal  toleration  in- 
duced them  to  elude,  though  with  some  difficulty.  Know- 
ing all  this.  Lord  Glenvarloch,  though  a  courtier  of  only  five 
minutes'  standing,  had  address  enough  to  reply — 

"  Vivum  quidem,  hand  diu  est,  hominem  videbam;  xi- 
gere  autem  quis  dicat  qui  sub  f  ulminibus  eloquentiae  tuae,  Eex 
magne,  jamdudum  prouus  jacet,  et  prostratus?"* 

This  last  tx-ibute  to  his  polemical  powers  completed 
James's  happiness,  which  the  triumph  of  exhibiting  his 
erudition  had  already  raised  to  a  considerable  height. 

He  rubbed  his  hands,  snapped  his  fingers,  fidgeted, 
clmckled,  exclaimed — ''Euge!  belle!  ojitime  ! "  Q.y\dii\\rnmgio 
the  Bishops  of  Exeter  and  Oxford,  who  stood  behind  him. 
he  said,  "  Ye  see,  my  lords,  no  bad  specimen  of  our  Scottish 
Latinity,  with  which  language  we  would  all  our  subjects  of 
England  were  as  well  imbued  as  this  and  other  youths  of 
honorable  birth  in  our  auld  kingdom;  also,  we  keep  the  gen- 
uine and  Roman  pronunciation,  like  other  learned  nations  on 
the  Continent,  sae  that  we  hold  communion  with  any  scholar 
in  the  universe  who  can  but  speak  the  Latin  tongue;  whereas 
ye,  our  learned  subjects  of  England,  have  introduced  into 
your  universities,  otherwise  most  learned,  a  fashion  of  pro- 
nouncing like  iinto  the  'nippit  foot  and  clippit  f oot '  of  the 
bride  in  the  fairy  tale,  whilk  manner  of  speech — take  it  not 
amiss  that  I  be  round  with  you — can  be  understood  by  no 
nation  on  earth  saving  yourselves;  wdiereby  Latin,  quoad 
Anglos,  ceaseth  to  be  communis  lingva,  the  general  drago- 
man, or  interpreter,  between  all  the  wise  men  of  the 
earth." 

The  Bishop  of  Exeter  bowed,  as  in  acquiescence  to  the 
royal  censure;  but  he  of  Oxford  stood  upright,  as  mindful 
over  what  subjects  his  see   extended,    and  as   being  equally 

*  Lest  any  I.idy  or  gentleman  should  suspect  there  is  aught  of  mystery  concealed 
under  the  LiUin  ki'ntt^nces.  they  will  be  pleased  to  understana  that  they  coiitain 
only  a  few  cojumonplaoe  phrases,  relating  to  tlie  state  of  letters  in  Holland,  which 
neither  deserve  i^nr  would  endure  a  literal  trauslaiion. 


106  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

willing  to  become  food  for  fagots  in  defence  of  the  Latinity 
of  the  university  as  for  any  article  of  his  religious  creed. 

The  King,  without  awaiting  an  answer  from  either  prel- 
ate, proceeded  to  question  Lord  Nigel,  but  in  the  vernacular 
tongue — "Weel,  my  likely  alumnus  of  the  Muses,  and  what 
make  you  so  far  from  the  North?" 

"  To  pay  my  homage  to  your  Majesty/^  said  the  young 
nobleman,  kneeling  on  one  knee,  "  and  to  lay  before  you," 
he  added,  ''  this  my  humble  and  dutiful  supplication." 

The  presenting  of  a  pistol  would  certainly  have  startled 
King  James  more,  but  could,  setting  apart  the  fright,  hardly 
have  been  more  unpleasing  to  his  indolent  disposition. 

"  And  is  it  even  so,  man?  "  said  he;  "  and  can  no  single 
man,  were  it  but  for  the  rarity  of  the  case,  ever  come  up  f rae 
Scotland  excepting  ex  proposito — on  set  purpose,  to  see  what 
he  can  make  out  of  his  loving  sovereign?  It  is  but  three 
days  syne  that  we  had  weel-nigh  lost  our  life,  and  put  three 
kingdoms  into  dule- weeds,  from  the  over-haste  of  a  clumsy- 
handed  peasant  to  thrust  a  jDacket  into  our  hand,  and  now 
we  are  beset  by  the  like  imjiediment  in  our  very  court.  To  our 
secretary  with  that  gear,  my  lord — to  our  secretary  with  that 
gear." 

"1  have  already  offered  my  humble  supplication  to  your 
Majesty's  Secretary  of  State,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch;  "but 
it  seems " 

''That  he  would  not  receive  it,  I  warrant?"  said  the 
King,  interrupting  him.  "  By  my  saul,  our  secretary  kens 
that  point  of  kingcraft  called  refusing  better  than  we  do, 
and  will  look  at  nothing  but  what  he  likes  himsell:  I  think 
I  wad  make  a  better  secretary  to  him  than  he  to  me.  Weel, 
my  lord,  you  are  welcome  to  London;  and,  as  ye  seem  an 
acute  and  learned  youth,  I  advise  ye  to  turn  your  neb  north- 
ward as  soon  as  ye  like,  and  settle  yoursell  for  a  while  at 
St.  Andrews,  and  we  will  be  right  glad  to  hear  that  yon 
prosper  in  your  studies.     Incunibite  remis  fortitei'." 

While  the  King  spoke  thus,  he  held  the  petition  of  the 
young  lord  carelessly,  like  one  who  only  delayed  till  the  sup- 
plicant's back  was  turned  to  throw  it  away,  or  at  least  lay  it 
aside  to  be  no  more  looked  at.  The  petitioner,  who  read  this 
in  his  cold  and  indifferent  looks,  and  in  the  manner  in  which 
he  twisted  and  crumpled  together  the  paper,  arose  with  a 
bitter  sense  of  anger  and  disappointment,  made  a  profound 
obeisance,  and  was  about  to  retire  hastily.  But  Lord 
Huntinglen,*  who  stood  by  him,  checked  his  intention  by  an 

*  See  Note  15. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  XIGEL  107 

almost  imperceptible  touch  upon  the  skirt  of  his  cloak,  anvi 
Nigel,  taking  the  hint,  retreated  onl}-  a  few  steps  from  the 
royal  presence,  and  then  made  a  pause.  In  the  mean  time. 
Lord  Huntinglen  kneeled  before  James  in  his  turn,  and 
said,  "  May  it  please  your  Majesty  to  remember,  that  upon 
one  certain  occasion  you  did  promise  to  grant  me  a  boon 
every  year  of  your  sacred  life?" 

'"*  I  mind  it  weel,  man,"  answered  James — "  I  mind  it 
weel,  and  good  reason  why:  it  was  when  you  unclasped  the 
fause  traitor  Kuthven's  fangs  from  about  our  royal  throat, 
and  drove  your  dirk  into  him  like  a  true  subject.  We  did 
then,  as  you  remind  us — whilk  was  unnecessary— being 
partly  beside  ourselves  with  joy  at  our  liberation,  promise 
Ave  would  grant  you  a  free  boon  every  3-ear;  Avhilk  promise,  on 
our  coming  to  menseful  possession  of  our  royal  faculties,  we 
did  confirm,  restrictive  always  and  conditionaliter  that  your 
lordship's  demand  should  be  such  as  we,  in  our  royal  discre- 
tion, should  think  reasonable." 

''  Even  so,  gracious  sovereign,"  said  the  old  earl,  "  and 
may  I  yet  farther  crave  to  know,  if  I  have  ever  exceeded  the 
bounds  of  your  royal  benevolence  ?  " 

"  By  my  word^  man,  no!"  said  the  King;  ^'  I  cannot  re- 
member you  have  asked  much  for  yourself,  if  it  be  not  a 
dog,  or  a  hawk,  or  a  buck  out  of  our  park  ^  at  Theobald's,  or 
such-like.     But  to  what  serves  this  preface?" 

"  To  the  boon  which  I  am  now  to  ask  of  your  Grace," 
said  Lord  Huntinglen;  "  which  is,  that  your  Majesty  would 
be  pleased,  on  the  instant,  to  look  at  the  placet  of  Lord 
Glenvarloch,  and  do  upon  it  what  your  own  just  and  royal 
nature  shall  think  meet  and  just,  without  reference  to  your 
secretary  or  any  other  of  your  council." 

"  By  my  saiil,  my  lord,  this  is  strange,"  said  the  King; 
"ye  are  pleading  for  the  son  of  your  enemy!" 

"  Of  one  who  teas  my  enemy  till  your  Majesty  made 
him  my  friend,"  answered  Lord  Huntinglen. 

"Weel  spoken,  my  lord!  "  said  the  King,  "and  with  a 
true  Christian  spirit.  And,  respecting  the  supplication  of 
this  young  man,  I  partly  guess  where  the  matter  lies;  and  in 
plain  troth  I  had  promised  to  George  Heriot  to  be  good  to 
the  lad.  But  then  here  the  shoe  pinches.  Steenie 
and  Baby  Charles  cannot  abide  him,  neither  can  your 
own  son,"^  my  lord;  and  so,  methinks,  he  had  better  go  down 
to  Scotland  before  he  comes  to  ill-luck  by  them." 

"  Mv  son.  an  it  please  your  Majesty,  so  far  as  he  is  con- 
cerned,'shall  not  direct  my  doings,"  said  the  earl,  "  nor  any 
wild-headed  young  man  of  them  all." 


108  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

"Why,  neither  shall  they  mine,"  replied  the  monarch; 
*'  by  my  father's  saul,  none  of  them  all  shall  play  rex  with 
me;  I  will  do  what  I  will,  and  what  I  aught,  like  a  free 
king." 

"  Your  Majesty  will  then  grant  me  my  boon?"  said  the 
Lord  Huntinglen. 

"  Ay,  marry  will  I — marry  will  I,"  said  the  King;  "  but 
follow  me  this  way,  man,  where  we  may  be  more  private." 

He  led  Lord  Huntinglen  with  rather  a  hurried  step 
through  the  courtiers,  all  of  whom  gazed  earnestly  on  this 
unwonted  scene,  as  is  the  fashion  in  all  courts  on  similar 
occasions.  The  King  passed  into  a  little  cabinet,  and  bade, 
in  the  first  moment,  Lord  Huntinglen  lock  or  bar  the  door; 
but  countermanded  his  direction  in  the  next,  saying,  "  No, 
no,  no — bread  o'  life,  man,  I  am  a  free  king — will  do  what  I 
will  and  what  I  should — I  am  Justus  et  tenax  propositi,  man; 
nevertheless,  keep  by  the  door.  Lord  Huntinglen,  in  case 
Steenie  should  come  in  with  his  mad  humor." 

"  0  my  poor  master!  "  groaned  the  Earl  of  Huntinglen. 
"  When  you  were  in  your  own  cold  country,  you  had  warmer 
blood  in  your  veins." 

The  King  hastily  looked  over  the  petition  or  memorial, 
every  now  and  then  glancing  his  eye  towards  the  door,  and 
then  sinking  it  hastily  on  the  paper,  ashamed  that  Lord 
Huntinglen,  whom  he  respected,  should  suspect  him  of  tim- 
idity. 

"  To  grant  the  truth,"  he  said,  after  he  had  finished  his 
lasty  perusal,  "this  is  a  hard  case;  and  harder  than  it  was 
•epresented  to  me,  though  I  had  some  inkling  of  it  before. 
And  so  the  lad  only  wants  payment  of  the  siller  due  from 
us,  in  order  to  reclaim  his  paternal  estate?  But  then,  Hunt- 
inglen, the  lad  will  have  other  debts,  and  why  burden  him- 
sell  with  sae  mony  acres  of  barren  woodland?  Let  the  land 
gang,  man — let  the  land  gang.  Steenie  has  the  promise  of  it 
from  our  Scottish  chancellor:  it  is  the  best  hunting-ground 
ii:  Scotland;  and  Baby  Charles  and  Steenie  want  to  kill  a 
buck  there  this  next  year.  They  maun  haethe  land — they 
maun  hae  the  land;  and  our  debt  shall  be  paid  to  the  young 
man  plack  and  bawbee,  and  he  may  have  the  spending  of  it 
at  our  court;  or  if  he  has  such  an  card  hunger,  wouns  !  man, 
we'll  stuff  his  stomach  w^th  English  land,  which  is  worth 
twice  as  much,  ay,  ten  times  as  much,  as  these  accursed  hills 
and  heughs,  and  mosses  and  muirs,  that  he  is  sae  keen  after." 

All  this  while  the  poor  King  ambled  up  and  down  the 
apartment  in  a  piteous  state  of  uncertainty,  which  was  made 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  109 

more  ridiculous  by  his  shambling,  circular  mode  of  managing 
his  legs,  and  his  ungainly  fashion  on  such  occasions  of  fiddling 
with  the  bunches  of  ribbons  which  fastened  the  lower  part 
of  his  dress. 

Lord  Huntinglen  listened  with  great  composure,  and 
answered,  *' An  it  please  your  Majesty,  there  was  an  answer 
yielded  by  Xaboth  when  Ahab  coveted  his  vineyard — 'The 
Lord  forbid  that  I  should  give  the  inheritance  of  my  fathers 
auto  thee/" 

"  Ey,  my  lord — ey,  my  lord!"  ejaculated  James,  while 
all  the  color  mounted  both  to  his  cheek  and  nose;  "I  hope 
ye  mean  not  to  teach  me  divinity?  Ye  need  not  fear,  my 
lord,  that  I  will  shun  to  do  justice  to  every  man;  and,  since 
your  lordship  will  give  me  no  help  to  take  up  this  in  a  more 
peaceful  manner — whilk,  methinks,  would  be  better  for  the 
young  man,  as  I  said  before — why,  since  it  maun  be  so,' 
'sdeath,  I  am  a  free  king,  man,  and  he  shall  have  his  money 
and  redeem  his  land,  and  make  a  kirk  and  a  miln  of  it,  an 
he  will."  So  saying,  he  hastily  Avrote  an  order  on  the  Scot- 
tish Exchequer  for  the  sum  in  question,  and  then  added, 
"  How  they  are  to  pay  it,  I  see  not;  but  I  Avarrant  he  will  find 
money  on  the  order  ^mong  the  goldsmiths,  who  can  find  it 
for  every  one  but  me.  And  now  you  see,  my  Lord  of  Hunt- 
inglen, that  I  am  neither  an  untrue  man,  to  deny  you  the 
boon  w..ilk  I  became  bound  for;  nor  an  Ahab,  to  covet 
Naboth's  vineyard;  nor  a  mere  nose-of- wax,  to  be  twisted  this 
way  and  that  by  favorites  and  counsellors  at  their  pleasure. 
I  tiiink  you  will  grant  now  that  I  am  none  of  those?" 

'^  You  are  my  own  native  and  noble  prince,"  said  Hunt- 
inglen, as  he  knelt  to  kiss  the  royal  hand — ''  just  and  gener- 
ous, whenever  you  listen  to  the  workings  of  your  own  heart." 

''Ay — ay,"  said  the  King,  laughing  good-naturedly,  as 
he  raised  his  laithful  servant  from  the  ground,  "  that  is 
what  ye  all  say  when  I  do  anything  to  please  ye.  There — 
there,  take  the  sign-manual,  and  away  with  you  and  this 
voung  fellow.  I  wonder  Steenie  and  Baby  Charles  have  not 
broken  in  on  us  before  now." 

Lord  Huntinglen  hastened  from  the  cabinet,  foreseeing  a 
scene  ^.t  which  he  was  unwilling  to  be  present,  but  which 
sometimes  occurred  when  James  roused  himself  so  far  as  to 
exert  his  own  free  will,  of  whicli  he  boasted  so  much,  in  spite 
of  that  of  his  imperious  favorite  Steenie,  as  he  called  the 
Duke  of  Buckingham,  from  a  supposed  resemblance  betwixt 
his  very  handsome  countenance  and  that  with  which  the 
Italian   artists   represented  the  proto-martyr   Stephen.     In 


no  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

fact,  tne  haughty  favorite,  who  had  theuniisnal  good  fortuiio 
to  stand  as  high  in  the  opinion  of  tlie  heir-apparent  as  of  the 
existing  monarch,  had  considerably  diminished  in  his  respect 
towards  the  hitter  ;  and  it  was  apparent  to  the  more  shrewd 
courtiers  that  James  endured  his  domination  rather  from 
habit,  timidity,  and  a  dread  of  encountering  his  stormy 
passions,  tlian  from  any  heartfelt  continuation  of  regard 
towards  him,  whose  greatness  had  been  the  Avork  of  his  own 
hands.  To  save  himself  the  pain  of  seeing  what  was  likel} 
to  take  place  on  the  duke's  return,  and  to  preserve  the  King 
from  the  additional  humiliation  which  the  presence  of  such 
a  witness  must  have  occasioned,  the  earl  left  the  cabinet  as 
speedily  as  possible,  having  first  carefully  pocketed  the  im- 
portant sign-manual. 

No  sooner  had  he  entered  the  presence-room  than  he 
hastily  sought  lord  Glenvarloch,  Avho  had  withdrawn  into 
the  embrasure  of  one  of  the  windows,  from  the  general  gaze 
of  men  who  seemed  disposed  only  to  afford  him  the  notice 
which  arises  from  surprise  and  curiosity,  and,  taking  him 
by  the  arm,  without  speaking,  led  him  out  of  the  presence- 
chamber  into  the  first  anteroom.  Here  they  found  the 
worthy  goldsmith,  who  approached  them  with  looks  of  curi- 
osity, which  were  checked  by  the  old  lord,  who  said  hastily, 
"All  is  well.  Is  your  barge  in  Avaiting  ?"  Heriot  answered' 
in  the  afiirmative.  "  Then,"  said  Lord  Huntinglen,  "  you 
shall  give  me  a  cast  in  it,  as  the  watermen  say,  and  I,  in 
requital,  will  give  you  both  your  dinner  ;  for  we  must  have 
some  conversation  together." 

They  both  followed  the  earl  without  speaking,  and  were 
in  the  second  anteroom  when  the  important  annunciation  of 
the  ushers,  and  the  hasty  murmur  with  which  all  made 
ample  way  as  the  company  repeated  to  each  other,  "■  The 
duke — the  duke  !"  made  them  aware  of  the  approach  of  the 
omnipotent  favorite. 

He  entered,  that  unhappy  minion  of  court  favor,  sump- 
tuously dressed  in  the  picturesque  attire  which  will  live  for- 
ever on  the  canvas  of  Vandyke,  and  which  marks  so  well  the 
proud  age  when  aristocracy,  though  undermined  and  nod- 
ding to  its  fall,  still,  by  external  show  and  profuse  expense, 
endeavored  to  assert  its  paramount  superiority  over  the 
inferior  orders.  The  handsome  and  commanding  counte- 
nance, stately  form,  and  graceful  action  and  manners  of  the 
Duke  of  Buckingham  made  him  become  that  picturesque 
dress  beyond  any  man  of  his  time.  At  present,  however,  his 
countenance  seemed  discomposed,  his  dress  a  little  more  dis- 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  111 

ordered  than  became  the  place,  his  step  liasty,  and  his  voice 
imperative. 

All  marked  the  angry  spot  upon  his  brow,  and  bore  back 
so  suddenly  to  make  way  for  him  tluit  the  Earl  of  Huntinglen, 
who  affected  no  extraordinary  haste  on  the  occasion,  with 
his  companions,  who  could  not,  if  they  would,  have  decently 
left  him,  remained  as  it  were  by  themselves  in  the  middle  of 
the  room,  and  in  the  very  path  of  the  angry  favorite.  He 
touched  his  cap  sternly  as  he  looked  on  Huntinglen,  but 
unbonneted  to  Heriot,  and  sank  his  beaver,  with  its  shadowy 
plume,  as  low  as  the  floor,  with  a  profound  air  of  mock 
respect.  In  returning  his  greeting,  which  he  did  simply 
and  unaffectedly,  the  citizen  only  said — "  Too  much  courtesy, 
my  lord  duke,  is  often  the  reverse  of  kindness." 

"I  grieve  you  should  think  so.  Master  Heriot,"  answered 
the  duke  ;  ''I  only  meant,  by  my  homage,  to  claim  your 
protection,  sir — your  patronage.  You  are  become,  I  under- 
stand, a  solicitor  of  suits — a  promoter — an  undertaker — a 
fautor  of  court  suitors  of  merit  and  quality  who  chance  to  be 
penniless.  I  trust  your  bags  will  bear  you  out  in  your  new- 
boast." 

"They  will  bear  me  the  farther,  my  lord  duke,"  an- 
swered the  goldsmith,  ''that  my  boast  is  jjut  small." 

"  0,  you  do  yourself  less  than  justice,  my  good  Master 
Heriot,"  continued  the  duke,  in  the  same  tone  of  irony  : 
"you  have  a  marvellous  court-faction,  to  be  the  son  of  an 
Edinburgh  tinker.  Have  the  goodness  to  prefer  me  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  high-born  nobleman  who  is  honored  and 
advantaged  by  your  patronage." 

" That  shall  be  mij  task,"  said  Lord  Huntinglen,  with 
emphasis.  "My  lord  duke,  I  desire  you  to  know  Nigel 
Olifaunt,  Lord  Glenvarloch,  representative  of  one  of  the 
most  ancient  and  powerful  baronial  houses  in  Scotland. 
Lord  Glenvarloch,  I  present  you  to  his  Grace  the  Duke  of 
Buckingham,*  representative  of  Sir  George  Villiers,  knight, 
of  Brookesby,  in  the  county  of  Leicester." 

The  duke  colored  still  more  high  as  he  bowed  to  Lord 
Glenvarloch  scornfully — a  courtesy  which  the  other  returned 
haughtily  and  with  restrained  indignation.  "We  know 
each  other,  then,"  said  the  duke,  after  a  moment's  pause : 
and  as  if  he  had  seen  something  in  the  young  nobleman 
which  merited  more  serious  notice  than  the  bitter  raillery 
with  which  he  had  commenced — "we  know  each  other;  and 
you  know  me,  my  lord,  for  your  enemy." 

*  See  Note  16. 


1  2  WAVERLEY  XOVELS 

"I  thank  you  for  your  plainness,  my  lord  duke,'*'  replied 
Nigel ;  "an  open  enemy  is  better  than  a  hollow  friend." 

''For  you,  my  Lord  Huntinglen,'' said  the  duke,  "me- 
thinks  you  have  but  now  overstepped  the  limits  of  the  in- 
dulgence permitted  to  you  as  the  father  of  the  Prince's  friend 
and  my  own." 

"By  my  word,  my  lord  duke,"  replied  the  earl,  "it  is 
easy  for  any  one  to  outstep  boundaries  of  the  existence  of 
which  he  was  not  aware.  It  is  neither  to  secure  my  pro- 
tection nor  approbation  that  my  son  keeps  such  exalted  com- 
pany." 

"0,  my  lord,  we  know  you,  and  indulge  you,"  said  the 
duke;  "you  are  one  of  those  who  presume  for  a  life-long 
upon  the  merit  of  one  good  action." 

"In  faith,  my  lord,  and  if  it  be  so,"  said  the  old  earl,  "I 
have  at  least  the  advantage  of  such  as  presume  more  than  I 
do,  without  having  done  any  action  of  merit  whatever.  But 
I  mean  not  to  quarrel  with  you,  my  lord ;  we  can  neither  be 
friends  nor  enemies:   you  have  3'our  path  and  I  have  mine." 

Buckingham  only  replied  by  throwing  on  his  bonnet, 
and  shaking  its  lof ty^  plume  with  a  careless  and  scornful  toss 
of  the  head.  They^parted  thus ;  the  duke  walking  onwards 
through  the  apartments,  and  the  others  leaving  the  palace 
and  repairing  to  "Whitehall  Stairs,  where  they  embarked  on 
board  the  barge  of  the  citizen. 


CHAPTER  X 

Bid  not  thy  fortune  troll  upon  the  wheels 
Of  yonder  dancing  cubes  of  mottled  bone  ; 
And  drown  it  not,  like  Egypt's  royal  hnrlot. 
Dissolving  her  rich  pearl  in  the  brimm'd  wine-cup. 
These  are  the  arts,  Lothario,  which  shrink  acres 
Into  brief  yards— bring  sterling  pounds  to  farthings, 
Credit  to  infamy  ;  and  the  poor  gull. 
Who  might  have  lived  an  Lonor'd,  easy  life, 
To  ruin,  and  an  unregarded  grave. 

The  Changes. 

When  they  were  fairly  embarked  on  the  Thames,  the  earl 
took  from  his  pocket  the  supplication,  and,  pointing  out  to 
George  Heriot  the  royal  warrant  indorsed  thereon,  asked  him 
if  it  were  in  due  and  regular  form.  The  worthy  citizen 
hastily  read  it  over,  thrust  forth  his  hand  as  if  to  congratulate 
the  Lord  Glenvarloch,  then  checked  himself,  pulled  out  his 
barnacles  (a  present  from  old  David  Ramsay),  and  again 
perused  the  warrant  with  the  most  business-like  and  critical 
attention.  "  It  is  strictly  correct  and  formal,"  he  said,  look- 
ing to  the  Earl  of  Huntinglen,  "and  I  sincerely  rejoice  at  it." 

"I  doubt  nothing  of  its  formality,"  said  the  earl ;  "the 
King  understands  business  well,  and,  if  he  does  not  practise 
it  often,  it  is  only  because  indolence  obscures  parts  which  are 
naturally  well  qualified  for  the  discharge  of  affairs.  But 
what  is  next  to  be  done  for  our  young  friend.  Master  Heriot  ? 
You  know  how  I  am  circumstanced.  Scottish  lords,  living 
at  the  English  court,  have  seldom  command  of  money ;  yet, 
unless  a  sum  can  be  presently  raised  on  this  warrant,  matters 
standing  as  you  hastily  hinted  to  me,  the  mortgage,  wadset, 
■or  whatever  it  is  called,  will  be  foreclosed." 

"It  is  true,"  said  Heriot,  in  some  embarrassment,  "there 
■'s  a  large  sum  wanted  in  redemption  ;  yet,  if  it  is  not  raised, 
there  will  be  an  expiry  of  the  legal,  as  our  lawyers  call  it, 
and  the  estate  will  be  evicted." 

"My  noble — my  worthy  friends,  who  have  taken  up  my 
cause  so  undeservedly,  so  unexpectedly,"  said  Nigel,  "do 
not  let  me  be  a  burden  on  your  kindness.  You  have  already 
done  too  much  where  nothing  was  merited." 

"Peace,  man — peace,"  said  Lord  Huntinglen,  "and  let 
old  Heriot  and  I  puzzle  this  scent  out.     He  is  about  to  open 

— hark  to  hi  in'" 

8  .118 


114  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

"My  lord,"  said  the  citizen,  "tlic  Duke  of  Buckingham 
sneers  at  our  city  money-bags ;  yet  tliey  can  sometimes  open 
to  prop  a  falling  and  a  noble  house." 

"We  know  they  can,"  said  Lord  Huntinglen.  "Mind 
not  Buckingham,  he  is  a  Peg-a- Ramsay ;  and  now  for  the 
remedy." 

"I  partly  hinted  to  Lord  Glenvarloch  already,"  said 
Heriot,  "that  the  redemption  money  might  be  advanced 
upon  such  a  warrant  as  the  present,  and  I  will  engage  my 
credit  that  it  can.  But  then,  in  order  to  secure  the  lender, 
he  must  come  in  the  shoes  of  the  creditor  to  whom  he 
advances  payment." 

"Come  in  his  shoes!"  replied  the  earl.  "Why,  what 
have  boots  or  shoes  to  do  with  this  matter,  my  good  friend?" 

"It  is  a  law  phrase,  my  lord.  My  experience  has  made 
me  pick  up  a  few  of  them,"  said  Heriot. 

"Ay,  and  of  better  things  along  with  them.  Master 
George,"  replied  Lord  Huntinglen  ;  "but  what  means  it?" 

"Simply  this,"  resumed  the  citizen,  "that  the  lender  of 
this  money  will  transact  with  the  holder  of  the  mortgage, 
or  wadset,  over  the  estate  of  Glenvarloch,  and  ebtain  from 
him  such  a  conveyance  to  his  right  as  shall  leave  the  lands 
pledged  for  the  debt,  in  case  the  warrant  upon  the  Scottish 
Exchequer  should  prove  unproductive.  I  fear,  in  this  un- 
certainty of  public  credit,  that,  without  some  such  counter 
security,  it  will  be  very  difficult  to  find  so  large  a  sum." 

"Ho  la!"  said  the  Earl  of  Huntinglen,  "halt  there!  a 
thought  strikes  me.  What  if  the  new  creditor  should  ad- 
mire the  estate  as  a  hunting-field  as  much  as  my  Lord  Grace 
of  Buckingham  seems  to  do,  and  should  wish  to  kill  a  buck 
there  in  the  summer  season  ?  It  seems  to  me  that,  on  your 
plan.  Master  George,  our  new  friend  will  be  as  well  entitled 
to  block  Lord  Glenvarloch  out  of  his  inheritance  as  the 
present  holder  of  the  mortgage." 

The  citizen  laughed.  "  I  will  engage,"  he  said,  "that  the 
keenest  sportsman  to  whom  I  may  apply  on  this  occasion 
shall  not  have  a  thought  beyond  the  lord  mayor''s  Easter  hunt 
in  Epping  Forest.  But  your  lordship's  caution  is  reasonable. 
The  creditor  must  be  bound  to  allow  Lord  Glenvarloch  suffi- 
cient time  to  redeem  his  estate  by  means  of  the  royal  warrant, 
and  must  waive  in  his  favor  the  right  of  instant  foreclosure, 
which  may  be,  I  should  think,  the  more  easily  managed,  as 
the  riglit  of  redemption  must  be  exercised  in  his  own  name." 

"'  But  where  shall  we  find  a  person  in  London  fit  to  draw 
the  necessary  writings?"  said  the  earl.     "If  my  old  friend 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  115 

Sir  John  Skene  of  Hallyards  had  lived,  we  should  have  had 
his  advice ;  but  time  presses,  and " 

"I  know,"  said  Heriot,  "an  orphan  lad,  a  scrivener,  that 
dwells  by  Temple  Bar  ;  he  can  draw  deeds  both  after  the 
English  and  Scottish  fashion,  and  I  have  trusted  him  often 
in  matters  of  weight  and  of  inipartance.  I  will  send  one  of 
m.j  serving-men  for  him,  and  the  mutual  deeds  may  be  ex- 
ecuted in  your  lordship's  presence  ;  for,  as  things  stand, there 
should  be  no  delay."  His  lordship  readily  assented  ;  and,  as 
they  now  landed  upon  the  private  stairs  leading  down  to  the 
river  from  the  gardens  of  the  handsome  hotel  which  he  in- 
habited, the  messenger  was  dispatched  without  loss  of  time. 

Nigel,  who  had  sat  almost  stupefied  while  these  zealous 
friends  volunteered  for  him  in  arranging  the  measures  by 
which  his  fortune  was  to  be  disembarrassed,  now  made  an- 
other eager  attempt  to  force  upon  them  his  broken  expressions 
of  thanks  and  gratitude.  But  he  was  again  silenced  by  Lord 
Huntinglen,  who  declared  he  would  not  hear  a  word  on  that 
topic,  and  proposed  instead,  that  they  should  take  a  turn  in 
the  pleached  alley,  or  sit  upon  the  stone  bench  which  over- 
looked the  Thames,  until  his  son's  arrival  should  give  the 
signal  for  dinner. 

"I  desire  to  introduce  Dalgarno  and  Lord  Glenvarloch  to 
each  other,"  he  said,  "as  two  who  will  be  near  neighbors,  and 
I  trust  will  be  more  kind  ones  than  their  fathers  were  for- 
merly. There  is  but  three  Scots  miles  betwixt  the  castles, 
and  the  turrets  of  the  one  are  visible  from  the  battlements  of 
the  other." 

The  old  earl  was  silent  for  a  moment,  and  appeared  to 
muse  upon  the  recollections  which  the  vicinity  of  the  castles 
had  summoned  up. 

"  Does  Lord  Dalgarno  follow  the  court  to  Newmarket 
next  week?"  said  Heriot,  by  way  of  renewing  the  conver- 
sation. 

"He  proposes  so,  I  think,"  answered  Lord  Huntinglen, 
relapsed  into  his  reverie  for  a  minute  or  two,  and  then  ad- 
dressed Nigel  somewhat  abruptly — 

"My  young  friend,  when  you  attain  possession  of  your 
inheritance,  as  I  hope  you  soon  will,  I  trust  you  will  not  add 
one  to  the  idle  followers  of  the  court,  but  reside  on  your 
patrimonial  estate,  cherish  your  ancient  tenants,  relieve  and 
assist  your  poor  kinsmen,  protect  the  poor  against  subaltern 
oppression,  and  do  what  our  fathers  used  to  do,  with  fewer 
lights  and  with  less  means  than  we  have." 

"  And  yet  the  advice  to  keep  the  country,"  said  Heriot- 


116  WAVER  LEY  NOVELS 

"comes  from  an  ancient  and  constant  ornament  of  the 
court." 

"  From  an  old  courtier,  indeed,"  said  the  earl,  "  and  the 
first  of  my  family  that  could  so  write  himself :  my  gray  beard 
falls  on  a  cambric  rutf  and  a  silken  doublet,  my  father's  de- 
scended upon  a  buff  coat  and  a  breast-plate.  I  would  not  that 
those  days  of  battle  returned;  but  I  should  love  well  to  make 
the  oaks  of  my  old  forest  of  Dalgarno  ring  once  more  with 
halloo,  and  horn,  and  hound,  and  to  have  the  old  stone- 
arched  hall  return  the  hearty  shout  of  my  vassals  and  tenants^ 
as  the  bicker  and  the  quaigh  walked  their  rounds  among 
them.  I  should  like  to  see  the  broad  Tay  once  more  before 
I  die;  not  even  the  Thames  can  match  it,  in  my  mind." 

"Surely,  my  lord,"  said  the  citizen,  "all  this  might  be 
easily  done:  it  costs  but  a  moment's  resolution,  and  the  jour- 
ney of  some  brief  days,  and  you  will  be  where  you  desire  to 
be;  what  is  there  to  prevent  you?" 

"  Habits,  Master  George — habits,"  replied  the  earl, 
"  which  to  young  men  are  like  threads  of  silk,  so  lightly  are 
they  worn,  so  soon  broken;  but  which  hang  on  our  old  limbs 
as  if  time  had  stiffened  them  into  gyves  of  iron.  To  go  to 
Scotland  for  a  brief  space  were  but  labor  in  vain;  and  when 
I  think  of  abiding  there,  I  cannot  bring  myself  to  leave  my 
old  master,  to  whom  I  fancy  myself  sometimes  useful,  and 
whose  weal  and  woe  I  have  shared  for  so  many  years.  But 
Dalgarno  shall  be  a  Scottish  noble." 

"  Has  he  visited  the  North?"  said  Heriot. 

"He  was  there  last  year,  and  made  such  a  report  of  the 
country  that  the  Prince  has  expressed  a  longing  to  see  it." 

"  Lord  Dalgarno  is  in  high  grace  with  his  Highness  and 
the  Duke  of  Buckingham?"  observed  the  goldsmith. 

"  He  is  so,"  answered  the  earl;  "  I  pray  it  may  be  for  the 
advantage  of  them  all.  The  Prince  is  just  and  equitable  in 
his  sentiments,  though  cold  and  stately  in  his  manners,  and 
very  obstinate  in  his  most  trifling  purposes;  and  the  duke, 
noble  and  gallant,  and  generous  and  open,  is  fiery,  ambitious, 
and  impetuous.  Dalgarno  has  none  of  these  faults,  and  such 
as  he  may  have  of  his  own  may  perchance  be  corrected  by 
the  society  in  which  he  moves.     See,  here  he  comes." 

Lord  Dalgarno  accordingly  advanced  from  the  farther  end 
of  the  alley  to  the  bench  on  which  his  father  and  his  guests 
were  seated,  so  that  Nigel  had  full  leisure  to  peruse  his  coun- 
tenance and  figure.  He  was  dressed  point-device,  and  almost 
to  extremity,  in  the  splendid  fashion  of  the  time,  which 
suited  well  with  his  age,   probably  about  five-and-twenty. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  117 

with  a  noble  form  and  fine  countenance,  in  wliich  last  could 
easily  be  traced  the  manly  features  of  his  father,  but  softened 
by  a  more  habitual  air  of  assiduous  courtesy  than  the  stub- 
born old  earl  had  ever  condescended  to  assume  towards  the 
world  in  general.  In  other  respects,  his  address  was  gallant, 
free,  and  unencumbered  either  by  pride  or  ceremony — far  re- 
mote certainly  from  the  charge  either  of  haughty  coldness  or 
forward  impetuosity;  and  so  far  his  father  had  justly  freed 
him  from  tJie  marked  faults  which  he  ascribed  to  the  man- 
ners of  the  Prince  and  his  favorite  Buckingham, 

While  the  old  earl  presented  his  young  acquaintance  Lord 
Glenvarloch  to  his  son,  as  one  whom  he  would  have  him  love 
and  honor,  Xigel  marked  the  countenance  of  Lord  Dalgarno 
closely,  to  see  if  he  could  detect  aught  of  that  secret  dislike 
which  the  King  had,  in  one  of  his  broken  expostulations, 
seemed  to  intimate,  as  arising  from  a  clashing  of  interests 
betwixt  his  new  friend  and  the  great  Buckingham.  But 
nothing  of  this  was  visible;  on  the  contrary.  Lord  Dalgarno 
received  his  new  acquaintance  with  the  open  frankness  and 
courtesy  which  makes  conquest  at  once,  when  addressed  to 
the  feelings  of  an  ingenuous  young  man. 

It  need  hardly  be  told  that  his  open  and  kindly  address 
met  equally  ready  and  cheerful  accei^tation  from  Nigel  Oli- 
faunt.  For  many  months,  and  while  a  youth  not  much 
above  two-and-twenty,  he  had  been  restrained  by  circum- 
stances from  the  conversation  of  his  equals.  When,  on  his 
father's  sudden  death,  he  left  the  Low  Countries  for  Scot- 
land, he  had  found  himself  involved,  to  all  api^earance  inex- 
tricably, Avith  the  details  of  the  law,  all  of  which  threatened 
to  end  in  the  alienation  of  the  patrimony  which  should  sup- 
port his  hereditary  rank.  His  term  of  sincere  mourning, 
joined  to  injured  pride,  and  the  swelling  of  the  heart  under 
unexpected  and  undeserved  misfortune,  together  with  the 
uncertainty  attending  the  issue  of  his  affairs,  had  induced  the 
young  Lord  of  Glenvarloch  to  live,  while  in  Scotland,  in  a 
very  private  and  reserved  manner.  How  he  had  passed  his 
time  in  London,  the  reader  is  acquainted  with.  But  this 
melancholy  and  secluded  course  of  life  was  neither  agreeable 
to  his  age  nor  to  his  temper,  which  was  genial  and  sociable. 
He  hailed,  therefore,  with  sincere  pleasure  the  approaches 
which  a  young  man  of  his  own  age  and  rank  made  towards 
him;  and  when  he  had  exchanged  with  Lord  Dalgarno  some 
of  those  words  and  signals  by  which,  as  surely  as  by  those  of 
freemasonry,  young  people  recognize  a  mutual  wish  to  be 
agreeable  to  each  other,  it  seemed  as  if  the  two  noblemen 
had  been  acquainted  for  some  timp.. 


118  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

Just  as  Liiis  tacit  intercourse  had  been  established,  one  of 
Lord  Iluntinglen's  attendants  came  down  the  alley,  marshal- 
ling onwards  a  man  dressed  in  black  buckram,  who  followed 
him  with  tolerable  speed,  considering  that,  according  to  his 
sense  of  reverence  and  propriety,  he  kept  his  body  bent  and 
parallel  to  the  horizon  from  the  moment  that  he  came  in 
sight  of  the  company  to  which  he  was  about  to  be  presented. 

"  Who  is  this,  you  cuckoldy  knave,"  said  the  old  lord, 
who  had  retained  the  keen  appetite  and  impatience  of  a 
Scottish  baron  even  during  a  long  alienation  from  his  native 
country;  "  and  why  does  John  Cook,  with  a  murrain  to  him, 
keep  back  dinner  ?  " 

"  I  believe  we  are  ourselves  responsible  for  this  person's 
intrusion,"  said  George  Heriot :  "this  is  the  scrivener  whom 
we  desired  to  see.  Look  up,  man,  and  see  us  in  the  face  as 
an  honest  man  should,  instead  of  bearing  thy  noddle  charged 
against  us  thus,  like  a  battering-ram." 

The  scrivener  did  look  up  accordingly,  with  the  action  of 
an  automaton  which  suddenly  obeys  the  impulse  of  a  pressed 
spring.  But,  strange  to  tell,  not  even  the  haste  he  had 
made  to  attend  his  patron's  mandate — a  business,  as  Master 
Heriot's  message  expressed,  of  weight  and  importance — nay, 
not  even  the  state  of  depression  in  which,  out  of  sheer  hu- 
mility doubtless,  he  had  his  head  stooped  to  the  earth,  from 
the  moment  he  had  trod  the  demesnes  of  the  Earl  of  Hunt- 
inglen,  had  called  any  color  into  his  countenance.  The 
drops  stood  on  his  brow  from  haste  and  toil,  but  his  cheek 
was  still  pale  and  tallow-colored  as  before;  nay,  what  seemed 
stranger,  his  very  hair,  when  he  raised  his  head,  hung  down 
on  either  cheek  as  straight  and  sleek  and  undisturbed  as  it 
was  when  we  first  introduced  him  to  our  readers,  seated  at 
his  quiet  and  humble  desk. 

Lord  Dalgarno  could  not  forbear  a  stifled  laugh  at  the 
ridiculous  and  Puritanical  figure  which  presented  itself  like 
a  starved  anatomy  to  the  company,  and  whispered  at  the 
same  time  into  Lord  Glenvarloch's  ear — 

'*  The  devil  damn  thee  black,  thou  cream-faced  loon, 
Where  got'st  thou  that  goose-look?" 

Nigel  was  too  little  acquainted  with  the  English  stage  to 
understand  a  quotation  which  had  already  grown  matter  of 
common  allusion  in  London.  Lord  Dalgarno  saw  that  he 
was  not  understood,  and  continued,  "  That  fellow,  by  his 
visage,  should  either  be  a  saint  or  a  most  hypocritical  rogue; 
and  such  is   my  excellent   opinion  of   human   nature,  that  J 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  119 

always  suspect  the  worst.  But  they  seem  deep  in  business. 
Will  you  take  a  turn  with  me  in  the  garden,  my  lord,  or 
will  you  remain  a  member  of  the  serious  conclave? 

''  With  you,  my  lord,  most  willingly,"  said  Nigel;  and 
they  were  turning  away  accordingly,  when  George  Heriot, 
with  the  formality  belonging  to  his  station,  observed  that, 
"  As  their  business  concerned  Lord  Glenvarloch,  he  had 
better  remain,  to  make  himself  master  of  it  and  witness 
to  it." 

"  My  presence  is  utterly  needless,  my  good  lord  and  my 
best  friend,  Master  Ileriot,"  said  the  young  nobleman.  "  I 
shall  understand  nothing  the  better  for  cumbering  you  with 
my  ignorance  in  these  matters;  and  can  only  say  at  the  end, 
as  I  now  say  at  the  beginning,  that  I  dare  not  take  the  helm 
out  of  the  hand  of  the  kind  pilots  who  have  already  guided 
my  course  within  sight  of  a  fair  and  unhoped-for  haven. 
Whatever  you  recommend  to  me  as  fitting,  I  shall  sign  and 
seal ;  and  the  import  of  the  deeds  I  shall  better  learn  by  a 
brief  explanation  from  Master  Heriot,  if  he  will  bestow  so 
much  trouble  in  my  behalf,  than  by  a  thousand  learned 
words  and  law  terms  from  this  person  of  skill." 

"  He  is  right,"  said  Lord  Huntinglen — "  our  young 
friend  is  right,  in  confiding  these  matters  to  you  and  me. 
Master  George  Heriot :  he  has  not  misplaced  his  confidence." 

Master  George  Heriot  cast  a  long  look  after  the  two 
young  noblemen,  who  had  now  walked  down  the  alley  arm- 
in-arm,  and  at  length  said,  "  He  hath  not  indeed  misplaced 
his  confidence,  as  your  lordship  well  and  truly  says  ;  but, 
nevertheless,  he  is  not  in  the  right  path  ;  for  it  behooves 
every  man  to  become  acquainted  with  his  own  affairs,  so  soon 
as  he  hath  any  that  are  worth  attending  to." 

When  he  had  made  this  observation,  they  applied  them- 
selves, with  the  scrivener,  to  look  into  various  papers,  and  to 
direct  in  what  manner  writings  should  be  drawn,  which  might 
at  once  afford  sufficient  security  to  those  who  were  to  ad- 
vance the  money,  and  at  the  same  time  preserve  the  right  of 
tlie  young  nobleman  to  redeem  the  family  estate,  provided 
iie  should  obtain  the  means  of  doing  so,  by  the  expected 
reimbursement  from  tlic  Scottish  Exchequer  or  otherwise.  It 
is  needless  to  enter  into  those  details.  But  it  is  not  unimpor- 
tant to  mention,  as  an  illustration  of  cluiracter,  that  Heriot 
went  into  the  most  minute  legal  details  with  a  precision 
whic'-i  showed  that  experience  had  made  him  master  even  of 
the  intricacies  of  Scottish  conveyancing;  and  that  the  Earl 
of   Huntinglen,  though  far  less   acquainted  with   technical 


120  WA^rERLEY  NOVELS 

detail,  suffered  no  step  of  the  business  to  pass  over,  until  he 
had  attained  a  general  but  distinct  idea  of  its  import  and 
its  propriety. 

They  seemed  to  be  admirably  seconded  in  their  benevo- 
lent intentions  towards  the  young  Lord  Glenvarloch  by  the 
skill  and  eager  zeal  of  the  scrivener,  whom  Heriot  had  intro- 
duced to  this  piece  of  business,  the  most  important  which 
Andrew  had  ever  transacted  in  his  life,  and  the  particulars 
of  which  were  moreover  agitated  in  his  presence  between  an 
actual  earl  and  one  whose  wealth  and  character  might  entitle 
him  to  be  alderman  of  his  ward,  if  not  to  be  lord  mayor,  in 
his  turn. 

While  they  were  thus  in  eager  conversation  on  business, 
the  good  earl  even  forgetting  the  calls  of  his  appetite  and  the 
delay  of  dinner  in  his  anxiety  to  see  that  the  scrivener  re- 
ceived proper  instructions,  and  that  all  was  rightly  weighed 
and  considered,  before  dismissing  him  to  engross  the  neces- 
sary deeds,  the  two  young  men  walked  together  on  the  ter- 
race which  overhung  the  river,  and  talked  on  the_  topics 
which  Lord  Dalgarno,  the  elder  and  the  more  experienced, 
thought  most  likely  to  interest  his  new  friend. 

These  naturally  regarded  the  pleasures  attending  a  court 
life;  and  Lord  Dalgarno  expressed  much  surprise  at  under- 
standing that  Nigel  proposed  an  instant  return  to  Scotland. 

"You  are  jesting  with  me,'' he  said.  *' All  the  court 
rings — it  is  needless  to  mince  it — with  the  extraordinary  suc- 
cess of  your  suit,  against  the  highest  interest,  it  is  said,  now 
influencing  the  horizon  at  Whitehall.  Men  think  of  you— 
talk  of  you — fix  their  eyes  on  you — ask  each  other,  '  Who  is 
this  young  Scottish  lord,  who  has  stepped  so  far  in  a  single 
day? '  They  augur,  in  whispers  to  each  other,  how  high  and 
how  far  you  may  push  your  fortune;  and  all  that  you  design 
to  make  of  it  is  to  return  to  Scotland,  eat  raw  oatmeal  cakes, 
baked  upon  a  peat-fire,  have  your  hand  shaken  by  every  loon 
of  a  blue-bonnet  who  chooses  to  dub  you  cousin,  though  your 
relationship  comes  by  Noah,  drink  Scots  twopenny  ale,  eat 
half-starved  red-deer  venison,  when  you  can  kill  it,  ride  upon 
a  galloway,  and  be  called  ^my  right  honorable  and  maist 
worthy  lord  ! '  " 

"  There  is  no  great  gayety  in  the  prospect  before  me,  I 
confess,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch,  "even  if  your  father  and 
good  Master  Heriot  should  succeed  in  putting  my  affairs  on 
some  footing  of  plausible  hope.  And  yet  I  trust  to  do  some- 
thing for  my  vassals,  as  my  ancestors  before  me,  and  to  teach 
my  children,  as  I  have  myself  been  taught,  to  make  some 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  121 

personal  sacrifices,  if  tliey  be  necessary,  in  order  to  maintain 
with  dignity  the  sitnation  in  Avhich  they  are  placed  by  Prov- 
idence." 

Lord  Dalgarno,  after  having  once  or  twice _  stifled  his 
laughter  during  this  speech,  at  length  broke  out  into  a  fit  of 
mirth  so  hearty  and  so  resistless  that,  angry  as  he  was,  the 
call  of  sympathy  swept  Nigel  along  with  him,  and,  despite 
of  himself,  he  co'uld  not  forbear  to  join  in  a  burst  of  laughter 
which  he  thought  not  only  causeless,  but  almost  imperti- 
nent. 

He  soon  recollected  himself,  however;  and  said,  in  a  tone 
qualified  to  allay  Lord  Dalgarno's  extreme  mirth,  "■  This  is 
all  well,  my  lord;  but  how  am  I  to  understand  your  merri- 
ment?'' Lord  Dalgarno  only  answered  liim  with  redoubled 
peals  of  laughter,  and  at  length  held  by  Lord  Glenvarloch's 
cloak,  as  if  to  prevent  his  falling  down  on  the  ground,  in  the 
extremity  of  his  convulsion. 

At  length,  while  Nigel  stood  half  abashed,  half  angr^', 
at  becoming  thus  the  subject  of  his  new  acquaintance's  ridi- 
cule, and  was  only  restrained  from  expressing  his  resentment 
against  the  son  by  a  sense  of  the  obligations  he  owed  the 
father.  Lord  Dalgarno  recovered  himself,  and  spoke  in  a 
half-broken  voice,  his  eyes  still  running  with  tears.  "I 
crave  your  pardon,  my  dear  Lord  Glenvarloch — ten  thousand 
times  do  I  crave  your  pardon.  But  that  last  picture  of  rural 
dignity,  accompanied  by  your  grave  and  angry  surprise  at 
my  laugliing  at  wliat  would  have  made  any  court-bred  hound 
laugh,  that  "had  but  so  much  as  bayed  the  moon  once  from 
the%ourtvard  at  Whitehall,  totally  overcame  me.  "Why,  my 
liefest  and  dearest  lord,  you,  a  young  and  handsome  fellow, 
with  high  birth,  a  title,  and  the  name  of  an  estate,  so  well 
received  by  the  King  at  your  first  starting  as  makes  your 
farther  progress  scarce  matter  of  doubt,  if  you  know  how  to 
improve  it — for  the  King  has  already  said  you  are  a  '  braw 
lad,  and  well  studied  in  the  more  humane  letters  '-;-you,  too, 
whom  all  the  women,  and  the  very  marked  beauties  of  the 
court,  desire  to  see,  because  you  came  from  Leyden,  were 
born  in  Scotland,  and  have  gained  a  hard-contested  suit  in 
England — you,  I  say,  with  a  person  like  a  prince,  an  eye  of 
fire,  and  a  wit  as  qiiick,  to  think  of  throwing  your  cards  on 
the  table  Avhen  the  game  is  in  your  very  hand,  running  back 
to  the  frozen  Xorth,  and  marrying — let  me  see — a  tall,  stalk- 
ing, blue-eyed,  fair-skinned,  bony  wench,  with  eighteen 
quarters  in  her  scutcheon — a  sort  of  Lot's  wife,  newly  de- 
scended from  her  pedestal,  and  with  her  to  shut  yourself  up 


.28  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

in  your  tapestried  chamber!  Uh,  gad!  Swouns,  I  shall 
never  survive  tlie  idea!  " 

It  is  seldom  that  youth,  however  high-minded,  is  able, 
from  mere  strength  of  character  and  principle,  to  support 
itself  against  the  force  of  ridicule.  Half  angry,  half  morti- 
fied, and^  to  say  the  truth,  half  ashamed  of  his  more  manly 
and  better  purpose,  Nigel  was  unable,  and  flattered  himself 
it  was  unnecessary,  to  play  the  part  of  a  rigid  moral  patriot 
in  presence  of  a  young  man  whose  current  fluency  of  language, 
as  well  as  his  experience  in  the  highest  circles  of  society,  gave 
him,  in  spite  of  Nigel's  better  and  firmer  thoughts,  a  tempo- 
rary ascendency  over  him.  He  sought,  therefore,  to  com- 
promise the  matter,  and  avoid  farther  debate,  by  frankly 
owning  that,  if  to  return  to  his  own  country  were  not  his 
choice,  it  was  at  least  a  matter  of  necessity.  *'His  affairs/' 
he  said,  ''were  unsettled,  his  income  precarious." 

*'And  where  is  he  whose  affairs  are  settled,  or  whose  in- 
come is  less  than  precarious,  that  is  to  be  found  in  attendance 
on  the  court?"  said  Lord  Dalgarno:  "all  are  either  losing  or 
winning.  Those  who  have  wealth  come  hither  to  get  rid  of 
it,  while  the  happy  gallants  who,  like  you  and  I,  dear  Glen- 
yarloch,  have  little  or  none,  have  every  chance  to  be  sharers 
in  their  spoils." 

"I  have  no  ambition  of  that  sort,"  said  Nigel,  *'  and  if  I 
had,  I  must  tell  you  plainly.  Lord  Dalgarno,  I  have  not  the 
means  to  do  so.  I  can  scarce  as  yet  call  the  suit  I  wear  my 
oAvn:  I  owe  it,  and  I  do  not  blush  to  say  so,  to  the  friendship 
of  yonder  good  man." 

*'  I  will  not  laugh  again,  if  I  can  help  it,"  said  Lord  Dal- 
garno. ^  "  But,  Lord!  that  you  should  have  gone  to  a  wealthy 
goldsmith  for  your  habit;  why,  I  could  have  brought  you  to 
an  honest,  confiding  tailor,  who  should  have  furnished  you 
with  half  a  dozen,  merely  for  love  of  the  little  word  '  lord  ' 
which  you  place  before  your  name;  and  then  your  goldsmith, 
if  he  be  really  a  friendly  goldsmith,  should  have  equipped 
you  with  such  a  purse  of  fair  rose-nobles  as  would  have 
bought  you  thrice  as  many  suits,  or  done  better  things  for 
you." 

"  I  do  not  understand  these  fashions,  my  lord,"  said  NigeL 
his  displeasure  mastering  his  shame;  "were  I  to  attend  the 
court  of  my  sovereign,  it  should  be  when  I  could  maintain, 
without  shifting  or  borrowing,  the  dress  and  retinue  which 
my  rank  requires." 

"  Wliich  my  rank  requires!  "said  Lord  Dalgarno,  repeat- 
ing his  last  words;  "  that,  now,  is  as  good  as  if  my  father  had 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  123 

spoke  it.  I  fancy  you  would  love  to  move  to  court  with  him, 
followed  by  a  round  score  of  old  blue-bottles,  with  wliite  heads 
and  red  noses,  with  bucklers  and  broadswords,  which  their 
hands,  trembling  betwixt  age  and  strong  waters,  can  make  no 
use  of;  as  many  huge  silver  badges  on  their  arms,  to  show 
whose  fools  they  are,  as  would  furnish  forth  a  court  cupboard 
of  plate — rogues  fit  for  nothing  but  to  fill  onr  antechambers 
with  the  flavor  of  onions  nnH  aenievre — palil'' 

"  The  poor  knaves! ''  said  Lord  Glenvarloch,  "  they  have 
served  your  father,  it  may  be,  in  the  wars.  What  would 
become  of  them  were  he  to  turn  them  off?" 

"AVhv,  let  them  go  to  the  hospital,"  said  Dalgarno,  "or 
to  the  bridge-end,  to  sell  switches.  The  King  is  a  better 
man  than  my  father,  and  you  see  those  who  have  served  in 
his  wars  do  so  every  day.  Or,  when  their  blue  coats  were  well 
worn  out,  they  would  make  rare  scarecrows.  Here  is  a  fel- 
low, now,  comes  down  the  walk;  the  stoutest  raven  dare  not 
come  within  a  yard  of  that  copper  nose.  I  tell  you,  there  is 
more  service,  as  you  will  soon  see,  in  my  valet  of  the  cham- 
ber, and  such  a  lither  lad  as  my  page  Lutin,  than  there  is 
in  a  score  of  these  old  memorials  of  the  Douglas  wars,*  where 
they  cut  each  other's  throats  for  the  chance  of  finding  twelve 
pennies  Scots  on  the  person  of  the  slain.  Marry,  my  lord, 
to  make  amends,  they  will  eat  mouldy  victuals  and  drink  stale 
ale,  as  if  their  bellies  Avere  puncheons.  But  the  dinner  bell 
is  going  to  sound — hark,  it  is  clearing  its  rusty  throat  with 
a  preliminary  jowl.  That  is  another  clamorous  relic  of  an- 
tiquity that,  were  I  master,  should  soon  be  at  the  bottom  of 
the  Thames.  How  the  foul  fiend  can  it  interest  the  peas- 
ants and  mechanics  in  the  Strand  to  know  that  the  Earl  of 
Huntinglen  is  sitting  down  to  dinner?  But  my  father  looks 
our  way;  we  must  not  be  late  for  the  grace,  or  we  shall  be  in 
dis-gva-CQ,  if  you  will  forgive  a  quibble  which  would  have  made 
his  Majesty  laugh.  You  will  find  us  all  of  a  piece,  and,  hav- 
ing been  accustomed  to  eat  in  saucers  abroad,  I  am  ashamed 
you  should  witness  our  larded  capons,  our  mountains  of  beef, 
and  oceans  of  brewis,  as  large  as  Highland  hills  and  lochs; 
but  you  shall  see  better  cheer  to-morrow.  Where  lodge  you  ? 
I  will  call  for  you.  I  must  be  your  guide  through  the  peopled 
desert  to  certain  enchanted  lands,  wliicli  you  will  scarce  dis- 
cover without  chart  and  pilot.     Where  lodge  you  ?" 

"I  will  meet  you  in  Paul's,"  said  Nigel,  a  good  deal  em- 
barrassed, "at  any  hour  you  please  to  name." 

"  0,  you  would  be  private,"  said  the  young  lord.     "  Nay, 

*  See  Note  17. 


134  WAVERLEV  NOVELS 

fear  not  me — T  will  be  no  intrnder.  But  we  have  attained 
this  huge  larder  of  flesh,  foAvl,  and  fish.  I  marvel  Jie  oaken 
boards  groan  not  under  it/' 

They  had  indeed  arrived  in  the  dining-parlor  of  the  man- 
sion, where  the  table  was  superabundantly  loaded,  and  where 
the  number  of  attendants  to  a  certain  extent  vindicated  tlie 
sarcasms  of  the  young  nobleman.  The  chaplain  and  Sir 
Mungo  Malagrowther  were  of  the  party.  The  latter  com- 
plimented Lord  Glenvarloch  upon  the  impression  he  had  made 
at  court.  "  One  would  have  thought  ye  had  brought  the  apple 
of  discord  in  your  pouch,  my  lord,  or  that  you  were  the 
very  firebrand  of  whilk  Althea  was  delivered,  and  that  she 
had  lain-in  in  a  barrel  of  gunpowder  ;  for  the  King,  and  the 
Prince,  and  the  Duke  have  been  by  the  lugs  about  ye,  and  so 
have  many  more,  that  kenn'dna  before  this  blessed  day  that 
there  was  such  a  man  living  on  the  face  of  the  earth." 

"  Mind  your  victuals.  Sir  Mungo/"  said  the  earl ;  "  they 
get  cold  while  you  talk." 

"  Troth,  and  that  needsna,  my  lord,"  said  the  knight ; 
''your  lordship's  dinners  seldom  scald  one's  mouth  :  the 
serving-men  are  turning  auld,  like  oursells,  my  lord,  and  it 
is  far  between  the  kitchen  and  the  ha'." 

With  this  little  explosion  of  his  spleen.  Sir  Mungo  re- 
mained satisfied,  until  the  dishes  were  removed,  when,  fix- 
ing his  eyes  on  the  brave  new  doublet  of  Lord  Dalgarno,  he 
complimented  him  on  his  economy,  pretending  to  recognize 
it  as  the  same  which  his  father  had  worn  in  Edinburgh  in 
the  Spanish  ambassador's  time.  Lord  Dalgarno,  too  much  a 
man  of  the  world  to  be  moved  by  anything  from  such  a 
quarter,  proceeded  to  crack  some  nuts  with  great  delibera- 
tion, as  he  replied,  that  "  The  doublet  was  in  some  sort  his 
father's,  as  it  was  likely  to  cost  him  fifty  pounds  some  day 
soon."  Sir  Mungo  forthwith  proceeded  in  his  own  way  to 
convey  this  agreeable  intelligence  to  the  earl,  observing,  that 
"  His  son  was  a  better  maker  of  bargains  than  his  lordship, 
for  he  had  bought  a  doublet  as  rich  as  that  his  lordship  wore 
when  the  Spanish  ambassador  was  at  Holyrood,  and  it  had 
cost  him  but  fifty  pounds  Scots." — "  That  was  no  fool's  bar- 
gain, my  lord." 

"  Pounds  sterling,  if  you  please.  Sir  Mungo,"  answered 
the  earl,  calmly  ;  "  and  a  fool's  bargain  it  is,  in  all  the 
tenses.  Dalgarno  was  a  fool  when  he  bought  ;  I  will  be  a 
fool  when  I  pay  ;  and  you.  Sir  Mungo,  craving  your  pardon, 
are  a  fool  in  prcesenti  for  speaking  of  what  concerns  you 
not." 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  125 

So  saying,  the  earl  addressed  himself  to  the  serious  busi- 
ness of  the  table,  aud  sent  the  wine  around  with  a  profusion 
which  increased  the  hilarity,  but  rather  threatened  the  tem- 
perance of  the  company,  until  their  joviality  was  inter- 
rupted by  the  annunciation  that  the  scrivener  had  engrossed 
such  deeds  as  required  to  be  presently  executed. 

George  Heriot  arose  from  the  table,  observing,  that  wine- 
cups  and  legal  documents  were  unseemly  neighbors.  The 
3arl  asked  the  scrivener  if  they  had  laid  a  trencher  and  set  a 
cup  for  him  in  the  buttery  ;  and  received  the  respectful 
answer,  that  "  Heaven  forbid  he  should  be  such  an  un- 
gracious beast  as  to  eat  or  drink  until  his  lordship's  pleasure 
was  performed.'' 

"  Thou  shalt  eat  before  thou  goest,"  said  Lord  Hunting- 
len  ;  "  and  I  will  have  thee  tr}-,  moreover,  whether  a  cup  of 
sack  cannot  bring  some  color  into  these  cheeks  of  thine.  It 
were  a  shame  to  my  household,  thou  shouldst  glide  out  into 
the  Strand  after  such  a  spectre-fashion  as  thou  now  Avearest. 
Look  to  it,  Dalgarno,  for  the  honor  of  our  roof  is  con- 
cerned." 

Lord  Dalgarno  gave  directions  that  the  man  should  be 
attended  to.  Lord  Glenvarloch  aud  the  citizen,  in  the  mean 
while,  signed  and  interchanged,  and  thus  closed  a  trans- 
action of  which  the  principal  party  concerned  understood 
little,  save  that  it  was  under  the  management  of  a  zealous 
and  faithful  friend,  who  undertook  that  the  money  should 
be  forthcoming,  and  the  estate  released  from  forfeiture,  by 
payment  of  the  stipulated  sum  for  which  it  stood  pledged, 
and  that  at  the  term  of  Lambmas,  and  at  the  hour  of  noon, 
and  beside  the  tomb  of  the  Eegent  Earl  of  Murray,  in  the 
High  Kirk  of  St.  Giles,  at  Edinburgh,  being  the  day  and 
place  assigned  for  such  redemption.* 

When  this  business  was  transacted,  the  old  earl  would 
fain  have  renewed  his  carouse  ;  but  the  citizen,  alleging  the 
importance  of  the  deeds  he  had  about  him,  and  the  business 
he  had  to  transact  betimes  the  next  morning,  n^t  only  re- 
fused to  return  to  table,  but  carried  with  him  to  his  barge 
Lord  Glenvarloch,  Avho  might,  perhaps,  have  been  otherwise 
found  more  tractable. 

When  they  were  seated  in  the  boat,  and  fairly  once  more 
afloat  on  the  river,  George  Heriot  looked  back  seriously  on 
the  mansion  they  had  left.  "  There  live,"  he  said,  "the  old 
fashion  and  the  new.     The  father  is  like  a  noble  old  broad- 

*  As  each  covenant  in  those  days  of  accuracy  had  a  special  place  nominated  for 
execution,  the  tomb  of  the  Regent  Earl  of  Murray  in  St.  Giles's  church  was  fre- 
quently assi^ed  for  the  purpoas. 


126  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

sword,  but  harmed  with  rust  from  neglect  and  inactivity  ; 
the  son  is  your  modern  raiDier,  well-mounted,  fairly  gilt,  and 
fashioned  to  the  taste  of  the  time — and  it  is  time  must  evince 
if  the  metal  be  as  good  as  the  show.  God  grant  it  prove  so, 
says  an  old  friend  to  the  family." 

Nothing  of  consequence  passed  betwixt  them,  until  Lord 
Glenvarlocli,  landing  at  Paul's  Wharf,  took  leave  of  his 
friend  the  citizen,  and  retired  to  his  own  apartment ;  where 
his  attendant,  Richie,  not  a  little  elevated  with  the  events  of 
the  day,  and  with  the  hospitality  of  Lord  Huntinglen's  house- 
keeping, gave  a  most  splendid  account  of  them  to  the  buxom 
Dame  Nelly,  who  rejoiced  to  hear  that  the  sun  at  length  was 
shining  upon  what  Richie  called  "the  right  side  of  the 
hedge." 


CHAPTER  XI 

You  are  not  for  the  manner  nor  the  times. 
They  have  their  vices  now  ni(;st  like  to  virtues  ; 
You  cannot  know  them  apart  by  any  difference. 
Tliey  wear  the  same  clothes,  eat  the  same  meat, 
Sleep  i'  the  self-same  beds,  ride  in  tliose  coaches, 
Or,  very  like,  four  horsi  s  in  a  coach. 
As  the  best  men  and  women 

Bex  Jonson. 

On  the  following  morning,  while  Nigel,  his  breakfast  fin 
ished,  was  thinking  how  he  should  employ  the  day,  there 
was  a  little  bustle  upon  the  stairs  which  attracted  his  atten- 
tion, and  presently  entered  Dame  Nelly,  blushing  like  scar- 
let and  scarce  able  to  bring  out — "  A  3^oung  nobleman,  sir  ; 
no  one  less,"  she  added,  drawing  her  hand  slightly  over  her 
lips,  "would  be  so  saucy — a  young  nobleman,  sir,  to  wait  on 
you!" 

And  she  was  followed  into  the  little  cabin  by  Lord  Dal- 
garno,  gay,  easy,  disembarrassed,  and  apparently  as  much 
pleased  to  rejoin  his  new  acquaintance  as  if  he  had  found 
him  in  the  apartments  af  a  palace.  Nigel,  on  the  contrary, 
for  youth  is  slave  to  such  circumstances,  was  discountenanced 
and  mortified  at  being  surprised  by  so  splendid  a  gallant  in 
a  chamber  which,  at  the  moment  the  elegant  and  high- 
dressed  cavalier  appeared  in  it,  seemed  to  its  inhabitant  yet 
lower,  narrower,  darker,  and  meaner  than  it  had  ever  shown 
before.  He  would  have  made  some  apology  for  the  situation, 
but  Lord  Dalgarno  cut  him  short. 

"  Not  a  word  of  it,"  he  said — "  not  a  single  word.  I  know 
why  you  ride  at  anchor  here  ;  but  I  can  keep  counsel — so 
pretty  a  hostess  would  recommend  worse  quarters." 

"  On  my  word — on  my  honor,"  said  Lord  Glenvar- 
loch 

"  Nay — nay,  make  no  words  of  the  matter,"  said  Lord 
Ihilgarno.  "  I  am  no  tell-tale,  nor  shall  I  cross  your  walk  ; 
there  is  game  enough  in  the  forest,  thank  Heaven,  and  I  can 
strike  a  doe  for  myself." 

All  this  he  said  in  so  significant  a  manner,  and  the  ex- 
planation which  he  had  adopted  seemed  to  put  Lord  Glen- 
varloch's  gallantry  on  so   respectable  a  footing,  that  Nigel 


128  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

ceased  to  try  to  undeceive  him;  and  less  ashamed,  perhaps 
(for  such  is  human  weakness),  of  siqiposed  vice  than  of  real 
poverty,  changed  tlie  discourse  to  something  else,  and  left 
poor  Dame  Nelly's  reputation  and  his  own  at  the  mercy  of 
the  young  courtier's  misconstruction. 

He  offered  refreshments  with  some  hesitation.  Lord  Dal- 
garno  had  long  since  breakfasted,  but  had  just  come  from 
playing  a  set  of  tennis,  he  said,  and  would  willingly  taste  a 
cup  of  the  pretty  hostess's  single  beer.  This  was  easily  pro- 
cured, ^yas  drunk,  was  commended,  and,  as  the  hostess 'failed 
not  to  bring  the  cup  herself.  Lord  Dalgarno  profited  by  the 
opportunity  to  take  a  second  and  more  attentive  view  of  her, 
and  then  gravely  drank  to  her  husband's  health,  with  an 
almost  imperceptible  rod  to  Lord  Glenvarloch.  Dame  Xelly 
was  much  honored,  smoothed  her  apron  down  with  her 
hands,  and  said — "  Her  John  Avas  greatly  and  truly  honored 
by  their  lordships;  he  was  a  kind,  painstaking  man  for  his 
family  as  was  in  the  alley,  or  indeed  as  far  north  as  Paul's 
Chain." 

She  would  have  proceeded  probably  to  state  the  difference 
betwixt  their  ages,  as  the  only  alloy  to  their  nuptial  happi- 
ness; but  her  lodger,  who  had  no  mind  to  be  farther  exposed 
to  his  gay  friend's  raillery,  gave  her,  contrary  to  his  wont,  a 
signal  to  leave  the  room. 

Lord  Dalgarno  looked  after  her,  then  looked  at  Glenvar  ■ 
loch,  shook  his  head,  and  repeated  the  well-known  lines — 

"  '  My  lord,  beware  of  jealousy; 

It  is  the  green-eyed  monster  which  doth  make 
The  meat  it  feeds  on.' 

But  come,"  he  said,  changing  his  tone,  ''  I  know  not  why  I 
should  worry  you  thus — I  who  have  so  many  follies  of  my 
own — when  I  should  rather  make  excuse  for  being  here  at  all, 
and  tell  you  wherefore  I  came." 

So  saying,  he  reached  a  seat,  and,  placing  another  for 
Lord  Glenvarloch,  in  sjoite  of  his  anxious  haste  to  anticipate 
this  act  of  courtesy,  he  proceeded  in  the  same  tone  of  easy 
familiarity: 

"  We  are  neighbors,  my  lord,  and  are  just  made  known 
to  each  other.  Now,  I  know  enough  of  the  dear  North  to  be 
well  aware  that  Scottish  neighbors  must  be  either  dear  friends 
or  deadly  enemies — must  either  walk  hand-in-hand  or  stand 
sword-point  to  sword-point;  so  I  choose  the  hand-in-hand, 
unless  you  should  reject  my  proffer." 

''  How  were  it  possible,  my  lord,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch, 


THE  FOIiTUNES  OF  NIGEL  129 

■'to  refuse  what  is  ollered  so  frankly,  even  if  your  father  had 
not   been  a  second   father  tome?"'     And,  as  he  took  Lord 
Dalgarno's  hand,  he  added,  "I   have,  I  think,  lost  no  time 
since,  during  one  day's  attendance  at  court.  I  liave  made  a 
kind  friend  and  a  powerful  enemy.' 

"The  friend  thanks  you,"  replied  Lord  Dalgarno,  ''for 
your  just  opinion;  but,  my  dear  Glenvarloch — or  rather,  for 
titles  are  too  formal  between  us  of  the  better  file,  what  is 
your  Christian  name?" 

"Nigel,"  replied  Lord  Glenvarloch. 

"  Then  Ave  will  be  Nigel  and  ]\lalcolm  to  each  otlier,"  said 
his  visitor,  "and  mv  lord  to  the  plebeian  Avorld  around  us. 
But  I  was  about  to  ask  you  Avhom  you  supposed  your 
enemy?" 

"No  less  than  the  all-powerful  favorite,  the  great  Duke 
of  Buckingham.'" 

"  You  dream !  What  could  possess  you  with  such  an  opin- 
ion?" said  Dalgarno. 

"  He  told  me  so  himself,"  replied  Glenvarloch;  "  and,  m 
so  doing,  dealt  frankly  and  honorably  with  me." 

"  0,  you  know  him  not  yet,"  said  his  companion;  "  the 
duke  is  moulded  of  an  hundred  noble  and  fiery  qualities, 
that  prompt  him,  like  a  generous  horse,  to  spring  aside  in 
impatience  at  the  least  obstacle  to  his  forward  course.  But 
he  means  not  what  he  says  in  such  passing  heats.  I  can  do 
more  with  him,  I  thank  Heaven,  than  most  who  are  around 
him;  you  shall  go  visit  him  with  me,  and  you  will  see  how 
you  shall  be  received." 

"  I  told  you,  my  lord,"  said  Glenvarloch,  firmly,  and  with 
some  haughtiness,  "the  Duke  of  Buckingham,  without  the 
least  offence,  declared  himself  my  enemy  in  the  face  of  the 
court,  and  he  shall  retract  that  aggression  as  publicly  as  it 
was  given,  ere  I  will  make  the  slightest  advance  towards  him." 

"  You  would  act  becomingly  in  every  other  case,"  said 
Lord  Dalgarno,  "but  here  you  are  wrong.  In  the  court 
horizon,  Buckingham  is  lord  of  the  ascendant,  and  as  he  is 
adverse  or  favoring,  so  sinks  or  rises  the  fortune  of  a  suitor. 
The  King  would  bid  you  remember  your  Phsedrus — 

"  '  Arripiens  geminas,  ripis  cedentibus,  ollas ' 

and  so  forth.     You  are  the  vase  of  earth;  beware  of  knock- 
ing yourself  against  the  vase  of  iron." 

"  The  vase  of  earth,"  said  Glenvarloch,  "  will  avoid  the 
encounter  by  getting  ashore  out  of  the  current :  I  mean  to 
go  no  more  to  court." 


180  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

"  0,  to  court  you  necessarily  must  go  ;  you  will  find 
your  Scottish  suit  move  ill  without  it,  for  there  is  both 
patronage  and  favor  necessary  to  enforce  the  sign-manual  you 
have  obtained.  Of  that  we  will  speak  more  hereafter ;  but 
tell  me  in  the  mean  while,  my  dear  Nigel,  whether  you  did 
not  wonder  to  see  me  here  so  early?" 

"  1  am  surprised  that  you  could  find  me  out  in  this 
obscure  corner,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch. 

*' My  page  Lutin  is  a  very  devil  for  that  sort  of  discovery/' 
rai^lled  Lord  Dalgarno.  "  I  have  but  to  say,  *  Goblin,  I 
would  know  where  he  or  she  dwells,'  and  he  guides  me 
.hither  as  if  by  art  magic." 

/'I  hope  he  waits  not  now  in  the  street,  my  lord,"  said 
Xigel.     *'  I  will  send  my  servant  to  seek  him." 

•*Do  not  concern  yourself;  he  is  by  this  time,"  said 
Lord  Dalgarno,  "  playing  at  hustle-cap  and  chuck-farthing 
with  the  most  blackguard  imps  upon  the  wharf,  unless  he 
hath  foregone  his  old  customs." 

"Are  you  not  afraid,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch,  "that  in 
such  company  his  morals  may  become  deprr.  ed  ?  " 

"  Let  his  company  look  to  their  own,"  answered  Lord 
Dalgarno,  coolly  ;  "  for  it  will  be  a  company  of  real  fiends  in 
which  Lutin  cannot  teach  more  mischief  than  he  can  learn  : 
he  is,  I  thank  the  gods,  most  thoroughly  versed  in  evil  for  his 
years.  I  am  spared  the  trouble  of  looking  after  his  morali- 
ties, for  nothing  can  make  them  either  better  or  worse." 

"I  wonder  you  can  answer  this  to  his  parents,  my  lord," 
said  Nigel. 

"  I  wonder  where  I  should  find  his  parents,"  replied  his 
companion,  "to  render  an  account  to  them." 

"  He  may  be  an  orphan,"  said  Lord  Nigel ;  "  but  surely, 
being  a  page  in  your  lordship's  family,  his  parents  must  be  of 
rank." 

"Of  as  high  rank  as  the  gallows  could  exalt  them  to," 
replied  Lord  Dalgarno,  with  the  same  indifiierence  ;  "they 
were  both  hanged,  I  believe — at  least  the  gypsies  from 
whom  I  bought  him  five  years  ago  intimated  as  much  to  me. 
You  are  surprised  at  this  now.  But  is  it  not  better  that 
instead  of  a  lazy,  conceited,  whey-faced  slip  of  gentility,  to 
whom,  in  your  old-world  idea  of  the  matter,  I  was  bound  to 
stand  Sir  Pedagogue,  and  see  that  he  washed  his  hands  and 
face,  said  his  prayers,  learned  his  accidens,  spoke  no  naughty 
words,  brushed  his  hat,  and  wore  his  best  doublet  only  on 
Sunday — that,  instead  of  such  a  Jacky  Goodchild,  I  should 
have  something  like  this?" 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  131 

He  whistled  shrill  ami  clear,  and  the  page  he  spoke  of 
darted  into  the  room,  almost  with  the  effect  of  an  actual 
apparition.  From  his  height  he  seemed  but  fifteen,  but, 
from  his  face^  might  be  two  or  even  three  years  older,  very 
neatly  made  and  richly  dressed  ;  with  a  thin  bronze  visage, 
which  marked  his  gypsey  descent,  and  a  pair  of  sparkling 
black  eyes,  which  seemed  almost  to  pierce  through  those 
whom  he  looked  at. 

"  There  he  is,"  said  Lord  Dalgarno,  *'  fit  for  every  ele- 
ment ;  prompt  to  execute  every  command,  good,  bad,  or  in- 
different ;  unmatched  in  his  tribe  as  rogue,  tliief,  and  liar." 

"  All  which  qualities,"  said  the  undaunted  page,  "have 
each  in  turn  stood  y^ur  lordship  in  stead." 

"Out,  you  imp  of  Satan!"  said  his  master — "  vanish — 
begone — o/my  conjuring-rod  goes  about  your  ears."  The 
boy  turned  and  disappeared  as  suddenly  as  he  had  entered. 
"  You  see,"  said  Lord  Dalgarno,  "that,  in  choosing  my 
household,  the  best  regard  I  can  pay  to  gentle  blood  is  to 
exclude  it  from  my  service  :  that  very  gallows-bird  were 
enough  to  corrupt  a  whole  antechamber  of  pages,*  though 
they  were  descended  fron  kings  and  kaisers." 

"  I  can  scarce  think  that  a  nobleman  should  need  the 
offices  of  such  an  attendant  as  your  goblin,"  said  Nigel ; 
"you  are  but  jesting  with  my  inexperience." 

"  Time  will  show  whether  I  jest  or  not,  my  dear  Xigel," 
replied  Dalgarno  ;  "in  the  mean  time,  I  have  to  propose  to 
you  to  take  the  advantage  of  the  flood-tide,  to  run  up  the 
river  for  pastime  ;  and  at  noon  I  trust  you  will  dine  with 
me." 

Nigel  acquiesced  in  a  plan  which  promised  so  much 
amusement ;  and  his  new  friend  and  he,  attended  by  Lutin 
and  Moniplies,  who  greatly  resembled,  when  thus  associated, 
the  conjunction  of  a  bear  and  a  monkey,  took  possession  of 
Lord  Dalgarno's  wherry,  which  with  its  badged  watermen, 
bearing  his  lordship's  crest  on  their  arms,  lay  in  readiness  to 
receive  them.  The  air  was  delightful  upon  the  river,  and  the 
lively  conversation  of  Lord  Dalgarno  added  zest  to  the  pleas- 
ures of  the  little  voyage.  He  could  not  only  give  an  account 
of  the  various  public  buildings  and  noblemen's  houses  which 
they  passed  in  ascending  the  Thames,  but  he  knew  how  to 
season  his  information  with  abundance  of  anecdote,  politi- 
cal innuendo,  and  personal  scaiidal ;  if  he  had  not  very  much 
wit,  he  was  at  least  completely  master  of  the  fashionable  tona 
which  in  that  time,  as  in  ours,  more  than  amply  supplies  any 
deficiency  c!  the  kind. 

•  See  Note  18. 


182  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

It  was  a  style  of  conversation  entirely  new  to  his  com- 
panion, as  was  the  world  which  Lord  Dalgarno  opened  to  his 
observation;  and  it  is  no  wonder  that  Nigel,  notwithstand- 
ing his  natural  good  sense  and  high  spirit,  admitted,  more 
readily  than  seemed  consistent  with  either,  the  tone  of 
authoritative  instruction  which  his  new  friend  assumed 
towards  him.  There  would,  indeed,  have  been  some  diffi- 
culty in  making  a  stand.  To  attempt  a  high  and  stubborn 
tone  of  morality,  in  answer  to  the  light  strain  of  Lord  Dal- 
garno^s  conversation,  which  kept  on  the  frontiers  between  jest 
and  earnest,  would  have  seemed  pedantic  and  ridiculous;  and 
every  attempt  which  Nigel  made  to  combat  his  companion's 
propositions,  by  reasoning  as  jocose  as  his  own,  only  showed 
his  inferiority  in  that  gay  species  of  controversy.  And  it 
must  be  owned  besides,  though  internally  disapproving  much 
of  what  he  heard.  Lord  Glenvarloch,  young  as  he  was  in 
society,  became  less  alarmed  by  the  language  and  manners  of 
his  new  associate  than  in  prudence  he  ought  to  have  been. 

Lord  Dalgarno  was  unwilling  to  startle  his  proselyte  by 
insisting  upon  any  topic  which  appeared  particularly  to  jar 
with  his  habits  or  principles;  and  he  blended  his  mirth  and 
his  earnest  so  dexterously,  that  it  was  impossible  for  Nigel  to 
discover  how  far  he  was  serious  in  his  projjositions,  or  how 
far  they  flowed  from  a  wild  and  extravagant  spirit  of  raillery. 
And,  ever  and  anon,  those  flashes  of  spirit  and  honor  crossed 
his  conversation,  which  seemed  to  intimate  that,  when 
stirred  to  action  by  some  adequate  motive.  Lord  Dalgarno 
would  prove  something  very  different  from  the  court-haunt- 
ing and  ease-loving  voluptuary  which  he  was  pleased  to  rep- 
resent as  his  chosen  character. 

As  they  returned  down  the  river,  Lord  Glenvarloch  re- 
marked that  the  boat  joassed  the  mansion  of  Lord  Hunting- 
len,  and  noticed  the  circumstance  to  Lord  Dalgarno,  observ- 
ing, that  he  thought  tliey  were  to  have  dined  there.  "  Surely 
no,"  said  the  young  nobleman,  "I  have  more  mercy  on  you 
than  to  gorge  you  a  second  time  with  raw  beef  and  canary 
wine.  I  pro]30se  something  better  for  you,  I  promise  you, 
than  such  a  second  Scythian  festivity.  And  as  for  my 
father,  he  proposes  to  dine  to-day  with  my  grave,  ancient 
Earl  of  Northampton,  whilome  that  celebrated  putter-down 
of  pretended  prophecies.  Lord  Henry  Howard."* 

*' And  do  you  not  go  with  him?"  said  his  companion. 

"  To  what  purpose?  "  said  Lord  Dalgarno.  "  To  hear  his 
wise  lordship  speak  musty  politics  in  false  Latin,  which  tlie 

*  See  Note  19. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  133 

old  fox  always  uses,  that  he  may  give  the  learned  Majesty  of 
England  an  opportunity  of  correcting  his  slips  in  grammai  ? 
That  were  a  rare  emjDloynientl" 

"  Nay,"  said  Lord  Xigel,  "but  out  of  respect,  to  wait  on 
rry  lord  your  father." 

"My  lord  my  father/'  replied  Lord  Dalgarno,  "has  blue- 
bottles enough  to  wait  on  him,  and  can  well  dispense  with 
such  a  butterfly  as  myself.  He  can  lift  the  cup  of  sack  to 
his  head  without  my  assistance;  and  should  the  said  paternal 
head  turn  something  giddy,  there  be  men  enough  to  guide 
his  right  honorable  lordship  to  his  lordship's  right  honorable 
couch.  Now,  do  not  stare  at  me,  Nigel,  as  if  my  words  were 
to  sink  the  boat  with  us.  I  love  my  father — I  love  him 
dearly — and  I  respect  him,  too,  though  I  respect  not  many 
things;  a  trustier  old  Trojan  never  belted  a  broadsword  by  a 
loopof  leather.  But  what  then?  He  belongs  to  the  old 
Avorld,  I  to  the  new.  He  has  his  follies,  I  have  mine;  and 
the  less  either  of  us  sees  of  the  other's  peccadilloes,  the 
greater  will  be  the  honor  and  respect — that,  I  think,  is  the 
proper  phrase — I  say  respect  in  which  Ave  shall  hold  each 
other.  Being  apart,  each  of  us  is  himself,  such  as  nature 
and  circumstances  have  made  him;  but,  couple  us  up  too 
closely  together,  you  will  be  sure  to  have  in  your  leash  either 
an  old  hvpocrite  or  a  voung  one,  or  perhaps  both  the  one  and 
I'other."^ 

As  he  spoke  thus,  the  boat  put  into  the  landing-place  at 
Blackf  riars.  Lord  Dalgarno  sprang  ashore,  and,  flinging  his 
cloak  and  rapier  to  his  page,  recommended  to  his  companion 
to  do  the  like.  "  We  are  coming  among  a  press  of  gal- 
lants,^' he  said;  "and,  if  we  walk  thus  muffled,  we  shall  look 
like  your  tawny-visaged  Don,  who  Avraps  him  close  in  his 
cloak  to  conceal  the  defects  of  his  doublet." 

"  I  have  known  many  an  honest  man  do  that,  if  it  please 
your  lordship,"  said  Eichie  Moniplies,  who  had  been  watch- 
ing for  an  opportunity  to  intrude  himself  on  the  conversa- 
tion, and  probably  remembered  what  had  been  his  own  con- 
-iition,  in  respect  to  cloak  and  doublet,  at  a  very  recent 
period. 

Lord  Dalgarno  stared  at  him,  as  if  surjjrised  at  his  assur- 
ance; but  immediately  answered,  "You  may  have  known 
many  things,  friend;  but,  in  the  mean  while,  you  do  not  know 
what  principally  concerns  your  master,  namely,  how  to  carry 
his  cloak,  so  as  to  show  to  advantage  the  gold-laced  seams 
and  the  lining  of  sables.  See  how  Lutin  holds  the  sword, 
with  the  cloak  cast  partly  over  it,   yet  so   as  to  set  off  the 


134  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

embossed  hilt  and  the  silver  work  of  the  moanting.  Give 
your  familiar  your  sword,  Kigel/'  he  continued,  addressing 
Lord  Glenvarloch,  "  that  he  may  practise  a  lesson  in  an  art 
so  necessary/' 

"Is  it  altogether  prudent,"  said  Nigel,  unclasping  his 
weapon  and  giving  it  to  Ricliie,  ''to  walk  entirely  unarmed  ?" 

"And  wherefore  not  ?"  said  his  companion.  "You  are 
thinking  now  of  Auld  Reekie,  as  my  father  fondly  calls  your 
good  Scottish  capital,  where  there  is  such  bandying  of 
private  feuds  and  public  factions  that  a  man  of  any  note 
shall  not  cross  your  High  Street  tAvice  Avithout  endangering 
his  life  thrice.*  Here,  sir,  no  brawling  in  the  street  is  per- 
mitted. Your  bull-headed  citizen  takes  up  the  case  so  soon 
as  the  sword  is  drawn,  and  '  clubs'  is  the  word." 

"And  a  hard  word  it  is,"  said  Eichie,  "as  my  brain-pan 
kens  at  this  blessed  moment." 

"Were  I  your  master,  sirrah,"  said  Lord  Dalgarno,  "I 
would  make  your  brain-pan,  as  you  call  it,  boil  over,  were 
vou  to  speak  "^a  word  in  my  presence  before  you  were  spoken 
to." 

Richie  murmured  some  indistinct  answer,  but  took  the 
hint,  and  ranked  himself  behind  his  master  along  with 
Lutin,  who  failed  not  to  expose  his  new  companion  to  the 
ridicule  of  the  passers-by,  by  mimicking,  as  often  as  he  could 
do  so  unobserved  by  Richie,  his  stiff  and  upright  stalking 
gait  and  discontented  physiognomy. 

"And  tell  me  now,  my  dear  Malcolm,"  said  Nigel, 
"where  we  are  bending  our  course,  and  whether  we  shall 
dine  at  an  apartment  of  yours  ?" 

"An  apartment  of  mine!  Yes, surely,"  answered  Lord 
Dalgarno,  "you  shall  dine  at  an  apartment  of  mine,  and  an 
apartment  of  yours,  and  of  twenty  gallants  besides;  and 
where  the  board  shall  present  better  cheer,  better  wine,  and 
better  attendance  than  if  our  whole  united  exhibitions  went 
to  maintain  it.  We  are  going  to  the  most  noted  ordinary  of 
London." 

"That  is,  in  common  language,  an  inn,  or  a  tavern?'* 
said  Nigel. 

"An  inn,  or  a  tavern,  my  most  geen  and  simple  friend !" 
exclaimed  Lord  Dalgarno.  **  No,  no — these  are  places  where 
greasy  citizens  take  pipe  and  pot,  where  the  knavish  petti- 
foggers of  the  law  sponge  on  their  most  unhappy  victims, 
where  Templars  crack  jests  as  empty  as  their  nuts,  and 
where  small  gentry  imbibe  such  thin  potations  that  they  get 

*  See  Skirmishes  in  the  Public  Streets.    Note  20. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  135 

dropsies  instead  of  getting  drnuk.  An  ordinary  is  a  late 
invented  institution,  sacred  to  Bacchus  and  Conius,  wliere 
the  choicest  noble  gallants  of  the  time  meet  with  the  first 
and  most  ethereal  wits  of  the  age ;  where  the  wine  is  the  very 
soul  of  the  choicest  grape,  refined  as  the  genius  of  the  poet, 
and  ancient  and  generous  as  the  blood  of  the  nobles.  And 
then  the  fare  is  something  beyond  your  ordinaiy  gross 
terrestrial  food  !  Sea  and  land  are  ransacked  to  supply  it ; 
and  the  invention  of  six  ingenious  cooks  kept  eternally  upon 
the  rack  to  make  their  art  hold  pace  with,  and  if  possible 
enhance,  the  exquisite  quality  of  the  materials." 

"By  all  which  rhapsody,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch,  ''I  can 
only  understand,  as  I  did  before,  that  we  are  going  to  a 
choice  tavern,  where  we  shall  be  handsomely  entertained,  on 
paying  probably  as  handsome  a  reckoning." 

"Eeckoning!"  exclaimed  Lord  Dalgarno  in  the  same 
tone  as  before,  '^'perish  the  peasantly  phrase!  What  prof- 
anation !  Monsieur  le  Chevalier  de  Beaujeu,  pink  of  Paris 
and  flower  of  Gascon)' — he  who  can  tell  the  age  of  his  wine 
by  the  bare  smell — who  distils  his  sauces  in  an  alembic  by  the 
aid  of  Lully's  philosophy — who  carves  with  such  exquisite 
precision,  that  he  gives  to  noble,  knight,  and  squire  the 
portion  of  the  pheasant  which  exactly  accords  with  his  rank 
— nay,  he  who  shall  divide  a  beccafico  into  twelve  parts  with 
such  scrupulous  exactness,  that  of  twelve  guests  not  one 
shall  have  the  advantage  of  the  other  in  a  hair's-breadth, 
or  the  twentieth  part  of  a  drachm,  yet  you  talk  of  him  and 
of  a  reckoning  in  the  same  breath  !  Why,  man,  he  is  the 
well-known  and  general  referee  in  all  matters  affecting  the 
mysteries  of  passage,  hazard,  in-and-in,  penneech,  and  ver- 
quere,  and  what  not.  Why,  Beaujeu  is  king  of  the  card 
pack,  and  duke  of  the  dice-box — he  call  a  reckoning  like  a 
green-aproned,  red-nosed  son  of  the  vulgar  spigot !  0,  my 
dearest  Nigel,  w\at  a  word  you  have  spoken,  and  of  what  a 
person  !  That  you  know  him  not  is  your  only  apology  for 
such  blasphemy ;  and  yet  I  scarce  hold  it  adequate,  for  to 
have  been  a  day  in  London  and  not  know  Beaujeu  is  a  crime 
of  its  own  kind.  But  you  shall  know  him  this  blessed 
moment,  and  shall  learn  to  hold  yourself  in  horror  for  the 
enormities  you  have  uttered." 

"  Well,  but  mark  you,"  said  Nigel,  "  this  worthy  cheva- 
lier keeps  not  all  this  good  cheer  at  his  own  cost,  does  he?" 

"No — no,"  answered  Lord  Dalgarno;  "there  is  a  sort  of 
ceremony  which  my  chevalier's  friends  and  intimates  under- 
stand, but  with    which   you  have  no   business   at   present. 


136  WAVERLEY  AOVELS 

There  is,  as  Majesty  might  say,  a  symlolum  to  be  disbursed 
— in  other  words,  a  mutual  excluinge  of  courtesies  takes 
place  betwixt  Bcaujeu  and  his  guests.  He  makes  them  a  free 
present  of  the  dinner  and  wine,  as  often  as  they  clioose  to 
consult  their  own  felicity  by  frequenting  his  house  at  the 
hour  of  noon,  and  they,  in  gratitude,  make  the  clievalier  a 
present  of  a  Jacobus.  Then  you  must  know  that,  besides 
Comus  and  Bacchus,  that  princess  of  sublunary  affairs,  the 
Diva  Fortuna,  is  frequently  worshipped  at  Beaujeu's,  and 
he,  as  officiating  high  priest,  hath,  as  in  reason  he  should,  a 
considerable  advantage  from  a  share  of  the  sacrifice." 

"  In  other  words,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch,  ''  this  man 
keeps  a  gaming-house." 

"A  house  in  which  you  may  certainly  game,"  said  Lord 
Dalgarno,  "as  you  may  in  your  own  chamber,  if  you  have  a 
mind;  nay,  I  remember  old  Tom  Tally  jjlayed  a  hand  at  put 
for  a  wager  with  Qninze  le  Va,  the  Frenchman,  during  morn- 
ing prayers  in  St.  Paul's;  the  morning  was  misty,  and  the 
parson  drowsy,  and  the  whole  audience  consisted  of  them- 
selves and  a  blind  woman,  and  so  they  escaped  detection." 

"  For  all  this,  Malcolm,"  said  the  young  lord,  gravely, 
"  I  cannot  dine  with  you  to-day  at  tliis  same  ordinary." 

"  And  wherefore,  in  tlie  name  of  Heaven,  should  you 
draw  back  from  your  word?"  said  Lord  Dalgarno. 

"I  do  not  retract  my  word,  Malcolm;  but  I  am  bound, 
by  an  early  promise  to  my  father,  never  to  enter  the  doors 
of  a  gaming-house." 

"  I  tell  you  this  is  none,"  said  Lord  Dalgarno;  '^it  is  but, 
in  plain  terms,  an  eating-house,  arranged  on  civiller  terms, 
and  frequented  by  better  company,  than  others  in  this  town; 
and  if  some  of  them  do  amuse  themselves  with  cards  and 
hazard,  they  are  men  of  honor,  and  who  play  as  such,  and 
for  no  more  than  they  can  well  afford  to  lose.  It  was  not, 
and  could  not  be,  such  houses  as  your  father  desired  you  to 
avoid.  Besides,  he  might  as  well  have  made  you  swear  you 
would  never  take  the  accommodation  of  an  inn,  tavern, 
eating-house,  or  place  of  public  recej)tion  of  any  kind;  for 
there  is  no  such  place  of  public  resort  but  Avhere  your  eyea 
may  be  contaminated  by  the  sight  of  a  pack  of  pieces  of 
painted  pasteboard,  and  your  ears  profaned  by  the  rattle  of 
those  little  spotted  cubes  of  ivory.  The  difference  is,  that 
wliere  we  go  we  may  happen  to  see  persons  of  quality  amus- 
ing themselves  with  a  game;  and  in  the  ordinary  houses  you 
will  meet  bullies  and  sharpers,  who  will  strive  either  to  cheat 
or  to  swagger  you  out  of  your  money." 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL     '  137 

"  I  am  sure  yon  would  not  willingly  lead  me  to  do  what  is 
wrong,"  said  Xigel;  "but  my  father  had  a  horror  of  games 
of  cliance,  religious  I  believe,  as  well  as  prudential.  He 
judged,  from  I  know  not  what  circumstance,  a  fallacious  one 
I  should  hope,  that  I  had  a  propensity  to  such  courses,  and  I 
have  told  you  the  promise  which  he  exacted  from  me." 

''Now,  by  my  honor,"  said  Dalgarno,  ''what  you  have 
said  affords  the  strongest  reason  for  my  insisting  that  you  go 
with  me,  A  man  who  would  shun  any  danger  should  first 
become  acquainted  with  its  real  bearing  and  extent,  and  that 
in  the  company  of  a  confidential  guide  and  guard.  Do  you 
think  I  myself  game?  Good  faith,  my  father's  oaks  grow 
too  far  from  London,  and  stand  too  fast  rooted  in  the  rocks 
of  Perthshire,  for  me  to  troll  them  down  with  a  die,  though 
I  have  seen  whole  forests  go  down  like  nine-pins.  No,  no — 
these  are  sports  for  the  wealthy  Southron,  not  for  the  poor 
Scottish  noble.  The  place  is  an  eating-house,  and  as  such 
you  and  I  will  use  it.  If  others  use  it  to  game  in,  it  is  their 
fault,  but  neither  that  of  the  house  nor  ours." 

Unsatisfied  with  this  reasoning,  Nigel  still  insisted  upon 
the  promise  he  had  given  to  his  father,  until  his  companion 
appeared  rather  displeased,  and  disposed  to  impute  to  him 
injurious  and  unhandsome  suspicions.  Lord  Glenvarloch 
could  not  stand  this  change  of  tone.  He  recollected  that 
much  was  due  from  him  to  Lord  Dalgarno,  on  account  of 
his  father's  ready  and  efficient  friendship,  and  something 
also  on  account  of  the  frank  manner  in  which  the  young 
man  himself  had  offered  him  his  intimacy.  He  had  no  rea- 
son to  doubt  his  assurances  that  the  house  where  they  were 
about  to  dine  did  not  fall  under  the  description  of  places  to 
which  his  father's  prohibition  referred;  and  finally,  he  was 
strong  in  his  own  resolution  to  resist  every  temptation  to 
join  in  games  of  chance.  He  therefore  pacified  Lord  Dal- 
garno by  intimating  his  willingness  to  go  along  with  him; 
and  the  good-humor  of  the  young  courtier  instantaneously 
returning,  he  again  ran  on  in  a  grotesque  and  rodomontade 
account  of  the  host,  Monsieur  de  Beaujeu,  which  he  did  not 
conclude  until  they  had  reached  the  temple  of  hospitality 
over  which  that  eminent  professor  presided. 


CHAPTER   XII 

This  is  the  very  barn-yard, 
Where  muster  daily  the  prime  cocks  o'  the  game. 
Ruffle  their  i)inions,  crow  till  they  are  hoarse, 
And  spar  about  a  barleycorn.     Here  too  chickens, 
The  callow,  unfledged  brood  of  forward  folly. 
Learn  first  to  rear  the  crest,  and  aim  the  spur. 
And  tune  their  note  like  full-plumed  chanticleer. 

The  Bear-Garden. 

The  ordinary,  now  an  ignoble  sound,  was,  in  the  days  of 
James,  a  new  institution,  as  fasliionable  among  the  youth  of 
that  age  as  the  first-rate  modern  club-houses  are  among 
those  of  the  present  day.  It  differed  chiefly  in  being  open 
to  all  whom  good  clothes  and  good  assurance  combined  to  in- 
troduce there.  The  company  usually  dined  together  at  an 
hour  fixed,  and  the  manager  of  the  establishment  presided  as 
master  of  the  ceremonies. 

Monsieur  le  Chevalier  (as  he  qualified  himself)  St. -Priest 
de  Beaujeu  was  a  sharp,  thin  Gascon,  about  sixty  years  old, 
banished  from  his  own  country,  as  he  said,  on  account  of  an 
affair  of  honor,  in  which  he  had  the  misfortune  to  kill  his 
antagonist,  though  the  best  swordsman  in  the  south  of 
France.  His  pretensions  to  quality  were  supported  by  a 
feathered  hat,  a  long  rapier,  and  a  suit  of  embroidered  taf- 
feta, not  much  the  worse  for  Avear,  in  the  extreme  fashion  of 
the  Parisian  court,  and  fluttering  like  a  Maypole  with  many 
knots  of  ribbon,  of  which  it  was  computed  he  bore  at  least 
five  hundred  yards  about  his  person.  But,  notwithstanding 
this  profusion  of  decoration,  there  were  many  who  thought 
Monsieur  le  Chevalier  so  admirably  calculated  for  his  present 
situation  that  nature  could  never  have  meant  to  place  him  an 
inch  above  it.  It  was,  however,  part  of  the  amusement  of 
the  place  for  Lord  Dalgarno  and  other  young  men  of  quality 
to  treat  Monsieur  de  Beaujeu  with  a  great  deal  of  mock  cere- 
mony, which  being  observed  by  the  herd  of  more  ordinary 
and  simple  gulls,  they  paid  him,  in  clumsy  imitation,  much 
real  deference.  The  Gascon's  natural  forwardness  being 
much  enhanced  by  these  circumstances,  he  was  often  guilty 
of  presuming  beyond  the  limits  of  his  situation,  and  of 
course  had  sometimes  the  mortification  to  be  disagreeablj 
driven  back  into  them. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  139 

When  Nigel  entered  the  mansion  of  this  eminent  person, 
which  had  been  but  of  hite  tlie  residence  of  a  great  baron  of 
Queen  Elizabeth's  court,  who  had  retired  to  his  manors  in 
the  country  on  the  death  of  that  princess,  he  was  surprised 
at  the  extent  of  tlie  accommodation  which  it  afforded,  and 
the  number  of  guests  who  were  already  assembled.  Feathers 
Avaved,  spurs  Jingled,  lace  and  embroidery  glanced  every- 
where; and,  at  first  sight  at  least,  it  certainly  made  good 
Lord  Dalgarno's  encomium,  who  represented  the  company  as 
composed  almost  entirely  of  youth  of  the  first  quality.  A 
more  close  review  was  not  quite  so  favorable.  Several  indi- 
viduals might  be  discovered  who  were  not  exactly  at  their 
ease  in  the  splendid  dresses  which  they  wore,  and  who, 
therefore,  might  be  supposed  not  habitually  familiar  with 
such  finery.  Again,  there  were  others  whose  dress,  though 
on  a  general  view  it  did  not  seem  inferior  to  that  of  the  rest 
of  the  company,  displayed,  on  being  observed  more  closely, 
some  of  those  petty  expedients  by  which  vanity  endeavors  to 
disguise  poverty. 

Nigel  had  very  little  time  to  make  such  observations,  for 
the  entrance  of  Lord  Dalgarno  created  an  immediate  bustle 
and  sensation  among  the  company,  as  his  name  passed  from 
one  mouth  to  another.  Some  stood  forward  to  gaze,  others 
stood  back  to  make  way;  those  of  his  own  rank  hastened  to 
welcome  him;  those  of  inferior  degree  endeavored  to  catch 
some  point  of  his  gesture,  or  of  his  dress,  to  be  worn  and 
practised  upon  a  future  occasion,  as  the  newest  and  most  au- 
thentic fashion. 

The  genms  loci,  the  chevalier  himself,  was  not  the  last  to 
welcome  this  prime  stay  and  ornament  of  his  establishment. 
He  came  shuffling  forward  with  a  hundred  apish  conges  and 
"  cliers  milors,"  to  express  his  happiness  at  seeing  Lord  Dal- 
garno again.  "  I  hope  you  do  bring  back  the  sun  with  you, 
milor.  You  did  carry  away  the  sun  and  moon  from  your 
pauvre  chevalier  when  you  leave  him  for  so  long.  Pardieu, 
I  believe  you  take  them  away  in  your  pockets." 

'*  That  must  have  been  because  you  left  me  nothing  else 
in  them,  chevalier,"  answered  Lord  Dalgarno;  "  but.  Mon- 
sieur le  Chevalier,  I  pray  you  to  know  my  countryman  and 
friend.  Lord  Glenvarloch." 

^'Ah,  ha!  tres  honore.  Je  m'en  souviens — oui.  J'ai 
connu  autrefois  un  Milor  Kenfarloque  en  Ecosse.  Yes,  I 
have  memory  of  him — lepere  de  milor  apparemment — we 
were  vera  intimate  when  I  was  at  Oly  Root  with  Monsieur 
de  la  Motte.     I  did  often  play  at  tennis  vit   Milor   Keufar- 


140  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

loque  at  L'Abbaic  d'Oly  Root ;  il  etoit  m^me  plus  fort  que 
moi.  All  le  beau  coup  de  revers  qu'il  avoit !  I  have 
memory,  too,  that  he  was  among  the  pretty  girls — ah,  un 
vrai  diiible  dechainc.     Aha  !     1  have  memory " 

"  Better  have  no  more  memory  of  the  late  Lord  Glenvar- 
loch/'  said  Lord  Dalgarno,  interrupting  the  chevalier  with- 
out ceremony,  wlio  perceived  that  the  encomium  which  he 
was  about  to  pass  on  the  deceased  was  likely  to  be  as  dis- 
agreeable to  the  son  as  it  was  totally  undeserved  by  the  father, 
who,  far  from  being  either  a  gamester  or  libertine,  as  the 
chevalier's  reminiscences  falsely  represented  him,  was,  on 
the  contrary,  strict  and  severe  in  his  course  of  life,  almost  to 
the  extent  of  rigor. 

"You  have  the  reason,  milor,"  answered  the  chevalier — 
"  you  have  the  right.  Qu'est  ce  que  nous  avons  a  faire  avec  le 
temps  passe  ?  The  time  i:)assed  did  belong  to  our  fathers — 
our  ancetres — very  well,  the  time  present  is  to  us  ;  they 
have  their  pretty  tombs,  with  their  memories  and  armorials, 
all  in  brass  and  marbre  ;  we  have  the  petits  plats  exquis,  and 
tlie  soupe-a-chevalier,  which  I  will  cause  to  mount  up  im- 
mediately." 

So  saying,  he  made  a  pirouette  on  his  heel,  and  put  his 
attendants  in  motion  to  place  dinner  on  the  table.  Dalgarno 
laughed,  and,  observing  his  young  friend  looked  grave,  said 
to  him,  in  a  tone  of  reproach,  "  Why,  what !  you  are  not  gull 
enough  to  be  angry  with  such  an  ass  as  that  ?  " 

"  I  keep  my  anger,  I  trust,  for  better  purposes,"  said 
Lord  Glenvarloch  ;  "but  I  confess  I  was  moved  to  hear  such 
a  fellow  mention  my  father's  name  ;  and  you,  too,  who  told 
me  this  was  no  gaming-house,  talked  to  him  of  having  left  it 
with  emptied  pockets." 

"  Pshaw,  man  ! "  said  Lord  Dalgarno,  "  I  spoke  but  ac- 
cording to  the  trick  of  the  time  ;  besides,  a  man  must  set 
a  piece  or  two  sometimes,  or  he  would  be  held  a  cullionly 
niggard.  But  here  comes  dinner,  and  we  will  see  whether 
you  like  the  chevalier's  good  cheer  better  than  his  conversa- 
tion." 

Dinner  was  announced  accordingly,  and  the  two  friends, 
being  seated  in  the  most  honorable  station  at  the  board,  were 
ceremoniously  attended  to  by  the  chevalier,  who  did  the 
honors  of  his  table  to  them  and  to  the  other  guests,  and  sea- 
soned the  whole  witli  his  agreeable  conversation.  The  dinner 
was  really  excellent,  in  that  piquant  style  of  cookery  which 
tlie  French  had  already  introduced,  and  which  the  home- 
bred young  men  of  England,  when  they  aspired  to  the  rank 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  KTOEL  141 

of  connoisseurs  and  persons  of  taste,  were  nnder  the  necessity 
of  admiring.  The  wine  was  also  of  the  first  quality,  and  cir- 
culated in  great  variety  and  no  less  abundance.  Tiie  conver- 
sation among  so  many  young  men  was,  of  course,  light,  lively, 
and  amusing;  and  Nigel,  whose  mind  had  been  long  depressed 
by  anxiety  and  misfortune,  naturally  found  himself  at  ease, 
and  his  spirits  raised  and  animated. 

Some  of  the  company  had  real  wit,  and  could  use  it  both 
politely  and  to  advantage;  others  were  coxcombs  and  were 
laughed  at  without  discovering  it;  and,  again,  others  were 
originals, who  seemed  to  have  no  objection  that  the  company 
should  be  amused  with  their  folly  instead  of  their  wit.  And 
almost  all  the  rest  Avho  played  any  prominent  part  in  the  con- 
versation had  either  tho  real  tone  of  good  society  which 
belonged  to  the  period,  or  the  jargon  which  often  passes  cur- 
rent for  it. 

In  short,  the  company  and  conversation  was  so  agreeable, 
that  Nigel's  rigor  was  sof  toned  by  it,  even  towards  the  master 
of  ceremonies,  and  he  li:tc"ied  with  patience  to  various  details 
which  the  Chevalier  de  Beaujeu,  seeing,  as  he  said,  that 
milor's  taste  lay  for  the  cur  ieux  and  I' utile,  chose  to  address 
to  him  in  particular  on  the  subject  of  cookery.  To  gratify, 
at  the  same  time,  the  taste  for  antiquity,  which  he  somehow 
supposed  that  his  new  guest  possessed,  he  launched  out  in 
commendation  of  the  great  artistsof  former  days,  particularly 
one  whom  he  had  known  in  his  youth,  "Maitre  de  cuisine  to 
the  Marechal  Strozzi — tres  bon  gentilhomme  pourtant,"  who 
had  maintained  his  master's  table  with  twelve  covers  every 
day  during  the  long  and  severe  blockade  of  le  petit  Leyth, 
although  he  had  nothing  better  to  place  on  it  than  the  quar- 
ter of  a  carrion-horse  now  and  then,  and  the  grass  and  weeds 
that  grew  on  the  ramparts.  '"^Despardieux  c'etoit  un  homme 
superbe!  With  one  tistle-head  and  a  nettle  or  two  he  could 
make  a  soupe  for  twenty  guests;  an  haunch  of  a  little  puppy- 
dog  made  a  roti  dcs  plus  excellens;  but  his  coup  de  maitre 
was  when  the  rendition — what  you  call  the  surrender — took 
place  and  appencd;  and  then,  dieu  me  damme,  he  made  out 
of  the  hind  quarter  of  one  salted  horse  forty-five  converts, 
that  the  English  and  Scottish  officers  and  nobility,  who  had 
the  honor  to  dine  with  Monseigneur  upon  the  rendition,  could 
not  tell  what  the  devil  any  one  of  them  were  made  upon  at 
all."  * 

The  good  wine  had  by  this  time  gone  so  merrily  round,  and 
had  such  genial  effect  on  the  guests,  that  those  of  the  lowei 

*  See  French  Cookery.    Note  81. 


142  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

end  of  the  table,  who  had  hitherto  been  listeners,  began,  not 
greatly  to  their  own  credit  or  that  of  the  ordinary,  to  make 
innovations. 

"•  You  si)eak  of  the  siege  of  Leith,"  said  a  tall,  raw-boned 
man,  with  thick  mustachios  turned  up  with  a  military 
twist,  a  broad  buiT  belt,  a  long  rapier,  and  other  outside  sym- 
bols of  the  honored  profession  which  lives  by  killing  other 
people — "  You  talk  of  the  siege  of  Leith,  and  I  have  seen 
the  place — a  pretty  kind  of  a  hamlet  it  is,  with  a  plain  wall 
or  rampart,  and  a  pigeon-house  or  so  of  a  tower  at  every  an- 
gle. tJds  daggers  and  scabbards,  if  a  leaguer  of  our  days  had 
been  twenty-four  hours,  not  to  say  so  many  months,  "before 
it  without  carrying  the  place  and  all  its  cocklofts,  one  cfter 
another,  by  pure  storm,  they  would  have  deserved  no  better 
grace  than  the  provost-marshal  gives  when  his  noose  is 
reeved." 

"  Saar,'*'  said  the  chevalier,  "  Monsieur  le  Capitaine,  I 
vas  not  at  the  siege  of  the  petit  Leyth,  and  I  know  not  what 
you  say  about  the  cockloft ;  but  I  will  say  for  Monseigneur 
de  Strozzi,  that  he  understood  the  grande  guerre,  and  was 
grand  capitaine — plus  grand — that  is  more  great,  it  may  be, 
than  some  of  the  capitaines  of  Angleterre,  who  do  speak  very 
loud — tenez,  monsieur,  car  c'est  a  vous  \" 

"  0,  monsieur,'"'  answered  the  swordsman,  ''we know  the 
Frenchman  will  tight  well  beliind  his  barrier  of  stone,  or 
when  he  is  armed  with  back,  breast,  and  pot." 

"  Pot  I  "  exclaimed  the  chevalier,  "  what  do  you  mean  by 
pot — do  you  mean  to  insult  me  among  my  noble  guests?  Saar, 
I  have  done  my  duty  as  a  pauvre  gentilhomme  under  the 
Grand  Henri  Quatre,  both  at  Courtrai  and  Yvry,  and,  ventre 
saint  gris!  we  had  neither  pot  nor  marmite,  but  did  always 
charge  in  our  shirt." 

"  Which  refutes  another  base  scandal,"  said  Lord  Dal- 

farno,  laughing,  "  alleging  that  linen  was  scarce  among  tl:^ 
'rench  gentlemen-at-arms, " 

"  Gentlemen  out  at  arms  and  elbows  both,  you  mean,  my 
lord,"  said  the  captain,  from  the  bottom  of  the  table.  "  Crav- 
ing your  lordship's  pardon,  I  do  know  something  of  these 
same  gens-d'armes." 

''We  will  spare  your  knowledge  at  present,  captain,  and 
save  your  modesty  at  the  same  time  the  trouble  of  telling  us 
how  that  knowledge  was  acquired, "answered  Lord  Dalgarno, 
rather  contemptuously. 

"I  need  not  speak  of  it,  my  lord,"  said  the  man  of  war  : 
"i\iQ  world  knows  it — all,  perhaps,  but  the  men  of  mohair— 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  143 

the  poor  sneaking  citizens  of  London,  who  would  see  a  man 
of  valor  eat  his  very  hilts  for  hunger,  ere  they  would  draw  a 
farthing  from  their  long  jmrses  to  relieve  them.  0,  if  a 
band  of  the  honest  fellows  I  have  seen  were  once  to  come 
near  that  cuckoo's  nest  *  of  theirs!" 

"A  cuckoo's  nest !  and  that  said  of  the  city  of  London!" 
said  a  gallant  who  sat  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  table,  and 
who,  wearing  a  splendid  and  fashionable  dress,  seemed  yet 
scarce  at  home  in  it.  "I  will  not  brook  to  hear  that  re- 
peated." 

"  What!  "  said  the  soldier,  bending  a  most  terrific  frown 
from  a  pair  of  broad  black  eyebrows,  handling  the  hilt  of  his 
weapon  with  one  hand,  and  twirling  with  the  other  his  huge 
mustachios  ;  "will  you  quarrel  for  your  city?" 

"  Ay,  marry  will  I,"  replied  the  other.  "  I  am  a  citizen, 
I  care  not  who  knows  it ;  and  he  who  shall  speak  a  word  in 
dispraise  of  the  city  is  an  ass  and  a  peremptory  gull,  and  I 
will  break  his  pate,  to  teach  him  sense  and  manners." 

The  compan}^  who  probably  had  their  reasons  for  not 
valuing  the  captain's  courage  at  the  high  rate  which  he  him- 
self put  upon  it,  were  much  entertained  at  the  manner  in 
which  the  quarrel  was  taken  up  by  the  indignant  citizen  ; 
and  they  exclaimed  on  all  sides,  "Well  rung.  Bow  Bell!" 
"Well  crowed,  the  cock  of  St.  Paul's!"  "Sound  a  charge 
there,  or  the  soldier  will  mistake  his  signals,  and  retreat 
when  he  should  advance." 

"You  mistake  me,  gentlemen,"  said  the  captain,  looking 
round  with  an  air  of  dignity.  "  I  will  but  inquire  whether 
this  cavaliero  citizen  is  of  rank  and  degree  fitted  to  measure 
swords  with  a  man  of  action — for,  conceive  me,  gentlemen, 
it  is  not  with  every  one  that  I  can  match  myself  without  loss 
of  reputation — and  in  that  case  he  shall  soon  hear  from  me 
honorably,  by  way  of  cartel." 

"  You  shall  feel  me  most  dishonorably  in  the  way  of  cud- 
gel," said  the  citizen,  starting  up,  and  taking  his  sword, 
which  he  had  laid  in  a  corner.     "Follow  me." 

"  It  is  my  right  to  name  the  place  of  combat,  by  all  the 
rules  of  the  sword,"  said  the  captain  ;  "  and  I  do  nominate 
the  Maze,  in  Tothill  Fields,  for  place  ;  two  gentlemen,  who 
shall  be  indifferent  judges,  for  witnesses  ;  and  for  time — let 
me  say  this  day  fortnight,  at  daybreak." 

"  And  I,"  said  the  citizen,  "  do  nominate  the  bowling- 
alley  behind  the  house  for  place,  the  present  good  company 
for  witnesses,  and  for  time  the  present  moment." 

♦  See  Note  23. 


144  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

So  saying,  he  cast  on  his  beaver,  struck  the  soldier  across 
the  shoulders  witli  his  sheatlied  sword,  and  ran  downstair.^. 
The  captain  showed  no  instant  ahicrity  to  follow  him  ;  yet 
at  last,  roused  by  the  laugh  aiul  sneer  around  liim,  he  as- 
sured the  conij^any  that  what  he  did  he  would  do  deliberately, 
and  assuming  his  hat,  which  he  put  on  with  the  air  of 
Ancient  Pistol,  he  descended  the  stairs  to  the  place  of  com- 
bat, where  his  more -prompt  adversary  was  already  stationed, 
with  his  sword  unsheathed.  Of  the  company,  all  of  whom 
seemed  highly  delighted  with  the  approaching  fray,  some 
ran  to  the  windows  wliicli  overlooked  the  bowling-alley,  and 
others  followed  the  combatants  downstairs.  Nigel  could  not 
help  asking  Dalgarno  whether  he  would  not  interfere  to 
prevent  mischief. 

"  It  would  be  a  crime  against  the  public  interest,^'  an- 
swered his  friend  ;  "  there  can  no  mischief  happen  between 
two  such  originals  which  will  not  be  a  positive  benefit  to 
society,  and  particularly  to  the  chevalier's  establishment,  as 
he  calls  it.  I  have  been  as  sick  of  that  captain's  buff  belt 
and  red  doublet  for  this  month  past  as  e'er  I  was  of  aught ; 
and  now  I  hope  tliis  bold  linendraper  will  cudgel  the  ass  out 
of  that  filthy  lion's  hide.  See,  Nigel — see,  the  gallant  citi- 
zen has  ta'en  his  ground  about  a  bowl's-cast  forward,  in  the 
midst  of  the  alley — the  very  model  of  a  hog  in  armor.  Be- 
hold how  he  prances  with  his  manly  foot,  and  brandishes 
his  blade,  much  as  if  he  were  about  to  measure  forth  cambric 
with  it.  See,  they  bring  on  the  reluctant  soldado,  and  plant 
him  opposite  to  his  fiery  antagonist,  twelve  paces  still  divid- 
ing them.  Lo,  the  captain  draws  his  tool,  but,  like  a  good 
general,  looks  over  his  shoulder  to  secure  his  retreat,  in  case 
the  worse  come  on't.  Behold  the  valiant  shopkeeper  stoops 
his  head,  confident,  doubtless,  in  the  civic  helmet  with  which 
his  spouse  has  fortified  his  skull.  Why,  this  is  the  rarest  of 
sport.     By  Heaven,  he  will  run  a  tilt  at  him  like  a  ram." 

It  was  even  as  Lord  Dalgarno  had  anticipated  ;  for  the 
citizen,  who  seemed  quite  serious  in  his  zeal  for  combat,  per- 
ceiving that  the  man  of  war  did  not  advance  towards  him, 
rushed  onwards  with  as  much  good  fortune  as  courage,  beat 
down  the  captain's  guard,  and,  pressing  on,  thrust,  as  it 
seemed,  his  sword  clear  through  the  body  of  his  antagonist, 
who,  with  a  deep  groan,  measured  his  length  on  the  ground. 
A  score  of  voices  cried  to  the  conqueror,  as  he  stood  fixed  in 
astonishment  at  his  own  feat,  "Away — away  with  you  !  fly — 
fiy — fly  by  the  back  door  !  get  into  tlie  Whitefriars,  or  cross 
the  water  to  the  Bankside,  while  we  keep  off  the  mob  and  the 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIOEL  145 

constables."  And  tlie  conqueror,  leaving  his  vanquished 
foeman  on  the  ground,  fled  according]}',  with  all  speed. 

'"  By  Heaven,"  said  Lord  Dalgaruo,  '"  I  could  never  have 
believed  that  the  fellow  would  have  stood  to  receive  a  thrust ; 
he  has  certainly  been  arrested  by  positive  terror,  and  lost  the 
use  of  his  limbs.     See,  they  are  raising  him." 

Stiff  and  stark  seemed  the  corpse  of  the  swordsman,  as 
one  or  two  of  the  guests  raised  him  from  the  ground  ;  but, 
when  they  began  to  open  his  waistcoat  to  search  for  the  wound 
which  nowhere  existed,  the  man  of  war  collected  his  scattered 
spirits  ;  and,  conscious  that  the  ordinary  was  no  longer  a 
stage  on  which  to  display  his  valor,  took  to  his  heels  as  fast 
as  he  could  run,  pursued  by  the  laughter  and  shouts  of  the 
company. 

"  By  my  honor,"  said  Lord  Dalgarno,  "he  takes  the  same 
course  with  his  conqueror.  I  trust  in  Heaven  he  will  over- 
take him,  and  then  the  valiant  citizen  will  suppose  himself 
haunted  by  the  ghost  of  him  he  has  slain." 

"  Despardieux,  milor,"  said  the  chevalier,  "  if  he  had  staid 
one  moment,  he  should  have  had  a  torchon — what  you  call  a 
dish-clout,  pinned  to  him  for  a  piece  of  shroud,  to  show  he 
be  de  ghost  of  one  grand  fanfaron." 

"In  the  mean  while,"  said  Lord  Dalgarno,  "you  will 
oblige  us.  Monsieur  le  Chevalier,  as  well  as  maintain  your 
own  honored  reputation,  by  letting  your  drawers  receive 
the  man-at-arms  with  a  cudgel,  in  case  he  should  venture  to 
come  this  way  again." 

"  Ventre  saint  gris,  milor,"  said  the  chevalier,  "  leave  that 
to  me.  Begar,  the  maid  shall  throw  the  wash-sud  upon  the 
grand  poltron  ! " 

AYhen  they  had  laughed  sufficiently  at  this  ludicrous  oc- 
currence, the  party  began  to  divide  themselves  into  little 
knots  ;  some  took  possession  of  the  alley,  late  the  scene  of 
combat,  and  put  the  field  to  its  proper  use  of  a  bowling- 
ground,  and  it  soon  resounded  with  all  the  terms  of  tlie  game, 
as  "  run,  run — rub,  rub — hold  bias,  you  infernal  trundling 
timber  !  "  thus  making  good  the  saying  that  three  things 
are  thrown  away  in  a  bowling-green,  namely,  time,  money, 
and  oaths. 

In  the  house,  many  of  the  gentlemen  betook  themselves 
to  cards  or  dice,  and  parties  were  formed  at  ombre,  at  basset, 
at  gleek,  at  primero,  and  other  games  then  in  fashion;  while 
the  dice  were  used  at  various  games,  both  with  and  without 
the  tables,  as  hazard,  in-and-in,  passage,  and  so  forth.  The 
olay,  however,  did  not  appear  to  be  extravagantly  deep;  it 

10 


146  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

was  certainly  conducted  with  great  decorum  and  fairness;  nor 
did  there  appear  anything  to  lead  the  young  Scotsman  in  the 
least  to  doubt  his  companion's  assurance  tliat  the  place  was 
frequented  by  men  of  rank  and  quality,  and  that  the  recre 
ations  they  adopted  were  conducted  upon  honorable  princi- 
ples. 

Lord  Dalgarno  neither  had  proposed  play  to  his  friend 
nor  joined  in  the  amusements  himself,  but  sauntered  from 
one  table  to  another,  remarking  the  luck  of  the  different 
players,  as  well  as  their  capacity  to  avail  themselves  of  it,  and 
exchanging  conversation  with  the  highest  and  most  respect- 
able of  the  guests.  At  length,  as  if  tired  of  what  in  modern 
phrase  would  have  been  termed  lounging,  he  suddenly  re- 
membered that  Burbage  was  to  act  Shakespeare's  King  Richard 
at  the  Fortune  that  afternoon,  and  that  he  could  not  give  a 
stranger  in  London,  like  Lord  Glenvarloch,  a  higher  enter- 
tainment than  to  carry  him  to  that  exhibition.  "  Unless, 
indeed,"  he  added,  in  a  whisper,  "there  is  a  paternal  inter- 
diction of  the  theatre  as  well  as  of  the  ordinary." 

''I  never  heard  my  father  speak  of  stage-plays,"  said 
Lord  Glenvarloch,  "  for  they  are  shows  of  a  modern  date,  and 
unknown  in  Scotland.  Yet,  if  what  I  have  heard  to  their 
prejudice  be  true,  I  doubt  much  whether  he  would  have 
approved  of  them." 

"  Approved  of  them ! "  exclaimed  Lord  Dalgarno;  ''why, 
George  Buchanan  wrote  tragedies,  and  his  pupil,  learned 
and  wise  as  himself,  goes  to  see  them,  so  it  is  next  door  to 
treason  to  abstain;  and  the  cleverest  men  in  England  write 
for  the  stage,  and  the  prettiest  women  in  London  resort  to 
the  playhouses,  and  I  have  a  brace  of  nags  at  the  door  which 
will  carry  us  along  the  streets  like  wildfire,  and  the  ride  will 
digest  our  venison  and  ortolans,  and  dissipate  the  fumes  of 
the  wine,  and  so  let's  to  horse.  God-den  to  you,  gentlemen. 
God-den,  Chevalier  de  la  Fortune." 

Lord  Dalgarno's  grooms  were  in  attendance  with  two 
horses,  and  the  young  men  mounted,  the  proprietor  upon  a 
favorite  barb,  and  Nigel  upon  a  high-dressed  jennet,  scarce 
less  beautiful.  As  they  rode  towards  the  theatre.  Lord  Dal- 
garno endeavored  to  discover  his  friend's  opinion  of  the  com- 
pany to  which  he  had  introduced  him,  and  to  combat  the  ex- 
ceptions which  he  might  suppose  him  to  have  taken.  "  And 
wherefore  lookest  thou  sad,"  he  said,  "my  pensive  neophyte? 
Sage  son  of  the  alma  mater  of  Low-Dutch  learning,  what 
aileth  thee?  Is  the  leaf  of  the  living  world  which  we  have 
turned  over  in  company  less  fairly  written  than  thou  hadst 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  147 

been  taught  to  expect?  Be  comforted,  and  pass  over  one 
little  blot  or  two;  thou  wilt  be  doomed  to  read  through 
many  a  page  as  black  as  infamy,  with  her  sooty  pinion,  can 
make  them.  Remember,  most  immaculate  Xigel,  that  we  are 
Ixi  London,  not  Leyden;  that  we  are  studying  life,  not  lore. 
Stand  buff  against  the  reproach  of  thine  over-tender  con- 
cience,  man,  and  when  thou  summest  up,  like  a  good  arith- 
metician, the  actions  of  the  day,  before  you  balance  the  ac- 
count upon  your  pillow,  tell  the  accusing  spirit  to  his  brim- 
stone beard  that,  if  thine  ears  have  heard  the  clatter  of  the 
devirs  bones,  thy  hand  hath  not  trowled  them;  that  if  thine 
eye  hath  seen  the  brawling  of  two  angry  boys,  thy  blade  hath 
not  been  bared  in  their  fray." 

" Now,  all  this  may  be  wise  and  witty,"  replied  Xigel; 
"yet  I  OAvn  I  cannot  think  but  that  your  lordship,  and  other 
men  of  good  quality  with  whom  we  dined,  might  have  chosen 
a  place  of  meeting  free  from  the  intrusion  of  bullies,  and  a 
better  master  of  your  ceremonial  than  yonder  foreign  adven- 
turer." 

"All  shall  be  amended,  Sancte  Xigelle,  when  thou  shalt 
come  forth  a  new  Peter  the  Hermit,  to  preach  a  crusade 
against  dicing,  drabbing,  and  company-keeping.  We  will 
meet  for  dinner  in  St.  Sepulchre's  church;  we  will  dine  in 
the  chancel,  drink  our  flask  in  the  vestry;  the  parson  shall 
draw  every  cork,  and  the  clerk  say  '  amen  '  to  every  health. 
Come,  man,  cheer  up,  and  get  rid  of  this  sour  and  unsocial 
humor.  Credit  me,  that  the  Puritans  who  object  to  us  the 
follies  and  the  frailties  incident  to  human  nature  have  them- 
selves the  vices  of  absolute  devils,  privy  malice  and  backbit- 
ing h}^ocrisy,  and  spiritual  pride  in  all  its  presumption. 
There  is  much,  too,  in  life  which  we  must  see,  were  it  only 
to  learn  to  shun  it.  Will  Shakespeare,  who  lives  after  death, 
and  who  is  presently  to  afford  thee  such  pleasure  as  none 
but  himself  can  confer,  has  described  the  gallant  Falcon- 
bridge  as  calling  that  man 

" '  A  bastard  to  the  time 
That  doth  not  smack  of  observation ; 

Which,  though  I  will  not  practise  to  deceive, 
Yet,  to  avoid  deceit,  I  mean  to  learn.' 

But  here  we  are  at  the  door  of  the  Fortune,*  where  we  shall 
have  matchless  Will  speaking  for  himself.  Goblin,  and  you 
other  lout,  leave  the  horses  to  the  grooms,  and  make  way  for 
us  through  the  press." 

•  Tliis  theatre  was  situatfjcl  neftr  playhouse  Yard.  Golden  Lane  {LaingX 


148  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

They  dismounted,  and  the  assiduous  efforts  of  Lutin, 
elbowing,  bullying,  and  proclaiming  his  master's  name  and 
title,  made  way  through  a  crowd  of  murmuring  citizens  and 
clauiorous  apprentices  to  the  door,  where  Lord  Dalgarno 
speedily  procured  a  brace  of  stools  upon  the  stiigo  for  his  com- 
panion and  himself,  where,  seated  among  other  gallants  of 
the  same  class,  they  had  an  opportunity  of  displaying  their 
fair  dresses  and  fashionable  manners,  while  they  criticised  the 
piece  during  its  ^irogress ;  thus  forming,  at  the  same  time,  a 
conspicuous  part  of  the  spectacle  and  an  important  proportion 
of  the  audience. 

Nigel  Olifaunt  was  too  eagerly  and  deeply  absorbed  in  the 
interest  of  the  scene  to  be  capable  of  playing  his  part  as  be- 
came the  place  where  he  was  seated.  He  felt  all  the  magic 
of  that  sorcerer  who  had  displayed,  within  the  paltry  circle 
of  a  wooden  booth,  the  long  Avars  of  York  and  Lancaster, 
compelling  the  heroes  of  either  line  to  stalk  across  the  scene 
in  language  and  fashion  as  they  lived,  as  if  the  grave  had 
given  up  the  dead  for  the  amusement  and  instruction  of  the 
living.  Burbage,*  esteemed  the  best  Eichard  until  Garrick 
arose,  played  the  tyrant  and  usurper  with  such  truth  and 
liveliness  "that,  when  the  battle  of  Boswortli  seemed  con- 
cluded by  his  death,  the  ideas  of  reality  and  deception  were 
strongly  contending  in  Lord  Glenvarloch's  imagination,  and 
it  required  him  to  rouse  himself  from  his  reverie,  so  strange 
did  the  proposal  at  first  sound,  when  his  companion  declared 
King  Eichard  should  sup  with  them  at  the  Mermaid. 

They  were  joined,  at  the  same  time,  by  a  small  party  of 
the  gentlemen  with  whom  they  had  dined,  which  they  re- 
cruited by  inviting  two  or  three  of  the  most  accomplished 
wits  and  poets,  who  seldom  failed  to  attend  the  Fortune 
Theatre,  and  were  even  but  too  ready  to  conclude  a  day  of 
amusement  with  a  night  of  pleasure.  Thither  the  whole 
party  adjourned,  and  betwixt  fertile  cups  of  sack,  excited 
spirits,  and  the  emulous  wit  of  their  lively  companions, 
seemed  to  realize  the  joyous  boast  of  one  of  Ben  Jonson's 
contemporaries,  when  reminding  the  bard  of 

Those  lyric  feasts, 
Where  men  such  clusters  had. 
As  made  them  nobly  w41d,  not  mad  ; 
While  yet  each  verse  of  tliine 
Outdid  the  meat,  outdid  the  frolic  wine. 

*  See  Note  23. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

Let  the  proud  salmon  gorge  the  feather'd  hook, 
Then  strike,  and  then  you  have  him.     He  will  winoe; 
Spin  out  your  line  that  it  shall  whistle  from  you 
Some  twenty  yards  or  so,  yet  you  shall  have  him. 
Marrj"!  you  must  liave  patience.     The  stout  rock 
Which  is  his  trust  hath  edges  something  sharp; 
And  the  deep  pool  hath  ooze  and  sludge  enough 
To  mar  your  fishing,  'less  you  are  more  careful. 

Albion,  or  the  Double  Kingg. 

It  is  seldom  tliat  a  day  of  pleasure,  upon  review,  seems  alto 
gether  so  exquisite  as  the  partaker  of  the  festivity  may  have 
felt  it  while  passing  over  him.  Nigel  Olifaunt,  at  least,  did 
not  feel  it  so,  audit  required  a  visit  from  his  new  acquaintance 
Lord  Dalgarno  to  reconcile  him  entirely  to  himself.  But 
this  visit  took  place  early  after  breakfast,  and  his  friend's 
discourse  was  prefaced  with  a  question,  "  How  he  liked  the 
company  of  the  preceding  evening?  " 

"■  Wiiy,  excellently  well,''  said  Lord  Glenvarloch;  "  only 
I  should  have  liked  the  wit  better  had  it  appeared  to  flow 
more  freely.  Every  man's  invention  seemed  on  the  stretch, 
and  each  extravagant  simile  seemed  to  set  one  half  of  your 
men  of  Avit  into  a  brown  study  to  produce  something  which 
should  out-herod  it." 

*'And  wherefore  not?"  said  Lord  Dalgarno,  "or  wliat 
are  these  fellows  fit  for,  but  to  play  the  intellectual  gladiators 
before  us?  He  of  them  who  declares  himself  recreant, 
Ahould,  d — n  him,  be  restricted  to  muddy  ale,  and  the  patron- 
age of  the  Waterman's  Company.  I  promise  you,  that  many 
a  pretty  fellow  has  been  mortally  wounded  with  a  quibble  or 
a  carwitchet  at  the  Mermaid,  and  sent  from  thence,  in  a  pit- 
iable estate,  to  Wit's  hospital  in  the  Yintry,  where  they  lan- 
guish to  this  day  among  fools  and  aldermen." 

"  It  may  be  so,"  said  Lord  Xigel;  "  yet  I  could  swear  by 
my  honor,  that  last  night  I  seemed  to  be  in  company  Avith 
more  than  one  man  wliose  genius  and  learning  ought  either  to 
have  i:)laced  him  higher  in  our  company  or  to  have  with- 
drawn him  altogether  from  a  scene  where,  sooth  to  speak, 
his  part  seemed  unworthily  subordinate." 

"  Xow,  out  upon  your  tender  conscience,"  said  Lord  Dal- 
garno;  '•'  and  the  fico  for  euch  outcasts  of  Parnassus!     Why, 


150  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

these  are  tlie  very  leavings  of  that  noble  banquet  of  pickle(i 
herrings  and  Rhenish  wliich  lost  London  so  many  of  her 
principal  witmongers  and  bards  of  misrule.  What  would  you 
have  said  had  you  seen  Nash  or  Green,  when  you  interest 
yourself  about  the  poor  mimes  you  supped  with  last  nighfr 
Suffice  it,  they  had  their  drench  and  their  doze,  and  they 
Irank  and  slept  as  much  as  may  save  them  from  any  necessity 
)f  eating  till  evening,  when,  if  they  are  industrious,  they  will 
lind  patrons  or  players  to  feed  them.*  For  the  rest  of  their 
wants,  they  can  be  at  no  loss  for  cold  water  while  the  New 
Eiver  head  holds  good;  and  your  doublets  of  Parnassus  are 
eternal  in  duration. '^ 

"  Virgil  and  Horace  had  more  efficient  patronage, '^  said 
Nigel. 

"  Ay,"  replied  his  countryman,  "but  these  fellows  are 
neither  Virgil  nor  Horace;  besides,  we  have  other  spirits  of 
another  sort,  to  whom  I  will  introduce  you  on  some  early 
occasion.  Our  Swan  of  Avon  hath  sung  his  last;  but  we 
have  stout  old  Ben,  with  as  much  learning  and  genius  as 
ever  prompted  the  treader  of  sock  and  buskin.  It  is  not, 
however,  of  him  I  mean  now  to  speak,  but  I  come  to  pray 
you,  of  dear  love,  to  row  up  with  me  as  far  as  Richmond, 
where  two  or  three  of  the  gallants  whom  you  saw  yesterday 
mean  to  give  music  and  syllabvibs  to  a  set  of  beauties,  with 
some  curious  bright  eyes  among  them — such,  I  promise  you, 
as  might  win  an  astrologer  from  his  worship  of  the  galaxy. 
My  sister  leads  the  bevy  to  whom  I  desire  to  present  you. 
She  hath  her  admirers  at  court;  and  is  regarded,  though  I 
might  dispense  with  sounding  her  praise,  as  one  of  the  beau- 
ties of  the  time." 

There  was  no  refusing  an  engagement  where  the  presence 
of  the  party  invited,  late  so  low  in  his  own  regard,  was  de- 
manded by  a  lady  of  quality,  one  of  the  choice  beauties  of 
the  time.  Lord  Glenvarloch  accepted,  as  was  inevitable, 
and  spent  a  lively  day  among  the  gay  and  the  fair.  He  was 
the  gallc'.nt  in  attendance,  for  the  day,  upon  his  friend's  sister, 
the  beautiful  Countess  of  Blackchester,  who  aimed  at  once 
at  superiority  in  the  realms  of  fashion,  of  power,  and  of  wit. 

She  was,  indeed,  considerably  older  than  her  brother,  and 
had  probably  completed  her  six  lustres;  but  the  deficiency  in 
extreme  youth  was  more  than  atoned  for  in  the  most  precise 
and  curious  accuracy  in  attire,  an  early  acquaintance  with 
every  foreign  mode,  and  a  peculiar  gift  in  adapting  the 
knowledge  which  she  acquired  to  her  own  particular  features 

•  See  Men  of  Wit  and  Talent.    Note  84 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  151 

and  complexion.  At  court,  slieknew  as  well  as  any  lady  in 
the  circle  the  precise  tone,  moral,  political,  learned,  or 
jocose,  in  Avhich  it  was  proper  to  answer  the  monarch, 
according  to  his  prevailing  humor;  and  was  supposed  to  have 
been  very  active,  by  her  personal  interest,  in  procuring  her 
husband  a  high  situation,  which  the  gouty  old  viscount  could 
never  have  deserved  by  any  merit  of  his  own  commonplace 
conduct  and  understanding. 

It  was  far  more  easy  for  this  lady  than  for  her  brother  to 
reconcile  so  young  a  courtier  as  Lord  Glenvarloch  to  the  cus- 
toms and  habits  of  a  sphere  so  new  to  him.  In  all  civilized 
society,  tlie  females  of  distinguished  rank  and  beauty  give 
the  tone  to  manners,  and,  through  these,  even  to  morals. 
Lady  Blackchester  had,  besides,  interest  either  in  the  court 
or  over  the  court,  for  its  source  could  not  be  well  traced, 
which  created  friends,  and  overawed  tliose  who  might  have 
been  disposed  to  play  the  part  of  enemies. 

At  one  time  she  was  understood  to  be  closely  leagued  with 
the  Buckingham  family,  with  whom  her  brother  still  main- 
tained a  great  intimacy;  and,  although  some  coldness  had 
taken  place  betwixt  the  countess  and  the  Duchess  of  Buck- 
ingham, so  that  they  were  little  seen  together,  and  the  former 
seemed  considerably  to  have  withdrawn  herself  into  privacy, 
it  was  whispered  that  Lady  Blackchester's  interest  with  the 
great  favorite  was  not  diminished  in  consequence  of  her 
breach  with  his  lady. 

Our  accounts  of  the  private  court  intrigues  of  that 
period,  and  of  the  persons  to  whom  they  were  intrusted,  are 
not  full  enough  to  enable  us  to  pronounce  upon  the  various 
reports  which  arose  out  of  the  circumstances  Ave  have  de- 
tailed. It  is  enough  to  say,  that  Lady  Blackchester  possessed 
great  influence  on  the  circle  around  her,  both  from  her 
beauty,  her  abilities,  and  her  reputed  talents  for  court  in- 
trigue; and  that  Nigel  Olifaunt  was  not  long  of  experiencing 
its  power,  as  he  became  a  slave  in  some  degree  to  that  species 
of  habit  which  carries  so  many  men  into  a  certain  society  at 
a  certain  hour,  without  expecting  or  receiving  any  particu- 
lar degree  of  gratification,  or  even  amusement. 

His  life  for  several  weeks  may  be  thus  described.  The 
ordinary  was  no  bad  introduction  to  the  business  of  the  day; 
and  the  young  lord  quickly  found  that,  if  the  society  there 
was  not  always  irreproachable,  still  it  formed  the  most  con- 
venient and  agreeable  place  of  meeting  with  the  fashionable 
parties  with  whom  he  visited  Hyde  Park,  the  theatres,  and 
other  places  of  public  resort,  or  joined  the  gay  and  glittering 


152  IVAVERLEY  NOVELS 

circle  which  Ludy  Bhickchester  liad  assemhleJ  around  her. 
Neitlier  did  he  eutertulii  tiie  same  scrupulous  horror  wiiicli 
led  him  originally  even  to  hesitate  entering  into  a2)lace  where 
gaming  was  permitted:  but,  on  the  contrary^  began  to  admit 
the  idea  that,  as  therr  could  be  no  harm  in  beholding  such 
recreation  when  only  indulged  in  to  a  moderate  degree,  so, 
from  a  parity  of  reasoning,  there  could  be  no  objection  to 
joining  in  it,  always  under  the  same  restrictions.  But  the 
young  lord  was  a  Scotsman,  habituated  to  early  reflection, 
and  totally  unaccustomed  to  ai\y  hrbit  which  inferred  a  care- 
less risk  or  j)rofuse  waste  of  money.  Profusion  was  not  his 
natural  vice,  or  one  likely  to  be  acquired  in  'he  course  of  his 
education;  and  in  all  probability,  while  his  father  anticipated 
Avith  noble  horror  the  idea  of  his  son  approaching  the  gam- 
ing-table, he  was  more  startled  at  tho  idea  of  his  becoming  a 
gaining  than  a  losing  adventurer.  The  second^  according  to 
his  principles,  had  a  termination,  a  sad  one  indeed,  in  the  loss 
of  temporal  fortune;  the  first  quality  went  on  increasing  the 
evil  which  he  dreaded,  and  perilled  at  once  both  body  and 
soul. 

However  the  old  lord  might  ground  liir:  apprehension,  it 
was  so  far  verified  by  his  son's  conduct,  that,  from  an  observer 
of  the  various  games  of  chance  which  he  witnessed,  he  came, 
by  degrees,  by  moderate  hazards  and  small  beta  or  wagers, 
to  take  a  certain  interest  in  them.  Nor  could  it  be  denied 
that  his  rank  and  expectations  entitled  him  to  hazard  a  few 
pieces,  for  his  game  went  no  deeper,  againet  persons  who, 
from  the  readiness  with  which  they  staked  tlicir  money,  might 
be  supposed  well  able  to  afford  to  lose  it. 

It  chanced,  or  perhaps,  according  to  the  common  belief, 
his  evil  genius  had  so  decreed,  that  Nigel's  adventures  were 
remarkably  successful.  He  was  temperate,  cautious,  cool- 
headed,  had  a  strong  memory  and  a  ready  power  of  calcula- 
tion; was,  besides,  of  a  daring  and  intrepid  character,  one 
upon  whom  no  one  that  had  looked  even  slightly,  or  spoken 
to  though  but  hastily,  would  readily  have  ventured  to  prac- 
tise anything  approaching  to  trick,  or  which  required  to  be 
supported  by  intimidation.  While  Lord  Glenvarloch  chose 
to  play,  men  played  with  him  regularly,  or,  according  to  the 
phrase,  upon  the  square;  and,  as  he  found  his  luck  change, 
or  wished  to  hazard  his  good  fortune  no  farther,  the  more 
professed  votaries  of  fortune  who  frequented  the  house  of 
Monsieur  le  Chevalier  de  St. -Priest  Beaujeu  did  not  venture 
openly  to  express  their  displeasure  at  his  rising  a  winner. 
But  when  this  happened  repeatedly,  the  gamesters  murmured 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  153 

among  themselves  equally  at  the  caution  and  the  success  of 
the  young  Scotsman;  and  he  became  far  from  being  a  popu- 
hir  character  among  their  society. 

It  was  no  slight  inducement  to  the  continuance  of  this 
most  evil  habit,  when  once  it  was  in  some  degree  acquired, 
that  it  seemed  to  place  Lord  Glenvarloch,  haughty  as  he 
naturally  was,  beyond  the  necessity  of  subjecting  himself  to 
farther  pecuniary  obligations,  which  his  prolonged  residence 
in  Loiulon  must  otherwise  have  rendered  necessary.  He  had 
to  solicit  from  the  ministers  certain  forms  of  office,  which 
were  to  render  his  sign-manual  eit'ectually  useful  ;  and  these, 
though  they  could  not  be  denied,  were  delayed  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  lead  Nigel  to  believe  there  was  some  secret  oppo- 
sition which  occasioned  the  demur  in  his  business.  His  own 
impulse  was,  to  have  appeared  at  court  a  second  time,  with 
the  King's  sign-manual  in  his  pocket,  and  to  have  appealed 
to  his  Majesty  himself,  whether  the  delay  of  the  public  offi- 
cers ought  to  render  his  royal  generosity  unavailing.  But 
the  Lord  Huntinglen,  that  good  old  peer,  who  had  so  frankly 
interfered  in  his  behalf  on  a  former  occasion,  and  whom_  he 
occasionally  visited,  greatly  dissuaded  him  from  a  similar 
adventure,  and  exhorted  him  quietly  to  await  the  deliverance 
of  the  ministers,  which  should  set  him  free  from  dancing 
attendance  in  London. 

Lord  Dalgarno  joined  his  father  in  deterring  his  young 
friend  from  a  second  attendance  at  court,  at  least  till  he  was 
reconciled  with  the  Duke  of  Buckingham.  "A  matter  in 
which,"  he  said,  addressing  his  father,  "I  have  offered  my 
poor  assistance,  without  being  able  to  prevail  on  Lord  Nigel 
to  make  any — not  even  the  least — submission  to  the  Duke  of 
Buckingham." 

"  By  my  faith,  and  I  hold  the  laddie  to  be  in  the  right 
on%  Malcolm  ! "  answered  the  stout  old  Scots  lord.  "  What 
right  hath  Buckingham,  or,  to  speak  plainly,  the  son  of  Sir 
George  Villiers,  to  expect  homage  and  fealty  from  one  more 
noble  than  himself  by  eight  quarters  ?  I  heard  him  myself, 
on  no  reason  that  I  could  perceive,  term  Lord  Nigel  his 
enemy  ;  and  it  will  never  be  my  counsel  that  the  lad  speaks 
soft  word  to  him  till  he  recalls  the  hard  one." 

"  That  is  precisely  my  advice  to  Lord  Glenvarloch,"  an- 
swered Lord  Dalgarno  ;  ^"but  then  you  will  admit,  my  dear 
father,  that  it  would  be  the  risk  of  extremity  for  our  friend 
to  return  into  the  presence,  the  duke  being  his  enemy  ; 
better  to  leave  it  with  me  to  take  off  the  heat  of  the  dis- 
temperature  with  which  some  pickthanks  have  persuaded 
the  duke  to  regard  our  friend." 


154  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

"  If  thou  canst  persuade  Buckingluim  of  liis  error,  Mal- 
colm," said  his  father,  "  for  once  I  will  say  there  hath  been 
kindness  and  honesty  in  court  service.  I  have  oft  told  your 
sister  and  yourself  that  in  the  general  I  esteem  it  as  lightly 
as  may  be." 

"  You  need  not  doubt  my  doing  my  best  in  Nigel's  case,'' 
answered  Lord  Dalgarno  ;  "  but  you  must  think,  my  dear 
father,  I  must  needs  use  slower  ancl  gentler  means  than  those 
by  which  you  became  a  favorite  twenty  years  ago." 

*'By  my  faith,  I  am  afraid  thou  wilt,"  answered  his 
father,  "  I  tell  thee,  Malcolm,  I  would  sooner  wish  myself 
in  the  grave  than  doubt  thine  honesty  or  honor  ;  yet  some- 
how it  hath  chanced  that  honest,  ready  service  hath  not  the 
same  acceptance  at  court  which  it  had  in  my  younger  time, 
and  yet  you  rise  there." 

"  0,  the  time  permits  not  your  old-world  service,"  said 
Lord  Dalgarno  ;  *'  we  have  now  no  daily  insurrections,  no 
nightly  attempts  at  assassination,  as  were  the  fashion  in  the 
Scottish  court.  Your  prompt  and  uncourteous  sword-in- 
hand  attendance  on  the  sovereign  is  no  longer  necessary,  and 
would  be  as  unbeseeming  as  your  old-fashioned  serving-men, 
with  their  badges,  broadswords,  and  bucklers,  would  be  at  a 
court  mask.  Besides,  father,  loyal  haste  hath  its  incon- 
veniences. I  have  heard,  and  from  royal  lips  too,  that  when 
you  struck  your  dagger  into  the  traitor  Euthven,  it  was  with 
such  little  consideration,  that  the  point  ran  a  quarter  of  an 
^nch  into  the  royal  buttock.  The  King  never  talks  of  it  but 
he  rubs  the  injured  part,  and  quotes  his  '  infandum  .  .  „ 
renovare  dolor  em.'  But  this  comes  of  old  fashions,  and  of 
wearing  a  long  Liddesdale  whinger  instead  of  a  poniard  of 
Parma.  Yet  this,  my  dear  father,  you  call  prompt  and 
valiant  service.  The  King,  I  am  told,  could  not  sit  upright 
for  a  fortnight,  though  all  the  cushions  in  Falkland  were 
placed  in  his  chair  of  state,  and  the  Provost  of  Dunfermline's 
borrowed  to  the  boot  of  all." 

"  It  is  a  lie/^  said  the  old  earl — "  a  false  iio,  forge  it  who 
list  !  It  is  true  I  wore  a  dagger  of  service  by  my  side,  and 
not  a  bodkin  like  yours,  to  pick  one's  teeth  withal.  And  for 
prompt  service — odds  nouns  !  it  should  be  prompt  to  be  use- 
ful, when  kings  are  crying  treason  and  murder  with  the 
screech  of  a  half-throttled  hen.  But  you  young  courtiers 
know  naught  of  these  matters,  and  aio  little  better  than  the 
green  geese  wliich  they  bring  ;jvcr  from  the  Indies,  whose 
only  merit  to  their  masters  is  to  repeat  their  own  words  after 
them — a  pack    of  mouthers,    and   flatterers,    and  ear-wigs. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  155 

Well,  I  am  old  and  unable  to  mend,  else  I  would  break  all 
off,  and  hear  the  Tay  once  more  flinging  himself  over  the 
Carapsie  Linn." 

"  But  there  is  your  dinner-bell,  father,"  said  Lord  Dal- 
garno,  ''  which,  if  the  venison  I  sent  you  prove  seasonable,  is 
at  least  as  sweet  a  sound." 

"  Follow  me,  then,  youngsters,  if  you  list,"  said  the  old 
earl ;  and  strode  on  from  the  alcove  in  which  this  conversa- 
tion was  held,  toAvards  the  house,  followed  by  the  two  young 
men. 

In  their  private  discourse.  Lord  Dalgarno  had  little 
trouble  in  dissuading  Nigel  from  going  immediately  to  court ; 
while,  on  the  other  hand,  the  offers  he  made  him  of  a  pre- 
vious introduction  to  the  Duke  of  Buckingham  were  received 
by  Lord  Glenvarloch  with  a  positive  and  contemptuous  refu- 
sal. His  friend  shrugged  his  shoulders,  as  one  who  claims 
the  merit  of  having  given  to  an  obstinate  friend  the  best 
counsel,  and  desires  to  be  held  free  of  the  consequences  of 
his  pertinacity. 

As  for  the  father,  his  table  indeed,  and  his  best  liquor,  of 
which  he  was  more  profuse  than  necessary,  were  at  the  com- 
mand of  his  young  friend,  as  well  as  his  best  advice  and  assist- 
ance in  the  prosecution  of  his  affairs.  But  Lord  Hunting- 
len's  interest  was  more  apparent  than  real  ;  and  the  credit  he 
had  acquired  by  his  gallant  defence  of  the  King's  person  was 
so  carelessly  managed  by  himself,  and  so  easily  eluded  by  the 
favorites  and  ministers  of  the  sovereign,  that,  except  upon 
one  or  two  occasions,  when  the  King  was  in  some  measure 
taken  by  surprise,  as  in  the  case  of  Lord  Glenvarloch,  the 
royal  bounty  was  never  efficiently  extended  either  to  himself 
or  to  his  friends. 

"  There  never  was  a  man,"  said  Lord  Dalgarno,  whose 
shrewder  knowledge  of  the  English  court  saw  where  his 
father's  deficiency  lay,  "  that  had  it  so  perfectly  in  his  power 
to  have  made  his  way  to  the  pinnacle  of  fortune  as  my  poor 
father.  He  had  acquired  a  right  to  build  up  the  staircase  step 
by  step,  slowly  and  surely,  letting  every  boon  which  he  begged 
vear  after  year  become  in  its  turn  the  resting-place  for  the 
iiext  annual  grant.  But  your  fortunes  shall  not  shipwreck 
upon  the  same  coast,  Nigel,"  he  would  conclude.  "  If  I 
have  fewer  means  of  influence  than  my  fatlier  has,  or  rather 
had,  till  he  threw  them  away  for  butts  of  sack,  hawks,  hounds, 
and  such  carrion,  I  can,  far  better  than  he,  improve  that 
which  I  possess  ;  and  that,  my  dear  Nigel,  is  all  engaged  in 
your  behalf.     Do  not  be  surprised  or  offended  that  you  now 


156  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

see  me  less  than  formerly.  The  stag-hunting  is  commenced, 
and  the  Prince  looks  that  I  should  attend  him  more  fre- 
quently. I  must  also  maintain  my  attendance  on  the  Duke, 
that  I  may  have  an  opportunity  of  pleading  your  cause  when 
occasion  shall  permit." 

"  I  have  no  cause  to  plead  before  the  Duke,"  said  Nigel, 
gravely  ;  "  1  have  said  so  repeatedly." 

"  Why,  I  meant  the  phrase  no  otherwise,  thou  churlish 
and  suspicious  disputant,"  answered  Dalgarno,  "than  as  1 
am  now  pleading  the  Duke's  cause  with  thee.  Surely  I  only 
mean  to  claim  a  share  in  our  royal  master's  favorite  benedic- 
tion, Beafi  pacifici." 

Upon  several  occasions.  Lord  Glenvarloch's  conversations, 
both  with  the  old  earl  and  his  son,  took  a  similar  turn,  and 
had  a  like  conclusion.  He  sometimes  felt  as  if,  betwixt  the 
one  and  the  other,  not  to  mention  the  more  unseen  and  un- 
boasted,  but  scarce  less  certain,  influence  of  Lady  Black- 
chester,  his  affair,  simple  as  it  had  become,  might  have  been 
somehow  accelerated.  But  it  was  equally  impossible  to  doubt 
the  rough  honesty  of  the  father  and  the  eager  and  officious 
friendship  of  Lord  Dalgarno  ;  nor  was  it  easy  to  suppose 
that  the  countenance  of  the  lady,  by  whom  he  was  received 
with  such  distinction,  would  be  wanting,  could  it  be  effect- 
ual in  his  service. 

Nigel  was  farther  sensible  of  the  truth  of  what  Lord  Dal- 
garno often  pointed  out,  that  the  favorite  being  supposed  to 
be  his  enemy,  every  petty  officer  through  whose  hands  his 
affair  must  necessarily  pass  would  desire  to  make  a  merit  of 
throwing  obstacles  in  his  way,  which  he  could  only  surmount 
by  steadiness  and  patience,  unless  he  preferred  closing  the 
breach,  or,  as  Lord  Dalgarno  called  it,  making  his  peace  with 
the  Duke  of  Buckingham. 

Nigel  might,  and  doubtless  would,  have  had  recourse  to 
the  advice  of  his  friend  George  Heriot  upon  this  occasion, 
having  found  it  so  advantageous  formerly  ;  but  the  only 
time  he  saw  him  after  their  visit  to  court,  he  found  the  wor- 
thy citizen  engaged  in  hasty  preparation  for  a  journey  to 
Paris,  upon  business  of  great  importance  in  the  way  of  his 
profession,  and  by  an  especial  commission  from  the  court  and 
the  Duke  of  Buckingham,  which  was  likely  to  be  attended 
with  considerable  profit.  The  good  man  smiled  as  he  named 
the  Duke  of  Buckingham.  "  He  had  been,"  he  said,  "  pretty 
sure  that  his  disgrace  in  that  quarter  would  not  be  of  long 
duration." 

Lord  Glenvarloch   expressed  himself  rejoiced    at  their 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  157 

reconciliation,  observing,  that  it  had  been  a  most  painful 
reflection  to  him  that  .Master  Ueriot  sliould,  in  his  behalf, 
have  incurred  the  dislil<e,  and  perhaps  exposed  himself  to 
the  ill  offices,  of  so  powerful  a  favorite. 

"  My  lord,"  said  Heriot,  "  for  your  father's  son  I  would 
do  much  ;  and  yet  truly,  if  I  know  myself,  I  would  do 
as  much,  and  risk  as  much,  for  the  sake  of  justice,  in  the 
case  of  a  much  more  insignificant  person,  as  I  have  ventured 
for  yours.  But  as  we  shall  not  meet  for  some  time,  I  must 
commit  to  your  own  wisdom  the  farther  prosecution  of  this 
matter.'' 

And  thuL  they  took  a  kind  and  affectionate  leave  of  each 
other. 

There  were  other  changes  in  Lord  Glenvarloch's  situa- 
tion which  require  to  be  noticed.  His  present  occupations, 
and  the  habits  of  amusement  which  he  had  acquired,  ren- 
dered his  living  so  far  in  the  city  a  considerable  incon- 
venience. He  may  also  have  become  a  little  ashamed  of  his 
cabin  on  Paul's  Wharf,  and  desirous  of  being  lodged  some- 
what more  according  to  his  quality.  For  this  purpose  he 
had  hired  a  small  apartment  near  the  Temple.  He  was, 
nevertheless,  almost  sorry  for  what  he  had  done,  when  he 
observed  that  his  removal  appeared  to  give  some  pain  to  John 
Christie,  and  a  great  deal  to  his  cordial  and  officious  land- 
lady. The  former,  who  Avas  grave  and  saturnine  in  every- 
thing he  did,  only  hoped  that  all  had  been  to  Lord  Glenvar- 
loch's mind,  and  that  he  had  not  left  them  on  account  of 
any  unbeseeming  negligence  on  their  part.  But  the  tear 
twinkled  in  Dame  Kelly's  eye,  while  she  recounted  the  vari- 
ous improvements  she  had  made  in  the  apartment  of  express 
purpose  to  render  it  more  convenient  to  his  lordship. 

"There  was  a  great  sea-chest,"  she  said,  ''had  been 
taken  upstairs  to  the  shopman's  garret,  though  it  left  the 
poor  lad  scarce  eighteen  inches  of  opening  to  creep  betwixt  it 
and  his  bed;  and  Heaven  knew — she  did  not — whether  it 
could  ever  be  brought  down  that  narrow  stair  again.  Then 
the  turning  the  closet  into  an  alcove  had  cost  a  matter  of 
twenty  round  shillings;  and  to  be  sure,  to  any  other  lodger 
but  his  lordship  the  closet  was  more  convenient.  There  was 
all  the  linen,  too,  which  she  had  bought  on  purpose.  But 
Heaven's  Avill  be  done — she  was  resigned." 

Everybody  likes  marks  of  personal  attachment;  and 
Nigel,  whose  heart  really  smote  him,  as  if  in  his  rising  for- 
tunes he  were  disdaining  the  lowly  accommodations  and  the 
civilities  of  the  humble  friends  w-hich  had  been  but  lately 


158  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

actual  favors,  failed  not  by  every  assurance  in  his  power,  and 
by  as  liberal  payment  as  they  could  be  prevailed  upon  to 
accept,  to  alleviate  the  soreness  of  their  feelings  at  his 
departure;  and  a  parting  kiss  from  the  fair  lips  of  his  hostess 
sealed  his  forgiveness. 

Richie  Moniplies  lingered  behind  his  master,  to  ask 
whether,  in  case  of  need,  John  Christie  could  help  a  canny 
Scotsman  to  a  passage  back  to  his  own  country;  and  receiv- 
ing assurance  of  John's  interest  to  that  effect,  he  said,  at 
parting,  he  would  remind  him  of  his  promise  soon.  "  For," 
said  he,  "  if  my  lord  is  not  weary  of  his  London  life,  I  ken 
one  that  is,  videlicet,  mysell;  and  I  am  weel  determined  to 
see  Arthur's  Seat  again  ere  I  am  many  weeks  older/' 


CHAPTER  XIY 

Bingo,  why,  Bingo!  hey,  boy — here,  Bir,  herd 
He's  gone  and  off,  but  he'll  be  home  before  us; 
'Tis  the  most  wayward  cur  e'er  mumbled  bone, 
Or  dogg'd  a  master's  footstep.     Bingo  loves  me 
Better  than  ever  beggar  loved  his  alms; 
Yet,  when  he  takes  such  humor,  you  may  coax 
Sweet  Mistress  Fantasy,  your  worship's  mistress, 
Out  of  her  sullen  moods,  as  soon  as  Bingo. 

The  Dominie  and  his  Dog. 

Richie  Moniplies  was  as  good  as  his  word.  Two  or  three 
mornings  after  the  young  lord  had  possessed  himself  of  his 
new  lodgings,  he  appeared  before  Nigel,  as  he  was  preparing 
to  dress,  having  left  his  pilloAV  at  an  hour  much  later  than 
had  formerly  been  his  custom. 

As  Nigel  looked  upon  his  attendant,  he  observed  there 
Ivas  a  gathering  gloom  upon  his  solemn  features,  which  ex- 
pressed either  additional  importance,  or  superadded  discon- 
tent, or  a  portion  of  both. 

''  How  now,"  he  said,  ''  what  is  the  matter  this  morning, 
Richie,  that  you  have  made  your  face  so  like  the  grotesque 
mask  on  one  of  the  spouts  yonder?"  pointing  to  the  Temple 
Church,  of  which  Gothic  building  they  had  a  view  from  the 
window. 

Richie  swivelled  his  head  a  little  to  the  right,  with  as  lit- 
tle alacrity  as  if  he  had  the  crick  in  his  neck,  and  instantly 
resuming  his  posture,  replied,  "Mask  here,  mask  there,  it 
were  nae  such  matters  that  I  have  to  speak  anent." 

"And  what  matters  have  you  to  speak  anent,  then?"  said 
his  master,  whom  circumstances  had  inured  to  tolerate  a  good 
deal  of  freedom  from  his  attendant. 

"My  lord,"  said  Richie,  and  then  stopped  to  cough  and 
hem,  as  if  what  he  had  to  say  stuck  somewhat  in  his  throat. 

"I  guess  the  mystery,"  said  Nigel — "you  want  a  little 
money,  Richie.     Will  five  pieces  serve  the  present  turn?"  _ 

"  My  lord,"  said  Richie,  "I  may,  it  is  like,  want  a  trifle 
of  money;  and  I  am  glad  at  the  same  time  and  sorry  that  it 
is  mair  plenty  Avith  your  lordship  than  formerly." 

"  Glad  and  sorry,  man! "  said  Lord  Nigel;  "why,  you  are 
reading  riddles  to  me,  Richie." 

169 


16C  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

''^ry  riddle  will  l)e  briefly  read,"  said  Tlicliie:  ''I  come 
to  crave  of  your  lordship  your  commands  for  .Scotland," 

"For  Scotland!  Avhy,  art  thou  mad,  man?"  said  Nigel; 
''canst  thou  not  tarry  to  go  down  with  me?"  ^ 

*' I  could  be  of  little  service,"  said  Kichie,  ''since  you 
pnrpose  to  hire  another  page  and  groom." 

"  Why,  thou  jealous  ass,"  said  the  young  lord,  "will  not 
thy  load  of  duty  lie  the  lighter?  Go,  take  thy  breakfast,  and 
drink  thy  ale  double  strong,  to  put  such  absurdities  out 
of  thy  head.  I  could  be  angry  with  thee  for  thy  folly, 
man,  but  I  remember  how  thou  hast  stuck  to  me  in  adver- 
sity." 

"  Adversity,  my  lord,  should  never  have  parted  us,"  said 
Eichie;  "  methinks,  had  the  warst  come  to  warst,  I  could 
have  starved  as  gallantly  as  your  lordship,  or  more  so,  being 
in  some  sort  used  to  it;  for,  though  I  w^as  bred  at  a  flesher's 
stall,  I  have  not  through  my  life  had  a  constant  intimacy 
with  collops." 

"  Now,  what  is  the  meaning  of  all  this  trash?"  said  Nigel; 
" or  has  it  no  other  end  than  to  provoke  my  patience?  You 
know  well  enough  that,  had  I  twenty  serving-men,  I  would 
hold  the  faithful  follower  that  stood  by  me  in  my  distress  the 
most  valued  of  them  all.  But  it  is  totally  out  of  reason  to 
plague  me  with  your  solemn  capriccios." 

"  My  lord,"  said  Richie,  "  in  declaring  your  trust  in  me, 
you  have  done  what  is  honorable  to  yourself,  if  I  may  with 
humility  say  so  much,  and  in  no  Avay  undeserved  on  my  side. 
Nevertheless,  we  must  part." 

"Body  of  me,  man,  why?"  said  Lord  Nigel;  "what  rea- 
son can  there  be  for  it,  if  we  are  mutually  satisfied  ?  " 

"  My  lord,"  said  Richie  Moniplies,  "  your  lordship's  oc- 
cupations are  such  as  I  cannot  own  or  countenance  by  my 
presence." 

"  How  now,  sirrah!"  said  his  master,  angrily. 
"Under  favor,  my  lord,"  replied  his  domestic,  "it  is 
unequal  dealing  to  be  equally  offended  by  my  speech  and  by 
my  silence.  If  you  can  hear  with  patience  the  grounds  of 
my  departure,  it  may  be,  for  aught  I  know,  the  better  for 
you  here  and  hereafter;  if  not,  let  me  have  my  license  of 
departure  in  silence,  and  so  no  more  about  it." 

"Go  to,  sir!"  said  Nigel;  "sj^eak  out  your  mind,  only 
remember  to  whom  you  speak  it." 

"  Weel — weel,  my  lord,  I  speak  it  with  humility  [never 
did  Richie  look  with  more  starched  dignity  than  when  he 
uttered  the  Avord];  but  do  3'OU  think  this  dicing  and  card- 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  161 

shuffling,  and  Iniunting  of  taverns  and  ^^laylionses,  suits  your 
lordsliip,  for  I  am  sure  it  does  not  suit  me?'' 

'•Why,  3'ou  are  not  turned  precisian  or  Puritan,  fool?'* 
said  Lord  Glenvarloch,  hiughing,  thougli,  betwixt  resent- 
ment and  sliame,  it  cost  liim  some  trouble  to  do  so. 

"My  lord,"  replied  the  follower,  "I  ken  the  purport  of 
your  query.  I  am,  it  may  be,  a  little  of  a  precisian,  and  I 
wish  to  Heaven  I  was  mair  worthy  of  the  name;  but  let  that 
be  a  passover.  I  have  stretched  the  duties  of  a  serving-man 
as  far  as  my  Xorthern  conscience  will  permit.  I  can  give 
my  gude  word  to  my  master,  or  to  my  native  country,  Avhen 
I  am  in  a  foreign  land,  even  though  l"'should  leave  downright 
truth  a  wee  bit  behind  me.  Ay,  and  I  will  take  or  give  a 
slash  with  ony  man  that  speaks  'to  the  derogation  of  either. 
But  this  chambering,  dicing,  and  play-haunting  is  not  my 
element — I  cannot"  draw  breath  in  it;  and  when  I  hear  of 
your  lordship  winning  the  siller  that  some  poor  creature 
may  full  sairly  miss — by  my  saul,  if  it  wad  serve  your 
necessity,  rather  than  you  gained  it  from  him,  I  wad  tak  a 
jump  over  the  hedge  with  your  lordship,  and  cry  ^Standi' 
to  the  first  grazier  we  met  that  w^as  coming  from  Smithfield 
with  the  price  of  his  Essex  calves  in  his  leathern  pouch!" 

'•You  are  a  simpleton,"  said  Xigel,  who  felt,  however, 
much  conscience-struck;  "I  never  play  but  for  small  sums." 

"Ay,  my  lord,"  replied  the  unyielding  domestic,  "and 
— still  with  reverence — it  is  even  sae  much  the  Avaur.  If  you 
played  with  your  equals,  there  might  be  like  sin,  but  there 
wad  be  mair"^  warldly  honor  in  it.  Your  lordship  kens,  or 
may  ken  by  experience  of  your  ain,  Avhilk  is  not  as  yet  mony 
weeks  auld,  that  small  sums  can  ill  be  missed  by  those  that 
have  nane  larger;  and  I  maun  e'en  be  plain  with  you,  that 
men  notice  it  of  your  lordship,  that  ye  play  wi'  nane  but  the 
misguided  creatures  that  can  but  afford  to  lose  bare  stakes." 

"  Xo  man  dare  say  so!"  replied  Nigel,  very  angrily.  "I 
play  with  whom  I  please,  but  I  w  ill  only  play  for  what  stake 
I  please." 

"That  is  just  what  they  say,  my  lord,''  said  the 
unmerciful  Richie,  whose  natural  love  of  lecturing,  as  well 
as  his  bluutness  of  feeling,  prevented  him  from  having  any 
idea  of  the  pain  which  "he  Avas  inflicting  on  his  master — 
"  these  are  even  their  own  very  words.  It  was  but  yesterday 
your  lordship  was  pleased  at  that  same  ordinary_  to  win  from 
yonder  young  hafflins  gentleman  with  the  crimson  velvet 
doublet  and  the  cock's  feather  in  his  beaver — him,  I  mean, 
who    fought    with    the    ranting    captain — a   matter  of   five 

11 


163  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

poands,  or  thereby.  I  saw  liim  come  tliroiigh  the  hall;  and, 
if  he  was  not  cleaned  out  of  cross  and  pile,  I  never  saw  a 
ruined  man  in  my  life/* 

"Impossible!"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch.  "Why,  who  is 
he?     lie  looked  like  a  man  of  substance/' 

"All  is  not  gold  that  glistens,  my  lord,"  replied  Eichie; 
"  'broidery  and  bullion  buttons  make  bare  pouches.  And  if 
V'ou  ask  who  he  is — maybe  I  have  a  guess,  and  care  not  to 
tell.'' 

"  At  least,  if  I  have  done  any  such  fellow  an  injury,"  said 
the  Lord  Nigel,  "  let  me  know  how  I  can  repair  i':." 

"  Never  fash  your  beard  about  that,  my  loi'd — with 
reverence  always,"  said  Richie;  "he  shall  be  suitably  cared 
after.  Tliink  of  him  but  as  ane  wha  was  running  post  to 
the  devil,  and  got  a  shouldering  from  your  lordship  to  help 
him  on  his  journey.  But  I  will  stop  him,  if  reason  can;  and 
so  your  lordship  needs  ask  nae  mair  about  it,  for  there  is  no 
use  in  your  knowing  it,  but  much  the  contrair." 

"Hark  you,  sirrah,"  said  his  master,  "  I  have  borne  with 
you  thus  far  for  certain  reasons,  but  abuse  my  good-nature 
no  farther;  and  since  you  must  needs  go,  why,  go  a  God's 
name,  and  here  is  to  pay  your  journey."  So  saying,  he  put 
gold  into  his  hand,  which  Richie  told  over,  piece  by  piece, 
with  the  utmost  accuracy. 

"Is  it  all  right — or  are  they  wanting  in  weight — or  what 
the  devil  keeps  you,  when  your  hurry  was  so  great  five 
minutes  since  ?"  said  the  young  lord,  now  thoroughly  nettled 
at  the  presumptuous  precision  with  which  Richie  dealt  forth 
his  canons  of  morality. 

"The  tale  of  coin  is  complete,"  said  Richie,  with  the 
most  imperturbable  gravity;  "and,  for  the  weight,  though 
they  are  sae  scrupulous  in  this  town  as  make  mouths  at  a 
piece  that  is  a  wee  bit  light,  or  that  has  been  cracked  within 
the  ring,  my  sooth,  they  will  jump  at  them  in  Edinburgh 
like  a  cock  at  a  grosart.  Gold  pieces  are  not  so  j)lenty  therCj 
the  mair  the  pity ! " 

"The  more  is  your  folly,  then,"  said  Nigel,  whose  anger 
was  only  momentary,  "that  leave  the  land  where  there  is 
enough  of  them." 

"My  lord," said  Richie,  "to  be  romn  with  you,  the 
grace  of  God  is  better  than  gold  pieces.  Wlien  Goblin,  as 
you  call  yonder  Monsieur  Lutin — and  you  might  as  well  call 
him  Gibbet,  since  that  is  what  he  is  like  to  end  in — shall 
recommend  a  page  to  you,  ye  will  hear  little  such  doctrine 
as  ye   have  heard   from  me.     And   if  they   were   my   last 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  163 

words/'  he  said,  raising  his  voice,  ''I  would  say  yon  are  mis- 
led, and  are  forsaking  the  paths  which  your  honorable  father 
trode  in;  and,  what  is  more,  you  are  going — still  under 
correction — to  the  devil  with  a  dishclout,  for  ye  are  laughed 
at  by  them  that  lead  you  into  these  disordered  by-paths!  " 

''Laughed  at!"  said  Nigel,  who  like  others  of  his  age 
was  more  sensible  to  ridicule  than  to  reason.  "  Who  dares 
laugh  at  me/' 

"  My  lord,  as  sure  as  I  live  by  bread — naiy,  more,  as  I  am 
a  true  man — and,  I  think,  your  lordship  never  found  Eichie's 
tongue  bearing  aught  but  the  truth — unless  that  your  lord- 
ship's credit,  my  country's  profit,  or  maybe  some  sma'  occa- 
sion of  my  ain,  made  it  unnecessary  to  promulgate  the  haill 
veritie — I  say  then,  as  I  am  a  true  man,  when  I  saw  that  puir 
creature  come  through  the  ha',  at  that  ordinary,  whilk  is 
accurst — Heaven  forgive  me  for  swearing! — of  God  and 
man,  with  his  teeth  set,  and  his  hands  clinched,  and  his 
bonnet  drawn  over  his  brows  like  a  desperate  man.  Goblin 
said  to  me,  '  There  goes  a  dunghill  chicken,  that  your  mas- 
ter has  plucked  clean  enough  ;  it  will  be  long  ere  his  lord- 
ship ruffle  a  feather  with  a  cock  of  the  game.'  And  so,  my 
lord,  to  speak  it  out,  the  lackeys  and  the  gallants,  and  more 
especially  your  sworn  brother.  Lord  Dalgarno,  call  you  the 
sparrow-hawk.  I  had  some  thought  to  have  cracked  Lutin's 
pate  for  the  speech,  but,  after  a',  the  controversy  was  not 
worth  it." 

'•'Do  they  use  such  terms  of  me?"  said  Lord  Nigel. 
''  Death  and  the  devil!  " 

"  And  the  devil's  dam,  my  lord,"  answered  Richie;  "  they 
are  all  three  busy  in  London.  And,  besides,  Lutin  and  his 
master  laughed  at  you,  my  lord,  for  letting  it  be  thought 
that — I  shame  to  speak  it-— that  ye  were  over  well  with  the 
wife  of  the  decent  honest  man  whose  house  you  but  now  left, 
as  not  sufficient  for  your  new  bravery,  whereas  they  said,  the 
licentious  scoffers,  that  you  pretended  to  such  favor  when 
you  had  not  courage  enough  for  so  fair  a  quarrel,  and  that 
the  sparrow-hawk  was  too  craven-crested  to  fly  at  the  wife 
of  a  cheesemonger."  He  stopped  a  moment,  and  looked  fix- 
edly in  his  master's  face,  which  was  inflamed  with  shame  and 
anger,  and  then  proceeded.  "  ^Ij  lord,  I  did  you  justice  in 
my  thought,  and  myself  too.  '  For,'  thought  I,  '  he  would 
have  been  as  deep  in  that  sort  of  profligacy  as  in  others,  if 
it  hadna  been  Eichie's  four  quarters."' 

""^'hat  new  nonsense  have  you  got  to  plague  me  with?'' 
fKiid  Lord  Nigel.     "  But  go  on,  since  it  is  the  last  time  1  am 


1C4  ^VAVERLEY  NOVELS 

to  be  tormented  with  your  impertinence — go  on,  and  make 
the  most  of  your  time." 

"  In  troth,"  said  Richie,  "  and  so  will  I  even  do.  And 
as  Heaven  has  bestowed  on  me  a  tongue  to  speak  and  to 
advise " 

'MVhich  talent  yon  can  by  no  means  be  accused  of  suf- 
fering to  remain  idle,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch,  interrupting 
him. 

**  True,  my  lord,"  said  Richie,  again  waving  his  hand,  as 
if  to  bespeak  his  master's  silence  and  attention  ;  ''so,  I  trust, 
you  will  think  some  time  hereafter.  And,  as  I  am  about  to 
leave  your  service,  it  is  proper  that  you  suld  know  the  truth, 
that  ye  may  consider  the  snares  to  wliicli  your  youth  and 
innocence  may  be  exposed,  when  aulderand  doucer  heads  are 
withdrawn  from  beside  you.  There  has  been  a  lusty,  good- 
looking  kimmer,  of  some  forty  or  bygaue,  making  mony 
speerings  about  you,  my  lord." 

"  Well,  sir,  what  did  she  want  w4th  me?"  said  Lord  Nigel, 

"  At  first,  my  lord,"  replied  his  sapient  follower,  ''  as  shr>. 
seemed  to  be  a  well-fashioned  woman,  and  to  take  pleasure 
in  sensible  company,  I  Avas  no  way  reluctant  to  admit  her  to 
my  conversation." 

"  I  dare  say  not,"  said  Lord  Nigel ;  ''  nor  unwilling  to 
tell  her  about  my  private  affairs." 

"  Not  I,  truly,  my  lord,"  said  the  attendant;  "  for,  though 
she  asked  me  mony  questions  about  your  fame,  your  fortune, 
your  business  here,  and  such-like,  I  did  not  think  it  proper 
to  tell  her  altogether  the  truth  thereanent." 

"  I  see  no  call  on  you  whatever,"  said  Lord  Nigel,  "  to 
tell  the  woman  either  truth  or  lies  upon  what  she  had  noth- 
ing to  do  w4tli." 

"  I  thought  so  too,  my  lord,"  replied  Richie,  "  and  so  I 
told  her  neither." 

"  And  what  didjou  tell  her,  then,  you  eternal  babbler  ?  " 
said  his  master,  impatient  of  his  prate,  yet  curious  to  know 
what  it  was  all  to  end  in. 

"  I  told  her,"  said  Richie,  "  about  your  warldly  fortune 
and  sae  forth,  something  whilk  is  not  truth  just  at  this  time  ; 
but  which  hath  been  truth  formerly,  suld  be  truth  now,  and 
will  be  truth  again — and  that  was  that  you  were  in  posses- 
sion of  your  fair  lands,  whilk  ye  are  but  in  right  of  as 
yet.  Pleasant  communing  we  had  on  that  and  other  topics, 
until  she  showed  the  cloven  foot,  beginning  to  confer  wnth 
me  about  some  wench  that  she  said  liad  a  good-will  to  your 
lordship,  and  fain  she  would  have  spoken  with  you  in  par 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  165 

ticular  anent  it  ;   but  when  I  heard  of  such  inklings,  I  began 

to  suspect  she  was  little  better  than whew  !  "     Here  he 

concluded  his  narrative  with  alow  but  very  expressive  whistle. 

"  And  what  did  your  wisdom  do  in  these  circumstances?" 
said  Lord  Xigel,  who,  notv;ithstanding  his  former  resent- 
ment, could  now  scarcely  forbear  laughing. 

"  I  put  on  a  look,  my  lord,"  replied  Kichie,  bending  his 
solemn  brows,  "that  suld  give  her  a  heart-scald  of  walking 
on  such  errands.  I  laid  her  enormities  clearly  before  her, 
and  I  threatened  her,  in  sae  mony  words,  that  I  would  have 
her  to  the  ducking-stool;  and  she,  on  the  contrair  part,  mis- 
cawed  me  for  a  froward  Northern  tyke;  and  so  Ave  parted 
never  to  meet  again,  as  I  hope  and  trust.  And  so  I  stood 
between  your  lordship  and  that  temptation,  which  might 
have  been  worse  than  the  ordinary  or  the  playhouse  either; 
since  you  wot  well  what  Solomon,  king  of  the  Jews,  sayeth 
of  the  strange  woman.  '  For,'  said  I  to  myself,  '  we  have 
taken  to  dicing  already,  and  if  we  take  to  drubbing  next,  the 
Lord  kens  what  we  may  land  in ! ' '' 

*'  Your  impertinence  deserves  correction,  but  it  is  the  last 
which,  for  a  time  at  least,  I  shall  have  to  forgive,  and  I  for- 
give it,''  said  Lord  Glenvarloch;  "  and,  since  we  are  to  part, 
Eichie,  I  will  say  no  more  respecting  your  precautions  on  my 
account  than  that  I  think  you  might"  have  left  me  to  act  ac- 
cording to  my  own  judgment."' 

"  Mickle  better  not/'  answered  Eichie — "  mickle  better 
not;  we  are  a'  frail  creatures,  and  can  judge  better  for  ilk 
ither  than  in  our  ain  cases.  And  for  me,  even  myself,  saving 
that  case  of  the  sifflication,  which  might  have  happened  to 
ony  one,  I  have  always  observed  myself  to  be  much  more 
prudential  in  what  I  have  done  in  your  lordship's  behalf  than 
even  in  what  I  have  been  able  to  transact  for  my  own  interest 
— whilk  last  I  have,  indeed,  always  postponed,  as  in  duty  I 
ought." 

"  I  do  believe  thou  hast,"  said  Lord  Nigel,  "  having  ever 
found  thee  true  and  faithful.  And  since  London  pleases  you 
so  little,  I  will  bid  you  a  short  farewell;  and  you  may  go 
down  to  Edinburgh  until  I  come  thither  myself,  when  I  trust 
you  will  re-enter  into  my  service." 

*'Now,  Heaven  bless  you,  my  lord,"  said  Eichie  Moniplies, 
with  uplifted  eyes;  "for  that  word  sounds  more  like  grace 
than  ony  has  come  out  of  your  mouth  this  fortnight.  I  give 
you  god-den,  my  lord." 

So  saying,  he  thrust  forth  his  immense  bony  hand,  seized 
on  that  of  Lord  Glenvarloch,  raised  it  to  his  lips,  then  turned 


I6«  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

short  on  his  heel,  and  left  the  room  hastily,  as  if  afraid  of 
siiowing  more  emotion  tluin  was  consistent  with  his  ideas  of 
decorum.  Lord  Nigel,  rather  surprised  at  his  sudden  exit, 
called  after  him  to  know  whether  he  was  suftlciently  pro- 
vided with  money;  but  Richie,  shaking  his  head,  without 
making  any  other  answer,  ran  hastily  downstairs,  shut  the 
street-door  lieavily  behind  him,  and  was  presently  seen 
striding  along  tlio  Strand. 

His  master  almost  involuntarily  watched  and  distin- 
guished the  tall,  raw-boned  figure  of  his  late  follower  from 
the  window  for  some  time,  until  he  was  lost  among  the  crowd 
of  passengers.  Nigel's  reflections  Avere  not  altogether  those 
of  self-approval.  It  was  no  good  sign  of  his  course  of  life, 
he  could  not  help  acknowledging  this  much  to  himself,  that 
so  faithful  an  adherent  no  longer  seemed  to  feel  the  same 
pride  in  his  service,  or  attachment  to  his  person,  which  he 
had  formerly  manifested.  Neither  could  he  avoid  experi- 
encing some  twinges  of  conscience,  while  he  felt  in  some  de- 
gree the  charges  which  Richie  had  preferred  against  him, 
and  experienced  a  sense  of  shame  and  mortification,  arising 
from  the  color  given  by  others  to  that  which  he  himself 
would  have  called  his  caution  and  moderation  in  play.  He 
had  only  the  apology  that  it  had  never  occurred  to  himself  in 
this  light. 

Then  his  pride  and  self-love  suggested  that,  on  the  other 
hand,  Richie,  with  all  his  good  intentions,  was  little  better 
than  a  conceited,  pragmatical  domestic,  Avho  seemed  disposed 
rather  to  play  the  tutor  than  the  lackey,  and  who,  out  of 
sheer  love,  as  he  alleged,  to  his  master's  person,  assumed  the 
prvil  ge  of  interfering  with,  and  controlling,  his  actions,  be- 
sides rendering  him  ridiculous  in  the  gay  world  from  the  an- 
tiquated formality  and  intrusive  presumption  of  his  manners. 

Nigel's  eyes  were  scarce  turned  from  the  window,  when 
his  new  landlord,  entering,  presented  to  him  a  slip  of  paper, 
carefully  bound  round  with  a  string  of  flox-silk  and  sealed. 
"It  had  been  given  in,"  he  said,  "  by  a  woman,  who  did  not 
stop  an  instant."  The  contents  harped  upon  the  same  string 
which  Richie  Moniplies  had  already  jarred.  The  epistle  was 
in  the  following  words: 

"  For  the  Right  Honorable  hands  of  Lord  Glenvarloch, 
"  These,  from  a  friend  unknown  : 
"  My  Lord, 

"You  are  trusting  to  an  unhonest  friend,  and  diminish- 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  161 

ing  an  hofiest  reputation.  An  unknown  but  real  friend  of 
your  lordship  will  speak  in  one  word  what  you  would  not 
learn  from  flatterers  in  so  many  days  as  should  suffice  for 
your  utter  ruin.  He  whom  you  think  most  true — I  say  your 
friend.  Lord  Dalgarno — is  utterly  false  to  you,  and  doth  but 
seek,  under  pretence  of  friendship,  to  mar  your  fortune,  and 
diminish  the  good  name  by  which  you  might  mend  it.  The 
kind  countenance  which  he  shows  to  you  is  more  dangerous 
than  the  Prince's  frown  ;  even  as  to  gain  at  Beaujeu's  ordi- 
nary is  more  discreditable  than  to  lose.  Beware  of  both. 
And  this  is  all  from  your  true  but  nameless  friend, 

"  Ignoto." 

Lord  Glenvarloch  paused  for  an  instant,  and  crushed  the 
paper  together — then  again  unfolded  it  and  read  it  with  atten- 
tion— bent  his  brows — mused  for  a  moment,  and  then  tearing 
it  to  fragments,  exclaimed—"  Begone  for  a  vile  calumny  ! 
But  I  will  Avatch — I  will  observe " 

Thought  after  thought  rushed  on  him  ;  but,  upon  the 
whole.  Lord  Glenvarloch  was  so  little  satisfied  with  the  re- 
sult of  his  own  reflections,  that  he  resolved  to  dissipate  them 
by  a  walk  in  the  Park,  and,  taking  his  cloak  and  beavsr, 
went  thither  accordingly. 


CHAPTER  XV 

Twas  when  fleet  Snowball's  head  was  woxen  grejj, 
A  hicklesa  ley'ret  met  him  on  his  way. 
Who  knows  not  Snowball — he,  whose  race  reQown'd 
Is  still  victorious  on  each  coursing-ground  ? 
Swaffham,  Newmarket,  and  the  Roman  Camp, 
Have  seen  them  victors  o'er  each  meaner  stamp. 
In  vain  the  youngling  sought,  with  doubling  wile, 
The  hedge,  the  hill,  the  thicket,  or  the  stile. 
Experience  sage  the  lack  of  speed  supplied, 
And  in  the  gap  he  sought,  the  victim  died. 
So  was  I  once,  in  thy  fair  street,  St.  James, 
Through  walking  cavaliers  and  car-borne  dames, 
Descried,  pursued,  turn'd  o'er  again,  and  oer, 
Coursed,  coted,  mouth'd  by  an  unfeehng  bore. 
Etc.  etc.  etc. 

The  Park  of  St.  James's,  though  enlarged,  planted  with 
verdant  alleys,  and  otherwise  decorated  by  Charles  II.,  ex- 
isted in  the  days  of  his  grandfather  as  a  public  and  pleasant 
promenade  ;  and,  for  the  sake  of  exercise  or  pastime,  was 
much  frequented  by  the  better  classes. 

Lord  Glenvarloch  repaired  thither  to  dispel  the  unpleas- 
ant reflections  which  had  been  suggested  by  his  parting  with 
his  trusty  squire,  Richie  Moniplies,  in  a  manner  which  was 
agreeable  neither  to  his  pride  nor  his  feelings  ;  and  by  the 
corroboration  which  the  hints  of  his  late  attendant  had  re- 
ceived from  the  anonymous  letter  mentioned  in  the  end  of 
the  last  chapter. 

There  was  a  considerable  number  of  company  in  the 
Park  when  he  entered  it,  but,  his  present  state  of  mind  in- 
ducing him  to  avoid  society,  he  kept  aloof  from  the  more 
frequented  walks  towards  XVestminster  and  Whitehall,  and 
drew  to  the  north,  or,  as  we  should  noAV  say,  the  Piccadilly 
verge  of  the  inclosure,  believing  he  might  there  enjoy,  or 
rather  combat,  his  own  thoughts  unmolested. 

In  this,  however.  Lord  Glenvarloch  was  mistaken  ;  for,  as 
he  strolled  slowly  along  Avith  his  arms  folded  in  his  cloak, 
and  his  hat  drawn  over  his  eyes,  he  was  suddenly  pounced 
upon  by  Sir  Mungo  Malagrowther,  who,  either  shunning  or 
shunned,  had  retreated,  or  been  obliged  to  retreat,  to  the 
same  less  frequented  corner  of  the  Park. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  169 

Nigel  started  when  he  lieard  the  high,  sharp,  and  queru- 
lous tones  of  the  knight's  cracked  voice,  and  was  no  less 
alarmed  when  he  beheld  his  tall  thin  figure  hobbling  towards 
him,  wrapped  in  a  threadbare  cloak,  on  whose  surface  ten 
thousand  varied  stains  eclipsed  the  original  scarlet,  and  hav- 
ing his  head  surmounted  with  a  well-worn  beaver,  bearing  a 
black  velvet  band  for  a  chain,  and  a  capon's  feather  for  an 
ostrich  plume. 

Lord  Glenvarlocli  would  fain  have  made  his  escape,  but,  as 
our  motto  intimates,  a  leveret  had  as  little.chance  to  free  her- 
self of  an  experienced  greyhound.  Sir  Mungo,  to  continue 
the  simile,  had  long  ago  learned  to  *'run  cunning,"  and  make 
sure  of  mouthing  his  game.  So  Nigel  found  himself  com- 
pelled to  stand  and  answer  the  hackneyed  question — ''What 
news  to-day?" 

"Nothing  extraordinary,  I  believe,"  answered  the  young 
nobleman,  attempting  to  pass  on. 

"0,  ye  are  ganging  to  the  French  ordinary  belive,"  re- 
plied the  knight;  ''but  it  is  early  day  yet.  AVe  will  take  a 
turn  in  the  Park  in  the  mean  while ;  it  will  sharpen  your 
appetite." 

So  saying,  he  quietly  slipped  his  arm  under  Lord  Glenvar- 
loch's,  in  spite  of  all  the  decent  reluctance  which  his  victim 
could  exhibit,  by  keeping  his  elbow  close  to  his  side  ;  _  and 
having  fairly  grappled  the  prize,  he  proceeded  to  take  it  in 
tow. 

Nigel  was  sullen  and  silent,  in  hopes  to  shake  off  his  un- 
pleasant companion;  but  Sir  Mungo  was  determined  that,  if 
he  did  not  speak,  he  should  at  least  hear. 

"Ye  are  bound  for  the  ordinary,  my  lord?"  said  the  cynic; 
"weel,  ye  canna  do  better:  there  is  choice  company  there, 
and  peculiarly  selected,  as  I  am  tauld,  being,  dootless,  sic  as 
it  is  desirable"^  that  young  noblemen  should  herd  withal  ;  and 
j^our  noble  father  wad  have  been  blythe  to  see  you  keeping 
such  worshipful  society." 

"I  believe,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch,  thinking  himself 
obliged  to  say  something,  "that  the  society  is  as  good  as 
generally  can  be  found  in  such  places,  where  the  door  can 
scarcely  be  shut  against  those  who  come  to  spend  their 
money." 

"Right,  my  lord — vera  right,"  said  his  tormentor,  burst- 
ing out  into  a  chuckling,  but  most  discordant,  laugh. 
"These  citizen  chuifs  and  clowns  will  press  in  among  us, 
when  there  is  but  an  inch  of  a  door  open.  And  what  rem- 
edy?   Just  e'en  this,  that  as  their  cash  gies  them  confidence. 


170  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

we  sliould  strip  tliem  of  it.  Flay  them,  my  lord— singe  them 
as  the  kitchen  wench  does  the  rats,  and  then  they  winna  long 
to  come  back  again.  Ay — ay,  jiluck  them,  plume  them  ;  and 
then  the  larded  capons  will  not  be  for  flying  so  high  a  wing,  my 
lord, among  the  goss-hawks and  sparrow-hawks, and  the  like.'* 

And  therewithal  Sir  Mungo  fixed  on  Nigel  his  quick, 
sharp,  gray  eye,  watching  the  effect  of  his  sarcasm  as  keenly 
as  the  surgeon,  in  a  delicate  operation,  remarks  the  progress 
of  his  anatomical  scalpel. 

Nigel,  however  willing  to  conceal  his  sensations,  could 
not  avoid  gratifying  his  tormentor  by  wincing  under  the 
ojieration.  He  colored  with  vexation  and  anger  ;  but  a 
quarrel  with  Sir  Mungo  Malagrowther  would,  he  felt,  be 
unutterably  ridiculous  ;  and  he  only  muttered  to  himself  the 
words,  "  Impertinent  coxcomb!  "  which,  on  this  occasion.  Sir 
Mungo's  imperfection  of  organ  did  not  prevent  him  from 
hearing  and  replying  to. 

"  Ay — ay,  vera  true,"  exclaimed  the  caustic  old  courtier. 
"  Impertinent  coxcombs  they  are,  that  thus  intrude  them- 
selves on  the  society  of  their  betters  ;  but  your  lordship  kens 
how  to  gar  them  as  gude — ye  have  the  trick  on't.  They  had 
a  braw  sport  in  the  presence  last  Friday,  how  ye  suld  have 
routed  a  young  shopkeeper,  horse  and  foot,  taen  his  spolia 
opima,  and  a'  the  specie  he  had  about  him,  down  to  the  very 
silver  buttons  of  his  cloak,  and  sent  him  to  graze  with 
Nebuchadnezzar,  king  of  Babylon.  Muckle  honor  redounded 
to  your  lordship  thereby.  We  were  tauld  the  loon  threw 
himsell  into  the  Thames  in  a  fit  of  desperation.  There's 
enow  of  them  behind— there  was  mair  tint  on  Flodden  Edge." 

*'  You  have  been  told  a  budget  of  lies,  so  far  as  I  am  con- 
cerned. Sir  Mungo,"  said  Nigel,  speaking  loud  and  sternly. 

"  Vera  likely — vera  likely,"  said  the  unabashed  and  undis- 
mayed Sir  Mungo  ;  "  nae thing  but  lies  are  current  in  the  cir- 
cle. So  the  chield  is  not  drowned  then? — the  mair's  the  pity. 
But  I  never  believed  that  part  of  the  story  ;  a  London  dealer 
has  mair  wit  in  his  anger.  I  dare  swear  the  lad  has  a  bonny 
broom-shank  in  his  hand  by  this  time,  and  is  scrubbing  the 
kennels  in  quest  after  rusty  nails,  to  help  him  to  begin  his 
pack  again.  He  has  three  bairns,  they  say  ;  they  will  help 
him  bravely  to  grope  in  the  gutters.  Your  good  lordship 
may  have  the  ruining  of  him  again,  my  lord,  if  they  have  any 
luck  in  strand-scouring." 

"  This  is  more  than  intolerable,"  said  Nigel,  uncertain 
whether  to  make  an  angry  vindication  of  his  character  or  to 
fling  the  old   tormentor  from    his  arm.     But  an   instant's 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  171 

recollection  convinced  him  that  to  do  either  would  only  give 
an  air  of  truth  and  consistency  to  the  scandals  which  he  be- 
gan to  see  were  affecting  his  character,  both  in  the  higher 
and  lower  circles.  Hastily,  therefore,  he  formed  the  wiser 
resolution  to  endure  Sir  Mungo's  studied  impertinence,  under 
the  hope  of  ascertaining,  if  possible,  from  what  source  those 
reports  arose  which  were  so  prejudicial  to  his  reputation. 

Sir  Mungo,  in  the  mean  while,  caught  up,  as  usual,  Nigel's 
last  words,  or  rather  the  sound  of  them,  and  amplified  and 
interpreted  them  in  his  own  way.  "  Tolerable  luck,"  he  re- 
peated; "yes,  truly,  my  lord,  I  am  told  that  you  have  tolera- 
ble luck,  and  that  ye  ken  weel  how  to  use  that  jilting  queen. 
Dame  Fortune,  like  a  canny  douce  lad,  willing  to  warm  your- 
self in  her  smiles,  without  exposing  yourself  to  her  frowns. 
And  that  is  what  I  ca'  having  luck  in  a  bag." 

'•'Sir  Mungo  Malagrowther,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch, 
turning  towards  him  seriously,  "  have  the  goodness  to  hear 
me  for  a  moment." 

''As  weel  as  I  can,  my  lord — as  weel  as  I  can,"  said  Sir 
Mungo,  shaking  his  head  and  pointing  the  finger  of  his  left 
hand  to  his  ear. 

"I  will  try  to  speak  very  distinctly,"  said  Nigel,  arming 
himself  with  patience.  *'You  take  me  for  a  noted  gamester; 
I  give  you  my  word  that  you  have  not  been  rightly  informed 
— I  am'  none"^such.  You  owe  me  some  explanation,  at  least, 
respecting  the  source  from  which  you  have  derived  such  false 
information." 

"  I  never  heard  ye  were  a  great  gamester,  and  never 
thought  or  said  ye  were  such,  my  lord,"  said  Sir  Mungo,  who 
found  it  impossible  to  avoid  hearing  what  Nigel  said  with 
peculiarlv  deliberate  and  distinct  pronunciation.  "I  repeat 
it — I  never  heard,  said,  or  thought  that  you  were  a  ruffling 
gamester,  such  as  they  call  those  of  the  first  head.  Look 
you,  my  lord,  I  call  him  s,  gamester  that  plays  with  equal 
stakes  and  equal  skill,  and  stands  by  the  fortune  of  the 
game,  good  or  bad;  and  I  call  him  a  ruffling  gamester,  or  ane 
of  the  first  head,  who  ventures  frankly  and  deeply  upon 
such  a  wager.  But  he,  my  lord,  who  has  the  patience  and 
prudence  never  to  venture  beyond  small  game,  such  as,  at 
most,  might  crack  the  Christmas-box  of  a  grocer's  'prentice, 
who  vies  with  those  that  have  little  to  hazard,  and  who  there- 
fore, having  the  larger  stock,  can  always  rook  them  by  wait- 
ing for  his  good  fortune,  and  by  rising  from  the  game  when 
luck  leaves  nim — such  a  one  as  he,  my  lord,  I  do  not  call  a 
great  gamester,  to  whatever  other  name  he  may  be  entitled." 


172  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

"  And  such  a  mean-spirited,  sordid  wretch  you  would 
infer  that  I  am,"  replied  Lord  Glenvarloch — "  one  who  fears 
tlie  skilful,  and  preys  upon  the  ignorant;  who  avoids  playing 
with  his  equals,  tliat  he  may  make  sure  of  pillaging  his  in- 
feriors? Is  this  what  I  am  to  understand  has  been  reported 
of  me?" 

"  Na}',  my  lord,  you  will  gain  naught  by  speaking  big 
with  me,  "  said  Sir  Mungo,  who,  besides  that  his  sarcastic 
humor  was  really  supported  by  a,  good  fund  of  animal  cour- 
age, luid  also  full  reliance  on  the  immunities  which  he  had 
derived  from  the  broadsword  of  Sir  Eullion  Eattray  and  the 
baton  of  the  satellites  employed  by  the  Lady  Cockpen. 
''And  for  the  truth  of  the  matter,"  he  continued,  "your 
lordship  best  knows  whether  you  ever  lost  more  than  five 
pieces  at  a  time  since  you  frequented  Beaujeu's;  whether  you 
have  not  most  commonly  risen  a  winner;  and  whether  the 
brave  young  gallants  who  frequent  the  ordinary — I  mean 
those  of  noble  rank  and  means  conforming — are  in  use  to 
play  upon  those  terms?" 

'  "  My  father  was  right,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch,  in  the  bit- 
terness of  his  spirit;  "and  his  curse  justly  followed  me  when 
I  first  entered  that  place.  There  is  contamination  in  the  air, 
and  he  whose  fortune  avoids  ruin  shall  be  blighted  in  his 
honor  and  reputation." 

Sir  Mungo,  who  watched  his  victim  with  the  delighted 
yet  wary  eye  of  an  experienced  angler,  became  now  aware 
that,  if  he  strained  the  line  on  him  too  tightly,  there  was 
every  risk  of  his  breaking  hold.  In  order  to  give  him  room, 
therefore,  to  play,  he  protested  that  Lord  Glenvarloch 
"should  not  take  his  free  speech  in  malam partem.  If  you 
were  a  trifle  ower  sicker  in  your  amusement,  my  lord,  it 
canna  be  denied  that  it  is  the  safest  course  to  prevent  farther 
endangerment  of  your  somewhat  dilaj)idated  fortunes;  and  if 
ye  play  with  your  inferiors,  ye  are  relieved  of  the  pain  of 
pouching  the  siller  of  your  friends  and  equals;  forbye,  that 
the  plebeian  knaves  have  had  the  advantage,  tecum  certdsse, 
as  Ajax  Telamon  sayeth,  cqnid  Metamorphoseos;  and  for  the 
like  of  them  to  have  played  with  ane  Scottish  nobleman  is 
an  honest  and  honoi'able  consideration  to  compensate  the  loss 
of  their  stake,  whilk,  I  dare  say,  moreover,  maist  of  the 
churls  can  weel  afford." 

"  Be  that  as  it  may.  Sir  Mungo,"  said  Nigel,  "  I  would  fain 
know " 

"Ay — ay,"  interrupted  Sir  Mungo;  "and,  as  you  say, 
who  cares  whether  the   fat  bulls   of  Bashan   can  spare   it  or 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  173 

no?  gentlemen  are  not   to  limit   their   sport   for  the  like  of 
them." 

"  I  wish  to  know.  Sir  Mungo/'  said  Lord  Glenvarloch,, 
'•'in  what  company  you  have  learned  these  offensive  particu- 
lars respecting  me?" 

"  Bootless — dootless,  my  lord,"  said  Sir  Mungo;  "  I  have 
ever  heard,  and  have  ever  reported,  that  your  lordship  kept 
the  best  of  company  in  a  private  way.  There  is  the  fine 
Countess  of  Blackchester,  but  I  think  she  stirs  not  much 
abroad  since  her  affair  with  his  Grace  of  Buckingham;  and 
there  is  the  gude  auld-fashioned  Scottish  nobleman.  Lord 
Iluntinglen,  an  undeniable  man  of  quality — it  is  pity  but  he 
could  keep  caup  and  can  frae  his  head,  whilk  now  and  then 
doth  'minish  his  reputation;  and  there  is  the  gay  young 
Lord  Dalgarno,  that  carries  the  craft  of  gray  hairs  under  his 
curled  love-locks.  A  fair  race  they  are,  father,  daughter, 
and  son,  all  of  the  same  honorable  family.  I  think  we 
needna  speak  of  George  Ileriot,  honest  man,  when  we  have 
nobility  in  question.  So  that  is  the  company  I  have  heard 
of  your  keeping,  my  lord,  out-taken  those  of  the  ordinary,'* 

"  My  company  has  not,  indeed,  been  much  more  extended 
than  among  those  you  mention,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch; 
"but  in  short " 

"To  court?"  said  Sir  Mungo,  "that  was  just  what  I 
was  going  to  say.  Lord  Dalgarno  says  he  cannot  i)revail  on 
ve  to  come  to  court,  and  that  does  ye  prejudice,  my  lord. 
The  King  hears  of  you  by  others,  Avhen  he  should  see  you  in 
person,  I  speak  in  serious  friendship,  my  lord.  His  Maj- 
esty, when  you  were  named  in  the  circle  short  while  since, 
was  heard  to"^  say,  '  Jacta  est  alea !  Glenvarlochides  is  turned 
dicer  and  drinker,'  My  Lord  Dalgarno  took  your  part,  and 
he  was  e'en  borne  down  by  the  popular  voice  of  the  courtiers, 
who  spoke  of  you  as  one  who  had  betaken  yourself  to  living 
a  to^vn  life,  and  risking  your  baron's  coronet  among  the  flat- 
caps  of  the  city." 

"And  this  was  publicly  spoken  of  me,"  said  Xigel,  "and 
in  the  King's  presence?" 

"Spoken  openly!"  repeated  Sir  Mungo  Malagrowther; 
"'av,  by  my  troth  was  it;  that  is  to  say,  it  was  whispered  pri- 
vately, whilk  is  as  open  promulgation  as  the  thing  permitted; 
for  ye  may  think  the  court  is  not  like  a  place  wliere  men  are 
as  sib  as  Simmie  and  his  brother,  and  roar  out  their  minds 
if  they  were  at  an  ordinary." 

"A  curse  on  the  court  and  the  ordinary  both!"  cried 
Kigel,  impatiently. 


m  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

"  With  all  my  heart/'  said  tlie  knight.  "  I  have  got  little 
by  a  knight's  service  in  the  court;  and  the  last  time  I  was  at 
the  ordinary  I  lost  four  angels/' 

''  May  I  pray  of  you.  Sir  Mungo,  to  let  me  know/'  said 
Nigel,  "the  names  of  those  who  thus  make  free  with  the 
character  of  one  who  can  be  but  little  known  to  them,  and 
who  never  injured  any  of  them?" 

**  Have  I  not  told  you  already,"  answered  Sir  Mungo, 
"that  the  King  said  something  to  that  effect — so  did  the 
Prince  too;  and  such  being  the  case,  ye  may  take  it  on  your 
corporal  oath  that  every  man  in  the  circle  who  was  not  silent 
sung  the  same  song  as  they  did." 

"You  said  but  now," replied  Glenvarloch,  "that  Lord 
Dalgarno  interfered  in  my  behalf." 

"In  good  troth  did  he,"  answered  Sir  Mungo,  with  a 
sneer;  "but  the  young  nobleman  was  soon  borne  down — by 
token,  he  had  something  of  a  catarrh,  and  spoke  as  hoarse 
as  a  roopit  raven.  Poor  gentleman,  if  he  had  had  his  full 
extent  of  voice,  he  would  have  been  as  well  listened  to,  doot- 
less,  as  in  a  cause  of  his  ain,  whilk  no  man  kens  better  how 
to  plead  to  purpose.  And  let  me  ask  you,  by  the  way,"  con- 
tinued Sir  Mungo,  "  whether  Lord  Dalgarno  has  ever  intro- 
duced your  lordship  to  the  Prince  or  the  Duke  of  Bucking- 
ham, either  of  whom  might  soon  carry  through  your  suit?" 

'•  I  have  no  claim  on  the  favor  of  either  the  Prince  or  the 
Duke  of  Buckingham,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch.  "  As  you 
seem  to  have  made  my  affairs  your  study,  Sir  Mungo, 
although  perhaps  something  unnecessarily,  you  may  have 
heard  that  I  have  petitioned  my  sovereign  for  payment  of  a 
debt  due  to  my  family.  I  cannot  doubt  the  King's  desire  to 
do  Justice,  nor  can  I  in  decency  employ  the  solicitation  of  his 
Highness  the  Prince  or  his  Grace  the  Duke  of  Buckingham 
to  obtain  from  his  Majesty  what  either  should  be  granted  me 
as  a  right  or  refused  altogether." 

Sir  ]\[ungo  twisted  his  whimsical  features  into  one  of  his 
most  grotesque  sneers,  as  he  replied — "  It  is  a  vera  clear  and 
parspicuous  position  of  the  case,  my  lord;  and  in  relying 
thereupon  you  show  an  absolute  and  unimprovable  acquaint- 
ance with  the  King,  court,  and  mankind  in  general.  But 
whom  have  we  got  here?  Stand  up,  my  lord,  and  make  way; 
by  my  word  of  honor,  they  are  the  very  men  we  spoke  of: 
talk  of  the  devil,  and — humph  ! " 

It  must  be  here  premised  that,  during  the  conversation. 
Lord  Glenvarloch,  perhaps  in  the  hope  of  shaking  himself 
free  of  Sir  Mungo,  had  directed  their  walk  towards  the  more 


"^■it:^. 


"The  whole   trjin   were   uncovered   excejidng   the    Prince  of  ^^'ales. " 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  175 

frequented  part  of  the  Park;  while  the  good  knight  had 
stuck  to  him,  being  totally  indifferent  which  way  they  went, 
provided  he  could  keep  his  tulons  clutched  upon  his  compan- 
ion. They  were  still,  however,  at  some  distance  from  the 
livelier  part  of  the  scene  when  Sir  Mungo's  experienced  eye 
noticed  the  appearances  which  occasioned  the  latter  part  of 
his  speech  to  Lord  Glenvarloch. 

A  low,  respectful  murmur  arose  among  the  numerous 
groups  of  persons  which  occujjied  the  lower  part  of  the  Park. 
They  first  clustered  together,  with  their  faces  turned  towards 
Whitehall,  then  fell  back  on  either  hand  to  give  place  to  a 
splendid  party  of  gallants,  who,  advancing  from  the  palace, 
came  onward  through  the  Park;  all  the  other  company  draw- 
ing off  the  pathway  and  standing  uncovered  as  they  passed. 

Most  of  these  courtly  gallants  were  dressed  in  the  garb 
which  the  pencil  of  Vandyke  has  made  familiar  even  at  the 
distance  of  nearly  two  centuries;  and  which  was  just  at  this 
period  beginning  to  supersede  the  more  fluttering  and  frivol- 
ous dress  which  had  been  adopted  from  the  French  court  of 
Henri  Quatre. 

The  whole  train  were  uncovered  excepting  the  Prince  of 
Wales,  afterwards  the  most  unfortunate  of  British  monarchs, 
who  came  onward,  having  his  long  curled  auburn  tresses,  and 
his  countenance,  which,  even  in  early  youth,  bore  a  shade  of 
anticipated  melancholy,  shaded  by  the  Spanish  hat  and  the 
single  ostrich  feather  which  drooped  from  it.  On  his  right 
hand  was  Buckingham,  whose  commanding,  and  at  the  same 
time  graceful,  deportment  threw  almost  into  shade  the  per- 
sonal demeanor  and  majesty  of  the  prince  on  whom  he 
attended.  The  eye,  movements,  and  gestures  of  the  great 
courtier  were  so  composed,  so  regularly  observant  of  all 
etiquette  belonging  to  his  situation,  as  to  form  a  marked  and 
strong  contrast  with  the  forward  gayety  and  frivolity  by 
which  he  recommended  himself  to  the  favor  of  his  "dear 
dad  and  gossip,"^  King  James.  A  singular  fate  attended 
this  accomplished  courtier,  in  being  at  once  the  reigning 
favorite  of  a  father  and  son  so  very  opposite  in  manners  that, 
to  ingratiate  himself  with  the  youthful  prince,  he  was  obliged 
to  compress  within  the  strictest  limits  of  respectful  obser- 
vance the  frolicsome  and  free  humor  which  captivated  his 
aged  father. 

It  is  true,  Buckingham  well  knew  the  different  disposi- 
tions both  of  James  and  Charles,  and  had  no  difficulty  in  so 
conducting  himself  as  to  maintain  the  highest  post  in  the 
favor  of  both.     It  has  indeed  been  supposed,  as  we  before 


176  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

hinted,  tliut  the  duke,  wlieii  he  had  completely  possessed 
himself  of  the  alfections  of  Charles,  retained  his  hold  in 
those  of  the  fatlier  only  by  the  tyranny  of  custom;  and  that 
James,  could  he  have  brought  himself  to  form  a  vigorous  reso- 
lution, was,  in  the  latter  years  of  his  life  especially,  not 
unlikely  to  have  discarded  Buckingham  from  his  counsels  and 
favor.  But  if  ever  the  King  indeed  meditated  such  a  change, 
he  was  too  timid,  and  too  much  accustomed  to  the  influence 
which  the  duke  had  long  exercised  over  him,  to  summon  up 
resolution  enough  for  effecting  such  a  purpose;  and  at  all 
events  it  is  certain  that  Buckingham,  though  surviving  the 
master  by  whom  he  was  raised,  had  the  rare  chance  to  expe- 
rience no  wane  of  the  most  splendid  court  favor  during  two 
reigns,  until  it  was  at  once  eclipsed  in  his  blood  by  the  dag- 
ger of  his  assassin  Felton. 

To  return  from  this  digression:  The  Prince,  with  his 
train,  advanced,  and  were  near  the  place  where  Lord  Glen- 
varloch  and  Sir  Mungo  had  stood  aside,  according  to  form, 
in  order  to  give  the  Prince  passage  and  to  pay  the  usual 
marks  of  respect.  Nigel  could  now  remark  that  Lord  Dal- 
garno  walked  close  behind  the  Duke  of  Buckingham,  and, 
as  he  thought,  whispered  something  in  his  ear  as  they  came 
onward.  At  any  rate,  both  the  Prince's  and  Duke  of  Buck- 
ingham's attention  seemed  to  be  directed  by  some  circum- 
stance towards  Nigel,  for  they  turned  their  heads  in  that 
direction  and  looked  at  him  attentively — the  Prince  with  a 
countenance  the  grave,  melancholy  expression  of  which  was 
blended  with  severity,  while  Buckingham's  looks  evinced 
some  degree  of  scornful  triumph.  Lord  Dalgarno  did  not 
seem  to  observe  his  friend,  perhaps  because  the  sunbeams  fell 
from  the  side  of  the  walk  on  which  Nigel  stood,  obliging 
Malcolm  to  hold  up  his  hat  to  screen  his  eyes. 

As  the  Prince  passed.  Lord  Glenvarloch  and  Sir  Mungff 
bowed,  as  respect  required;  and  the  Prince,  returning  their 
obeisance  with  that  grave  ceremony  which  paid  to  every  rank 
its  due,  but  not  a  tittle  beyond  it,  signed  to  Sir  Mungo  to 
come  forward.  Commencing  an  apology  for  his  lameness  as 
he  started,  which  he  had  just  completed  as  his  hobbling  gait 
brought  him  up  to  the  Prince,  Sir  Mungo  lent  an  attentive, 
and,  as  it  seemed,  an  intelligent,  ear  to  questions  asked  in  a 
tone  so  low  that  the  knight  would  certainly  have  been  deaf 
to  them  had  they  been  put  to  him  by  any  one  under  the  rank 
of  Prince  of  Wales.  After  about  a  minute's  conversation, 
the  Prince  bestowed  on  Nigel  the  embarrassing  notice  of 
another  fixed  look,  touched  his  hat  slightly  to  Sir  Mungo,  and 
walked  on. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  177 

"  It  is  even  as  I  suspected,  my  lord,"  said  Sir  Mungo,  with 
an  air  which  he  designed  to  be  mehinclioly  and  sympathetic, 
hut  which,  in  fact,  resembled  the  grin  of  an  ape  when  he  has 
mouthed  a  scalding  chestnut.  "Ye  have  back-friends,  my 
lord,  that  is  unfriends — or,  to  be  plain,  enemies — about  the 
person  of  the  Prince." 

"I  am  sorry  to  hear  it,"  said  Nigel;  ''but  I  would  I  knew 
what  they  accuse  me  of." 

"Ye  shall  hear,  my  lord/'  said  Sir  Mungo,  "the  Prince's 
vera  words.  '  Sir  Mungo,'  said  he,  '  I  rejoice  to  see  you,  and 
am  glad  your  rheumatic  troubles  permit  you  to  come  hither 
for  exercise.'  I  bowed,  as  in  duty  bound;  ye  might  remark, 
my  lord,  that  I  did  so,  whilk  formed  the  first  branch  of  our 
conversation.  His  Highness  then  demanded  of  me,  '  If  he 
with  whom  I  stood  was  the  young  Lord  Glenvarloch.'  I  an- 
swered, 'that  yoii  Avere  such,  for  his  Highness's  service;' 
whilk  was  the  second  branch.  Thirdly,  his  Highness,  resum- 
ing the  argument,  said,  that  '  truly  he  had  been  told  so ' 
— meaning  that  he  had  been  told  you  were  that  personage — 
'  but  that  he  could  not  believe  that  the  heir  of  that  noble  and 
decayed  house  could  be  leadidg  an  idle,  scandalous,  and  pre- 
carious life  in  the  eating-houses  and  taverns  of  London,  wnile 
the  King's  drums  were  beating  and  colors  flying  in  Germany 
in  the  cause  of  the  Palatine,  his  son-in-law.'  I  could,  your 
lordship  is  aware,  do  nothing  but  make  an  obeisance;  and  a 
gracious  '  Give  ye  good-day.  Sir  Mungo  Malagrowther,' 
licensed  me  to  fall  back  to  your  lordship.  And  now,  my 
lord,  if  your  business  or  pleasure  calls  you  to  the  ordinary,  or 
anywhere  in  the  direction  of  the  city — why,  have  with  you; 
for,  dootless,  ye  will  think  ye  have  tarried  lang  enough  in  the 
Park,  as  they  will  likely  turn  at  the  head  of  the  walk,  and 
return  this  way;  and  you  have  a  broad  hint,  I  think,  not  to 
cross  the  Prince's  presence  in  a  hurry." 

"  You  may  stay  or  go  as  you  please,  Sir  Mungo,"  said 
Nigel,  with  an  expression  of  calm  but  deep  resentment;  "but, 
for  my  own  part,  my  resolution  is  taken.  I  will  quit  this 
public  walk  for  pleasure  of  no  man;  still  less  will  I  quit  it 
like  one  unworthy  to  be  seen  in  places  of  public  resort.  I 
trust  that  the  Prince  and  his  retinue  will  return  this  way  as 
you  expect;  for  I  will  abide.  Sir  Mungo,  and  beard  them." 

"Beard  them!"  exclaimed  Sir  Mungo,  in  the  extremity 
of  surprise — "beard  the  Prince  of  Wales,  the  heir-apparent 
of  the  kingdoms!  By  my  saul,  you  shall  beard  him  your- 
sell  then." 

Accordingly,  he  was  about  to  leave  Nigel  very  haatiljj 

IS 


178  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

when  some  unwonted  touch  of  good-natured  interest  in  his 
youth  and  inexperience  seemed  suddenly  to  soften  his  habit- 
ual cynicism. 

"  The  devil  is  in  me  for  an  auld  fule!"  said  Sir  Mungo; 
*'but  I  must  needs  concern' mysell — I,  that  owe  so  little 
either  to  fortune  or  my  fellow-creatures,  must,  I  say,  needs 
concern  mysell — with  this  springald,  whom  I  will  warrant  to 
be  as  obstinate  as  a  pig  possessed  with  a  devil,  for  it's  the 
cast  of  his  family;  and  yet  I  maun  e'en  fling  away  some 
sound  advice  on  him.  My  dainty  young  Lord  Glenvarloch, 
understand  me  distinctly,  for  this  is  no  bairn's  play.  When 
the  Prince  said  sae  much  to  me  as  I  have  repeated  to  jou,  it 
was  equivalent  to  a  command  not  to  appear  again  in  his  pres- 
ence; wherefore,  take  an  auld  man's  advice  that  wishes  you 
weel,'  and  maybe  a  wee  thing  better  than  he  has  reason  to 
wish  onybody.  Jouk  and  let  the  jaw  gae  by,  like  a  canny 
bairn;  gang  hame  to  your  lodgings,  keep  your  foot  frae  tav- 
erns and  your  fingers  frae  the  dice-box;  compound  your 
affairs  quietly  wi'  some  ane  that  has  better  favor  than  yours 
about  court,  and  you  will  get  a  round  spell  of  money  to  carry 
you  to  Germany,  or  elsewhere,  to  push  your  fortune.  It  was 
a  fortunate  soldier  that  made  your  family  four  or  five  hun- 
dred years  syne,  and  if  you  are  brave  and  fortunate,  you  may 
find  the  way  to  repair  it.  But,  take  my  word  for  it,  that  in 
this  court  you  will  never  thrive." 

When  Sir  Mungo  had  completed  his  exhortation,  in  which 
there  was  more  of  sincere  sympathy  with  another's  situation 
than  he  had  been  heretofore  known  to  express  in  behalf  of 
any  one,  Lord  Glenvarloch  replied,  "  I  am  obliged  to  you, 
Sir  Mungo;  you  have  spoken,  I  think,  with  sincerity,  and  I 
thank  you.  But,  in  return  for  your  good  advice,  I  heartily 
entreat  you  to  leave  me;  I  observe  the  Prince  and  his  train 
are  returning  down  the  walk,  and  you  may  prejudice  your- 
self, but  cannot  help  me,  by  remaining  with  me." 

"And  that  is  true,"  said  Sir  Mungo;  "yet  were  I  ten 
years  younger,  I  would  be  tempted  to  stand  by  you,  and  gie 
them  the  meeting.  But  at  three-score  and  upward  men's  cour- 
age turns  cauldrife;  and  they  that  canna  win  a  living  must 
not  endanger  the  small  sustenance  of  their  age.  I  wish  you 
weel  through,  my  lord,  but  it  is  an  unequal  fight."  So  say- 
ing, he  turned  and  limped  away;  often  looking  back,  how- 
ever, as  if  his  natural  spirit,  even  in  its  present  subdued 
state,  aided  by  his  love  of  contradiction  and  of  debate, 
rendered  him  unwilling  to  adopt  the  course  necessary  for  his 
own  security. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  179 

Thus  abandoned  by  his  companion,  whose  departure  he 
graced  with  better  thoughts  of  him  than  those  which  he 
bestowed  on  his  appearance,  Nigel  remained  with  his  arms 
folded,  and  reclining  against  a  solitary  tree  which  overhung 
the  path,  making  up  his  mind  to  encounter  a  moment  which 
he  expected  to  be  critical  of  his  fate.  But  he  was  mistaken 
in  supposing  that  the  Prince  of  Wales  would  either  address 
him  or  admit  him  to  expostulation  in  such  a  public  place  as 
the  Park.  He  did  not  remain  unnoticed,  however,  for,  when 
he  made  a  respectful  but  haughty  obeisance,  intimating  in 
look  and  manner  that  he  was  possessed  of,  and  undaunted  by, 
the  unfavorable  opinion  which  the  Prince  had  so  lately  ex- 
pressed, Charles  returned  his  reverence  with  such  a  frown  as 
is  only  given  by  those  whose  frown  is  authority  and  decision. 
The  train  passed  on,  the  Duke  of  Buckingham  not  even  ap- 
pearing to  see  Lord  Glenvarloch;  while  Lord  Dalgarno, 
though  no  longer  incommoded  by  the  sunbeams,  kept  his 
eyes,  which  had  perhaps  been  dazzled  by  their  former  splen- 
dor, bent  upon  the  ground. 

Lord  Glenvarloch  had  difficulty  to  restrain  an  indigna- 
tion to  which,  in  the  circumstances,  it  would  have  been  mad- 
ness to  have  given  vent.  He  started  from  his  reclining 
posture,  and  followed  the  Prince's  train  so  as  to  keep  them 
distinctly  in  sight;  which  was  very  easy,  as  they  walked 
slowly.  Nigel  observed  them  keep  their  road  towards  the 
palace,  where  the  Prince  turned  at  the  gate  and  bowed  to  the 
noblemen  in  attendance,  in  token  of  dismissing  them,  and 
entered  the  palace,  accompanied  only  by  the  Duke  of  Buck- 
ingham and  one  or  two  of  his  equerries.  The  rest  of  the 
train,  having  returned  in  all  dutiful  humility  the  farewell  of 
the  Prince,  began  to  disperse  themselves  through  the  pai'k. 

A\\  this  was  carefully  noticed  by  Lord  Glenvarloch,  who, 
as  he  adjusted  his  cloak  and  drew  his  sword-belt  round  so  as 
to  bring  the  hilt  closer  to  his  hand,  muttered — '"  Dalgarno 
shall  explain  all  this  to  me,  for  it  is  evident  that  he  is  in  the 
secret  I'' 


CHAPTER  XVI 

Give  way — give  v^^ay;  I  must  and  will  have  justico. 
And  tell  me  not  of  privilege  and  place; 
"Where  I  am  injured,  there  I'll  sue  redress. 
Look  to  it,  every  one  who  bars  my  access; 
I  have  a  heart  to  feel  the  injury, 
A  hand  to  right  myself,  and,  by  my  honor. 
That  hand  shall  grasp  what  grey-beard  Law  denies  me. 

The  Chamberlain. 

It  was  not  long  ere  Nigel  discovered  Lord  Dalgarno  advauc= 
ing  towards  him  in  the  company  of  another  young  man  of 
quality  of  the  Prince's  train;  and  as  they  directed  their 
course  towards  tlie  south-eastern  corner  of  the  Park,  he  con- 
cluded they  were  about  to  go  to  Lord  Huntinglen's.  They 
stopped,  however,  and  turned  up  another  path  leading  to  the 
north;  and  Lord  Glenvarloch  conceived  that  this  change  of 
direction  was  owing  to  their  having  seen  him,  and  their 
desire  to  avoid  him.  _     . 

Nigel  followed  them  without  hesitation  by  a  path  which, 
winding  around  a  thicket  of  shrubs  and  trees,  once  more  con- 
ducted him  to  the  less  frequented  part  of  the  Park.  He 
observed  which  side  of  the  thicket  was  taken  by  Lord  Dal- 
garno and  his  companion,  and  he  himself,  walking  hastily 
round  the  other  verge,  was  thus  enabled  to  meet  them  face 
to  face. 

"  Good-morrow,  my  Lord  Dalgarno,^'  said  Lord  Glenvar- 
loch, sternly. 

''Ha!  my  friend  Nigel,"  answered  Lord  Dalgarno,  in  his 
usual  careless  and  indifferent  tone — "my  friend  Nigel,  with 
business  on  his  brow?  But  you  must  wait  till  we  meet  at 
Beaujeu's  at  noon:  Sir  Ewes  Haldimund  and  I  are  at  present 
engaged  in  the  Prince's  service." 

"  If  you  were  engaged  in  the  King's,  my  lord,"  said  Lord 
Glenvarloch,  "you  must  stand  and  answer  me." 

"Hey-day!"  said  Lord  Dalgarno,  with  an  air  of  great 
astonishment,  "what  passion  is  this?  Why,  Nigel,  this  is 
King  Cambyses'  vein!  You  have  frequented  the  theatres  too 
much  lately.  Away  with  this  folly,  man;  go,  dine  upon  soup 
and  salad,  drink  succory-water  to  cool  your  blood,  go  to  bed 
at  sundown,  and  defy  those  foul  fiends,  wrath  and  miscon- 
struction." 

2MI 


TEE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  181 

"  I  have  had  misconstruction  enough  among  jon"  said 
Glenvarloch,  in  the  same  tone  of  determined  displeasure, 
•■'and  from  you,  my  Lord  Dalgarno,  in  particular,  and  all 
under  the  mask  of  friendship." 

*'Here  is  a  proper  business! '^  said  Dalgarno,  turning  as 
if  to  appeal  to  Sir  Ewes  Haldimund.  "  Do  you  see  this  an- 
gry ruffler,  Sir  Ewes?  A  month  since,  he  dared  not  have 
looked  one  of  yonder  sheep  in  the  face,  and  now  he  is  a 
prince  of  roystorers,  a  plucker  of  pigeons,  a  controller  of 
players  and  poets  ;  and  in  gratitude  for  my  having  shown 
him  the  way  to  the  eminent  character  which  he  holds  upon 
town,  he  comes  hither  to  quarrel  with  his  best  friend,  if  not 
his  only  one  of  decent  station." 

"  I  renounce  such  hollow  friendship,  my  lord,"  said  Lord 
Glenvarloch  ',  "I  disclaim  the  character  which,  even  to  my 
very  face,  you  labor  to  fix  upon  me,  and  ere  we  part  I  will 
call  you  to  a  reckoning  for  it." 

"  My  lords  both,"  interrupted  Sir  Ewes  Haldimund,  "  let 
me  remind  you  that  the  royal  park  is  no  place  to  quarrel  in." 

"  I  will  make  my  quarrel  good,"  said  Xigel,  who  did  not 
know,  or  in  his  passion  might  not  have  recollected,  the  priv- 
ileges of  the  place,  '•'  wherever  I  find  my  enemy." 

"  You  shall  find  quarrelling  enough,"  replied  Lord  Dal- 
garno, calmly,  "  so  soon  as  you  assign  a  sufficient  cause  for 
it.  Sir  Ewes  Haldimund,  who  knows  the  court,  will  war- 
rant you  that  I  am  not  backward  on  such  occasions.  But  of 
what  is  it  that  you  now  complain,  after  having  experienced 
nothing  save  kindness  from  me  and  my  family?" 

"  Of  your  family  I  complain  not,"  replied  Lord  Glenvar- 
loch ;  "they  have  done  for  me  all  they  could, — more,  far 
more,  than  I  could  have  expected  ;  but  you,  my  lord,  have 
suffered  me,  while  you  called  me  your  friend,  to  be  traduced, 
where  a  word  of  your  mouth  would  have  placed  my  charac- 
ter in  its  true  colors  ;  and  hence  the  injurious  message  which 
I  just  noAV  received  from  the  Prince  of  Wales.  To  permit 
the  misrepresentation  of  a  friend,  my  lord,  is  to  share  in  the 
slander." 

"  You  have  been  misinformed,  my  Lord  Glenvarloch," 
said  Sir  Ewes  Haldimund  :  "  I  have  myself  often  heard 
Lord  Dalgarno  defend  your  character,  and  regret  that  your 
exclusive  attachment  to  the  pleasures  of  a  London  life  pre- 
vented your  paying  your  duty  regularly  to  the  King  and 
Prince." 

"  While  he  himself,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch,  "  dissuaded 
me  from  presenting  myself  at  court." 


182  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

"  I  will  cut  this  matter  short,"  said  Lord  Dalgarno,  with 
haughty  coldness.  "  You  seem  to  have  conceived,  my  lord, 
that  you  and  I  were  Pylades  and  Orestes — a  second  edition  of 
Damon  and  Pythias — Theseus  and  Pirithous  at  the  least.  You 
are  mistaken,  and  have  given  the  name  of  friendship  to  what, 
on  my  part,  was  mere  good-nature  and  compassion  for  a  raw 
and  ignorant  countryman,  joined  to  the  cumbersome  charge 
which  my  father  gave  me  respecting  you.  Your  character, 
my  lord,  is  of  no  one's  drawing,  but  of  your  own  making.  I 
introduced  you  where,  as  in  all  such  places,  there  was  good 
and  indifferent  company  to  be  met  with  ;  your  habits,  or 
taste,  made  you  prefer  the  worse.  Your  holy  horror  at  the 
sight  of  dice  and  cards  degenerated  into  the  cautious  resolu- 
tion to  play  only  at  those  times,  and  with  such  persons,  as 
might  insure  your  rising  a  winner  ;  no  man  can  long  do  so, 
and  continue  to  be  held  a  gentleman.  Such  is  the  reputa- 
tion you  have  made  for  yourself,  and  you  have  no  right  to  be 
angry  that  I  do  not  contradict  in  society  what  yourself  know 
to  be  true.  Let  us  pass  on,  my  lord  ;  and  if  you  want  far- 
ther explanation,  seek  some  other  time  and  fitter  place." 

"  No  time  can  be  better  than  the  present,"  said  Lord 
Glenvarloch,  whose  resentment  was  now  excited  to  the  utter- 
most by  the  cold-blooded  and  insulting  manner  in  which 
Dalgarno  vindicated  himself,  "  no  place  fitter  than  the  place 
where  we  now  stand.  Those  of  my  house  have  ever  avenged 
insult  at  the  moment,  and  on  the  spot  where  it  was  offered, 
were  it  at  the  foot  of  the  throne.  Lord  Dalgarno,  you  are 
a  villain!  draw  and  defend  yourself."  At  the  same  time  he 
unsheathed  his  rapier. 

"Are  you  mad?"  said  Lord  Dalgarno,  stepping  back; 
"  we  are  in  the  precincts  of  the  court." 

"The  better,"  answered  Lord  Glenvarloch;  "1  will  cleanse 
them  from  a  calumniator  and  a  coward."  He  then  pressed 
on  Lord  Dalgarno,  and  struck  him  with  the  flat  of  the 
sword. 

The  fray  had  now  attracted  attention,  and  the  cry  went 
round,  "  Keep  the  peace — keep  the  peace — swords  drawn  in 
the  Park!  What,  ho!  guards! — keepers — yeomen  rangers!" 
and  a  number  of  peojDle  came  rushing  to  the  spot  from  all 
sides. 

Lord  Dalgarno,  who  had  half  drawn  his  sword  on  receiv- 
ing the  blow,  returned  it  to  his  scabbard  when  he  observed 
the  crowd  thicken,  and,  taking  Sir  Ewes  Halimund  by  the 
arm,  Avalked  hastily  away,  only  saying  to  Lord  Glenvarloch 
as  they  left  him,  "  You  shall  deMy  «bv*»  this  insult — we 
will  meet  again." 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  183 

A  decent-looking,  elderly  man,  who  observed  that  Lord 
Glenvarloch  remained  on  the  spot,  taking  compassion  on  his 
youtliful  appearance,  said  to  him,  "  Are  you  aware  this  is  a 
Star  Chambei  business,  young  gentleman,  and  that  it  may 
cost  you  your  right  hand?  Shift  for  yourself  before  the 
keepers  or  constables  come  up.  Get  into  Whitefriars  or 
somewhere,  for  sanctuary  and  concealment,  till  you  can  make 
friends  or  quit  the  city." 

The  advice  was  not  to  be  neglected.  Lord  Glenvarloch 
made  hastily  towards  the  issue  from  the  Park  by  St.  James's 
Palace,  then  St.  James's  Hospital.  The  hubbub  increased 
behind  him;  and  several  peace-officers  of  the  royal  household 
came  up  to  apprehend  the  delinquent.  Fortunately  for  Ni- 
gel, a  popular  edition  of  the  cause  of  the  affray  had  gone 
abroad.  It  was  said  that  one  of  the  Duke  of  Buckingham's 
companions  had  insulted  a  stranger  gentleman  from  the 
country,  and  that  the  stranger  had  cudgelled  him  soundly. 
A  favorite,  or  the  companion  of  a  favorite,  is  always  odious 
to  John  Bull,  who  has,  besides,  a  partiality  to  those  dis- 
putants who  proceed,  as  lawyers  term  it,  jjar  voye  du  fait, 
and  both  prejudices  were  in  Nigel's  favor.  The  officers, 
therefore,  who  came  to  apprehend  him  could  learn  from  the 
spectators  no  particulars  of  his  appearance,  or  information 
concerning  the  road  he  had  taken;  so  that,  for  the  moment, 
he  escaped  being  arrested. 

What  Lord  Glenvarloch  heard  among  the  crowd  as  he 
passed  along  was  sufficient  to  satisfy  him  that,  in  his  impa- 
tient passion,  he  had  placed  himself  in  a  predicament  of  con- 
siderable danger.  He  was  no  stranger  to  the  severe  and  ar- 
bitrary proceedings  of  the  Court  of  Star  Chamber,  especially 
in  cases  of  breach  of  privilege,  which  made  it  a  terror  of  all 
men;  and  it  was  no  farther  back  than  the  Queen's  time  that 
the  punishment  of  mutilation  had  been  actually  awarded  and 
executed  for  some  offence  of  the  same  kind  which  he  had  just 
committed.  He  had  also  the  comfortable  reflection  that,  by 
his  violent  quarrel  with  Lord  Dalgarno,  he  must  now  forfeit 
the  friendsliip  and  good  offices  of  that  nobleman's  father  and 
sister,  almost  the  only  persons  of  consideration  in  whom  he 
could  claim  any  interest;  while  all  the  evil  reports  which  had 
been  put  in  circulation  concerning  his  character  were  certain 
to  weigh  heavily  against  him,  in  a  case  'vN^here  much  must 
necessarily  depend  on  the  reputation  of  the  accused.  To  a 
youthful  imagination,  the  idea  of  such  a  punishment  as  mu- 
tilation seems  more  ghastly  than  death  itself;  and  every  word 
which  he  overheard  among"  the  groups  Avhicli  he  met,  mingled 


184  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

with,  or  overtook  and  passed,  announced  this  as  the  penalty 
of  his  offence.  He  dreaded  to  increase  his  pace  for  fear  of 
attracting  suspicion,  and  more  than  once  saw  the  ranger^s 
officers  so  near  him,  that  his  wrist  tingled  as  if  already  under 
the  blade  of  the  dismembering  knife.  At  length  he  got  out 
of  the  Park,  and  had  a  little  more  leisure  to  consider  what 
he  was  next  to  do. 

Whitefriars,  adjacent  to  the  Temple,  then  well  known  by 
the  cant  name  of  Alsatia,  had  at  this  time,  and  for  nearly  a 
century  afterwards,  the  privilege  of  a  sanctury,  unless  against 
the  writ  of  the  Lord  Chief  Justice  or  of  the  lords  of  the  privy 
council.  Indeed,  as  the  place  abounded  with  desperadoes  of 
every  description — bankrupt  citizens,  ruined  gamesters,  irre- 
claimable prodigals,  desperate  duellists,  bravoes,  homicides, 
and  debauched  profligates  of  every  description,  all  leagued 
together  to  maintain  the  immunities  of  their  asylum — it 
was  both  difficult  and  unsafe  for  the  officers  of  the  law  to  exe- 
cute warrants  emanating  even  from  the  highest  authority, 
among  men  whose  safety  was  inconsistent  with  warrants  or 
authority  of  any  kind.  This  Lord  Glenvarloch  well  knew; 
and  odious  as  the  place  of  refuge  Avas,  it  seemed  the  only  one 
where,  for  a  space  at  least,  he  might  be  concealed  and  secure 
from  the  immediate  grasp  of  the  law,  until  he  should  have 
leisure  to  provide  better  for  his  safety,  or  to  get  this  unpleas- 
ant matter  in  some  shape  accommodated. 

Meanwhile,  as  Nigel  walked  hastily  forward  towards  the 
place  of  sanctuary,  he  bitterly  blamed  himself  for  suffering 
Lord  Dalgarno  to  lead  him  into  the  haunts  of  dissipation; 
and  no  less  accused  his  intemperate  heat  of  passion,  which 
now  had  driven  him  for  refuge  into  the  purlieus  of  profane 
and  avowed  vice  and  debauchery. 

"  Dalgarno  spoke  but  too  truly  in  that,^^  were  his  bitter 
reflections;  "  I  have  made  myself  an  evil  reputation  by  act- 
ing on  his  insidious  counsels,  and  neglecting  the  wholesome 
admonitions  which  ought  to  have  claimed  im2:)licit  obedience 
from  me,  and  which  recommended  abstinence  even  from  the 
slightest  approach  to  evil.  But  if  I  escape  from  the  jjerilous 
labyrinth  in  which  folly  and  inexperience,  as  well  as  violent 
passions,  have  involved  me,  I  will  find  some  noble  way  of  re- 
deeming the  lustre  of  a  name  which  was  never  sullied  until 
I  bore  it." 

As  Lord  Glenvarloch  formed  these  prudent  resolutions, 
he  entered  the  Temple  Walks,  Avhence  a  gate  at  that  time 
opened  into  Whitefriars,  by  which,  as  by  the  more  private 
passage,  he  proposed  to  betake  himself  to  the  sanctuary.     As 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  IS.j 

he  approached  the  entrance  to  that  den  of  infamy,  from 
which  his  mind  recoiled  even  while  in  the  act  of  taking  shel- 
ter there,  his  pace  slackened,  while  the  steep  and  broken 
stairs  reminded  him  of  thefacilis  descensus  Averni,  and  ren- 
dered him  doubtful  wliether  it  were  not  better  to  brave  the 
worst  which  could  befall  him  in  the  public  haunts  of  honor- 
able men  than  to  evade  punishment  by  secluding  himself  in 
those  of  avowed  vice  and  profligacy. 

As  Xigel  hesitated,  a  young  gentleman  of  the  Temple 
advanced  towards  him,  whom  he  had  often  seen,  and  some- 
times conversed  Avith,  at  the  ordinary,  where  he  was  a  fre- 
quent and  welcome  guest,  being  a  wild  young  gallant, 
indifferently  well  provided  with  money,  who  spent  at  the 
theatres  and  other  gay  places  of  public  resort  the  time  which 
his  father  supposed'he  was  employing  in  the  study  of  the  law. 
But  Eeginald  Lowestoffe,  such" was  the  young  Templar's 
name,  was  of  opinion  that  little  law  was  necessary  to  enable 
him  to  spend  the  revenues  of  the  paternal  acres  which  were 
to  devolve  upon  him  at  his  father's  demise,  and  therefore 
gave  himself  no  trouble  to  acquire  more  of  that  science  than 
might  be  imbibed  along  with  the  learned  air  of  the  region  in 
winch  he  had  his  chambers.  In  other  respects  he  was  one  of 
the  wits  of  the  place,  read  Ovid  and  Martial,  aimed  at  quick 
repartee  and  pun  (often  very  far  fetched),  danced,  fenced, 
played  at  tennis,  and  performed  sundry  tunes  on  the  fiddle 
and  French  horn,  to  the  great  annoyance  of  old  Counsellor 
Barratter,  who  lived  in  the  chambers  immediately  below  him. 
Such  was  Eeginald  Lowestoffe,  shrewd,  alert,  and  well  ac- 
quainted with  the  town  through  all  its  recesses,  but  in  a  sort 
of  disreputable  wav.  This  gallant,  now  approaching  the 
Lord  Glenvarloch,  saluted  him  by  name  and  title,  and  asked 
if  his  lordship  designed  for  the  Chevalier's  this  day,  observ- 
ing, it  was  near  noon,  and  the  woodcock  would  be  on  the 
board  ere  they  could  reach  the  ordinary. 

"  I  do  not  go  there  to-dav,"  answered  Lord  Glenvarloch. 

'-  Which  way,  then,  my  lord?"  said  the  young  Templar, 
who  was  perhaps  not  undesirous  to  parade  a  part  at  least  of 
the  street  in  companv  with  a  lord,  though  but  a  Scottish  one. 

"I — I" — said  Xigel,  desiring  to  avail  himself  of  this 
young  man's  local  knowledge,  vet  unwilling  and  ashamed  to 
acknowledge  his  intention  fo  talce  refuge  in  so  disreputable  a 
quarter,  or  to  describe  the  situation  in  which  he  stood — "  I 
have  some  curiositv  to  see  Whitefriars." 

"What!  your  lordship  is  for  a  frolic  into  Alsatia?"  said 
Lowestoffe.   '"Have  with  you,  my  lord;  you  cannot  have  a 


186  WAVEELEY  NOVELS 

better  giiide  to  the  infernal  regions  than  myself.  I  promise 
you  there  are  bona-robas  to  be  found  there — good  wine,  too, 
ay,  and  good  fellows  to  drink  it  Avith,  though  somewhat  suf- 
fering under  the  frowns  of  Fortune.  But  your  lordship  will 
pardon  me;  yon  are  the  last  of  our  acquaintance  to  whom  I 
would  have  proposed  such  a  voyage  of  discovery.^* 

"  I  am  obliged  to  you,  Master  Lowestoffe,  for  the  good 
opinion  you  have  expressed  in  the  observation,"  said  Lord. 
Glenvarloch ;  ''but  my  present  circumstances  may  render 
even  a  residence  of  a  day  or  two  in  the  sanctuary  a  matter  of 
necessity." 

''Indeed!"  said  Lowestoffe,  in  a  tone  of  great  surprise; 
"  I  thought  your  lordship  had  always  taken  care  not  to  risk 
any  considerable  stake.  I  beg  pardon,  but  if  the  bones  have 
proved  perfidious,  I  know  just  so  much  law  as  that  a  peer's 
person  is  sacred  from  arrest;  and  for  mere  impecuniosity,  my 
lord,  better  shift  can  be  made  elsewhere  than  in  Whitefriars, 
where  all  are  devouring  each  other  for  very  poverty." 

"  My  misfortune  has  no  connection  with  want  of  money," 
said  Nigel. 

"  Why,  then,  I  suiDpose,"  said  Lowestoffe,  "you  have  been 
tilting,  my  lord,  and  have  pinked  your  man;  in  which  case, 
and  with  a  purse  reasonably  furnished,  you  may  lie  perdu  in 
Whitefriars  for  a  twelvemonth.  Marry,  but  you  must  be 
entered  and  received  as  a  member  of  their  worshipful 
society,  my  lord,  and  a  frank  burgher  of  Alsatia;  so  far  you 
must  condescend,  there  will  be  neither  peace  nor  safety "^for 
you  else." 

"My  fault  is  not  in  a  degree  so  deadly.  Master  Lowe- 
stoffe,"  answered  Lord  Glenvarloch,  "  as  you  seem  to  con- 
jecture; I  have  stricken  a  gentleman  in  the  Park,  that  is  all." 

"  By  my  hand,  my  lord,  and  you  had  better  have  struck 
your  sword  through  him  at  Barns  Elms,"  said  the  Templar. 
"  Strike  within  the  verge  of  the  court!  You  will  find  that  a 
weighty  dependence  upon  your  hands,  especially  if  your  party 
be  of  rank  and  have  favor." 

"  I  will  be  plain  with  you.  Master  Lowestoffe/'  said 
Nigel,  "  since  I  have  gone  thus  far.  The  person  I  struck 
Avas  Lord  Dalgarno,  whom  you  have  seen  at  Beaujeu's.'" 

"AfolloAver  and  favorite  of  the  Duke  of  Buckingham! 
It  is  a  most  unhappy  chance,  my  lord;  but  my  heart  was 
formed  in  England,  and  cannot  bear  to  see  a  young  noble- 
man borne  down,  as  3'Ou  are  like  to  be.  We  converse  here 
greatly  too  open  for  your  circumstances.  The  Templars 
would  suffer  no  bailiff  to  execute  a  writ,  and  no  gentleman  to 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  187 

be  arrested  for  a  duel,  within  tlieir  precincts;  but  in  sucli  a 
matter  between  Lord  Dalgarno  and  your  lordship  tliere  niiglit 
be  a  party  on  either  side.  You  must  away  with  me  instantly 
to  my  poor  chambers  here,  hard  by,  and  undergo  some  little 
change  of  dress  ere  you  take  sanctuary,  for  else  you  will  have 
the  whole  rascal  rout  of  the  Friars  about  you,  like  crows 
upon  a  falcon  that  strays  into  their  rookery.  We  must  have 
you  arrayed  something  more  like  the  natives  of  Alsatia,  or 
there  will  be  no  life  tliere  for  you." 

While  Lowestolfe  spoke,  he  pulled  Lord  Glenvarloch 
along  with  him  into  his  chambers,  where  he  had  a  handsome 
library,  filled  with  all  the  poems  and  play-books  which  were 
then  in  fashion.  The  Templar  then  dispatched  a  boy,  who 
waited  upon  him,  to  procure  a  dish  or  two  from  the  next 
cook's  shop.  "And  this,"  he  said,  "must  be  your  lord- 
ship's dinner,  with  a  glass  of  old  sack,  of  which  my  grand- 
motlior — the  Heavens  requite  her  ! — sent  me  a  dozen  bottles, 
with  charge  to  use  the  liquor  only  with  clarified  whey,  when 
1  felt  my  breast  ache  with  overstudy.  Marry,  we  will  drink 
the  good  lady's  health  in  it,  if  it  is  your  lordship's  pleasure, 
and  you  shall  see  how  we  poor  students  eke  out  our  mutton- 
commons  in  the  hall." 

The  outward  door  of  the  chambers  was  barred  so  soon  as 
the  boy  had  re-entered  with  the  food  ;  the  boy  was  ordered 
to  keep  close  watch,  and  admit  no  one  ;  and  Lowestoflt'e,  by 
example  and  precept,  pressed  his  noble  guest  to  partake  of 
his  hospitality.  His  frank  and  forward  manners,  though 
much  difi:ering  from  the  courtly  ease  of  Lord  Dalgarno,  were 
calculated  to  make  a  favorable  impression  ;  and  Lord  Glen- 
varloch, though  his  experience  of  Dalgarno's  perfidy  had 
taught  him  to  be  cautious  of  reposing  faith  in  friendly  pro- 
fessions, could  not  avoid  testifying  his  gratitude  to  the  young 
Templar,  who  seemed  so  anxious  for  his  safety  and  accom- 
modation. 

"  You  may  spare  your  gratitude  any  great  sense  of 
obligation,  my  lord,"  said  the  Templar.  "  No  doubt  I  am 
willing  to  be  ^f  use  to  any  gentleman  that  has  cause  to  sing 
'  Fortune  my  foe/  and  particularly  proud  to  serve  your 
lordship's  turn  ;  but  I  have  also  an  old  grudge,  to  speak 
Heaven's  truth,  at  your  opposite.  Lord  Dalgarno." 

"May  I  ask  u})on  what  account.  Master  Lowestoffe?" 
said  Lord  Glenvarloch. 

"  0,  my  lord,"  replied  the  Templar,  "  it  was  for  a  hap 
that  chanced  after  you  left  the  ordinary,  one  evening  about 
three  weeks  since — at  least  1  think  you  were  not  by,  as  your 


188  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

lordship  alwa5's  left  us  before  deep  play  began — I  mean  no 
olfeuco,  but  such  was  your  lordship's  custom — when  there 
were  words  between  Lord  Dalgarno  and  me  concerning  a 
certain  game  at  gleek,  and  a  certain  mournival  of  aces  held 
by  his  lordship,  which  went  for  eight — tib,  which  went  for 
fifteen — twenty-three  in  all.  Now,  I  held  king  and  queen, 
being  three — a  natural  towser,  making  fifteen — aad  tiddy, 
nineteen.  We  vied  the  ruff,  and  revied,  as  your  lordshi]) 
may  suppose,  till  the  stake  was  equal  to  half  my  yearly  ex- 
hibition— fifty  as  fair  yellow  canary  birds  as  e'er  chirped  in 
the  bottom  of  a  green  silk  purse.  Well,  my  lord,  I  rained 
the  cards,  and  lo  you  !  it  pleases  his  lordship  to  say  ^.lat  wc 
played  witliout  tiddy  ;  and  as  the  rest  stood  by  and  backed 
him,  and  especially  the  sharking  Frenchman,  why,  I  was 
obliged  to  lose  more  than  I  shall  gain  all  the  season.  So 
judge  if  I  have  not  a  crow  to  pluck  with  his  lordship.  Was 
it  ever  heard  there  was  a  game  at  gleek  at  the  ordinary  before 
without  counting  tiddy  ?  Marry  guep  upon  his  lordship  ! 
Every  man  who  comes  there  with  his  purse  in  his  hand  is  as 
free  to  make  new  laws  as  he,  I  hope,  since  touch  pot  touch 
penny  makes  every  man  equal." 

As  Master  Lowestoffe  ran  over  this  jargon  of  the  gaming- 
table, Lord  Glenvarloch  was  both  ashamed  and  mortified, 
and  felt  a  severe  pang  of  aristocratic  pride  when  he  con- 
cluded in  the  sweeping  clause  that  the  dice,  like  the  grave, 
levelled  those  distinguishing  points  of  society  to  wdiich 
Nigel's  early  prejudices  clung  perhaps  but  too  fondly.  It  was 
impossible,  however,  to  object  anything  to  the  learned  rea- 
soning of  the  young  Templar,  and  therefore  Nigel  was  con- 
tented to  turn  the  conversation  by  making  some  inquiries 
respecting  the  present  state  of  Whitef  riars.  There  also  his 
host  was  at  home. 

''You  know,  my  lord,"  said  Master  Lowestoffe,  ''that 
we  Templars  are  a  power  and  a  dominion  within  ourselves, 
and  I  am  proud  to  say  that  I  hold  some  rank  in  our  republic 
— was  treasurer  to  the  Lord  of  Misrule  last  year,  and  am  at 
this  i)resent  moment  in  nomination  for  that  dignity  myself. 
In  such  circumstances,  we  are  under  the  necessity  of  main- 
taining an  amicable  intercourse  with  our  neighbors  of  Alsatia, 
even  as  tlie  Christian  states  find  themselves  often,  in  mere 
policy,  obliged  to  make  alliance  with  the  Grand  Turk  or  the 
Barbary  states." 

"  I  should  have  imagined  you  gentlemen  of  the  Temple 
more  independent  of  your  neighbors,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch. 

"  You  do  us  something  too  much  honor,  my  lord,"  said 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  189 

the  Templar  ;  "  the  Alsatians  and  we  have  some  common 
enemies,  and  we  have,  under  the  rose,  some  common  friends. 
We  are  in  the  use  of  blocking  all  bailiffs  out  of  our  bounds, 
and  we  are  powerfully  aided  by  our  neighbors,  who  tolerate 
not  a  rag  belonging  to  them  within  theirs.  Moreover,  the 
Alsatia'is  have — I  beg  you  to  understand  me — the  power  of 
protecting  or  distressing  our  friends,  male  or  female,  who 
may  be  obliged  to  seek  sanctuary  witliin  tlieir  bounds.  In 
short.  >\e  two  communities  serve  each  other,  though  the 
league  is  between  states  of  unequal  quality,  and  I  may  myself 
say  that  I  have'  treated  of  sundry  weighty  affairs,  and  have 
been  a  negotiator  well  approved  on  both  sides.  But  hark — 
hark,  what  is  that  ?  " 

The  sound  by  which  Master  Lowestoffe  was  interrupted 
was  that  of  a  distant  horn,  winded  loud  and  keenly,  and 
followed  by  a  faint  and  remote  huzza. 

"  There  is  something  doing,"  said  Lowestoffe,  "  in  the 
Whitefriars  at  this  moment.  That  is  the  signal  when  their 
privileges  are  invaded  by  tipstaff  or  bailiff  ;  and  at  the  blast 
of  the  horn  they  all  swarm  out  to  the  rescue,  as  bees  when 
their  hive  is  disturbed.  Jump,  Jim,"  he  said,  calling  out  to 
the  attendant,  "  and  see  what  they  are  doing  in  Alsatia.  That 
bastard  of  a  boy,"  he  continued,  as  the  lad,  accustomed  to 
the  precipitate  haste  of  his  master,  tumbled  rather  than  ran 
out  of  the  apartment,  and  so  downstairs,  "  is  worth  gold  in 
this  quarter  :  he  serves  six  masters,  four  of  them  in  distinct 
numbers,  and  you  would  think  him  present  like  a  fairy  at 
the  mere  wish  of  him  that  for  the  time  most  needs  his  at- 
tendance. No  scout  in  Oxford,  no  gip  in  Cambridge,  ever 
matched  him  in  speed  and  intelligence.  He  knows  the  step 
of  a  dun  from  that  of  a  client  when  it  reaches  the  very  bottom 
of  tlie  staircase  ;  can  tell  the  trip  of  a  pretty  wench  from  the 
step  of  a  bencher  Avhen  at  the  upper  end  of  the  court ;  and 
is,  take  him  all  in  all But  I  see  your  lordship  is  anx- 
ious. May  I  press  another  cup  of  my  kind  grandmother's 
cordial,  or  will  you  allow  me  to  show  you  my  wardrobe,  and 
act  as  your  valet  or  groom  of  the  chamber  ?  " 

Lord  Glenvarloch  hesitated  not  to  acknowledge  that_  he 
was  painfully  sensible  of  his  present  situation,  and  anxious 
to  do  wliat  must  needs  be  done  for  his  extrication. 

The  good-natured  and  thoughtless  young  Templar  readily 
acquiesced,  and  led  the  way  into  his  little  bedroom,  where, 
from  bandboxes,  portmanteaus,  mail-trunks,  not  forgetting 
an  old  walnut-tree  wardrobe,  he  began  to  select  the  articles 
which  he  thought  best  suited  effectually  to  disguise  his  guest 
in  venturing  into  the  lawless  and  tuxhulent  society  of  Alsatia. 


CHAPTER  XVII 

Come  hither,  young  one.     Mark  me  !    Thou  art  now 
'Mongst  men  o'  the  sword,  that  live  by  reputation 
More  than  by  constant  income.     Single-suited 
They  are,  I  grant  you  ;  yet  each  smgle  suit 
Maintains,  on  the  rough  guess,  a  thousand  followers ; 
And  they  be  men,  who,  hazarding  their  all, 
Needful  apparel,  necessary  income. 
And  liuman  body,  and  immortal  soul. 
Do  in  the  very  deed  but  hazard  nothing  ; 
So  strictly  is  that  all  bound  in  reversion — 
Clothes  to  the  broker,  income  to  the  usurer, 
And  body  to  disease,  and  soul  to  the  foul  fiend, 
Who  laughs  to  see  soldadoes  and  fooladoes 
Play  better  than  himself  his  game  on  earth. 

TJie  Mohocks. 

''Your  lordship,"  said  Eeginald  Lowestoffe,  "  must  be  con- 
tent to  exchange  your  decent  and  court-beseeming  rapier, 
which  I  will  retain  in  safe  keeping,  for  this  broadsword, with 
an  hundred-weight  of  rusty  iron  about  the  hilt,  and  to  wear 
these  huge-paned  slops  instead  of  your  civil  and  moderate 
hose.  We  allow  no  cloak,  for  your  ruffian  always  walks  en 
cuerpo ;  and  the  tarnished  doublet  of  bald  velvet,  with  its 
discolored  embroidery,  and — I  grieve  to  speak  it — a  few  stains 
from  the  blood  of  the  grape,  will  best  suit  the  garb  of  a  roar- 
ing boy.  I  will  leave  you  to  change  your  suit  for  an  instant, 
till  I  can  help  to  truss  you." 

Lowestoffe  retired,  while  slowly  and  with  hesitation  Nigel 
obeyed  his  instructions.  He  felt  displeasure  and  disgust  at 
the  scoundrelly  disguise  which  he  was  under  the  necessity 
of  assuming  ;  but  when  he  considered  the  bloody  conse- 
quences which  law  attached  to  his  rash  act  of  violence,  the 
easy  and  indifferent  temper  of  James,  the  prejudices  of  his 
son,  the  overbearing  influence  of  the  Duke  of  Buckingham, 
which  was  sure  to  be  thrown  into  the  scale  against  him  ;  and, 
above  all,  when  he  reflected  that  he  must  now  look  upon  the 
active,  assiduous,  and  insinuating  Lord  Dalgarno  as  a  bitter 
enemy,  reason  told  him  he  was  in  a  situation  of  peril  which 
authorized  all  honest  means,  even  the  most  unseemly  in  out- 
ward appearance,  to  extricate  himself  from  so  dangerous  a 
predicament. 

While   he  was  changing  his  dress,  and  musing  on  these 

190 


THE  FORTUNES  OE  NIGEL  191 

particnlars,  his  friendly  host  re-entered  the  sleeping-apart- 
ment. "  Zounds!"  he  said,  ''my  lord,  it  was  well  you  went 
not  straight  into  that  same  Alsatia  of  ours  at  the  time  you 
proposed,  for  the  hawks  have  stooped  upon  it.  Here  is  Jim 
come  back  with  tidings  that  he  saw  a  pursuivant  there  with  a 
privy  council  warrant,  and  half  a  score  of  yeomen  assistants 
armed  to  the  teeth,  and  the  horn  which  we  heard  was  sounded 
to  call  out  the  posse  of  the  Friars.  Indeed,  when  old  Duke 
Hildebrod  saw  that  the  quest  was  after  some  one  of  whom  he 
knew  nothing,  he  permitted,  out  of  courtesy,  the  man-catcher 
to  search  through  his  dominions,  quite  certain  that  they 
would  take  little  by  their  motions;  for  Duke  Hildebrod  is  a 
most  judicious  potentate.  Go  back,  you  bastard,  and  bring 
us  word  when  all  is  quiet.  ^' 

"  And  who  may  Duke  Hildebrod  be?"  said  Lord  Glen- 
varloch. 

"Nouns!  my  lord,"  said  the  Templar,  "have  you  lived 
so  long  on  the  town  and  never  heard  of  the  valiant,  and  as 
wise  and  politic  as  valiant,  Duke  Hildebrod,  grand  protector 
of  the  liberties  of  Alsatia?  I  thought  the  man  had  never 
whirled  a  die  but  was  familiar  with  his  fame." 

"  Yet  I  have  never  heard  of  him,  Master  Lowestoffe," 
said  Lord  Glenvarloch;  "or,  what  is  the  same  thing,  I  have 
paid  no  attention  to  aught  that  may  have  passed  in  conversa- 
tion respecting  him." 

"Why,  then,"  said  Lowestoffe — " but,  first,  let  me  have 
the  honor  of  trussing  you.  Now,  observe,  I  have  left  several 
of  the  points  untied  of  set  purpose;  and  if  it  please  you  to  let 
a  small  portion  of  your  shirt  be  seen  betwixt  your  doublet  and 
the  band  of  your  upper  stock,  it  will  have  so  much  the  more 
rakish  effect,  and  will  attract  you  respect  in  Alsatia,  where 
linen  is  something  scarce.  Now,  I  tie  some  of  the  points 
carefully  asquint,  for  your  ruffianly  gallant  never  appears  too 
accurately  trussed — so." 

"Arrange  it  as  you  will,  sir,"  said  Nigel;  "but  let  me 
hear  at  least  something  of  the  conditions  of  the  unhappy 
district  into  which,  wath  other  wretches,  I  am  compelled  to 
retreat." 

"  Why,  my  lord,"  replied  the  Templar,  "our  neighboring 
state  of  Alsatia,  which  the  law  calls  the  sanctuary  of  White- 
friars,  has  had  its  mutations  and  revolutions  like  greater 
kingdoms;  and  being  in  some  sort  a  lawless,  arbitary  govern- 
ment, it  follows,  of  course,  that  these  have  been  more  fre- 
quent than  our  own  better  regulated  commonwealth  of  the 
Templars,  that  of  Gray's  Inn,  and  other  similar  associations, 


193  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

have  had  the  fortune  to  witness.  Our  traditions  and  records 
speak  of  twenty  revolutions  witliin  the  last  twelve  years,  in 
wliich  the  aforesaid  state  has  repeatedly  changed  from  abso- 
lute despotism  to  republicanism,  not  forgetting  the  inter- 
mediate stages  of  oligarchy,  limited  monarchy,  and  even 
gynocracy;  for  I  myself  remember  Alsatia  governed  for 
nearly  nine  montlis  by  an  old  fishwoman.  Then  it  fell  under 
the  dominion  of  a  broken  attorney,  who  was  dethroned  by  a 
reformado  captain,  who,  i^roving  tyrannical,  was  deposed'by 
a  hedge-parson,  who  was  succeeded,  upon  resignation  of  his 
power,  by  Duke  Jacob  Hildebrod,  of  that  name  the  first, 
whom  Heaven  long  preserve." 

*' And  is  this  potentate's  government,"  said  Lord  Glen- 
varloch,  forcing  himself  to  take  some  interest  in  the  conver- 
sation, "of  a  despotic  character?" 

"  Pardon  me,  my  lord, "  said  the  Templar;  ''this  said 
sovereign  is  too  Avise  to  incur,  like  many  of  his  predecessors, 
the  odium  of  wielding  so  important  an  authority  by  his  own 
sole  will.  He  has  established  a  council  of  state,  who  regularlji 
meet  for  their  morning's  draught  at  seven  o'clock;  convene  a 
second  time  at  eleven  for  their  ante-meridiem,  or  whet;  and, 
assembling  in  solemn  conclave  at  the  hour  of  two  after- 
noon, for  the  purpose  of  consulting  for  the  good  of  the  com- 
monwealth, are  so  prodigal  of  their  labor  in  the  service  of  the 
state  that  they  seldom  separate  before  midnight.  Into  this 
worthy  senate,  composed  partly  of  Duke  Hildebrod's  prede- 
cessors in  his  high  office,  whom  he  has  associated  with  him 
to  prevent  the  envy  attending  sovereign  and  sole  authority,  I 
must  presently  introduce  your  lordship,  that  they  may  admit 
you  to  the  immunities  of  tlie  Friars,  and  assign  you  a  place  of 
residence." 

"Does  their  authority  extend  to  such  regulation?"  said 
Lord  Glenvarloch. 

'*  The  council  account  it  a  main  point  of  their  j^rivi- 
leges,  my  lord,"  answered  Lowestoffe  ;  "and,  in  fact,  it  is 
one  of  the  most  powerful  means  by  which  they  support  their 
authority.  For  when  Duke  Hildebrod  and  his  senate  find  a 
topping  householder  in  the  Friars  becomes  discontented  and 
factious,  it  is  but  assigning  him,  for  a  lodger,  some  fat  bank- 
rupt, or  new  residenter,  whose  circumstances  require  refuge, 
and  whose  purse  can  pay  for  it,  and  the  malcontent  becomes 
as  tractable  as  a  lamb.  As  for  the  poorer  refugees,  they  let 
them  shift  as  they  can  ;  but  the  registration  of "tlieir  names 
in  the  duke's  entry-book,  and  the  payment  of  garnish  con- 
forming to  their  circumstances,  are  never  dispensed  with  ; 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  193 

and  the  Friars  would  be  a  very  unsafe  residence  for  the 
stranger  who  shoukl  disjaute  these  points  of  jurisdiction." 

"  Well,  Master  Lowestoffe,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch,  "  1 
must  be  controlled  by  the  circumstances  which  dictate  to  me 
this  state  of  concealment ;  of  course,  I  am  desirous  not  to 
betray  my  name  and  rank/' 

"It  will  be  highly  advisable,  my  lord."  said  Lowestoffe, 
"  and  is  a  case  thus  jn'ovided  for  in  the  statutes  of  the  re- 
public, or  monarchy,  or  whatsoever  you  call  it.  He  who 
desires  that  no  questions  shall  be  asked  him  concerning  his 
name,  cause  of  refuge,  and  the  like,  may  escape  the  usual 
interrogations  upon  payment  of  double  the  garnish  otlier- 
wise  belonging  to  his  condition.  Complying  with  this  essen- 
tial stipulation,  your  lordship  may  register  yourself  as  King 
of  Bantam  if  you  will,  for  not  a  question  will  be  asked  of 
you.  But  here  comes  our  scout,  with  news  of  piece  and 
tranquility.  Now,  I  will  go  with  your  lordship  myself,  and 
present  you  to  the  council  of  Alsatia,  with  all  the  influence 
which  I  have  over  them  as  an  office-bearer  in  the  Tem- 
ple, which  is  not  slight  ;  for  they  have  come  halting  off  upon 
all  occasions  when  we  have  taken  part  against  them,  and 
that  they  well  know.  The  time  is  propitious,  for  as  the 
council  is  now  met  in  Alsatia,  so  the  Temple  walks  are 
quiet.  Now,  my  lord,  throw  your  cloak  about  you,  to  hide 
your  present  exterior.  You  shall  give  it  to  the  boy  at  the 
foot  of  the  stairs  that  go  down  to  the  sanctuary  ;  and  as  the 
ballad  says  that  Queen  Eleanor  sunk  at  Charing  Cross  and 
rose  at  Queenhithe,  so  you  shall  sink  a  nobleman  in  the 
Temple  Gardens  and  rise  an  Alsatian  at  Whitefriars." 

They  went  oiit  accordingly,  attended  by  the  little  scout, 
traversed  the  gardens,  descended  the  stairs,  and  at  the  bot- 
tom the  young  Templar  exclaimed,  "  And  now  let  us  sing, 
with  Ovid, 

"  '  In  nova  fert  animus  mutatas  dicere  formas.' 

Off — off,  ye  lendings!"  he  continued,  in  the  same  vein. 
'*'  Via  the  curtain  that  shadowed  Borgia!  But  how  now, 
my  lord?"  he  continued,  when  he  observed  Lord  Glenvar- 
loch was  really  distressed  at  the  degrading  change  in  his 
situation,  "I  trust  you  are  not  offended  at  my  rattling  folly  I 
I  would  but  reconcile  you  to  your  present  circumstances,  and 
give  you  the  tone  of  this  strange  place.  Come,  cheer  up;  I 
trust' it  will  only  be  your  residence  for  a  very  few  days." 

Nigel  was  only  able  to  press  his  hand,  and    reply  in   a 
whisper,  "  I  am  sensible  of  your  kindness.     I  know  1  must 
13 


194  WAVEELEY  NOVELS 

drink  the  cup  which  my  own  folly  has  filled  for  me.     Par- 
don me  that,  at  tlie  first  taste,  I  feel  its  bitterness." 

Reginald  Lowe.stotfe  was  bustlingly  otKeious  and  good-na- 
tured ;  but,  used  to  live  a  scrambling,  rakish  course  of  life 
himself,  he  had  not  the  least  idea  of  the  extent  of  Lord  Glen- 
varloch's  inental  sufferings,  and  thought  of  his  temporary 
concealment  as  if  it  were  merely  the  trick  of  a  wanton  boy, 
who  plays  at  hide-and-seek  with  his  tutor.  With  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  place,  too,  he  Avas  familiar  ;  but  on  his  com- 
panion it  produced  a  deep  sensation. 

The  ancient  sanctuary  at  Whitefriars  lay  considerably 
lower  than  the  elevated  terraces  and  gardens  of  the  Temple, 
and  was  therefore  generally  involved  in  the  damps  and  fogs 
arising  from  the  Tliames.  The  brick  buildings  by  which  it 
was  occupied  crowded  closely  on  each  other,  for,  in  a  place 
so  rarely  privileged,  every  foot  of  ground  was  valuable  ;  but, 
erected  in  many  cases  by  persons  whose  funds  were  inade- 
quate to  their  speculations,  the  houses  were  generally  insuf- 
ficient, and  exhibited  the  lamentable  signs  of  having  become 
ruinous  while  they  were  yet  new.  The  wailing  of  children, 
the  scolding  of  their  mothers,  the  miserable  exhibition  of 
ragged  linens  hung  from  the  windows  to  dry,  spoke  the 
wants  and  distresses  of  the  wretched  inhabitants  ;  while  the 
sounds  of  complaint  were  mocked  and  overwhelmed  in  the 
riotous  shouts,  oaths,  profane  songs,  and  boisterous  laughter 
that  issued  from  the  alehouses  and  taverns,  which,  as  the 
signs  indicated,  were  equal  in  number  to  all  the  other  houses  ; 
and,  that  the  full  character  of  the  place  might  be  evident, 
several  faded,  tinselled,  and  painted  females  looked  boldly  at 
the  strangers  from  their  open  lattices,  or  more  modestly 
seemed  busied  with  the  cracked  flower-pots,  filled  with  mign- 
onette and  rosemary,  which  were  disposed  in  front  of  the 
windows,  to  the  great  risk  of  the  passengers. 

"  Seini-reducta  Venus,"  said  the  Templar,  pointing  to  one 
of  these  nymphs,  who  seemed  afraid  of  observation,  and 
partly  concealed  herself  behind  the  casement,  as  she  chirped 
to  a  miserable  blackbird,  the  tenant  of  a  wicket  prison, 
which  hung  outside  on  the  black  brick  wall.  "  I  know  the 
face  of  yonder  waistcoateer,''  continued  the  guide,  "  and  I 
could  wager  a  rose  noble,  from  the  posture  she  stands  in, 
that  she  has  clean  head-gear  and  a  soiled  night-rail.  But 
here  come  two  of  the  male  inhabitants,  smoking  like  moving 
volcanoes  !  These  are  roaring  blades,  whom  Nicotia  and 
Trinidado  serve,  I  dare  swear,  in  lieu  of  beef  and  pudding ; 
for  be  it  known  to  you,  my  lord,  that  the  King's  CounterUasi 


THE  FORTUXES.  OF  XIGEL  19a 

against  the  Indian  weed  will  no  more  pass  current  in  Alsatia 
than  will  his  writ  of  capias." 

As  he  spoke,  the  two  smokers  approached — shaggy,  un- 
combed ruffians,  whose  enormous  mustachios  were  turned 
back  over  their  ears,  and  mingled  with  the  wild  elf-locks  of 
their  hair,  much  of  which  was  seen  under  the  old  beavers 
which  they  wore  aside  upon  their  heads,  while  some  strag- 
gling portion  escaped  through  the  rents  of  the  hats  aforesaid. 
Their  tarnished  plush  jerkins,  large  slops,  or  trunk-breeches, 
their  broad  greasy  shoulder-belts,  and  discolored  scarfs, 
and,  above  all,  the  ostentatious  manner  in  which  the  one 
wore  a  broadsword  and  the  other  an  extravagantly  long  rapier 
and  poniard,  marked  the  true  Alsatian  bully,  then,  and  for  a 
hundred  years  afterwards,  a  well-known  character. 

•'•' Tour  out,"  said  the  one  ruffian  to  the  other — "tour  the 
bien  mort  twiring  at  the  gentry  cove  ! "  * 

"I  smell  a  spy,"  replied  the  other,  looking  at  Nigel. 
"  Chalk  him  across  the  peepers  with  your  cheery."  f 

"  Bing  avast — bing  avast  I "  replied  his  companion  ;  "  yon 
other  is  rattling  Eeginald  Lowestoffe  of  the  Temple.  I  know 
him  ;  he  is  a  good  boy,  and  free  of  the  province." 

So  saying,  and  enveloping  themselves  in  another  thick 
cloud  of  smoke,  they  went  on  without  farther  greeting. 

"  Crasso  in  aere  !  "  said  the  Templar.  "  You  hear  what  a 
character  the  impudent  knaves  give  me ;  but,  so  it  serves 
your  lordship's  turn,  I  care  not.  And  now  let  me  ask  your 
lordship  what  name  you  will  assume,  for  we  are  near  the  ducal 
palace  of  Duke  Hildebrod." 

"1  will  be  called  Grahame,"  said  Nigel;  "it  was  my 
mother's  name." 

"Grime," repeated  the  Templar,  "will  suit  Alsatia  well 
enough — both  a  grim  and  grimy  place  of  refuge." 

"  I  said  Grahame,  sir,  not  Grime."  said  Xigel,  something 
shortly,  and  laying  an  emphasis  on  the  vowel ;  for  few  Scots- 
men understand  raillery  upon  the  subject  of  their  names. 

"  I  beg  pardon,  my  lord,"  answered  the  undisconcerted 
punster ;  "  but  Graam  will  suit  the  circumstance,  too  :  it 
signifies  'tribulation'  in  the  High  Dutch,  and  your  lordship 
must  be  considered  as  a  man  under  trouble." 

Nigel  laughed  at  the  pertinacity  of  the  Templar,  who, 
proceeding  to  point  out  a  sign  representing,  or  believed  to 
represent,  a  dog  attacking  a  bull,  and  running  at  his  head, 
in  the  true  scientific    style   of  onset — "  There,"  said  he, 

*  look  »b»rp.    See  how  the  ^rl  is  coquetting  with  the  strange  gallants  I 
*•  ^liiaa  him  ov^r  Uic  eyes  ■*-ith  your  dagger. 


lft«  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

*'doth  faithful  Duke  Hildebrod  deal  fortli  laAVS,  a  J  well  as 
ale  and  strong  Avaters,  to  liis  faithful  Alsatians.  Being  a 
determined  champion  of  Paris  Garden,  he  has  chosen  a  sign 
corresponding  to  his  habits  ;  and  he  deals  in  giving  drmL;  to 
the  thirsty,  that  he  himself  may  drink  without  payins;,  and 
receive  pay  for  what  is  drunken  by  others.  Let  us  enter  the 
ever-open  gate  of  this  second  Axylus." 

As^they  spoke,  they  entered  the  dilapidated  tavern,  wliich 
was,  nevertheless,  more  ample  in  dimensions,  and  \q?°  rainous, 
than  many  houses  in  the  same  evil  neighborhooo.  Two  or 
three  liaggard,  ragged  drawers  ran  to  and  fro,  Avhose  looks, 
like  those  of  owls,  seemed  only  adapted  for  midnight,  when 
other  creatures  sleep,  and  who  ])y  day  seemed  Ijleared,  stupid, 
and  only  half  awake.  Guided  by  one  of  these  blinking  Gany- 
medes,  they  entered  a  room,  where  tlie  feeble  rays  of  the  sun 
vv^ere  almost  wholly  eclipsed  by  volumes  of  tobacco-smoke, 
rolled  from  the  tubes  of  the  company,  while  out  of  the  cloudy 
sanctuary  arose  the  old  chant  of — 

"  Old  Sir  Simon  the  King, 
And  old  Sir   Simon  the  King, 
With  his  malmsey  nose, 
And  his  ale-dropped  hose, 
And  sing  hey  ding-a-ding-ding." 

Duke  Hildebrod,  who  himself  condescended  to  chant  this 
ditty  to  his  loving  subjects,  was  a  monstrously  fat  old  man, 
with  only  one  eye,  and  a  nose  which  bore  evidence  to  the 
frequency,  strength,  and  depths  of  his  potations.  He  wore 
a  murrey-colored  plush  jerkin,  stained  with  the  overflowings 
of  the  tankard,  and  much  the  worse  for  wear,  and  unbut- 
toned at  bottom  for  the  ease  of  his  enormous  paunch.  Be- 
hind him  lay  a  favorite  bull-dog,  whose  round  head  and 
single  black  glancing  eye,  as  well  as  the  creature^s  great  cor- 
pulence, gave  it  a  burlesque  resemblance  to  its  master. 

The  well-beloved  counsellors  who  surrounded  the  ducal 
throne  incensed  it  with  tobacco,  pledged  its  occupier  in 
thick,  clammy  ale,  and  echoed  back  his  choral  songs,  were 
satraps  worthy  of  such  a  soldan.  The  buff  jerkin,  broad  belt, 
and  long  sword  of  one  showed  him  to  be  a  Low  Country  sol- 
dier, whose  look  of  scowling  importance  and  drunken  impu- 
dence were  designed  to  sustain  his  title  to  call  himself  a  rov- 
ing blade.  It  seemed  to  Nigel  that  he  had  seen  this  fellow 
somewhere  or  other.  A  hedge-parson,  or  buckle-beggar,  as 
that  order  of  priesthood  has  been  irreverently  termed,  sat  on 
the  duke's  left,  and  Avas  easily  distinguished  by  his  torn 
band,  flapped  hat,  and  the  remnants  of  a  rusty  cassock.     Be- 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  197 

side  the  jDarson  sat  a  most  wretched  and  meagre-looking  old 
man,  with  a  threadbare  hood  of  coarse  kersey  upon  his  iiead 
and  buttoned  about  his  neck,  while  his  pinched  features, 
like  those  of  old  Daniel,  were  illuminated  by 

An  eye 
Through  the  last  look  of  dotage  still  cunning  and  sly. 

On  his  left  was  placed  a  broken  attorney,  who,  for  some  mal- 
practice, had  been  struck  from  the  roll  of  practitioners,  and 
who  had  nothing  left  of  his  profession  excepting  its  roguery. 
One  or  two  persons  of  less  figure,  among  whom  there  was 
one  face  which,  like  that  of  the  soldier,  seemed  not  unknown 
to  Nigel,  though  he  could  not  recollect  where  he  had  seen  it, 
completed  the  council-board  of  Jacob  Duke  Hildebrod. 

The  strangers  had  full  time  to  observe  all  this;  for  his 
grace  the  duke,  whether  irresistibly  carried  on  by  the  full 
tide  of  harmony,  or  wdiether  to  impress  the  strangers  with  a 
proper  idea  of  liis  consequence,  chose  to  sing  his  ditty  to  an 
end  before  addressing  them,  though,  during  the  whole  time, 
he  closely  scrutinized  them  Avith  his  single  optic. 

When  Duke  Hildebrod  had  ended  his  song,  he  informed 
his  peers  that  a  worthy  officer  of  the  Temple  attended  them, 
and  commanded  the  captain  and  parson  to  abandon  their 
easy-chairs  in  behalf  of  the  two  strangers,  whom  he  placed  on 
his  right  and  left  hand.  The  worthy  representatives  of  the 
army  and  the  church  of  Alsatia  went  to  place  themselves  on 
a  craz}^  form  at  the  bottom  of  the  table,  wdiich,  ill  calculated 
to  sustain  men  of  such  Aveight,  gave  W7iy  under  them,  and  the 
man  of  the  sword  and  man  of  the  gown  were  rolled  over  each 
other  on  the  floor,  amid  the  exulting  shouts  of  the  company. 
They  arose  in  wrath,  contending  wdiich  should  vent  his  dis- 
pleasure in  the  loudest  and  deepest  oaths,  a  strife  in  which 
the  parson's  superior  acquaintance  w' ith  tlieology  enabled  him 
greatly  to  excel  the  captain,  and  were  at  length  with  difficulty 
tranquilized  by  the  arrival  of  the  alarmed  w'aiters  with  more 
stable  chairs,  and  by  a  long  draught  of  the  cooling  tankard. 
When  this  commotion  Avas  appeased,  and  the  strangers  cour- 
teously accommodated  with  flagons,  after  the  fashion  of  the 
others  present,  the  duke  drank  prosperity  to  the  Temple  in 
the  most  gracious  manner,  together  with  a  cup  of  welcome 
to  Master  Reginald  Lowestoffe;  and,  this  courtesy  having 
been  thankfully  accepted,  the  party  honored  prayed  permis- 
sion to  call  for  a  gallon  of  Ehenish,  over  whicli  he  proposed 
to  open  his  business. 

Themeutiouof  a  liquor  so  superior  to  their  usual  potations 


irs  WAVERLEV  NOVELS 

had  an  instant  and  most  favorable  effect  upon  the  little  sen- 
ate; and  its  immediate  appearance  miglit  be  said  to  secure  a 
favorable  reception  of  Master  Lowestoffe's  proposition,  which, 
after  a  round  or  two  had  circulated,  he  explained  to  be  the 
admission  of  his  friend.  Master  JSTigel  Grahame,  to  the  bene- 
fit of  the  sanctuary  and  other  immunities  of  Alsatia,  in  the 
character  of  a  grand  compounder;  for  so  were  those  termed 
Avho  paid  a  double  fee  at  their  matriculation,  in  order  to 
avoid  laying  before  the  senate  the  peculiar  circumstances 
which  compelled  them  to  take  refuge  there. 

The  worthy  duke  heard  the  proposition  with  glee,  which 
glittered  in  his  single  eye;  and  no  wonder,  as  it  was  a  rare 
occurrence,  and  of  peculiar  advantage  to  his  private  revenue. 
Accordingly,  he  commanded  his  ducal  register  *  to  be  brought 
him — a  huge  book,  secured  with  brass  claspslike  a  merchant's 
ledger,  and  whose  leaves,  stained  with  wine  and  slabbered 
with  tobacco  juice,  bore  the  names  probably  of  as  many 
rogues  as  are  to  be  found  in  the  Calendar  of  Netogate. 

Nigel  was  then  directed  to  lay  down  two  nobles  as  his 
ransom,  and  to  claim  privilege  by  reciting  the  following 
doggerel  verses,  which  were  dictated  to  him  by  the  duke: 

"  Your  suppliant,  by  name 
Nigel  Grahame, 
In  fear  of  mishap 
From  a  shoulder-tap. 
And  dreading  a  claw 
From  the  talons  of  law, 

That  are  sharper  than  briers, 
His  freedom  to  sue. 
And  rescue  by  you, 
Through  weapon  and  wit, 
From  warrant  and  writ. 
From  bailiff's  hand, 
From  tipstaff's  wand. 

Is  come  hither  to  Whitefriars." 

As  Duke  Hildebrod  with  a  tremulous  hand  began  to  make 
the  entry,  and  had  already,  with  superfluous  generosity,  spelled 
Nigel  with  two  g's  instead  of  one,  he  was  interrupted  by  the 
parson.  This  reverend  gentleman  had  been  whispering  for  a 
minute  or  two,  not  with  the  captain,  but  with  that  other 
individual  who  dwelt  imperfectly,  as  we  have  already  men- 
tioned, in  Nigel's  memory,  and  being,  perhaps,  still  some- 
thing malcontent  on  account  of  the  late  accident,  he  now 
requested  to  be  heard  before  the  registration  took  place. 

"The  person,"  he  said,  "who  hath  now  had  the  assur 

*  See  Ducal  Register  of  Alsatia.    Note  25, 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIQEL  199 

ance  to  propo.se  liimself  as  a  candidate  for  tlie  privileges  and 
immunities  of  this  honorable  society  is,  in  plain  terms,  a 
beggarly  Scot,  and  we  have  enough  of  these  locusts  in  Lon- 
don already;  if  we  admit  such  palmer-worms  and  caterpillars 
to  the  sanctuary,  we  shall  soon  have  the  whole  nation." 

"  We  are  not  entitled  to  inquire,"  said  Duke  Ilildebrod, 
''  whetlier  he  be  Scot,  or  French,  or  English  :  seeing  he  has 
honorably  laid  down  his  garnish,  he  is  entitled  to  our  pro- 
tection." 

"  Word  of  denial,  most  sovereign  duke,"  replied  the  par- 
son ;  "  I  ask  him  no  questions.  His  speech  bewrayeth  him  : 
he  is  a  Galilean,  and  his  garnish  is  forfeited  for  his  assurance 
in  coming  within  this  our  realm  ;  and  I  call  on  you,  sir  duke, 
to  put  the  laws  in  force  against  him  ! " 

The  Templar  here  rose,  and  Avas  about  to  interrupt  the  de- 
liberations of  the  court,  when  the  duke  gravely  assured  him 
that  he  should  be  heard  in  behalf  of  his  friend  so  soon  as  the 
council  had  finished  their  deliberations. 

The  attorney  next  rose,  and,  intimating  that  he  was  to 
speak  to  the  point  of  law,  said — "  It  was  easy  to  be  seen  that 
this  gentleman  did  not  come  here  in  any  civil  case,  and  that 
he  believed  it  to  be  the  story  they  had  already  heard  of,  con- 
cerning a  blow  given  within  the  verge  of  the  Park  ;  that  the 
sanctuary  would  not  bear  out  the  offender  in  such  case  ;  and 
that  the  queer  old  chief  would  send  down  a  broom  which 
would  sweep  the  streets  of  Alsatia  from  the  SI  rand  to  the 
Stairs  ;  and  it  was  even  policy  to  think  what  evil  might  come 
to  their  republic  by  sheltering  an  alien  in  such  circum- 
stances." 

The  captain,  who  had  sat  impatiently  while  these  opin- 
ions were  expressed,  now  sprang  on  his  feet  with  the  vehe- 
mence of  a  cork  bouncing  from  a  bottle  of  brisk  beer,  and 
turning  up  his  mustachios  with  a  martial  air^  cast  a  glance 
of  contempt  on  the  lawyer  and  churchman,  while  he  thus 
expressed  his  opinion  : 

"  Most  noble  Duke  Hildebrod  !  when  I  hear  such  base, 
skeldering,  coistril  propositions  come  from  the  counsellors 
of  your  grace,  and  when  I  remember  the  huffs,  the  muns, 
and  the  Tityretu's  by  whom  your  grace's  ancestors  and  pre- 
decessors were  advised  on  such  occasions,  I  begin  to  think  the 
spirit  of  action  is  as  dead  in  Alsatia  as  in  my  old  grannam  ; 
and  yet,  who  thinks  so  thinks  a  lie,  since  I  will  find  as  many 
roaring  boys  in  the  Friars  as  shall  keep  the  liberties  against 
all  the  scavengers  of  Westminster.  And,  if  we  should  be 
overborne  for  a  turn,  death  and  darkness  !  have  we  not  time 


200  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

to  send  the  gentleman  off.  by  water,  either  to  Paris  Garden 
or  to  the  Bankside  ?  and,  if  he  is  a  gallant  of  true  breed, 
will  he  not  make  us  full  amends  for  all  the  trouble  we  have  ? 
Let  other  societies  exist  by  the  law,  I  say  that  we  brisk  boys  of 
tlie  Fleet  live  in  spite  of  it  ;  and  thrive  best  when  we  are  in 
right  opposition  to  sign  and  seal,  writ  and  warrant,  sergeant 
and  tipstaff,  catchpoll  and  bum-bailey." 

This  speech  was  followed  by  a  murmur  of  approbation, 
and  Lowestoffe,  striking  in  before  the  favorable  sound  had  sub- 
sided, reminded  the  duke  and  his  council  how  much  the  se- 
curity of  their  state  depended  upon  the  amity  of  the  Tem- 
plars^ who,  by  closing  their  gates,  could  at  pleasure  shut 
against  the  Alsatians  the  communication  betwixt  the  Friars 
and  the  Temple,  and  that  as  they  conducted  themselves  on 
this  occasion,  so  would  they  secure  or  lose  the  benefit  of  his 
interest  with  his  own  body,  which  they  knew  not  to  be  incon- 
siderable. "And,  in  respect  of  my  friend  being  a  Scots- 
man and  alien,  as  has  been  observed  by  the  reverend  divine 
and  learned  lawyer,  you  are  to  consider,"  said  Lowestoffe, 
"  for  what  he  is  pursued  hither — wli}-,  for  giving  the  basti- 
nado, not  to  an  Englishman,  but  to  one  of  his  own  country- 
men. As  for  my  own  simple  part,"  he  continued,  touching 
Lord  Glenvarloch  at  the  same  time,  to  make  him  understand 
he  spoke  but  in  Jest,  "  if  all  the  Scots  in  London  were  to 
fight  a  Welch  main,  and  kill  each  other  to  a  man,  the  sur- 
vivor would,  in  my  humble  opinion,  be  entitled  to  our  grati- 
tude, as  having  done  a  most  acceptable  service  to  poor  Old 
England." 

A  shout  of  laughter  and  applause  followed  this  ingenious 
apology  for  the  client's  state  of  alienage  :  and  the  Templar 
followed  up  his  plea  with  the  following  pithy  proposition  :  "  I 
know  well,"  said  he,  "  it  is  the  custom  of  the  fathers  of  this 
old  and  honorable  republic  ripely  and  well  to  consider  all 
their  proceedings  over  a  proper  allowance  of  liquor  ;  and  far 
be  it  from  me  to  propose  the  breach  of  so  laudable  a  custom, 
or  to  pretend  that  such  an  affair  as  the  present  can  be  well 
and  constitutionally  considered  during  the  discussion  of  a 
pitiful  gallon  of  Ehenish.  But  as  it  is  the  same  thing  to 
this  honorable  conclave  whether  they  drink  first  and  deter- 
mine afterwards,  or  whether  they  determine  first  and  drink 
afterwards,  I  propose  your  grace,  with  the  advice  of  your 
wise  and  potent  senators,  shall  pass  your  edict,  grant- 
ing to  mine  honorable  friend  the  immunities  of  the  place, 
and  assigning  him  a  lodging,  according  to  your  wise  forms, 
to  which  he  will  presently  retire,  being  somewhat  spent  with 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  201 

this  day's  action  ;  wlierenpon  I  will  presently  order  you  a 
rundlet  of  Ehenish,  with  a  corresponding  quantity  of  neats' 
tongues  and  pickled  herrings,  to  make  you  all  as  glorious  as 
George-a-Green. " 

This  overture  was  received  with  a  general  shout  of  ap- 
plause, which  altogether  drowned  the  voice  of  the  dissidents, 
if  any  there  were  among  the  Alsatian  senate  who  could  have 
resisted  a  proposal  so  popular.  The  words  of,  "kind  heart! 
— noble  gentleman! — generous  gallant!  "  flew  from  mouth  to 
mouth;  the  inscription  of  the  petitioner's  name  in  the  great 
book  was  hastily  completed,  and  the  oath  administered  to 
him  by  the  Avorthy  doge.  Like  the  Laws  of  the  Twelve 
Tables,  of  the  ancient  Cambro-Britons,  and  other  primitive 
nations,  it  was  couched  in  poetry,  and  ran  as  follows: 

"  By  spigot  and  barrel, 

By  bilboe  and  buff, 
Thou  art  sworn  to  the  quarrel 

Of  the  blades  of  the  huff. 
For  Whitefriars  and  its  claims 

To  be  champion  or  martyr, 
And  to  fight  for  its  dames 

Like  a  Knight  of  the  Garter." 

Nigel  felt,  and  indeed  exhibited,  some  disgust  at  this 
mummery;  but,  the  Templar  reminding  him  that  he  was  too 
far  advanced  to  draw  back,  he  repeated  the  words,  or  rather 
assented  as  they  were  repeated  by  Duke  Hildebrod,  who  con- 
cluded the  ceremony  by  allowing  him  the  privilege  of  sanc- 
tuary, in  the  following  form  of  prescriptive  doggerel: 

"  From  the  touch  of  the  tip, 

From  the  blight  of  the  warrant, 
From  the  watchmen  who  skip 

On  the  harman-becks  errand; 
From  the  bailiff's  cramp  speech, 

That  makes  man  a  thrall, 
I  charm  thee  from  each, 

And  I  charm  thee  from  all. 
Thy  freedom's  complete 

As  a  blade  of  the  huff. 
To  be  cheated  and  cheat, 

To  be  cuff'd  and  to  cuff; 
To  stride,  swear,  and  swagger. 
To  drink  till  you  stagger; 

To  stare  and  to  stab, 
And  to  brandish  your  dagger 

In  the  cause  of  your  drab; 
To  walk  wool-ward  in  winter, 

Drink  brandy,  and  smoke, 


203  WAVE  RLE  Y  NOVELS 

And  go  fresco  in  summer 

For  want  of  a  cloak  ; 
To  eke  out  youi*  living 

By  the  wag  of  your  elbow, 
By  fulham  and  gourd, 

And  by  baring  of  bilboe; 
To  live  by  your  si  lifts, 

And  to  Hwear  by  your  honor, 
Are  the  freedom  and  gifts 

Of  which  I  am  the  donor."  * 

This  homily  being  performed,  a  dispute  arose  concerning 
the  special  residence  to  be  assigned  the  new  brother  of  the 
sanctuary;  for,  as  the  Alsatians  held  it  a  maxim  in  their 
commonwealth  that  ass's  milk  fattens,  there  was  usually  a 
competition  among  the  inhabitants  which  should  have  the 
managing,  as  it  was  termed,  of  a  new  member  of  the  society. 

The  Hector  who  had  spoken  so  warmly  and  critically  in 
Nio-el's  behalf  stood  out  now  chivalrously  in  behalf  of  a  cer- 
tain Blowselinda,  or  Bonstrops,  who  had,  it  seems,  a  room  to 
hire,  once  the  occasional  residence  of  Slicing  Dick  ofPad- 
dington,  who  lately  suffered  at  Tyburn,  and  whose  untimely 
exit  had  been  hitherto  mourned  by  the  damsel  in  solitary 
widowhood,  after  the  fashion  of  the  turtle-dove. 

The  captain's  interest  was,  however,  overruled  in  behalf 
of  the  old  gentleman  in  the  kersey  hood,  who  was  believed, 
even  at  his  extreme  age,  to  understand  the  plucking  of  a 
pigeon  as  well  or  better  than  any  man  of  Alsatia. 

This  venerable  personage  was  a  usurer  of  some  notoriety, 
called  Trapbois,  and  had  very  lately  done  the  state  considera- 
ble service  in  advancing  a  subsidy  necessary  to  secure  a  fresh 
importation  of  liquors  to  the  duke's  cellars,  the  wine-mer- 
chant at  the  Vintry  being  scrupulous  to  deal  with  so  great  a 
man  for  anything  but  ready  money. 

Wlien,  therefore,  the  old  gentleman  arose,  and  with  much 
coughing  reminded  the  duke  that  he  had  a  poor  apartment 
to  let,  the  claims  of  all  others  were  set  aside,  and  Nigel  was 
assigned  to  Trapbois  as  his  guest. 

No  sooner  was  this  arrangement  made  than  Lord  Clleii- 
varloch  expressed  to  Lowestoife  his  impatience  to  leave  this 
discreditable  assembly,  and  took  his  leave  with  a  careless 
haste  which,  but  for  the  rundlet  of  Rhenish  wine  that  entered 
just  as  he  left  the  apartment,  might  have  been  taken  in  bad 
part.     The  young  Templar  accompanied  his  friend  to  the 

*  Of  the  cart  vrords  n^ed  in  this  inaiiErnratnry  oration,  some  are  obvious  in 
their  meaning.  (>:heis,  as  iiai-rnan-beck  (consUihle)  and  the  like,  derive  their  source 
from  that  ancient  piece  of  lexicography,  the  Slang  Dictionary. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  208 

house  of  the  old  usurer,  with  the  road  to  which  he  and  some 
other  youngsters  aljout  the  Temple  were  even  but  too  well 
acquainted.  On  the  way,  he  assured  Lord  Glenvarloch  that 
he  was  going  to  the  only  clean  house  in  AVhitcfriars — a  prop- 
erty which  it  owed  solely  to  the  exertions  of  the  old  man's 
only  daughter,  an  elderly  damsel,  ugly  enougli  to  frighten 
sin,'^  yet  likely  to  be  wealthy  enough  to  tempt  a  Puritan,  sc 
soon  as  the  devil  had  got  her  old  dad  for  his  due.  As  Lowe- 
stofFe  spoke  thus,  they  knocked  at  the  door  of  the  house,  and 
the  sour,  stern  countenance  of  the  female  by  whom  it  was 
opened  fully  confirmed  all  that  the  Templar  had  said  of  the 
hostess.  She  heard  with  an  ungracious  and  discontented  air 
the  young  Templar's  information  that  the  gentleman,  his 
companion,  Avas  to  be  her  father's  lodger,  muttered  something 
about  the  trouble  it  was  likely  to  occasion,  but  ended  by 
showing  the  stranger's  apartment,  which  was  better  than 
could  have  been  augured  from  the  general  appearance  of  the 
place,  and  much  larger  in  extent  than  that  which  he  had 
occupied  at  Paul's  Wharf,  though  inferior  to  it  in  neatness. 

Lowestoffe,  having  thus  seen  his  friend  fairly  installed  in 
his  new  apartment,  and  having  obtained  for  him  a  note  of 
the  rate  at  which  he  could  be  accommodated  with  victuals 
from  a  neighboring  cook's  shop,  now  took  his  leave,  offering, 
at  the  same  time,  to  send  the  whole,  or  any  part,  of  Lord 
Glenvarloch's  baggage  from  his  former  place  of  residence  to 
his  new  lodging.  Nigel  mentioned  so  few  articles,  that  the 
Templar  could  not  help  observing,  that  his  lordship,  it  would 
seem,  did  not  intend  to  enjoy  his  new  privileges  long, 

"  They  are  too  little  suited  to  my  habits  and  taste  that  I 
should  do  so,"  replied  Lord  Glenvarloch. 

"  You  may  change  your  opinion  to-morrow,"  said  Lowe- 
stoffe; "  and  so  I  wish  you  a  good-even.  To-morrow  I  will 
visit  you  betimes." 

The  morning  came,  but  instead  of  the  Templar  it  brought 
only  a  letter  from  him.  The  epistle  stated  that  Lowestoffe's 
visit  to  Alsatia  had  drawn  down  the  animadversions  of  some 
crabbed  old  pantaloons  among  the  benchers,  and  that  he 
judged  it  wise  not  to  come  hither  at  present,  for  fear  of 
attracting  too  much  attention  to  Lord  Glenvarloch's  place  of 
residence.  He  stated  that  he  had  taken  measures  for  the 
safety  of  his  baggage,  and  would  send  him,  by  a  safe  hand, 
his  money-casket  and  what  articles  he  wanted.  Then  fol- 
lowed some  sage  advices,  dictated  by  Lowestoffe's  acquaint- 
ance with  Alsatia  and  its  manners.  He  advised  him  to  keep 
the  usurer  in  the  most  absolute  uncertainty  concerning  the 


204  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

state  of  liis  funds;  never  to  throw  a  main  with  the  captain, 
who  was  in  the  habit  of  phiying  dry-fisted,  and  paying  his 
losses  with  three  vowels;  and,  finally,  to  beware  of  Duke 
Hildebrod,  who  was  as  sharp,  he  said,  as  a  needle,  though 
he  had  no  more  eyes  than  are  possessed  by  that  necessary 
"mplemcnt  of  female  industry. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

Mother.  What !  dazzled  by  a  flash  of  Cupid's  mirr«r, 
With  which  the  boy,  as  mortal  urchins  wont, 
Flings  back  the  sunbeam  in  the  eye  of  passengers, 
Then  laughs  to  see  them  stumble  I 

Daughter.  Mother,  no ; 
It  was  a  lightning-flash  wnich  dazzled  me, 
And  never  shall  these  eyes  see  true  again. 

Beef  and  Pudding,  an  old  English  Comedy. 

It  is  necessary  that  we  should  leave  our  hero  Nigel  for  a 
time,  although  in  a  situation  neither  safe,  comfortable,  nor 
creditable,  in  order  to  detail  some  particulars  which  have 
immediate  connection  with  his  fortunes. 

It  was  but  the  third  day  after  he  had  been  forced  to 
take  refuge  in  the  house  of  old  Trapbois,  the  noted  usurer 
of  Whitefriars,  commonly  called  Golden  Trapbois,  when  the 
pretty  daughter  of  old  Ramsay,  the  watchmaker,  after  having 
piously  seen  her  father  finish  his  breakfast  (from  the  fear 
that  he  might,  in  an  abstruse  fit  of  thought,  swallow  the  salt- 
cellar instead  of  a  crust  of  the  brown  loaf),  set  forth  from 
the  house  as  soon  as  he  was  again  plunged  into  the  depth  of 
calculation,  and,  accompanied  only  by  that  faithful  old 
drudge,  Janet,  the  Scots  laundress,  to  whom  her  Avhims  were 
laws,  made  her  way  to  Lombard  Street,  and  disturbed,  at  the 
unusual  hour  of  eight  in  the  morning.  Aunt  Judith,  the  sis- 
ter of  her  worthy  godfather. 

The  venerable  maiden  received  her  young  visitor  with  no 
great  complacency;  for,  naturally  enough,  she  had  neither 
the  same  admiration  of  her  very  pretty  countenance  nor 
allowance  for  her  foolish  and  girlish  impatience  of  temper 
which  Master  George  Heriot  entertained.  Still,  Mistress 
Margaret  was  a  favorite  of  her  brother's,  whose  will  was  to 
Aunt  Judith  a  supreme  law;  and  she  contented  herself  with 
asking  her  untimely  visitor,  "•  What  she  made  so  early  with 
her  pale,  chitty  face  in  the  streets  of  London?" 

"  I  would  speak  with  the  Lady  Hermione,"  answered  the 
almost  breathless  girl,  while  the  blood  ran  so  fast  to  her  face 
as  totally  to  remove  the  objection  of  paleness  which  Aunt 
Judith  bad  nuide  to  her  com])lexion. 

'MVith  the  I^ady  Ilermione  :"  said  \unt  Judith— "  with 


206  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

the  Lady  Hermione  !  and  at  this  time  in  the  morning,  when 
slie  will  scarce  see  any  of  the  family,  even  at  seasonable  hours  ? 
You  are  crazy,  you  silly  wench,  or  you  abuse  the  indulgence 
which  my  brother  and  the  lady  ha^'^e  shown  to  you/' 

"Indeed — indeed  I  have  not,' repeated  Margaret,  strug- 
gling to  retain  the  unbidden  tear  which  seemed  ready  to 
burst  out  on  the  slightest  occasion.  "  Do  but  say  to  the  lady 
that  your  brother's  goddaughter  desires  earnestly  to  speak  to 
her,  and  I  know  she  will  not  refuse  to  see  me." 

Aunt  Judith  bent  an  earnest,  suspicious,  and  inquisitive 
glance  on  her  young  visitor.  "  You  might  make  me  youi 
secretary,  my  lassie,"  she  said,  "  as  well  as  the  Lady  Hermione. 
I  am  older,  and  better  skilled  to  advise,  I  live  more  in  the 
world  than  one  who  shuts  herself  up  within  four  rooms,  and 
I  have  the  better  means  to  assist  you.  " 

"  0  !  no — no — no,"  said  Margaret,  eagerly,  and  with  more 
earnest  sincerity  than  complaisance  ;  "  there  are  some  things 
to  which  you  cannot  advise  me.  Aunt  Judith.  It  is  a  case — 
pardon  me,  my  dear  aunt — a  case  beyond  your  counsel." 

"  I  am  glad  on't,  maiden,"  said  Aunt  Judith,  somewhat 
angrily  ;  "  for  I  think  the  follies  of  the  young  people  of  this 
generation  would  drive  mad  an  old  brain  like  mine.  Here 
you  come  on  the  viretot,  through  the  whole  streets  of  Lon- 
don, to  talk  some  nonsense  to  a  lady  who  scarce  sees  God's 
sun  but  when  he  shines  on  a  brick  wall.  But  I  will  tell  her 
you  are  here." 

She  went  away,  and  shortly  returned  with  a  dry — "  Mis- 
tress Marget,  the  lady  will  be  glad  to  see  you  ;  and  that's 
more,  my  young  madam,  than  you  had  a  right  to  count  upon." 

Mistress  Margaret  hung  her  head  in  silence,  too  much  per- 
plexed by  the  train  of  her  own  embarrassed  thoughts  for 
attempting  either  to  conciliate  Aunt  Judith's  kindness,  or, 
which  on  other  occasions  would  have  been  as  congenial  to 
her  own  humor,  to  retaliate  on  her  cross-tempered  remarks 
and  manner.  She  followed  Aunt  Judith,  therefore,  in  silence 
and  dejection,  to  the  strong  oaken  door  which  divided  the 
Lady  Hermione's  apartments  from  the  rest  of  George  Heriot'a 
spacious  house. 

At  the  door  of  this  sanctuary  it  is  necessary  to  pause,  in 
order  to  correct  the  reports  with  which  Eichie  Monij^lies 
had  filled  his  master's  ear,  respecting  the  singular  appearance 
of  that  lady's  attendance  at  prayers,  whom  we  now  own  to  be 
by  name  the  Lady  Hermione.  Some  j)art  of  these  exaggera- 
tions had  been  communicated  to  the  worthy  Scotsman  by 
Jenkin  Vincent,  who  was  well  experienced   in  the  species  of 


THE  FORTUXES  OF  MQEL  207 

wit  which  has  been  long  a  favorite  in  the  city,  under  the 
names  of  cross-biting,  giving  the  dor,  bamboozling,  cram- 
ming, hoaxing,  humbugging,  and  quizzing  ;  for  which  sj^ort 
Richie  Moniplies,  with  his  solemn  gravity,  totally  unappre- 
liensive  of  a  joke,  and  his  natural  propensity  to  the  marvel- 
lous, formed  an  admirable  subject.  Farther  ornaments  the 
tale  had  received  from  Eichie  himself,  whose  tongue,  espe- 
cially when  oiled  with  good  liquor,  had  a  considerable  ten- 
dency to  amplification,  and  who  failed  not,  while  he  retailed 
to  his  master  all  the  wonderful  circumstances  narrated  by 
Vincent,  to  add  to  them  many  conjectures  of  his  own,  which 
liis  imagination  had  over-hastily  converted  into  facts. 

Yet'the  life  which  the  Lady  Hermione  had  led  for  two 
years,  during  which  she  had  been  the  inmate  of  George 
Heriot's  house,  was  so  singular  as  almost  to  sanction  many  of 
the  wild  reports  which  went  abroad.  The  house  which  the 
worthy  goldsmith  inhabited  liad  in  former  times  belonged  to 
a  powerful  and  wealthy  baronial  family,  which,  during  the 
reign  of  Henry  VIII.,  terminated  in  a  dowager  lady,  veiy 
wealthy,  very  devout,  and  most  unalienably  attached  to  the 
Catholic  faith.  The  chosen  friend  of  the  Honorable  Lady 
Foljambe  was  the  abbess  of  St.  Roque's  nunnery,  like  herself, 
a  conscientious,  rigid,  and  devoted  Papist.  When  the  house 
of  St.  Roque  was  despotically  dissolved  by  the  fiat  of  the 
impetuous  monarch,  the  Lady  Foljambe  received  her  friend 
into  her  spacious  mansion,  together  with  tAvo  vestal  sisters, 
who,  like  their  abbess,  were  determined  to  follow  the  tenor  of 
their  vows,  instead  of  embracing  the  profane  liberty  which 
the  monarch's  will  had  thrown  in  their  choice.  For  their 
residence,  the  Lady  Foljambe  contrived,  Avith  all  secrecy — 
for  Henry  might  not  have  relished  her  interference — to  set 
apart  a  suite  of  four  rooms,  with  a  little  closet  fitted  up  as  an 
oratory,  or  chajjel;  the  whole  apartments  fenced  by  a  strong 
oaken  door  to  exclude  strangers,  and  accommodated  with  a 
turning-wheel  to  receive  necessaries,  according  to  the  prac- 
tice of  all  nunneries.  In  this  retreat  the  abbess  of  St.  Roque 
and  her  attendants  passed  many  years,  communicating  only 
with  the  Lady  Foljambe,  who',  in  virtue  of  their  prayers, 
and  of  the  support  she  afforded  them,  accounted  herself  little 
les>  than  a  saint  on  earth.  The  abbess,  fortunately  for  her- 
self, died  before  her  munificent  patroness,  who  lived  deep  in 
(^ueen  Elizabeth's  time,  ere  she  was  summoned  by  fate. 

The  Ladv  Foljambe  was  succeeded  in  this  mansion  by  a 
Bour  fanatic' knight,  a  distant  and  collateral  relation,  Avho 
claimed  the  same  merit  for  expellina:  the  priestesses  of  Baal 


208  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

which  his  predecessor  had  founded  on  maintaining  the  voU 
resses  of  Heaven.  Of  the  two  unhappy  nuns,  driven  from 
their  ancient  refuge,  one  went  beyond  sea;  the  otlier,  unable 
from  old  age  to  undertake  such  a  journey,  died  under  the 
roof  of  a  faithful  Catholic  widow  of  low  degree.  Sir  Paul 
Crambagge,  having  got  rid  of  the  nuns,  spoiled  the  chapel  of 
its  ornaments,  and  had  thoughts  of  altogetlier  destroying  the 
apartments,  until  checked  by  the  reflection  that  the  opera- 
tion would  be  an  unnecessary  expense,  since  he  only  in- 
habited three  rooms  of  the  large  mansion,  and  had  not  there- 
fore the  slightest  occasion  for  any  addition  to  its  accommoda- 
tions. His  son  proved  a  waster  and  a  prodigal,  and  from 
him  the  house  was  bought  by  our  friend  George  Heriot,  who, 
finding,  like  Sir  Paul,  the  house  more  than  sufficiently  ample 
for  his  accommodation,  left  the  Foljambeapartments,_orSt. 
Roque's  rooms,  as  they  were  called,  in  the  state  in  which  he 
found  them. 

About  two  years  and  a  half  before  our  history  opened, 
when  Heriot  was  absent  upon  an  expedition  to  the  Conti- 
nent, he  sent  special  orders  to  his  sister  and  his  cash-keeper, 
directing  that  the  Foljambe  apartments  should  be  fitted  up 
handsomely,  though  plainly,  for  the  reception  of  a  lady,  who 
would  make  them  her  residence  for  some  time,  and  who 
would  live  more  or  less  with  his  own  family  according  to  hei 
pleasure.  He  also  directed  that  the  necessary  repairs  should 
be  made  with  secrecy,  and  that  as  little  should  be  said  as  pos- 
sible upon  the  subject  of  his  letter. 

When  the  time  of  his  return  came  nigh.  Aunt  Judith  and 
the  household  were  on  the  tenter-hooks  of  impatience.  Mas- 
ter George  came,  as  he  had  intimated,  accompanied  by  a 
lady,  so  eminently  beautiful  that,  had  it  not  been  for  her 
extreme  and  uniform  paleness,  she  might  have  been  reckoned 
one  of  the  loveliest  creatures  on  earth.  She  had  with  her  an 
attendant,  or  humble  companion,  whose  business  seemed  only 
to  wait  upon  her.  This  person,  a  reserved  woman,  and  by 
her  dialect  a  foreigner,  aged  about  fifty,  was  called  by  the 
lady  Monna  Paula,  and  by  Master  Heriot  and  others  Made- 
moiselle Pauline.  She  slept  in  the  same  room  with  her  patron- 
ess at  night,  ate  in  her  apartment,  and  was  scarcely  ever  sepa- 
rated from  her  during  the  day. 

These  females  took  possession  of  the  nunnery  of  the  de- 
vout abbess,  and,  without  observing  the  same  rigorous  se- 
clusion, according  to  the  letter,  seemed  well-nigh  to  restore 
the  apartments  to  the  use  to  which  they  had  been  originally 
designed.     The  new  inmates  lived  and  took  their  meals  apart 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  909 

from  the  rest  of  the  fumily.  With  tlie  domestics  Lady  Her- 
mione,  for  so  she  was  termed,  held  no  communication,  and 
Mademoiselle  Pauline  only  such  as  was  indispensable,  which 
she  dispatched  as  briefly  as  possible.  Frequent  and  liberal 
largesses  reconciled  the  servants  to  this  conduct ;  and  they 
were  in  the  habit  of  observing  to  each  other,  that  to  do  a 
service  for  Mademoiselle  Pauline  was  like  finding  a  fairy 
treasure. 

To  Aunt  Judith  the  Lady  Hermione  was  kind  and  civil, 
but  their  intercourse  was  rare  ;  on  which  account  the  elder 
ladv  felt  some  pangs  both  of  curiosity  and  injured  dignity. 
But  she  knew  her  brother  so  well,  and  loved  him  so  dearly, 
that  his  will,  once  expressed,  might  be  truly  said  to  become 
her  own.  The  worthy  citizen  was  not  without  a  spice  of  the 
dogmatism  which  grows  on  the  best  disposition  when  a  word 
is  a  law  to  all  around.  Master  George  did  not  endure  to  be 
questioned  by  his  family,  and,  when  he  had  generally  ex- 
pressed his  will  that  the  Lady  Hermione  should  live  in  the 
way  most  agreeable  to  her,  and  that  no  inquiries  should  be 
made  concerning  her  history,  or  her  motives  for  observing 
such  strict  seclusion,  his  sister  well  kncAV  that  he  would  have 
been  seriously  displeased  with  any  attempt  to  pry  into  the 
secret. 

But,  though  Heriot's  servants  were  bribed,  and  his  sister 
awed,  into  silent  acquiescence  in  these  arrangements,  they 
were  not  of  a  nature  to  escape  the  critical  observation  of  the 
neighborhood.  Some  opined  that  the  wealthy  goldsmith  was 
about  to  turn  Papist,  and  re-establish  Lady  Poljambe's  nun- 
nery, others  that  he  was  going  mad,  others  that  he  was  either 
going  to  marry  or  to  do  worse.  Master  George's  constant 
appearance  at  church,  and  the  knowledge  that  the  supposed 
votaress  always  attended  when  the  prayers  of  the  English  rit- 
ual were  read  in  the  family,  liberated  him  from  the  first  of 
these  suspicions ;  those  who  had  to  transact  business  with 
him  upon  ^change  could  not  doubt  the  soundness  of  Master 
Heriot's  mind  ;  and  to  confute  the  other  rumors,  it  was  cred- 
ibly reported  bv  such  as  made  the  matter  their  particular  in- 
terest that  Master  George  Heriot  never  visited  his  guest  but 
in  presence  of  Mademorselle  Pauline,  Avho  sat  with  her  work 
in  a  remote  part  of  the  same  room  in  which  they  conversed. 
It  was  also  ascertained  that  these  visits  scarcely  ever  exceeded 
an  hour  in  length,  and  were  usually  only  repeated  once 
a  week — an  intercourse  too  brief  and  too  long  interrupted  to 
render  it  probable  that  love  was  the  bond  of  their  union. 

The  inquirers  were,  therefore,  at  fault,  and  compelled  to 

14 


210  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

relinquish  the  pursuit  of  Master  TIeriot's  secret,  while  a 
thousiind  ridiculous  tales  were  circulated  among  the  igno- 
rant and  superstitious,  Avith  some  specimens  of  which  our 
friend  Richie  Moniplics  had  been  "  crammed/'  as  we  have 
seen,  by  the  malicious  apprentice  of  worthy  David  Ramsay. 

There  was  one  person  in  the  world  who,  it  was  thought, 
could,  if  she  would,  have  said  more  of  the  Lady  Hermione 
than  any  one  in  London,  except  George  Heriot  himself  ;  and 
that  was  the  said  David  Ramsay's  only  child,  Margaret. 

This  girl  was  not  much  past  the  age  of  fifteen  when  the 
Lady  Hermione  first  came  to  England,  and  was  a  very  fre- 
quent visitor  at  her  godfather's,  who  was  much  amused  by 
her  childish  sallies,  and  by  the  wild  and  natural  beauty  with 
which  she  sang  the  airs  of  her  native  country.  Spoilt  she 
was  on  all  hands — by  the  indulgence  of  her  godfather,  the 
absent  habits  and  indifference  of  her  father,  and  the  defer- 
ence of  all  around  to  her  caprices,  as  ft  beauty  and  as  an 
heiress.  But  though,  from  these  circumstances,  the  city 
beauty  had  become  as  wilful,  as  capricious,  and  as  affected  as 
unlimited  indulgence  seldom  fails  to  render  those  to  whom  it 
is  extended;  and  although  she  exhibited  upon  many  occasions 
that  affectation  of  extreme  shyness,  silence,  and  reserve 
which  misses  in  their  teens  are  apt  to  take  for  an  amiable 
modesty,  and,  upon  others,  a  considerable  portion  of  that 
flippancy  which  youth  sometimes  confounds  with  wit,  Mis- 
tress Margaret  had  much  real  shrewdness  and  judgment, 
which  wanted  only  opportunities  of  observation  to  refine  it, 
a  lively,  good-humored,  playful  disposition,  and  an  excellent 
heart.  Her  acquired  follies  were  much  increased  by  reading 
plays  and  romances,  to  which  she  devoted  a  great  deal  of  her 
time,  and  from  which  she  adopted  ideas  as  different  as  possi- 
ble from  those  which  she  might  have  obtained  from  the  in- 
valuable and  affectionate  instructions  of  an  excellent  mother; 
and  the  freaks  of  which  she  was  sometimes  guilty  rendered 
her  not  unjustly  liable  to  the  charge  of  affectation  and 
coquetry.  But  the  little  lass  had  sense  and  shrewdness 
enougli  to  keep  her  failings  out  of  sight  of  her  godfather,  to 
whom  she  was  sincerely  attached;  and  so  high  she  stood  in 
his  favor  that,  at  his  recommendation,  she  obtained  permis- 
sion to  visit  the  recluse  Lady  Hermione. 

The  singular  mode  of  life  which  that  lady  observed,  her 
fri'eat  beauty,  rendered  even  more  interesting  by  her  extreme 
paleness,  the  conscious  pride  of  being  admitted  farther  than 
the  rest  of  the  world  into  the  society  of  a  person  who  was 
wrapped  in  so  much  mystery,  made  a  deep  impression  on  the 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  211 

mind  of  Margaret  Ramsay;  and  thoiigli  their  conversations 
were  at  no  time  either  long  or  confidential,  jet,  proud  of  the 
trust  reposed  m  her,  Margaret  was  as  secret  respecting  their 
tenor  as  if  every  word  repeated  had  been  to  cost  her  life.  Ko 
inquiry,  however  artfully  backed  by  flattery  and  insinuation, 
whether  on  the  part  of  Dame  Ursula  or  any  other  person 
equally  inquisitive,  could  wring  from  the  little  maiden  one 
word  of  wliat  she  heard  or  saw  after  she  entered  these  mys- 
terious and  secluded  apartments.  The  slightest  question 
concerning  Master  Iloriot's  ghost  Avas  sufficient,  at  her  gayest 
moment,  to  check  the  current  of  her  communicative  prattle 
and  render  her  silent. 

AVe  mention  this  chiefly  to  illustrate  the  early  strength 
of  Margaret's  character — a  strength  concealed  under  a  hun- 
dred freakish  whims  and  humors,  as  an  ancient  and  massive 
buttress  is  disguised  by  its  fantastic  covering  of  ivy  and  wild- 
flowers.  In  truth,  if  the  damsel  had  told  all  she  heard  or 
saw  within  the  Foljambe  apartments,  she  would  have  said 
but  little  to  gratify  the  curiosity  of  inquirers. 

At  the  earlier  period  of  their  acquaintance,  the  Lady  Her- 
mione  was  wont  to  reward  the  attentions  of  her  little  friend 
with  small  but  elegant  presents,  and  entertain  her  by  a  dis- 
play of  foreign  rarities  and  curiosities,  many  of  them  of  con- 
siderable value.  Sometimes  the  time  was  passed  in  a  way 
much  less  agreeable  to  Margaret,  by  her  receiving  lessons 
from.  Pauline  in  the  use  of  the  needle.  But  although  her 
preceptress  practised  these  arts  with  a  dexterity  then  only 
known  in  foreign  convents,  the  pupil  proved  so  incorrigibly 
idle  and  awkward  that  the  task  of  needlework  was  at  length 
given  up,  and  lessons  of  music  substituted  in  their  stead. 
Here  also  Pauline  was  excellently  qualified  as  an  instructress, 
and  Margaret,  more  successful  in  a  science  for  which  nature 
had  gifted  her,  made  proficiency  both  in  vocal  and  instru- 
mental music.  These  lessons  passed  in  presence  of  tlie  Lady 
Hermione,  to  whom  they  seemed  to  give  jileasure.  She 
sometimes  added  her  own  voice  to  the  performance  in  a  pure, 
clear  stream  of  liquid  melody;  but  this  was  only  when  the 
music  was  of  a  devotional  cast.  As  Margaret  became  cJder, 
her  communications  with  the  recluse  assumed  a  different 
character.  She  was  allowed,  if  not  encouraged,  to  tell  what- 
ever she  had  remarked  out  of  doors,  and  the  Lady  Hermione, 
while  she  remarked  the  quick,  sharp,  and  retentive  powers 
of  observation  possessed  by  her  young  friend,  often  found 
sufficient  reason  to  caution  her  against  rashness  in  forming 
opinions  and  giddy  petuluji-ce  in  expressing  them. 


213  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

The  habitual  awe  Avith  which  she  regarded  this  singular 
personage  induced  Mistress  Margaret,  thougli  by  no  nieans 
delighting  in  contradiction  or  reproof,  to  listen  with  patience 
to  licr  admonitions,  and  to  make  full  allowance  for  the  good 
intentions  of  the  patroness  by  whom  they  were  bestowed  ; 
although  in  her  heart  she  could  hardly  conceive  how  Madame 
Hermione,  who  never  stirred  from  the  Foljambe  apartments, 
should  think  of  teaching  knowledge  of  the  world  to  one  Avho 
walked  twice  a  week  between  Temple  Bar  and  Lombard 
Street,  besides  parading  in  the  Park  every  Sunday  that 
proved  to  be  fair  weather.  Indeed,  pretty  Mistress  Margaret 
was  so  little  inclined  to  endure  such  remonstrances,  that  her 
intercourse  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  Foljambe  apartments 
would  have  probably  slackened  as  her  circle  of  acquaintance 
increased  in  the  external  world,  had  she  not,  on  the  other 
hand,  entertained  an  habitual  reverence  for  her  monitress, 
of  which  she  could  not  divest  herself,  and  been  flattered,  on 
the  other,  by  being,  to  a  certain  degree,  the  depositary  of 
a  confidence  for  which  others  thirsted  in  vain.  Besides, 
although  the  conversation  of  Hermione  was  uniformly  serious, 
it  was  not  in  general  either  formal  or  severe  ;  nor  was  the 
lady  offended  by  flights  of  levity  which  Mistress  Margaret 
sometimes  ventured  on  in  her  j^resence,  even  when  they  were 
such  as  made  Monna  Paula  cast  her  eyes  upwards,  and  sigh 
with  that  compassion  which  a  devotee  extends  towards  the 
votaries  of  a  trivial  and  profane  world.  Thus,  upon  the 
whole,  the  little  maiden  was  disposed  to  submit,  though  not 
without  some  wincing,  to  the  grave  admonitions  of  the  Lady 
Hermione  ;  and  the  rather  that  the  mystery  annexed  to  the 
person  of  her  monitress  was  in  her  mind  early  associated  with 
a  vague  idea  of  wealth  and  importance,  which  had  been  rather 
confirmed  than  lessened  by  many  accidental  circumstances 
which  she  had  noticed  since  she  was  more  capable  of  obser- 
vation. 

It  frequently  happens  that  the  counsel,  which  we  reckon 
intrusive  when  offered  to  ns  unasked,  becomes  precious  in 
our  eyes  when  the  pressure  of  difficulties  renders  us  more 
diffident  of  our  own  ^udgment  than  we  are  apt  to  find  our- 
selves in  the  hours  of  ease  and  indifference;  and  this  is  more 
especially  the  case  if  we  suppose  that  our  adviser  may  also 
possess  power  and  inclination  to  back  his  counsel  with  effect- 
ual assistance.  Mistress  Margaret  was  now  in  that  situation. 
She  was,  or  believed  herself  to  be,  in  a  condition  where  both 
advice  and  assistance  might  be  necessary;  and  it  was  there- 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  213 

fore,  after  an  anxious  and  sleepless  night,  that  she  resolved 
to  have  recourse  to  the  Lady  Ilermione.  who  she  knew  would 
readily  afford  her  the  one,  and,  as  she  hoped,  might  also 
possess  the  means  of  giving  her  the  other.  The  conversation 
between  them  will  best  explain  the  purport  of  the  visit. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

By  this  good  light,  a  wench  of  matchless  mettle! 
This  were  a  leaguer-lass  to  love  a  soldier, 
To  bind  his  wounds,  and  kiss  his  bloody  brow, 
And  sing  a  roundel  as  she  help'd  to  arm  him, 
Though  the  rough  foeman's  drums  were  beat  so  nigh, 
They  seem'd  to  bear  the  burden. 

Old  Play. 

When  Mistress  Margaret  entered  the  Foljambe  apartment, 
she  found  the  inmates  employed  in  their  nsual  manner — the 
lady  in  reading,  and  her  attendant  in  embroidering  a  large 
piece  of  tapestry,  which  had  occupied  her  ever  since  Margaret 
had  been  first  admitted  within  these  secluded  chambers. 

Hermione  nodded  kindly  to  her  visitor,  but  did  not  speak; 
and  Margaret,  accustomed  to  this  reception,  and  in  the  pres- 
ent case  not  sorry  for  it,  as  it  gave  her  an  interval  to  collect 
her  tlioughts,  stooped  over  Monna  Paula's  frame,  and  ob- 
served, in  a  half  whisper,  *'  You  were  just  so  far  as  that  rose, 
Monna,  wlien  I  first  saw  you;  see,  there  is  the  mark  where  I 
had  the  bad  luck  to  spoil  the  fiower  in  trying  to  catch  the 
stitch — I  was  little  above  fifteen  then.  These  flowers  make 
me  an  old  woman,  Monna  Paula.'' 

*'  I  wish  they  could  make  you  a  wise  one,  my  child,"  an- 
swered Monna  Paula,  in  whose  esteem  pretty  Mistress  Marga- 
ret did  not  stand  quite  so  high  as  in  that  of  her  patroness; 
partly  owing  to  her  natural  austerity,  which  was  something 
intolerant  of  youth  and  gayety,  and  partly  to  the  jealousy  with 
which  a  favorite  domestic  regards  any  one  whom  she  consid- 
ers as  a  sort  of  rival  in  the  affections  of  her  mistress. 

"  What  is  it  you  say  to  Monna,  little  one?"  asked  the 
lady. 

'^Nothing,  madam,"  replied  Mistress  Margaret,  "  but 
that  I  have  seen  the  real  flowers  blossom  three  times  over  since 
I  first  saw  Monna  Paula  working  in  her  canvas  garden,  and 
her  violets  have  not  budded  vet. " 

"True,  lady-bird,"  replied  Hermione;  "  but  the  buds  that 
are  longest  in  blossoming  will  last  the  longest  in  flower.  You 
have  seen  them  in  the  garden  bloom  thrice,  but  you  have  seen 
them  fade  thrice  also;  now,  Monna  Paula's  will  remain  in  blow 
forever;  they  will  fear  neither  frost  nor  tempest. " 


TUE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  215 

"  True,  madam,"  answered  Mistress  Margaret;  ''but 
Quithei  hiive  they  life  or  odor/^ 

'*'  Ihat,  little  one,"  replied  the  recluse,  "is  to  compare  a 
life  agitated  by  hope  and  fear,  and  checkered  with  success 
Krii)  disappointment,  and  fevered  by  the  effects  of  love  and 
aatred — a  life  of  passion  and  of  feefing,  saddened  and  short- 
ened by  its  exhausting  alternations — to  a  calm  and  tranquil 
existence,  animated  but  by  a  sense  of  duties,  and  only  em- 
ployed, during  its  smooth  and  quiet  course,  in  the  unwearied 
iischarge  of  them.     Is  that  the  moral  of  your  answer?  " 

"  I  do  not  know,  madam,"  answered  Mistress  Margaret; 
■'  but  of  all  birds  in  tlie  air,  I  would  rather  be  the  lark,  that 
sings  while  he  is  drifting  doAm  the  summer  breeze,  than  the 
weather-cock  that  sticks  fast  yonder  upon  his  iron  perch,  and 
just  moves  so  much  as  to  discharge  his  duty,  and  tell  ns  which 
way  the  wind  blows." 

"Metaphors  are  no  arguments,  my  pretty  maiden/' said 
the  Lady  Hermione,  smiling. 

"I  am  sorry  for  that,  madam,"  answered  Margaret;  "for 
they  are  such  a  pretty  indirect  way  of  telling  one's  mind  when 
it  differs  from  one's  betters;  besides,  on  this  subject  there  is 
Qo  end  of  them,  and  they  are  so  civil  and  becoming  withal!  " 

"Indeed! "replied  the  lady;  "let  me  hear  some  of  them, 
I  pray  you." 

"It  would  be,  for  example,  very  bold  in  me,"  said  Mar- 
garet, "to  say  to  your  ladyship  that,  rather  than  live  a  quiet 
life,  I  would  like  a  little  variety  of  hope  and  fear,  and  liking 
and  disliking — and — and — and  the  other  sort  of  feelings 
which  your  ladyship  is  pleased  to  speak  of  ;  but  I  may  say 
freely  and  without  blame  that  I  like  a  butterfly  better  than 
a  beetle  ;  or  a  trembling  asj)en  better  than  a  grim  Scots  fir, 
that  never  wags  a  leaf  ;  or  that,  of  all  the  wood,  brass,  and 
wire  that  ever  my  father's  fingers  put  together,  I  do  hate  and 
detest  a  cerain  huge  old  clock  of  the  German  fashion,  that 
rings  hours  and  half  hours,  and  quarters  and  half  quarters,  as  ■ 
if  it  were  of  such  consequence  that  the  world  should  know 
it  was  wound  up  and  going.  Now,  dearest  lady,  I  wish  you 
would  only  compare  that  clumsy,  clanging,  Dutch-looking 
piece  of  lumber  with  the  beautiful  timepiece  that  Master 
Ileriot  caused  my  father  to  make  for  your  ladyship,  which 
uses  to  play  a  hundred  merry  tunes,  and  turns  out,  when  it 
strikes  the  hour,  a  whole  band  of  morrice-dancers,  to  trip 
the  hays  to  the  measure." 

"  And  w'hich  of  these  timepieces  goes  the  truest,  Mar- 
garet ?  "  said  the  lady. 


216  WA  VERLEY  NO  VELS 

"  I  must  confess  the  old  Dutehitinn  has  the  advantage  in 
that,"  said  Margaret.  "  I  fancy  yon  are  right,  madam,  and 
that  comparisons  are  no  arguments,  at  least  mine  has  not 
brought  me  through." 

"  Upon  my  word,  maiden  jNIargaret,"  said  the  lady,  smil- 
ing, "  you  have  been  of  hite  thinking  very  much  of  these 
matters." 

*'  Perhaps  too  much,  madam,'*  said  Margaret,  so  low  aa 
only  to  be  heard  by  the  lady,  behind  the  back  of  whose  chair 
she  had  now  placed  herself.  The  words  were  spoken  very 
gravely,  and  accompanied  by  a  half  sigh,  which  did  not 
escape  the  attention  of  her  to  whom  they  were  addressed. 
The  Lady  Hermione  turned  immediately  round  and  looked 
earnestly  at  Margaret,  then  paused  for  a  moment,  and, 
finally,  commanded  Monna  Paula  to  carry  her  frame  and  em- 
broidery into  the  antechamber.  When  they  were  left  alone, 
she  desired  her  young  friend  to  come  from  behind  the  chair, 
on  the  back  of  which  she  still  rested,  and  sit  down  beside  her 
upon  a  stool. 

*'I  will  remain  thus,  madam,  under  your  favor,''  answered 
Margaret,  without  changing  her  posture;  "I  would  rather 
you  heard  me  without  seeing  me." 

"In  God's  name,  maiden,"  returned  her  patroness, 
"what  is  it  you  can  have  to  say  that  may  not  be  uttered  face 
to  face  to  so  true  a  friend  as  I  am?" 

Without  making  any  direct  answer,  Margaret  only  replied, 
"  You  were  right,  dearest  lady,  when  you  said  I  had  suffered 
my  feelings  too  much  to  engross  me  of  late.  I  have  done 
very  wrong,  and  you  Avill  be  angry  with  me — so  will  my 
godfather;  but  I  cannot  help  it — he  must  be  rescued." 

*'He!"  repeated  the  lady,  with  emphasis.  "  That  brief 
little  word  does,  indeed,  so  far  explain  your  mystery;  but 
come  from  behind  the  chair,  you  silly  popinjay !  I  will 
wager  you  have  suffered  yonder  gay  young  apprentice  to  sit 
too  near  your  heart.  I  have  not  heard  you  mention  young 
Vincent  for  many  a  day;  perhaps  he  has  not  been  out  of 
mouth  and  out  of  mind  both.  Have  you  been  so  foolish  as 
to  let  him  sjDcak  to  you  seriously?  lam  told  he  is  a  bold 
youth." 

"  Not  bold  enough  to  say  anything  that  coiild  displease 
me,  madam,"  said  Margaret. 

"  Perhaps,  then,  you  were  not  disjjleased,"  said  the  lady; 
"or  perhaps  he  has  not  spoken,  which  would  be  wiser  and 
better.  Be  open-hearted,  my  love;  your  godfather  will  soon 
return,  and  we  will  take  him  into  our  consultations.     If  the 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  217 

vonng  man  Is  indiistrious,  and  come  of  honest  parentage,  his 
poverty  may  be  no  such  insurmountable  obstacle.  But  you 
are  both  of  you  very  young,  Margaret;  I  know  your  god- 
father will  ex2)ect  that  the  youth  shall  first  serve  out  his 
apiDrenticeship/' 

Margaret  liad  hitherto  suffered  the  lady  to  proceed  under 
the  mistaken  impression  which  she  had  adopted  simply 
because  she  could  not  tell  how  to  interrupt  her;  but  pure 
despite  at  hearing  her  last  words  gave  her  boldness  at  length 
to  say,  ''I  crave  your  pardon,  madam;  but  neither  the  youth 
yon  mention,  nor  any  apprentice  or  master  within  the  city 
of  London " 

'*  Margaret,"  said  the  lady,  in  reply,  "the  contemptuous 
tone  with  which  yon  mention  those  of  your  own  class,  many 
hundreds  if  not  thousands  of  Avliom  are  in  all  respects  better 
than  3^ourself,  and  would  greatly  honor  you  by  thinking  of 
you,  is,  methinks,  no  warrant  for  the  wisdom  of  your  choice 
— for  a  choice,  it  seems,  there  is.  Who  is  it,  maiden,  to 
whom  you  have  thus  rashly  attached  yourself? — rashly,  I 
fear  it  must  be." 

''It  is  the  5'onng  Scottish  Lord  Glenvarloch,  madam,** 
answered  Margaret,  in  a  low  and  modest  tone,  but  sufficient- 
ly firm,  considering  the  subject. 

"  The  young  Lord  of  Glenvarloch  ! "  repeated  the  lady  in 
great  surprise.     "  Maiden,  you  are  distracted  in  your  wits." 

"  I  knew  you  would  say  so,  madam,"  answered  Margaret. 
"  It  is  what  another  person  has  already  told  me  ;  it  is,  per- 
haps, what  all  the  world  would  tell  me  ;  it  is  what  I  am 
sometimes  disposed  to  tell  myself.  But  look  at  me,  madam, 
for  I  will  now  come  before  you,  and  tell  me  if  there  is 
madness  or  distraction  in  my  look  and  word  when  I  repeat 
to  you  again,  that  I  have  fixed  my  affections  on  this  young 
nobleman," 

' '  If  there  is  not  madness  in  your  look  or  word,  maiden, 
there  is  infinite  folly  in  what  you  say,"  answered  Lady 
Hermione,  sharply.  "  When  did  you  ever  hear  that  mis- 
placed love  brought  anything  but  wretchedness  ?  Seek  a 
match  among  your  equals,  ^Margaret,  and  escape  the  countless 
kinds  of  risk  and  misery  that  must  attend  an  affection  beyond 
your  degree.  Why  do  you  smile,  maiden  ?  Is  there  aught 
to  cause  scorn  in  what  I  say  ?" 

"  Surely  no,  madam," answered  Margaret.  "  I  only  smiled 
to  think  how  it  should  happen  that,  while  rank  made  such  a 
wide  difference  between  creatures  formed  from  the  same 
clay,  the  wit  of  the  vulgar  should,  nevertheless,  jump  so  ex- 


218  WAVER  LEY  NOVELS 

actly  the  same  length  with  that  of  the  accomplished  and  the 
exalted.  It  is  but  the  variation  of  the  phrase  which  divides 
them.  Dame  Ursley  told  me  the  very  same  thing  which 
your  ladyship  has  but  now  uttered  ;  only  you,  madam,  talk 
of  countless  misery,  and  Dame  Ursley  spoke  of  the  gallows, 
and  Mistress  Turner,  who  was  hanged  upon  it." 

'' Indeed  !"  answered  Lady  llermione  ;  "and  who  may 
Dame  Ursley  be,  that  your  wise  choice  has  associated  with 
me  in  the  difficult  task  of  advising  a  fool  ?" 

"  The  barber's  wife  at  next  door,  madam,"  answered 
Margaret,  with  feigned  simplicity,  but  far  from  being  sorry 
at  heart  that  she  had  found  an  indirect  mode  of  mortifying 
her  monitress.  "  She  is  the  wisest  woman  that  I  know,  next 
to  your  ladyship." 

"  A  proper  confidante,"  said  the  lady,  "  and  chosen  with 
the  same  delicate  sense  of  what  is  due  to  yourself  and  others  ! 
But  what  ails  you,  maiden — where  are  you  going  ?  " 

"  Only  to  ask  Dame  Ursley's  advice,"  said  Margaret,  as  if 
about  to  depart ;  "  for  I  see  your  ladyship  is  too  angry  to 
give  me  any,  and  the  emergency  is  pressing." 

"  What  emergency,  thou  simple  one  ?  "  said  the  lady,  in 
a  kinder  tone.  "  Sit  down,  maiden,  and  tell  me  your  tale. 
It  is  true  you  are  a  fool,  and  a  pettish  fool  to  boot ;  but  then 
you  are  a  child — an  amiable  child  with  all  your  self-willed 
folly — and  w"e  must  help  you  if  we  can.  Sit  down,  I  say, 
as  you  are  desired,  and  you  will  find  me  a  safer  and  wiser 
counsellor  than  the  barber-woman.  And  tell  me  how  you 
come  to  suppose  that  you  have  fixed  your  heart  unalterably 
upon  a  man  whom  you  have  seen,  as  I  think,  but  once." 

"  I  have  seen  "him  oftener,"  said  the  damsel,  looking 
down  ;  "  but  I  have  only  spoken  to  him  once.  I  should 
have  been  able  to  get  that  once  out  of  my  head,  though  the 
impression  was  so  deep  that  I  could  even  now  repeat  every 
trifling  word  he  said,  but  other  things  have  since  riveted  it 
in  my  bosom  forever." 

"Maiden,"  replied  the  lady,  "'forever'  is  the  word 
which  comes  most  lightly  on  the  lips  in  such  circumstances, 
but  which,  not  the  less,  is  almost  the  last  that  we  should 
use.  The  fashion  of  this  world,  its  passions,  its  joys,  and  its 
sorrows,  pass  away  like  the  winged  breeze ;  there  is  naught 
forever  but  that  which  belongs  to  the  world  beyond  the 
grave." 

"  You  have  corrected  me  justly,  madam,"  said  Margaret, 
calmly  ;  "  I  ought  only  to  have  spoken  of  my  present  state 
of  mind  as  what  will  last  me  for  my  lifetime,  which  un- 
questionably may  be  but  short/' 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  219 

"  And  what  is  there  in  this  Scottish  lord  that  can  rivet 
what  concerns  him  so  closely  in  your  fancy  ?  "  said  the  lady. 
"  I  admit  him  a  personable  man,  for  I  have  seen  him  ;  and  I 
will  suppose  him  courteous  and  agreeable.  But  what  are 
his  accomplishments  besides,  for  these  surely  are  not  uncom- 
mon attributes  ?  " 

"He  is  unfortunate,  madam — most  unfortunate,  and  sur- 
rounded by  snares  of  different  kinds,  ingeniously  contrived 
to  ruin  his  character,  destroy  his  estate,  and,  perhaps,  to 
reach  even  his  life.  These  schemes  have  been  devised  by 
avarice  originally,  but  they  are  now  followed  close  by  vin- 
dictive ambition,  animated,  I  think,  by  the  absolute  and  con- 
centrated spirit  of  malice;  for  the  Lord  Dalgarno- " 

''Here,  Monna  Paula — Monna  Paula  I"  exclaimed  the 
Lady  Hermione,  interrupting  her  young  friend's  narrative. 
"  She  hears  me  not,"  she  answered,  rising  and  going  out,  "  I 
must  seek  her — I  will  return  instantly."  She  returned  ac- 
cordingly very  soon  after.  '*'  You  mentioned  a  name  which 
I  thought  was  familiar  to  me,"  she  said;  "  but  Monna  Paula 
has  put  me  right.  I  know  nothing  of  your  lord — how  was  it 
you  named  him?" 

"  Lord  Dalgarno,"  said  Margaret,  "  the  wickedest  man 
who  lives.  Under  pretence  of  friendship,  he  introduced  the 
Lord  Glenvarloch  to  a  gambling-house  with  the  purpose  of 
engaging  him  in  deep  play;  but  he  with  whom  the  perfidious 
traitor  had  to  deal  was  too  virtuous,  moderate,  and  cautious 
to  be  caught  in  a  snare  so  open.  What  did  they  next  but 
turn  his  own  moderation  against  him,  and  persuade  others 
that,  because  he  would  not  become  the  prey  of  wolves,  he 
herded  with  them  for  a  share  of  their  booty !  And,  while 
this  base  Lord  Dalgarno  was  thus  undermining  his  unsus- 
pecting countryman,  he  took  every  measure  to  keep  him 
surrounded  by  creatures  of  his  own,  to  prevent  him  from  at- 
tending court  and  mixing  with  those  of  his  proper  rank. 
Since  the  Gunpowder  Treason,  there  never  was  a  conspiracy 
more  deeply  laid,  more  basely  and  more  deliberately  pur- 
sued." 

The  lady  smiled  sadly  at  Margaret's  vehemence,  but 
sighed  the  next  moment,  while  she  told  her  young  friend  how 
little  she  knew  the  world  she  was  about  to  live  in,  since  she 
testified  so  much  surprise  at  finding  it  full  of  villany. 

"  But  by  Avhat  means,"  she  added,  "  could  you,  maiden, 
become  possessed  of  the  secret  views  of  a  man  so  cautious  as 
Lord  Dalgarno — as  villains  in  general  are?" 

"  Permit   me   to   be   silent  en  that  subject,"  said   the 


220  WAVERLEY  NOVEL^ 

maiden.  ''  I  could  not  tell  you  without  betraying  others  ; 
let  it  suffice  that  my  tidings  are  as  certain  as  the  means  by 
which  I  acquired  them  are  secret  and  sure.  But  I  must  not 
tell  them  even  to  you." 

"  You  are  too  bold,  Margaret,"  said  the  lady,  "  to  traffic 
in  such  matters  at  your  early  age.  It  is  not  only  dangerous, 
but  even  unbecoming  and  unmaidenly." 

"  I  knew  you  would  say  that  also,"  said  Margaret,  with 
more  meekness  and  patience  than  she  usually  showed  on  re- 
ceiving reproof  ;  '*  but,  God  knows,  my  heart  acquits  me  of 
every  other  feeling  save  that  of  the  wish  to  assist  this  most 
innocent  and  betrayed  man.  I  contrived  to  send  him  warn- 
ing of  his  friend's  falsehood  ;  alas!  my  care  has  only  hast- 
ened his  utter  ruin,  unless  speedy  aid  be  found.  He  charged 
his  false  friend  with  treachery,  and  drew  on  him  in  the  Park, 
and  is  now  liable  to  the  fatal  penalty  due  for  breach  of  priv- 
ilege of  the  king's  palace." 

''This  is  indeed  an  extraordinary  tale,"  said  Hermione. 
''  Is  Lord  Glenvarloch  then  in  prison?" 

*'  No,  madam,  thank  God,  but  in  the  sanctuary  at  White- 
friars.  It  is  matter  of  doubt  whether  it  will  protect  him  in 
such  a  case  :  they  speak  of  a  warrant  from  the  Lord  Chief 
Justice.  A  gentleman  of  the  Temple  has  been  arrested,  and 
is  in  trouble,  for  having  assisted  him  in  his  flight.  Even 
his  taking  temporary  refuge  in  that  base  place,  though  from 
extreme  necessity,  will  be  used  to  the  farther  defaming  him. 
All  this  I  know,  and  yet  I  cannot  rescue  him — cannot  rescue 
him  save  by  your  means." 

"  By  my  means,  maiden?"  said  the  lady  ;  "  yon  are  be- 
side yourself  !  What  means  can  I  possess  in  this  secluded 
situation  of  assisting  this  unfortunate  nobleman?" 

"  You  have  means,"  said  Margaret,  eagerly — ''you  have 
those  means,  unless  I  mistake  greatly,  which  can  do  any- 
thing— can  do  everything — in  tliis  city — in  this  world:  you 
have  wealth,  and  the  command  of  a  small  portion  of  it  will 
enable  me  to  extricate  him  from  his  present  danger.  He 
will  be  enabled  and  directed  how  to  make  his  escape  ;  and 
I "  she  paused. 

"  Will  accompany  him,  doubtless,  and  reap  the  fruits  of 
your  sage  exertions  in  his  behalf?"  said  the  Lady  Hermione, 
ironically. 

"  May  Heaven  forgive  you  the  unjust  thought,  lady,"  an- 
swered Margaret.  "I  will  never  see  him  more;  but  I  shall 
have  saved  him,  and  the  thought  will  make  me  happy." 

"A  cold  conclusion  to  so  bold  and  warm  a  flame,"  saic^ 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  221 

6he!  lady,  with  a  smile  which  seemed  to  intimate  incred- 
ality. 

"  It  is,  however,  the  only  one  which  I  expect,  madam — I 
could  almost  say  the  only  one  which  I  wish — I  am  sure  I 
will  use  no  efforts  to  bring  about  any  other;  if  I  am  bold  in 
his  cause,  I  am  timorous  enough  in  my  own.  During  our 
only  interview  I  was  unable  to  speak  a  word  to  him.  He 
knows  not  the  sound  of  my  voice;  and  all  that  I  have  risked, 
and  must  yet  risk,  I  am  doing  for  one  who,  were  he  asked 
the  question,  would  say  that  he  has  long  since  forgotten  that 
he  ever  saw,  spoke  to,  or  sat  beside  a  creature  of  so  little  sig- 
nification as  I  am.'' 

''  This  is  a  strange  and  unreasonable  indulgence  of  a  pas- 
sion equally  fanciful  and  dangerous,"  said  the  Lady  Hermi- 
one. 

"  You  will  not  assist  me,  then?"  said  Margaret.  "  Have 
good-day  then,  madam.  My  secret,  I  trust,  is  safe  in  such 
honorable  keeping." 

"  Tarry  yet  a  little,"  said  the  lady,  "  and  tell  me  what 
resource  you  have  to  assist  this  youth,  if  you  were  supplied 
with  money  to  put  it  in  motion." 

"  It  is  superfluous  to  ask  me  the  question,  madam,"  an- 
swered Margaret,  '"unless  you  purpose  to  assist  me;  and,  if 
you  do  so  purpose,  it  is  still  superfluous.  You  could  not  un- 
derstand the  means  I  must  use,  and  time  is  too  brief  to  ex- 
plain," 

"  But  have  you  in  reality  such  means?"  said  the  lady. 

"  I  have,  with  the  command  of  a  moderate  sum,"  an- 
swered Margaret  Ramsay,  *'the  power  of  baffling  all  his  ene- 
mies— of  eluding  the  passion  of  the  irritated  King — the 
colder  but  more  determined  displeasure  of  the  Prince — the 
vindictive  spirit  of  Buckingham,  so  hastily  directed  against 
whomsoever  crosses  the  path  of  his  ambition — the  cold,  con- 
centrated malice  of  Lord  Dalgarno — all,  I  can  baffle  them 
all!" 

"But  is  this  to  be  done  without  your  own  personal  risk, 
Margaret  ?"  replied  the  lady  ;  "for,  be  your  purpose  what  it 
will,  you  are  not  to  peril  you  own  reputation  or  person  in  the 
romantic  attempt  of  serving  another  ;  and  I,  maiden,  am 
answerable  to  your  godfather — to  your  benefactor  and  my 
own — not  to  aid  you  in  any  dangerous  or  unworthy  enter- 
prise." 

"  Depend  upon  my  word — my  oath,  dearest  lady,"  re- 
plied the  supplicant,  "  that  I  will  act  by  the  agency  of 
others,  and   do  pot  myself  design  to   mingle  in  any  enter- 


222  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

prise  in  wliich  my  appearance  might  be  either  perilous  or 
unwomanly." 

"  I  know  not  what  to  do,"  said  Lady  Hermione  ;  "  it  is 
perhaps  incautious  and  inconsiderate  in  me  to  aid  so  wild  a 
project ;  yet  the  end  seems  honorable,  if  the  means  be  sure. 
What  is  the  penalty  if  he  fall  into  their  power  ?" 

"  Alas — alas  !  the  loss  of  his  right  hand  ! "  replied  Marga- 
ret, her  voice  almost  stifled  with  sobs. 

"  Are  the  laws  of  England  so  cruel  ?  Then  there  is  mercy 
in  Heaven  alone,"  said  the  lady,  "  since,  even  in  this  free  land, 
men  are  wolves  to  each  otlier.  Compose  yourself,  Margaret, 
and  tell  me  what  money  is  necessary  to  secure  Lord  Glenvar- 
loch's  escape." 

"  Two  hundred  pieces,"  replied  Margaret.  "  I  would  speak 
to  you  of  restoring  them — and  I  must  one  day  have  the  power 
—only  that  I  know — that  is,  I  think — your  ladyship  is  in- 
different on  that  score." 

"  Not  a  word  more  of  it,"  said  the  lady  :  "  eall  Monna  Paula 
hither/' 


CHAPTER  XX 

Credit  me,  friend,  it  hath  been  ever  thus. 
Since  the  ark  rested  on  Mount  Ararat. 
False  man  hath  sworn,  and  woman  hath  believed, 
Repented  and  reproach'd,  and  tlien  believed  once  more. 

The  New  World. 

By  the  time  that  Margaret  returned  with  Monna  Paula,  ths. 
Lady  Hermione  was  rising  from  the  table  at  which  she  had 
been  engaged  in  writing  something  on  a  small  slip  of  paper, 
which  she  gave  to  her  attendant. 

"Monna  Paula/'  she  said,  "carry  this  paper  to  Roberts, 
the  cash-keeper;  let  him  give  you  the  money  mentioned  in 
the  note,  and  bring  it  hither  presently." 

Monna  Paula  left  the  room,  and  her  mistress  proceeded. 
"I  do  not  know,"  she  said,  "Margaret,  if  I  have  done, 
and  am  doing,  Avell  in  this  affair.  My  life  has  been  one  of 
strange  seclusion,  and  I  am  totally  unacquainted  with  the 
practical  ways  of  this  world — an  ignorance  which  I  know 
cannot  be  remedied  by  mere  reading.  I  fear  I  am  doing 
wrong  to  you,  and  perhaps  to  the  laws  of  the  country  which 
affords  me  refuge,  by  thus  indulging  you;  and  yet  there  is 
gome  thing  in  my  heart  which  cannot  resist  your  entreaties." 
"0,  listen  to  it — listen  to  it,  dear,  generous  lady!"  said 
Margaret,  throwing  herself  on  her  knees  and  grasping  those 
^f  her  benefactress^  and  looking  in  that  attitude  like  a  beau- 
tiful mortal  in  the  act  of  supplicating  her  tutelary  angel; 
"  the  laws  of  men  are  but  the  injunctions  of  mortality,  but 
what  the  heart  prompts  is  the  echo  of  the  voice  from  Heaven 
within  us." 

<<  Kise — rise,  maiden,"  said  Hermione;  "  you  affect  memore 
than  I  thought  I  could  have  been  moved  by  aught  that  should 
approach  me.  Rise  and  tell  me  whence  it  comes  that,  in  so 
Bhort  a  time,  your  thoughts,  your  looks,  your  speech,  and  even 
your  slightest  actions,  are  changed  from  those  of  a  capricious 
and  fanciful  girl  to  all  this  energy  and  impassioned  eloquence 
of  Avord  and  action?" 

"  I  am  sure  I  know  not,  dearest  lady,"  said  Margaret, 
looking  down;  "but  I  suppose  that,  when  I  was  a  trifler,  I 
was  only  thinking  of  trifles.     What  I  now  reflect  is  deep  and 


224  WAVER  LEY  NOVELS 

serious,  and  I  am  tliankfnl  if  my  si^eech  and  manner  beai 
reasonable  proportion  to  my  thoughts. " 

*'  It  must  be  so,"  said  the  lady;  "  yet  the  change  seems  a 
rapid  and  strange  one.  It  seems  to  be  as  if  a  childish  girl 
had  at  once  shot  up  into  a  deep-thinking  and  impassioned 
woman,  ready  to  make  exertions  alike  and  sacrifices  with  all 
that  vain  devotion  to  a  favorite  object  of  affection  wh'ch  is 
often  so  basely  rewarded." 

The  Lady  Hermione  sighed  bitterly,  and  Monna  Paula 
entered  ere  the  conversation  proceeded  farther.  She  spoke 
to  her  mistress  in  the  foreign  language  in  which  they  fre- 
quently conversed,  but  which  was  unknown  to  Margaret. 

"  We  must  have  patience  for  a  time,"  said  the  lady  to 
her  visitor;  "the  cash-keeper  is  abroad  on  some  business, 
but  he  is  expected  home  in  the  course  of  half  an  hour," 

Margaret  wrung  her  hands  in  vexation  and  impatience. 

"  Minutes  are  precious,"  continued  the  lady;  "'that  I  am 
well  aware  of;  and  we  will  at  least  suffer  none  of  them  to 
escape  us.  Monna  Paula  shall  remain  below  and  transact 
our  business  the  very  instant  that  Roberts  returns  home." 

She  spoke  to  her  attendant  accordingly,  who  again  left 
the  room. 

"  You  are  very  kind,  madam — very  good,"  said  the  poor 
little  Margaret,  while  the  anxious  trembling  of  her  li])  and 
of  her  hand  showed  all  that  sickening  agitation  of  the  heart 
which  arises  from  hojje  deferred. 

"  Be  patient,  Margaret,  and  collect  yourself,"  said  the 
lady;  "you  may — you  must,  have  much  to  do  to  carry  through 
this  your  bold  purpose.  Reserve  your  spirits,  which  you  may 
need  so  much;  be  patient,  it  is  the  only  remedy  against  the 
evils  of  life.  " 

"Yes,  madam,"  said  Margaret,  wiping  her  eyes,  and 
endeavoring  in  vain  to  suppress  the  natural  impatience  of 
her  temper,  "I  have  heard  so — very  of  ten  indeed;  and  I 
dare  say  I  have  myself.  Heaven  forgive  me,  said  so  lo  people 
in  perplexity  and  affliction;  but  it  was  before  I  had  suffered 
perplexity  and  vexation  myself,  and  I  am  sure  I  will  never 
preach  patience  to  any  human  being  again,  now  that  I  know- 
how  much  the  medicine  goes  against  the  stomach." 

"  You  will  think  better  of  it,  maiden,"  said  the  Lady  Her- 
mione. "I  also,  when  I  first  felt  distress,  thought  they  did 
me  wrong  who  spoke  to  me  of  patience;  but  my  sorrows 
have  been_  repeated  and  continued  till  I  have  been  ^taught  to 
cling  to  it  as  the  best,  and — religious  duties  excepted,  of 
which,  indeed,  patience  forms  a  part — the  only,  alleviatiou 
which  life  can  afford  therr  " 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  225 

Margaret,  who  neither  wanted  sense  nor  feeling,  wiped 
her  tears  liastily,  and  asked  her  patroness's  forgiveness  for 
her  petuhmce. 

''I  might  have  thought,"  she  said — "I  ought  to  have 
reflected,  that  even  from  the  manner  of  your  life,  madam, 
'it  is  plain  you  must  have  suffered  sorrow;  and  yet,  God 
knows,  the  patience  which  I  have  ever  seen  you  display  well 
entitles  you  to  recommend  your  own  example  to  others." 

The  lady  was  silent  for  a  moment,  and  then  replied — 

"Margaret,  I  am  about  to  repose  a  high  confidence  in 
you.  You  are  no  longer  a  child,  but  a  thinking  and  a  feel- 
ing woman.  You  have  told  me  as  much  of  your  secret  as  you 
dared;  I  will  let  you  know  as  much  of  mine  as  I  may  venture 
to  tell.  You  will  ask  me,  perhaps,  why,  at  a  moment  when 
your  own  mind  is  agitated,  I  should  force  upon  you  the  con- 
sideration of  my  sorrows?  and  I  answer,  that  I  cannot  with- 
stand the  impulse  which  now  induces  me  to  do  so.  Perhaps 
from  having  witnessed,  for  the  first  time  these  three  years, 
the  natural  effects  of  human  passion,  my  own  sorrows  have 
been  awakened,  and  are  for  the  moment  too  big  for  my  o«ti 
bosom;  perhaps  I  may  hope  that  you, who  seem  driving  full 
sail  on  the  very  rock  on  which  I  was  wrecked  forever,  will 
take  warning  by  the  tale  I  have  to  tell.  Enough,  if  you  are 
willing  to  listen,  I  am  willing  to  tell  you  who  the  melan- 
choly inhabitant  of  the  Foljambe  apartments  really  is,  and 
why  she  resides  here.  It  will  serve,  at  least,  to  while  away 
the'  time  until  Monna  Paula  shall  bring  us  the  reply  from 
Eoberts." 

At  any  other  moment  of  her  life  Margaret  Eamsay  would 
have  heard  with  undivided  interest  a  communication  so  flat- 
tering in  itself,  and  referring  to  a  subject  upon  which  the 
general  curiosity  had  been  so  strongly  excited.  And  even  at 
this  agitating  moment,  although  she  ceased  not  to  listen 
with  an  anxioits  ear  and  throbbing  heart  for  the  sound  of 
Monna  Paula's  returning  footsteps,  she  nevertheless,  as  grati- 
tude and  policy,  as  well  as  a  portion  of  curiosity,  dictated, 
composed  herself,  in  appearance  at  least,  to  the  strictest 
attention  to  the  Lady  Hermione,  and  thanked  her  with 
humility  for  the  high  confidence  she  was  pleased  to  repose 
in  her.  The  Lady  Hermione  with  the  same  calmness  which 
alwavs  attended  her  speech  and  actions,  thus  recounted  her 
story  to  her  young  friend  : 

''My  father,"  she  said,  "was  a  merchant,  but  he  was  of 
a  city  whose  merchants  are  princes.  I  am  the  daughter  of  a 
noble  house  in  Genoa,  whose  name  stood  as  high  in  honor 

15 


226  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

and  ill  antiquity  as  any  inscribed  in  the  Golden  Register  O' 
that  famous  aristocracy. 

*'  My  mother  was  a  noble  Scottishwoman.  She  was  de- 
scended— do  not  start — and  not  remotely  descended,  of  th(» 
house  of  Glenvarloch ;  no  wonder  that  I  was  easily  led  to 
take  concern  in  the  misfortunes  of  this  young  lord.  He  is 
my  near  relation,  and  my  mother,  who  was  more  than  sufPi- 
ciently  proud  of  her  descent,  early  taught  me  to  take  an  in- 
terest in  the  name.  My  maternal  grandfather,  a  cadet  of  that 
house  of  Glenvarloch,  had  followed  the  fortunes  of  an  un- 
happy fugitive,  Francis  Earl  of  Bothwell,*  Avho,  after  show- 
ing his  miseries  in  many  a  foreign  court,  at  length  settled  in 
Spain  upon  a  miserable  pension,  which  he  earned  by  con- 
forming to  the  Catholic  faith.  Ealph  Olifaunt,  my  grand- 
father, separated  from  him  in  disgust,  and  settled  at  Barcelona, 
where,  by  the  friendship  of  the  governor,  his  heresy,  as  it 
was  termed,  was  connived  at.  My  father,  in  the  course  of 
his  commerce,  resided  more  at  Barcelona  than  in  his  native 
country,  though  at  times  he  visited  Genoa. 

"  It  was  at  Barcelona  that  he  became  acquainted  with  my 
mother,  loved  her,  and  married  her ;  they  differed  in  faith, 
but  they  agreed  in  affection.  I  was  their  only  child.  In 
public  I  conformed  to  the  doctrines  and  ceremonial  of  the 
Church  of  Rome ;  bait  my  mother,  by  whom  these  were  re- 
garded with  horror,  privately  trained  me  up  in  those  of  the 
Reformed  religion  ;  and  my  father,  either  indifferent  in  the 
matter  or  unwilling  to  distress  the  woman  whom  he  loved, 
overlooked  or  connived  at  my  secretly  joining  in  her  devo- 
tions. 

"  But  when,  unhappily,  my  father  was  attacked,  while  yet 
in  the  prime  of  life,  by  a  slow  wasting  disease,  which  he  felt 
to  be  incurable,  he  foresaw  the  hazard  to  which  his  widow 
and  orphan  might  be  exposed,  after  he  was  no  more,  in  a 
country  so  bigoted  to  Catholicism  as  Spain.  He  made  it  his 
business,  during  the  two  last  years  of  his  life,  to  realize  and 
to  remit  to  England  a  large  part  of  his  fortune,  which,  by 
the  faith  and  honor  of  his  correspondent,  the  excellent  man 
under  whose  roof  I  now  reside,  was  employed  to  great  advan- 
tage. _  Had  my  father  lived  to  complete  his  purpose,  by  with- 
drawing his  whole  fortune  from  commerce,  he  himself  would 
have  accompanied  us  to  England,  and  would  have  beheld  us 
settled  in  peace  and  honor  before  his  death.  But  Heaven 
had  ordained  it  otherwise.  He  died,  leaving  several  sums 
engaged  in  the  hands  of  his  Spanish  debtors ;  and,  in  par- 

♦See  Note  86. 


THE  FORTUNES  QF  NIGEL  227 

ticular,  lie  had  made  a  large  and  extensive  consigiiment  to  a 
certain  wealthy  society  of  merchants  at  Madrid,  Avho  showed 
no  willingness  after  his  death  to  account  for  the  proceeds. 
Would  to  God  we  had  left  these  covetous  and  wicked  men  in 
,  possession  of  their  booty,  for  such  they  seemed  to  hold  the 
property  of  their  deceased  correspondent  and  friend  !  We  had 
enough  for  comfort,  and  even  splendor,  already  secured  in 
England  ;  but  friends  exclaimed  upon  the  folly  of  permitting 
ihese  unprincipled  men  to  plunder  us  of  our  rightful  property. 
Che  sum  itself  was  large,  and  the  claim  having  been  made, 
.ny  mother  thought  tliat  my  father's  memory  was  interested 
in  its  being  enforced,  es2)ecially  as  the  defences  set  up  for  the 
mercantile  society  went,  in  some  degree,  to  impeach  the  fair- 
ness of  his  transactions. 

"  We  went  therefore  to  Madrid.  I  was  then,  my  ^Margaret, 
about  your  age,  young  and  thoughtless,  as  you  have  hitherto 
been.  We  went,  I  say,  to  Madrid,  to  solicit  the  protection  of 
the  court  and  of  the  king,  without  which  we  were  told  it 
would  De  in  vain  to  expect  justice  against  an  opulent  and 
powerful  association. 

"  Our  residence  at  the  Spanish  metropolis  drew  on  from 
weeks  to  months.  For  my  part,  my  natural  sorrow  for  a 
kind,  though  not  a  fond,  father  having  abated,  I  cared  not  if 
the  lawsuit  had  detained  us  at  Madrid  forever.  My  mother 
permitted  herself  and  me  rather  more  liberty  than  we  had 
been  accustomed  to.  She  found  relations  among  the  Scottish 
and  Irish  officers,  many  of  whom  held  a  high  rank  in  the 
Spanish  armies ;  their  wives  and  daughters  became  our 
friends  and  companions,  and  I  had  perpetual  occasion  to 
exercise  my  mother's  native  language,  which  I  had  learned 
from  my  infancy.  By  degrees,  as  my  mother's  spirits  were 
low  and  her  health  indifferent,  she  was  induced,  by  her  par' 
tial  fondness  for  me,  to  suffer  me  to  mingle  occasionally  iiv 
society  which  she  herself  did  not  frequent,  under  the  guard- 
ianship of  such  ladies  as  she  imagined  she  could  trust,  and 
particularly  under  the  care  of  the  lady  of  a  general  officer, 
whose  weakness  or  falsehood  was  the  original  cause  of  my 
misfortunes.  I  was  as  gay,  Margaret,  and  thoughtless — I 
again  repeat  it — as  you  were  but  lately,  and  my  attention, 
like  yours,  became  suddenly  riveted  to  one  object,  and  to  one 
set  of  feelings. 

"  The  person  by  whom  they  were  excited  was  young,  noble, 
handsome,  accomplished,  a  soldier,  and  a  Briton.  So  far  our 
cases  are  nearly  parallel  ;  but.  may  Heaven  forbid  that  the 
;x:*allel  should  become  complete  !     This  man,  so  noble,  so 


228  WAVERLEV  NOVELS 

fairly  formed,  so  gifted,  and  so  brave — this  villnin,  for  that, 
Margaret,  was  liis  fittest  name — spoke  of  love  to  me,  and  I 
listened.  Could  I  suspect  his  sincerity  ?  If  he  was  wealthy, 
noble,  and  long-descended,  I  also  was  a  nolile  and  an  opulent 
lieiress.  It  is  true,  that  he  neither  knew  the  extent  of  my 
father's  wealth,  nor  did  I  communicate  to  him — I  do  not  even 
remember  if  I  myself  knew  it  at  the  time — the  important 
circumstance,  that  the  greater  part  of  that  wealth  was  beyond 
the  grasp  of  arbitrary  power,  and  not  subject  to  the  precarious 
award  of  arbitrary  judges.  My  lover  might  think,  perhaps, 
as  my  mother  was  desirous  the  world  at  large  should  believe, 
that  almost  our  whole  fortune  depended  on  the  precarious 
suit  Avhich  we  had  come  to  Madrid  to  prosecute — a  belief 
which  she  had  countenanced  out  of  policy,  being  well  aware 
that  a  knowledge  of  my  father's  having  remitted  such  a  large 
part  of  his  fortune  to  England  Avould  in  no  shape  aid  the 
recovery  of  farther  sums  in  the  Spanish  courts.  Yet,  with 
no  more  extensive  views  of  my  fortune  than  were  possessed 
by  the  public,  I  believe  that  he  of  whom  I  am  speaking  was 
at  first  sincere  in  his  pretensions.  He  had  himself  interest 
sufficient  to  have  obtained  a  decision  in  our  favor  in  the 
courts,  and  my  fortune,  reckoning  only  what  was  in  Spain, 
would  then  have  been  no  inconsiderable  sura.  To  be  brief, 
whatever  might  be  his  motives  or  temptation  for  so  far  com- 
mitting himself,  he  applied  to  my  mother  for  my  hand,  with 
my  consent  and  approval.  My  mother's  judgment  had  be- 
come weaker,  but  her  passions  had  become  more  irritable, 
during  her  increasing  illness. 

"You  have  heard  of  the  bitterness  of  the  ancient  Scottish 
feuds,  of  which  it  may  be  said,  in  the  language  of  Scripture, 
that  the  fathers  eat  sour  grapes,  and  the  teeth  ot  the  children 
are  set  on  edge.  Unhapjiily — I  should  say  happily,  consider- 
ing what  this  man  has  now  shown  himself  to  be — some  such 
strain  of  bitterness  had  divided  his  house  from  my  mother's, 
and  she  had  succeeded  to  the  inheritance  of  hatred.  When 
he  asked  her  for  my  hand,  she  was  no  longer  able  to  com- 
mand her  passions:  she  raked  up  every  injury  which  the  rival 
families  had  inflicted  upon  each  other  during  a  bloody  feud 
of  two  centuries,  heaped  him  with  epithets  of  scorn,  and 
rejected  his  proposal  of  alliance  as  if  it  had  come  from  the 
basest  of  mankind. 

"My  lover  retired  in  passion;  and  I  remained  to  weep 
and  murmur  against  fortune,  and — I  will  confess  my  fault— 
against  my  affectionate  parent.  I  had  been  educated  with 
differert  feelings,  and  the  traditions  of  the  feud?  and  quar- 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  229 

rels  of  my  mother's  family  in  Scotland,  which  were  to  her 
monuments  and  chronicles,  seemed  to  me  as  insignificant  and 
unmeaning  as  the  actions  and  fantasies  of  Don  Quixote;  and 
I  blamed  my  mother  bitterly  for  sacrificing  my  happiness  to 
an  empty  dream  of  family  dignity. 

"  While  I  was  in  this  humor,  my  lover  sought  a  renewal 
of  our  intercourse.  "We  met  repeatedly  in  the  house  of  the 
lady  whom  I  have  mentioned,  and  who,  in  levity  or  in  the 
spirit  of  intrigue,  countenanced  our  secret  correspondence. 
At  length  we  were  secretly  married;  so  far  did  my  blinded 
passion  hiirry  me.  My  lover  had  secured  the  assistance  of  a 
clergyman  of  the  English  Church.  ]\Ionna  Paula,  who  had 
been  my  attendant  from  infancy,  was  one  witness  of  our 
union.  Let  me  do  the  faithful  creature  justice.  She  con- 
jured me  to  suspend  my  purpose  till  my  mother's  death 
should  permit  us  to  celebrate  our  marriage  openly;  but  the 
entreaties  of  my  lover,  and  my  own  wayward  passion,  pre- 
vailed over  her  remonstrances.  The  lady  I  have  spoken  of 
was  another  witness,  but  whether  she  was  in  full  possession 
of  my  bridegroom's  secret  I  had  never  the  means  to  learn. 
But  the  shelter  of  her  name  and  roof  afforded  us  the  means 
of  frequently  meeting,  and  the  love  of  my  husband  seemed  as 
sincere  and  as  nnbounded  as  my  own. 

"  He  was  eager,  he  said,  to  gratify  his  pride  by  intro- 
ducing me  to  one  or  two  of  his  noble  English  friends.    This 

could  not  be  done  at  Lady  D 's  ;  but  by  his  command, 

which  I  was  now  entitled  to  consider  as  my  law,  I  contrived 
twice  to  visit  him  at  his  ovni  hotel,  accompanied  only  by 
Monna  Paula.  There  was  a  very  small  party  of  two  ladies  and 
two  gentlemen.  There  was  music,  mirth,  and  dancing.  I  had 
heard  of  the  frankness  of  the  English  nation,  but  I  could 
not  help  thinking  it  bordered  on  license  during  these  enter- 
tainments, and  in  the  course  of  the  collation  which  followed  ; 
but  I  imputed  my  scruples  to  my  inexperience,  and  would 
not  doubt  the  propriety  of  what  was  approved  by  my  hus- 
band. 

"I  was  soon  summoned  to  other  scenes.  My  poor 
mother's  disease  drew  to  a  conclusion.  Happy  I  am  that  it 
took  place  before  she  discovered  what  would  have  cut  her  to 
the  soul. 

"  In  Spain  you  might  have  heard  how  the  Catholic  priests, 
and  particularly  the  monks,  besiege  the  beds  of  the  dying,  to 
obtain  bequests  for  the  good  of  the  church.  I  have  said  that 
my  mother's  temper  was  irritated  by  disease,  and  her  judg- 
ment impaired   in    proportion.     She  gathered  spirits  and 


230  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

force  from  tlie  resentment  which  the  priests  aronnd  her  bed 
excited  by  tbeir  importunity,  and  the  boldness  of  the  stern 
sect  of  lleformers  to  which  she  had  secretly  adhered  seemed 
to  animate  her  dying  tongne.  She  avowed  the  religion  she 
had  so  h)ng  concealed  ;  renounced  all  hope  and  aid  which 
did  not  come  by  and  through  its  dictates  ;  rejected  with  con- 
tempt the  ceremonial  of  the  Romish  Church  ;  loaded  the  as 
tonished  priests  with  reproaches  for  their  greediness  and  hy- 
pocrisy ;  and  commanded  them  to  leave  her  house.  They 
went  in  bitterness  and  rage,  but  it  was  to  return  with  the 
Inquisitorial  power,  its  warrants,  and  its  officers  ;  and  they 
found  only  the  cold  corpse  left  of  her  on  whom  they  had 
hoped  to  work  their  vengeance.  As  I  was  soon  discovered  to 
have  shared  my  mother's  heresy,  I  Avas  dragged  from  her 
dead  body,  imprisoned  in  a  solitary  cloister,  and  treated  with 
severity,  which  the  abbess  assured  me  was  due  to  the  loose- 
ness of  my  life,  as  well  as  my  spiritual  errors.  I  avowed  my 
marriage,  to  justify  the  situation  in  which  I  found  myself. 
I  implored  the  assistance  of  the  superior  to  communicate  my 
situation  to  my  husband.  She  smiled  coldly  at  the  proposal, 
and  told  me  the  church  had  provided  a  better  spouse  for  me  ; 
advised  me  to  secure  myself  of  Divine  grace  hereafter,  and 
deserve  milder  treatment  here,  by  presently  taking  the  veil. 
In  order  to  convince  me  that  I  had  no  other  resource,  she 
showed  me  a  royal  decree,  by  which  all  my  estate  was  hypoth- 
ecated to  the  convent  of  St.  Magdalen,  and  became  their 
complete  property  upon  my  death  or  my  taking  the  vows. 
As  I  was,  both  from  religious  principle  and  affectionate  at- 
tachment to  my  husband,  absolutely  immovable  in  my  rejec- 
tion of  the  veil,  I  believe — may  Heaven  forgive  me  if  I  wrong 
her! — that  the  abbess  was  desirous  to  make  sure  of  my  spoils 
by  hastening  the  former  event. 

"  It  was  a  small  and  a  poor  convent,  and  situated  among 
the  mountains  of  Guadarrama.  Some  of  the  sisters  were  the 
daughters  of  neighboring  hidalgoes,  as  poor  as  they  were 
proud  and  ignorant;  others  were  women  immured  there 
on  account  of  their  vicious  conduct.  The  superior  herself 
was  of  a  high  family,  to  which  she  owed  her  situation;  but 
she  was  said  to  have  disgraced  her  connections  by  her  con- 
duct during  youth,  and  now,  in  advanced  age,  covetousness 
and  the  love  of  power,  a  spirit,  too,  of  severity  and  cruelty, 
had  succeeded  to  the  thirst  after  licentious  pleasure.  I 
suffered  much  under  this  woman;  and  still  her  dark,  glassy 
eye,  her  tall,  shrouded  form,  and  her  rigid  features,  haunt 
my  slumbers. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  231 

*'  I  was  not  destined  to  be  a  mother.  I  was  very  ill,  and 
my  recovery  was  long  doubtful.  The  most  violent  remedies 
were  applied,  if  remedies  they  indeed  were.  j\Iy  health  was 
restored  at  length,  against  my  own  expectation  and  that  of 
all  around  me.  But  when  I  first  again  beheld  the  reflection 
of  my  own  face,  I  thought  it  was  the  visage  of  a  ghost.  I 
was  wont  to  be  flattered  by  all,  but  particularly  by  my  hus- 
band, for  the  fineness  of  my  complexion;  it  was  now  totally 
gone,  and,  what  is  more  extraordinary,  it  has  never  returned. 
I  have  observed  that  the  few  who  now  see  me  look  upon  me 
as  a  bloodless  phantom.  Such  has  been  the  abiding  effect 
of  the  treatment  to  which  I  was  subjected.  May  God  for- 
give those  who  were  the  agents  of  it !  I  thank  Heaven,  I  can 
?ay  so  with  as  sincere  a  wish  as  that  with  which  I  pray  for 
forgiveness  of  my  own  sins.  They  now  relented  soriiewhat 
•towards  me — moved,  perhaps,  to  compassion  by  my  singular 
appearance,  which  bore  witness  to  my  sufferings;  or  afraid 
that  the  matter  might  attract  attention  during  a  visitation  of 
the  bishop  which  was  approaching.  One  day,  as  I  was  walk- 
ing in  tie  convent  garden,  to  which  I  had  been  lately  admitted, 
a  miseralle  old  Moorish  slave,  who  was  kept  to  cultivate  the 
little  spov,  muttered  as  I  passed  him,  but  still  keeping  his 
wrinkled  fnQe  and  decrepit  form  in  the  same  angle  with  the 
earth,  '  The  -e  is  heart's-ease  near  the  postern.' 

"  I  knew  something  of  the  symbolical  language  of  flowers, 
once  carried  to  such  perfection  among  the  Moriscoes  of 
Spain  ;  but  if  I  had  been  ignorant  of  it,  the  captive  would 
soon  have  caught  at  any  hint  that  seemed  to  promise  liberty. 
With  all  the  haste  consistent  with  the  utmost  circumspec- 
tion, for  I  might  be  observed  by  the  abbess  or  some  of  the 
sisters  from  the  window,  I  hastened  to  the  postern.  It  was 
olosely  barred  as  usual ;  but  when  I  coughed  slightly  I  was 
answered  from  the  other  side,  and,  0  Heaven  !  it  was  my 
husband's  voice  which  said,  'Lose  not  a  minute  here  at 
present,  but  be  on  this  spot  when  the  vesper  bell  has  tolled.' 

"  I  retired  in  an  ecstasy  of  joy.  I  was  not  entitled  or 
permitted  to  assist  at  vespers,  but  was  accustomed  to  be  con- 
^ned  to  my  cell  while  the  nuns  were  in  the  choir.  Since 
my  recovery,  they  had  discontinued  locking  the  door,  though 
the  utmost  severity  was  denounced  against  me  if  I  left  these 
precincts.  But.  let  the  penalty  be  what  it  would,  I  hastened 
to  dare  it.  No  sooner  had  the  last  toll  of  the  vesper  bell 
ceased  to  sound  than  I  stole  iron,  my  chamber,  reached  the 
garden  unobserved,  hurried  to  the  postern,  beheld  it  open 
with  rapture,  and  in  the  next  momei:*  was  in  my  husband's 


382  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

arms.  He  had  -witli  him  another  cavalier  of  nohle  mien  ; 
both  were  masked  and  armed.  Their  horses,  with  one 
saddled  for  my  use,  stood  in  a  thicket  hard  by,  with  two 
otlier  masked  horsemen,  who  seemed  to  be  servants.  In  less 
tlian  two  minutes  we  were  mounted,  and  rode  off  as  fast  as 
we  could  tlirough  rough  and  devious  roads,  in  which  one  of 
tlie  domestics  appeared  to  act  as  guide. 

"The  hurried  pace  at  wliich  we  rode,  and  the  anxiety  of 
the  moment,  kept  me  silent,  and  prevented  my  expressing 
my  surprise  or  my  joy  save  in  a  few  broken  words.  It  also 
served  as  an  apology  for  my  husband's  silence.  At  length 
we  stopped  at  a  solitary  hut,  the  cavaliers  dismounted,  and  ] 
was  assisted  from  my  saddle,  not  by  M M ,  my  hus- 
band, I  would  say,  who  seemed  busied  about  his  horse,  but 
by  the  stranger. 

"'Go  into  the  hut/  said  my  husband, 'change  you» 
dress  with  the  speed  of  lightning  ;  you  will  find  one  to  assist 
you  ;  we  must  forward  instantly  when  you  have  shifted  your 
apparel." 

"  I  entered  the  hut,  and  was  received  in  the  arms  of  th« 
faithful  Monna  Paula,  who  had  waited  my  arrival  for  manj 
hours,  half  distracted  with  fear  and  anxiety.  With  he 
assistance  I  speedily  tore  off  the  detested  garments  of  th& 
convent,  and  exchanged  them  for  a  travelling-suit  mad«, 
after  the  English  fashion.  I  observed  that  Monna  Paulw 
was  in  a  similar  dress.  I  had  but  just  huddled  on  my  change 
of  attire,  when  we  were  hastily  summoned  to  mount.  A. 
horse,  I  found,  was  provided  for  Monna  Paula,  and  we  re- 
sumed our  route.  On  the  way,  my  convent  garb,  Avhich  had 
been  wrapped  hastily  together  around  a  stone,  was  throwr 
into  a  lake,  along  the  verge  of  which  we  were  then  passing 
The  two  cavaliers  rode  together  in  front,  my  attendant  and  1 
followed,  and  the  servants  brought  up  the  rear.  Monna  Paula, 
as  we  rode  on,  repeatedly  entreated  me  to  be  silent  upon 
the  road,  as  our  lives  depended  on  it.  I  was  easily  recon- 
ciled to  be  passive,  for,  the  first  fever  of  spirits  which  at- 
tended the  sense  of  liberation  and  of  gratified  affection  hav- 
ing passed  away,  I  felt  as  it  were  dizzy  with  the  rapid  motion; 
and  my  utmost  exertion  was  necessary  to  keep  my  place  on 
the  saddle,  until  we  suddenly — it  was  now  very  dark — saw  a 
strong  light  before  us. 

"  My  husband  reined  up  his  horse,  and  gave  a  signal  by 
a  low  whistle  twice  repeated,  wliich  was  answered  from  a  dis- 
tance. The  whole  party  then  halted  under  the  boughs  of  a 
large  cork-tree,  and  my  husband,  drawing  himself  close  to 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  233 

my  side,  said,  in  a  voice  which  I  then  tliought  was  only  em- 
barrassed by  fear  for  my  safety — '  AVe  must  now  part. 
Those  to  Avhom  I  commit  you  are  contrabandists,  who  only 
know  you  as  Englishwomen,  but  who,  for  a  high  bribe,  have 
undertaken  to  escort  you  through  the  passes  of  the  Pyrenees 
as  far  as  St.  Jean  de  Luz.' 

'    "  '  And  do  you  not  go  with  us?'  I  exclaimed  with  empha- 
sis, though  in  a  whisper. 

*'*Itis  impossible,' he  said,  'and  would  ruin  all.  See 
that  you  speak  in  English  in  these  people's  hearing,  and  give 
not  the  least  sign  of  understanding  what  they  say  in  Spanish 
— your  life  depends  on  it;  for,  though  they  live  in  opposition 
to,  and  evasion  of,  the  laws  of  Spain,  they  would  tremble  at 
the  idea  of  violating  those  of  the  church.  I  see  them  com- 
ing— farewell — farewell. ' 

"  The  last  words  were  hastily  uttered.  I  endeavored  to 
detain  him  yet  a  moment  by  my  feeble  grasp  on  his  cloak. 

*'' You  will  meet  me,  then,  I  trust,  at  St.  Jean  de  Luz.' 

*' '  Yes — yes,'  he  answered  hastily,  '  at  St.  Jean  de  Luz 
you  will  meet  your  protector.' 

''He  then  extricated  his  cloak  from  my  grasp,  and  was 
lost  in  the  darkness.  His  companion  approached,  kissed  my 
hand,  which  in  the  agony  of  the  moment  I  was  scarce  sensi- 
ble of,  and  followed  my  husband,  attended  by  one  of  the 
domestics." 

The  tears  of  Hermione  here  flowed  so  fast  as  to  threaten 
the  interruption  of  her  narrative.  When  she  resumed  it,  it 
was  with  a  kind  of  apology  to  Margaret. 

"Every  circumstance,"  she  said,  "occurring  in  those 
moments,  when  I  still  enjoyed  a  delusive  idea  of  happiness, 
is  deeply  imprinted  in  my  remembrance,  which,  respecting 
all  that  has  since  happened,  is  Avaste  and  unvaried  as  an 
Arabian  desert.  But  I  have  no  right  to  inflict  on  you, 
Margaret,  agitated  as  you  are  with  your  own  anxieties  the 
unavailing  details  of  my  useless  recollections." 

Margaret's  eyes  were  full  of  tears;  it  was  impossible  it 
could  be  otherwise,  considering  that  the  tale  was  told  by  her 
suffering  benefactress,  and  resembled  in  some  respects  her 
own  situation;  and  yet  she  must  not  be  severely  blamed  if, 
while  eagerly  pressing  her  patroness  to  continue  her  narra- 
tive, her  eye  involuntarily  sought  the  door,  as  if  to  chide  the 
delay  of  Monna  Paula. 

The  Lady  Hermione  saw  and  forgave  these  conflicting 
emotions;  and  she  too  must  be  pardoned  if,  in  her  turn,  the 
minute  detail  of  her  narrative  showed  that,  in  the  discharge 


2;? I  WAVERLEV  NOVELS 

of  feelings  so  long  locked  in  her  own  bosom,  slie  rather  for- 
got those  which  were  personal  to  her  auditor,  and  by  which 
it  must  be  supposed  Margaret's  mind  was  principally  occu- 
pied, if  not  entirely  engrossed. 

"  I  told  you,  I  think,  that  one  domestic  followed  the  gen- 
tlemen," thus  the  lady  continued  her  story;  "the  other 
remained  with  as  for  the  purpose,  as  it  seemed,  of  introduc- 
ing us  to  two  persons  whom  M ,  I  say,  whom  my  hus- 
band's signal  had  brought  to  the  spot.  A  word  or  two  of 
explanation  passed  between  thein  and  the  servant,  in  a  sort 
»f  patois  which  I  did  not  understand;  and  one  of  the 
itrangers  taking  hold  of  my  bridle,  the  other  of  Monna 
Paula's,  they  led[  us  towards  the  light,  which  I  have  already 
said  was  the  signal  of  our  halting.  I  touched  Monna  Paula, 
and  was  sensible  that  she  trembled  very  much,  which  sur- 

{n-ised  me,  because  I  knew  her  character  to  be  so  strong  and 
)old  as  to  border  ujDon  the  masculine. 

"  AVhen  we  reached  the  fire,  the  gyi:)sey  figures  of  those 
who  surrounded  it,  with  their  swarthy  features,  large  som- 
brero hats,  girdles  stuck  full  of  jiistols  and  poniards,  and  all 
the  other  apj)aratus  of  a  roving  and  jDerilous  life,  would  have 
terrified  me  at  another  moment.  But  then  I  only  felt  the 
agony  of  having  parted  from  my  husband  almost  in  the  very 
moment  of  my  rescue.  The  females  of  the  gang — for  there 
were  four  or  five  w^omen  among  these  contraband  traders- 
received  us  with  a  sort  of  rude  courtesy.  They  were,  in 
dress  and  manners,  not  extremely  difi'erent  from  the  men  with 
whom  they  associated — were  almost  as  hardy  and  adven- 
turous, carried  arms  like  them,  and  were,  as  we  learned  from 
passing  circumstances,  scarce  less  experienced  in  the  use  of 
them. 

"  It  was  impossible  not  to  fear  these  wild  people;  yet  they 
gave  us  no  reason  to  complain  of  them,'  but  used  us  on  all 
occasions  with  a  kind  of  clumsy  courtesy,  accommodating 
themselves  to  our  wants  and  our  weakness  during  the  Jour- 
ney, even  while  we  heard  them  grumbling  to  each  other 
against  our  effeminacy — like  some  rude  carrier,  who,  in  charge 
of  a  package  of  valuable  and  fragile  ware,  takes  every  pre- 
caution for  its  preservation,  while  he  curses  the  unwonted 
trouble  which  it  occasions  him.  Once  or  twice,  when  they 
were  disappointed  in  their  contraband  traffic,  lost  some  goods 
in  a  rencontre  with  the  Spanish  officers  of  the  revenue,  and 
were  finally  pursued  by  a  military  force,  their  murmurs 
assumed  a  more  alarming  tone  in  the  terrified  ears  of  my  at- 
tendant and  myself,  when,  without  daring  to  seem  to  under- 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  235 

stand  them,  we  heard  them  curse  the  insular  heretics,  on 
whose  account  God,  St.  James,  and  Our  Lady  of  '.he  Pilhir 
had  blighted  their  hopes  of  profit.  These  are  dreadfu? 
recollections,  Margaret. " 

"Why,   then,  dearest  lady,"  answered  Margaret,  "will 
you  thus  dwell  on  them?'' 

."  It  is  only,"  said  the  Lady  Hermione,  "  because  I  linger 
like  a  criminal  on  tlie  scatfold,  and  would  fain  protract  the 
time  that  must  inevitably  bring  on  the  final  catastrophe. 
Yes,  dearest  Margaret,  I  rest  and  dwell  on  the  events  of  that 
journey,  marked  as  it  was  by  fatigue  and  danger,  though  the 
road  lay  through  the  wildest  and  most  desolate  deserts  and 
mountains,  and  though  our  companions,  both  men  and 
women,  were  fierce  and  lawless  themselves,  and  exposed  to 
;he  most  merciless  retaliation  from  those  Avith  whom  they 
w&ve  constantly  engaged — yet  would  I  rather  dwell  on  these 
hazardous  events  than  tell  that  which  awaited  me  at  St.  Jeao 
de  Luz." 

"  But  you  arrived  there  in  safety?  "  said  Margaret. 

"  Yes,  maiden,"  replied  the  Lady  Hermione  ;  "■  and  were 
guided  by  the  chief  of  our  outlawed  band  to  the  house  which 
had  been  assigned  for  our  reception,  with  the  same  punctili- 
ous accuracy  with  which  he  would  have  delivered  a  bale  of 
uncustomed  goods  to  a  correspondent.  I  was  told  a  gentle- 
man had  expected  me  for  two  days  ;  I  rusned  into  the  apart 
ment,  and,  when  I  expected  to  embrace  my  husband — I  found 
myself  in  the  arms  of  his  friend  ! " 

"The  villain  \"  exclaimed  Margaret,  whose  anxiety  had, 
in  spite  of  herself,  been  a  moment  suspended  by  the  narrative 
of  the  lady. 

"  Yes,"  replied  Hermione,  calmly,  though  her  voice  some- 
what faltered,  "  it  is  the  name  that  best — that  well  befits  him. 
He,  Margaret,  for  whom  I  had  sacrificed  all — whose  love  and 
whose  memory  were  dearer  to  me  than  my  freedom,  when  I 
was  in  the  convent — tlian  my  life,  wlien  I  was  on  my  perilous 
journey — had  taken  his  measures  to  shake  me  off,  and  trans- 
fer me,  as  a  privileged  wanton,  to  the  protection  of  his  liber- 
tine friend.  At  first  the  stranger  laughed  at  my  tears  and 
my  agony,  as  the  hysterical  passion  of  a  deluded  and  over- 
reached wanton,  or  the  wily  affectation  of  a  courtezan.  My 
claim  of  marriage  he  laughed  at,  assuring  me  he  knew  it  was 
a  mere  farce  required  by  me,  and  submitted  to  by  his  friend, 
to  save  some  reserve  of  delicacy  ;  and  expressed  his  surprise 
that  I  should  consider  in  any  other  light  a  ceremony  which 
could  be  valid  neither  in  Spain  nor  England,  and  insult- 


268  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

ingly  offered  to  remove  my  scruples  by  renewing  such  a  tinion 
witli  me  himself.  My  exclamations  brought  Monna  Paula  to 
my  aid  ;  she  was  not,  indeed,  far  distant,  for  slie  had  ex- 
pected some  such  scene." 

•'  Good  Heaven  ! "  said  Margaret,  "  was  she  a  confidante  of 
your  base  husband  ?  '* 

"No,"  answered  Hermione,  "do  her  not  that  injustice. 
It  was  her  persevering  inquiries  that  discovered  the  place  of 
my  confinement ;  it  was  she  who  gave  the  information  to  my 
husband,  and  who  remarked  even  then  that  the  news  was  so 
much  more  interesting  to  his  friend  than  to  him,  that  she 
suspected,  from  an  early  period,  it  was  the  purpose  of  the  vil- 
lain to  shake  me  off.  On  the  journey,  her  suspicions  were 
confirmed.  She  had  heard  him  remark  to  his  companion, 
with  a  cold  sarcastic  sneer,  the  total  change  which  my  prison 
and  my  illness  had  made  on  my  complexion  ;  and  she  had 
lieard  the  other  reply,  that  the  defect  might  be  cured  by  a 
touch  of  Spanish  red.  This  and  other  circumstances  having 
j)repared  her  for  such  treachery,  Monna  Paula  now  entered, 
completely  possessed  of  herself,  and  prepared  to  supjDort  me. 
Her  calm  representations  went  farther  with  the  stranger  than 
the  expressions  of  my  despair.  If  he  did  not  entirely  believe 
our  tale,  he  at  least  acted  the  part  of  a  man  of  honor,  who 
would  not  intrude  himself  on  defenceless  females,  whatever 
was  their  character ;  desisted  from  persecuting  us  with  his 
presence ;  and  not  only  directed  Monna  Paula  how  we  should 
journey  to  Paris,  bur  furnished  her  with  money  for  the  pur- 
pose of  our  journey.  From  tlie  capital  I  wrote  to  Master 
Heriot,  my   father's  most  trusted  correspondent ;  he  came 

instantly  to  Paris  on  receiving  the  letter  ;  and But  here 

comes  Monna  Paula,  with  more  than  the  sum  you  desired. 
Take  it,  my  dearest  maiden  ;  serve  this  youth  if  you  will. 
But,  0  Margaret,  look  for  no  gratitude  in  return!" 

The  Lady  Hermione  took  the  bag  of  gold  from  her  at- 
tendant and  gave  it  to  her  young  friend,  who  threw  herself 
into  her  arms,  kissed  her  on  both  the  pale  cheeks,  over 
which  the  sorrows  so  newly  awakened  by  her  narrative  had 
drawn  many  tears,  then  sprang  up,  wij)ed  her  own  overflow- 
ing eyes,  and  left  the  Foljambe  apartments  with  a  hasty  and 
resolved  step. 


CHAPTER  XXI 

Rove  not  from  pole  to  pole.    The  man  lives  here 
Whose  razor's  only  equall'd  by  his  beer; 
And  where,  in  either  sense,  the  cockney  put 
May,  if  he  pleases,  get  confounded  cut. 

On  the  Sign  of  an  Alehouse  kept  by  a  Barber. 

We  are  under  the  necessity  of  transporting  our  readers  to 
the  habitation  of  Benjamin  Suddlechop,  the  husband  of  the 
active  and  ei3icient  Dame  Ursula,  and  who  also,  in  his  own 
person,  discharged  more  offices  than  one.  For,  besides 
trimming  locks  and  beards,  and  turning  whiskers  upward 
into  the  martial  and  swaggering  curl,  or  downward  into  the 
drooping  form  which  became  mustachios  of  civil  policy;  be- 
sides also  occasionally  letting  blood,  either  by  cupping  or  by 
the  lancet,  extracting  a  stump,  and  performing  other  actions 
of  petty  pharmacy,  very  nearly  as  well  as  his  neighbor  Eare- 
drench,  the  apothecary,  he  could,  on  occasion,  draw  a  cup  of 
beer  as  well  as  a  tooth,  tap  a  hogshead  as  well  as  a  vein,  and 
wash,  with  a  draught  of  good  ale,  the  mustachios  which  his 
art  had  just  trimmed.  But  he  carried  on  these  trades  apart 
from  each  other. 

His  barber's  shop  projected  its  long  and  mysterious  pole 
into  Fleet  Street,  painted  party-colored- wise,  to  represent  the 
ribbons  with  which,  in  elder  times,  that  ensign  was  gar- 
nished. In  the  window  were  seen  rows  of  teeth  displayed 
upon  strings  like  rosaries;  cups  with  a  red  rag  at  the  bottom, 
to  resemble  blood — an  intimation  that  patients  might  be 
bled,  cupped,  or  blistered,  with  the  assistance  of  "sufficient 
advice;"  while  the  more  profitable,  but  less  honorable,  oper- 
ations upon  the  hair  of  tlie  head  and  beard  were  briefly  and 
gravely  announced.  Within  was  the  well-worn  leathern 
chair  for  customers,  the  guitar,  then  called  a  ghittern  or  cit- 
tern, with  which  a  customer  might  amuse  himself  till  his 
predecessor  was  dismissed  from  under  Benjamin's  hands,  and 
which,  therefore,  often  flayed  the  ears  of  the  patient  meta- 
phorically, while  his  chin  sustained  from  the  razor  literal 
scarification.  All,  therefore,  in  this  department  sjioke  the 
chirurgeon-barber,  or  the  barber-chirurgeon. 

But  there  was  a  little  back  room,  used  as  a  private  tap- 
room, which  had  a  separate  entrance  by  a  dark  and  crooked 

at? 


838  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

alley,  wnich  communicated  with  Fleet  Street,  after  a  cir- 
cuitous  passage  tlirough  several  by-lanes  and  courts.  This 
retired  temple  of  Bacchus  had  also  a  connection  with  Benja- 
min's more  public  sliop  by  a  long  and  narrow  entrance,  con- 
ducting to  the  secret  premises  in  which  a  few  old  topers 
used  to  take  their  morning-draught,  and  a  few  gill-sippers 
their  modicum  of  strong  waters,  in  a  bashful  way,  after 
having  entered  the  barber's  shop  under  pretence  of  being 
shaved.  Besides,  this  obscure  tap-room  gave  a  separate  ad- 
mission to  the  apartments  of  Dame  Ursley,  which  she  was 
believed  to  make  use  of  in  the  course  of  her  multifarious 
practice,  both  to  let  herself  secretly  out  and  to  admit  clients 
and  employers  who  cared  not  to  be  seen  to  visit  her  in 
public.  Accordingly,  after  the  hour  of  noon,  by  which  time 
the  modest  and  timid  whetters,  who  were  Benjamin's  best 
customers,  had  each  had  his  draught  or  his  thimbleful,  the 
business  of  the  tap  was  in  a  manner  ended,  and  the  charge 
of  attending  the  back  door  passed  from  one  of  the  barber's 
apprentices  to  the  little  mulatto  girl,  the  dingy  Iris  of  Dame 
Suddlechop.  Then  came  mystery  thick  upon  mystery :  muffled 
gallants  and  masked  females,  in  disguises  of  different  fashions, 
were  seen  to  glide  through  the  intricate  mazes  of  the  alley; 
and  even  the  low  tap  on  the  door,  which  frequently  de- 
manded the  attention  of  the  little  Creole,  had  in  it  some- 
thing that  expressed  secrecy  and  fear  of  discovery. 

It  was  the  evening  of  the  same  day  when  ]\largaret  had 
held  the  long  conference  with  the  Lady  Hermione,  that 
Dame  Suddlechop  had  directed  her  little  portress  to  "  keep 
the  door  fast  as  a  miser's   jjurse-strings;  and,  as  she  valued 

her  saft'ron  skin,  to  let  in  none  but "  the  name  she  added 

in  a  whisper,  and  accompanied  it  with  a  nod.  The  little 
domestic  blinked  intelligence,  went  to  her  jDost,  and  in  brief 
time  thereafter  admitted  and  ushered  into  the  presence  of  the 
dame  that  very  city  gallant  w^ose  clothes  sat  awkwai'dly 
upon  him,  and  who  had  behavcd  so  doughtily  in  the  fray 
which  befell  at  Xigel's  first  visit  to  Beaujeu's  ordinary.  The 
mulatto  introduced  him — "  Missis,  fine  young  gentleman, 
all  over  gold  and  velvet" — th^n  muttered  to  herself  as  she 
shut  the  door,  "Fine  young  gentleman,  he! — appi*entice  to 
him  who  makes  the  tick-tick." 

It  was  indeed — we  are  sorry  to  say  it,  and  trust  our  readers 
will  sympathize  with  the  interest  we  take  in  the  matter — it 
was  indeed  honest  Jin  Vin,  who  had  been  so  far  left  to  his 
own  devices,  and  abandoned  b}-  his  better  angel,  as  occasion- 
ally to  travesty  himself  in  this  fashion,  and  to  visit,  in  the 


FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  239 

dress  of  a  gallant  of  the  day,  those  places  of  pleasure  and 
dissipation  in  which  it  would  have  been  everlasting  discredit 
to  him  to  have  been  seen  in  his  real  character  and  condition; 
that  is,  had  it  been  possible  for  liim  in  his  proper  shape  to 
have  gained  admission.  There  was  now  a  deep  gloom  on  his 
brow,  his  rich  habit  was  hastily  put  on,  and  buttoned  awry; 
his  belt  buckled  in  a  most  disorderly  fashion  so  that  his 
Bwcrd  stuck  outwards  from  his  side,  instead  of  hanging  by 
:t  with  graceful  negligence;  while  his  poniard,  though  fairly 
Hatched  and  gilded,  stuck  in  his  girdle  like  a  butcher's  steel 
in  the  fold  of  his  blue  apron.  Persons  of  fashion  had,  by 
the  way,  the  advantage  formerly  of  being  better  distinguished 
from  the  vulgar  than  at  present;  for,  what  the  ancient  far- 
thingale and  more  modern  lioop  were  to  court  ladies,  the  sword 
was  to  the  gentleman — an  article  of  dress  which  only  rendered 
those  ridiculous  wlio  assumed  it  for  the  nonce,  without  being 
in  the  habit  of  wearing  it.  Vincent's  rapier  got  between 
his  legs,  and,  as  he  stumbled  over  it,  he  exclaimed — "  Zounds  ! 
'tis  the  second  time  it  has  served  me  thus.  I  believe  the 
damned  trinket  knows  I  am  no  true  gentleman,  and  does  it 
of  set  purpose." 

''  Come — come,  mine  honest  Jin  Yin — come,  my  good 
boy,''  said  the  dame,  in  a  soothing  tone,  "  never  mind  these 
trankums;  a  frank  and  hearty  London  'prentice  is  worth  all 
the  gallants  of  the  inns  of  court." 

''  I  was  a  frank  and  hearty  London  'prentice  before  I 
knew  you.  Dame  Suddlechoj),"  said  Vincent.  "  What  your 
advice  has  made  me,  you  may  find  a  name  for;  since,  fore 
George,  I  am  ashamed  to  think  about  it  myself." 

"  A-well-a-day,"  quoth  the  dame,  "and  is  it  even  so  with 
thee  ? — nay,  then,  I  know  but  one  cure  ;"  and  with  that, 
going  to  a  little  corner  cupboard  of  carved  wainscot,  she 
opened  it  by  the  assistance  of  a  key  which,  with  half  a  dozen 
besides,  hung  in  a  silver  chain  at  her  girdle,  and  produced  a 
long  flask  of  thin  glass  cased  with  wicker,  bringing  forth  at 
the  same  time  two  Flemish  rummer  glasses,  with  long  stalks 
and  capacious  wombs.  She  filled  the  one  brimful  for  her 
guest,  and  the  other  more  modestly  to  about  two-thirds  of  its 
capacity  for  her  own  use,  repeating,  as  the  rich  cordial 
trickled  forth  in  a  smooth  oily  stream — "  Right  rosa  solis,  as 
ever  washed  mulligrubs  out  of  a  moody  brain  !" 

But,  though  Jin  Vin  tossed  off  his  glass  without  scruple, 
while  the  lady  sipped  hers  more  moderately,  it  did  not  appear 
to  produce  the  expected  amendment  upon  his  humor.  On 
the  contrary,  as  he  threw  himself  into  the  great  leathern 


S40  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

chair  in  whicli  Dame  Ursley  was  wont  to  solace  herself  of  an 
evening,  lie  declared  himself  *' the  most  miserable  dog  with- 
in the  sound  of  Bow  Bell." 

"And why  should  you  be  so  idle  as  to  think  yourself  so, 
silly  boy  ?"  said  Dame  Suddlechop  ;  "  but  ^tis  always  thus  : 
fools  and  children  never  know  when  they  are  well.  AVhy, 
there  is  not  one  that  walks  in  St.  Paul's,  whether  in  flat  cap 
or  hat  and  feather,  that  has  so  many  kind  glances  from  the 
wenches  as  you,  when  ye  swagger  along  Fleet  Street  with 
your  bat  under  your  arm,  and  your  cap  set  aside  upon  your 
head.  Thou  knowest  well  that,  from  Mrs.  Deputy's  self 
down  to  the  waistcoateers  in  the  alley,  all  of  them  are  twiring 
and  peeping  betwixt  their  fingers  when  you  pass  ;  and  yet  you 
call  yourself  a  miserable  dog  !  and  I  must  tell  you  all  this 
over  and  over  again,  as  if  I  were  whistling  the  chimes  of 
London  to  a  pettish  child,  in  order  to  bring  the  pretty  baby 
into  good-humor  ! " 

The  flattery  of  Dame  Ursula  seemed  to  have  the  fate  of 
her  cordial :  it  was  swallowed,  indeed,  by  the  party  to  whom 
she  presented  it,  and  that  with  some  degree  of  relish,  but  it 
did  not  operate  as  a  sedative  on  the  disturbed  state  of  the 
youth's  mind.  He  laughed  for  an  instant,  half  in  scorn  and 
half  in  gratified  vanity,  but  cast  a  sullen  look  on  Dame 
Ursley  as  he  replied  to  her  last  words — 

"  You  do  treat  me  like  a  child  indeed,  when  you  sing  over 
and  over  to  me  a  cuckoo  song  that  I  care  not  a  copper-filing 
for." 

"Aha!"  said  Dame  Ursley;  "that  is  to  say,  you  care  not 
if  you  please  all,  unless  you  please  one.  You  are  a  true 
lover,  I  warrant,  and  care  not  for  all  the  city,  from  here  to 
Whitechapel,  so  you  could  write  yourself  first  in  your  pretty 
Peg-a-Eamsay's  good-will.  Well — well,  take  patience,  man, 
and  be  guided  by  me,  for  I  will  be  the  hoop  will  bind  you 
together  at  last." 

"It  is  time  you  were  so,"  said  Jenkin,  "for  hitherto  you 
have  been  the  wedge  to  separate  us." 

Dame  Suddlechop  had  by  this  time  finished  her  cordial: 
it  was  not  the  first  she  had  taken  that  day,  and,  though  a 
woman  of  strong  brain,  and  cautious  at  least,  if  not  abste- 
mious, in  her  potations,  it  may  nevertheless  be  supposed  that 
her  patience  was  not  improved  by  the  regimen  which  she  ob- 
served. 

"  Why,  thou  ungracious  and  ingrate  knave,"  said  Dame 
Ursley,  "  have  not  I  done  everything  to  put  thee  in  thy  mis- 
tress's good  graces?     She  loves  gentry,  the  proud  Scottish 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  %il 

minx,  as  a  Welshman  loves  clieese,  and  has  her  father's  de- 
scent from  that  Duke  of  Daldevil,  or  whatsoever  she  calls 
him,  as  close  in  her  heart  as  gold  in  a  miser's  chest,  though 
she  as  seldom  shows  it;  and  none  she  will  think  of,  or  have, 
but  a  gentleman;  and  a  gentleman  I  have  made  of  thee,  Jin 
Vin,  the  devil  cannot  deny  that." 

"You  have  made  a  fool  of  me," said  poor  Jenkin,  look- 
ing at  the  sleeve  of  his  jacket. 

"  Xever  the  worse  gentleman  for  that,"  said  Dame  Ursley, 
laughing. 

"And  what  is  worse,"  said  he,  turning  his  back  to  iier 
suddenly,  and  writhing  in  his  chair,  "you  have  made  a  rogue 
of  me." 

"  Xever  the  worse  gentleman  for  that  neither,"  said  Dame 
Ursley,  in  the  same  tone;  "let  a  man  bear  his  folly  gayly  and 
his  knavery  stoutly,  and  let  me  see  if  gravity  or  honest^'  will 
look  him  in  the  face  nowadays.  Tut,  man,  was  only  m  the 
time  of  King  Arthur  or  King  Lud  that  a  gentleman  was  held 
to  blemish  his  scutcheon  by  a  leap  over  the  line  of  reason  or 
honesty.  It  is  the  bold  look,  the  ready  hand,  the  fine  clothes, 
the  brisk  oath,  and  the  wild  brain  that  makes  the  gallant 
nowadays." 

"  I  know  what  you  have  made  me,"  said  Jin  Vin;  "since 
I  have  given  up  skittles  and  trap-ball  for  tennis  and  bowls, 
good  English  ale  for  thin  Bordeaux  and  sour  Ehenish,  roast- 
beef  andpudding  for  woodcocks  and  kickshaws,  my  bat  for 
a  sword,  my  cap  for  a  beaver,  my  '  forsooth '  for  a  modish 
oath,  my  Christmas-box  for  a  dice-box,   my  religion  for  the 

devil's    matins,  and  mine  honest  name  for Woman,   I 

could  brain  thee,  when  I  think  whose  advice  has  guided  me 
in  all  this  ! " 

"Whose  advice,  then? — whose  advice,  then?  Speak 
out,  thou  poor,  petty  cloak-brusher,  and  say  who  advised 
thee!"  retorted  Dame  Ursle}^,  flushed  and  indignant. 
"Marry  come  up,  my  paltry  companion;  say  by  whose 
advice  you  have  made  a  gamester  of  yourself,  and  a  thief 
besides,  as  your  words  would  bear — the  Lord  deliver  us  from 
evil ! "     And  here  Dame  Ursley  devoutly  crossed  herself. 

"Hark  ye.  Dame  Ursley  Suddlechop,"  said  Jenkin, 
starting  up,  his  dark  eyes  flashing  with  anger;  "remember  I 
am  none  of  your  husband;  and,  if  I  were,  you  would  do  well 
not  to  forget  Avhose  threshold  was  swept  when  they  last  rode 
the  Skimmington*  upon  such  another  scolding  jade  aa 
yourself." 

10  •  See  Note  27. 


242  WAVE  RLE  V  NOVELS 

"  I  nope  to  see  you  ride  np  Holborn  next,"  said  Dame 
Ursley,  provoked  out  of  all  her  holiday  and  sugar-plum 
expressions,  "with  a  nosegay  at  your  breast  and  a  parson  at 
your  elbow ! " 

"  That  may  well  be,"  answered  Jin  Vin,  bitterly,  "  if  I 
walk  by  your  counsels  as  I  have  begun  by  them;  but,  before 
that  day  comes,  you  shall  know  that  Jin  Vin  has  the  brisk 
boys  of  Fleet  Street  still  at  his  wink.  Yes,  you  jade,  you 
shall  be  carted  for  bawd  and  conjurer,  double-dyed  in  grain, 
and  bing  oif  to  Bridewell,  with  every  brass  basin  betwixt  the 
Bar  and  Paul's  beating  before  you,  as  if  the  devil  were  bang- 
ing them  with  his  beef-hook." 

Dame  Ursley  colored  like  scarlet,  seized  upon  the  half- 
emptied  flask  of  cordial,  and  seemed,  by  her  first  gesture, 
about  to  hurl  it  at  the  head  of  her  adversary;  but  suddenly, 
and  as  if  by  a  strong  internal  effort,  she  checked  her  out- 
rageous resentment,  and,  putting  the  bottle  to  its  more 
legitimate  use,  filied,  with  wonderful  composure,  the  two 
glasses,  and,  taking  up  one  of  them,  said,  with  a  smile,  which 
better  became  her  comely  and  jovial  countenance  than  the 
fury  by  which  it  was  animated  the  moment  before — 

"  Here  is  to  thee,  Jin  Vin,  my  lad,  in  all  loving-kind- 
ness, whatever  spite  thou  bearest  to  me,  that  have  always 
been  a  mother  to  thee." 

Jenkin's  English  good-nature  could  not  resist  this  forci- 
ble appeal;  he  took  up  the  other  glass,  and  lovingly  pledged 
the  dame  in  her  cup  of  reconciliation,  and  proceeded  to  make 
a  kind  of  grumbling  apology  for  his  own  violence. 

"For  you  know,"  he  said,  "  it  was  you  persuaded  me  to 
get  these  fine  things,  and  go  to  that  godless  ordinary,  and 
ruffle  it  with  the  best,  and  bring  you  home  all  the  news;  and 
you  said  I,  that  was  the  cock  of  the  ward,  would  soon  be  thb 
cock  of  the  ordinary,  and  Avould  win  ten  times  as  much  at 
gleek  and  primero  as  I  used  to  do  at  put  and  beggar-my- 
neighbor,  and  turn  up  doublets  with  the  dice  as  busily  as  I 
was  wont  to  trowl  down  the  ninepins  in  the  skittle-ground; 
and  then  you  said  I  should  bring  yon  such  news  out  of  the 
ordinary  as  should  make  us  all,  wlien  used  as  you  knew  how 
to  use  it;  and  now  you  see  what  is  to  come  of  it  all!" 

"'Tis  all  true  thou  sayest,  lad,"  said  the  dame;  "but thou 
must  have  patience.  Romo  was  not  built  in  a  day.  You 
cannot  become  used  to  your  court  suit  in  a  month's  time,  any 
more  th..n  wLtn  you  changed  your  long  coat  for  a  doublet 
and  ho?,.;  a:.d  in  gaming  you  must  expect  to  lose  as  well  aa 
gain:  '1*8  t^-  sitting  gtimester  sweeps  the  board." 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  243 

*'The  board  has  swept  me,  I  know,"  replied  Jin  Vin, 
"  and  tliat  pretty  clean  out.  I  would  that  were  the  worst; 
but  I  owe  for  all  this  finery,  and  settling-day  is  coming  on, 
and  my  master  will  find  my  accompt  worse  than  it  should  be 
by  a  score  of  pieces.  My  old  father  will  be  called  in  to  make 
them'  good;  and  I — r^ay  save  the  hangman  a  labor  and  do 
the  job  myself,  or  go  the  Virginia  voyage.^' 

"Do  not  speak  so  loud,  my  dear  boy,"  said  Dame  Ursley; 
"  but  tell  me  why  you  borrow  not  from  a  friend  to  make  up 
your  arrear.  You  could  lend  him  as  much  when  his  settling- 
day  came  round." 

"  No — no,  I  have  had  enough  of  that  work,"  said  Vin- 
cent. "  Tunstall  would  lend  me  the  money,  poor  fellow, 
an  he  had  it ;  but  his  gentle,  beggarly  kindred  plunder  him 
of  all,  and  keep  him  as  bare  as  a  birch  at  Christmas.  No — 
my  fortune  may  be  spelt  in  four  letters,  and  "^hese  read, 

RUIN." 

''Now,  hush,  you  simple  craven,"  said  the  dame;  ''did 
y  1  never  hear  that  when  the  need  is  highest  the  help  is 
^ligliest  ?  AVe  may  find  aid  for  you  yet,  and  sooner  than  you 
a'  -'  aware  of.  I  am  sure  I  would  never  have  advised  you  to 
n  h  a  course,  but  only  you  had  set  heart  and  eye  on  pretty 
^»Iistress  Marget,  and  less  would  not  serve  you  ;  and  what 
could  I  do  but  advise  you  to  cast  your  city  slough,  and  try 
your  luck  where  folks  find  fortune  ?  " 

"  Ay — ay,  I  remember  your  counsel  well,"  said  Jenkin  ; 
"  I  was  to  be  introduced  to  her  by  you  when  I  was  perfect  in 
my  gallantries,  and  as  rich  as  the  king ;  and  then  she  was  to 
be  surprised  to  find  I  was  poor  Jin  Yin,  that  used  to  watch, 
from  matin  to  curfew,  for  one  glance  of  her  eye  ;  and  now, 
instead  of  that,  she  has  set  her  soul  on  this  Scottish  sparrow- 
fa.  .wk  of  a  lord  that  won  my  last  tester,  and  be  cursed  to 
hi-  ;  and  so  I  am  bankrupt  in  love,  fortune,  and  character, 
before  I  am  out  of  my  time,  and  all  along  of  you.  Mother 
Midnight." 

"•  Do  not  call  me  out  of  my  own  name,  my  dear  boy,  Jin 
Vin,"  answered  Ursula,  in  a  tone  betwixt  rage  and  coaxing — 
"  do  not ;  because  I  am  no  saint,  but  a  poor  sinful  woman, 
with  no  more  patience  than  she  needs  to  carry  her  through  a 
thousand  crosses.  And  if  I  have  done  you  wrong  by  evil 
counsel,  I  must  mend  it,  and  put  you  right  by  good  advice. 
And  for  the  score  of  pieces  that  must  be  made  up  at  settling- 
day,  why,  here  is,  in  a  good  green  purse,  as  much  as  will 
make  that  matter  good  ;  and  we  will  get  old  Crosspatch,  the 
tailor,  to  take  a  long  day  for  your  clothes ;  and " 


344  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

"  Mother,  are  you  serious  ?  "  said  Jin  Vin,  unable  to  trus^ 
either  his  eyes  or  his  ears. 

*'  In  troth  am  1,"  said  the  dame  ;  "  and  will  you  call  me 
Mother  Midnight  now,  Jin  Vin  ?  " 

"  Mother  Midnight  !  "  exclaimed  Jenkin,  hugging  the 
dame  in  his  transjiort,  and  bestowing  on  her  still  comely 
cheek  a  hearty  and  not  unacceptable  smack,  that  sounded 
like  the  report  of  a  pistol — "  Mother  Midday,  rather,  that  has 
risen  to  light  me  out  of  my  troubles — a  mother  more  dear 
than  she  who  bore  me  ;  for  she,  poor  soul,  only  brought  me 
into  a  world  of  sin  and  sorrow,  and  your  timely  aid  has 
helped  me  out  of  the  one  and  the  other/'  And  the  good- 
natured  fellow  threw  himself  back  in  his  chair,  and  fairly 
drew  his  hand  across  his  eyes. 

"  You  would  not  have  me  be  made  to  ride  the  Skimming- 
ton  then,"  said  the  dame  ;  "  or  parade  me  in  a  cart,  with  all 
the  brass  basins  of  the  ward  beating  the  march  to  Bridewell 
before  me  ?  " 

"  I  would  sooner  be  carted  to  Tyburn  myself,'*  replied  the 
penitent. 

"  Why,  then,  sit  up  like  a  man  and  wipe  thine  eyes  ;  and 
if  thou  art  pleased  with  what  I  have  done,  I  will  show  thee 
how  thou  mayst  requite  me  in  the  highest  degree." 

"  How  ?  "  said  Jenkin  Vincent,  sitting  straight  up  in  his 
chair.  "  You  would  have  me,  then,  do  you  some  service  for 
this  friendship  of  yours  ?  " 

''Ay,  marry  would  I,"  said  Dame  TJrsley  ;  ''for  you  are 
to  know  that,  though  I  am  right  glad  to  stead  you  with  it, 
this  gold  is  not  mine,  but  was  placed  in  my  hands  in  order  to 

find  a  trusty  agent  for  a  certain  purpose  ;  and  so But 

what's  the  matter  with  you  ?  are  you  fool  enough  to  be  angry 
because  you  cannot  get  a  purse  of  gold  for  nothing  ?  I  would 
I  knew  where  such  were  to  come  by.  I  never  could  find  them 
lying  in  my  road,  I  promise  you." 

"No — no,  dame,"  said  poor  Jenkin,  "it  is  not  for  that; 
for,  look  you,  I  would  rather  work  these  ten  bones  to  the 
knuckles,  and  live  by  my  labor  ;  but "  and  here  he  paused. 

"  But  what,  man  ?  "  said  Dame  Ursley.  "  You  are  will- 
ing to  work  for  what  you  want ;  and  yet,  when  I  offer  you 
gold  for  the  winning,  you  look  on  me  as  the  devil  looks  over 
Lincoln." 

"  It  is  ill  talking  of  the  devil,  mother/'  said  Jenkin.  "I 
had  him  even  now  in  my  head;  for,  look  you,  I  am  at  that 
pass  when  they  say  he  will  appear  to  Avretched,  ruined  crea- 
tures and  proffer  them  gold  for  the  fee-simple  of  their  salva- 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  3i5 

tion.  But  I  have  been  trying  these  two  days  to  bring  my 
mind  strongly  up  to  the  tliought  that  I  will  rather  sit  down 
in  shame,  and  sin,  and  sorrow,  as  I  am  like  to  do,  than  hold 
on  in  ill  courses  to  get  rid  of  my  present  straits;  and  so  take 
care;  Dame  Ursula,  how  you  tempt  me  to  break  such  a  good 
resolution/' 

*•  I  tempt  you  to  nothing,  young  man,"  answered  Ursula , 
''^and  as  I  perceive  yon  are  too  wilful  to  be  wise,  I  will  e'en 
put  my  purse  in  my  pocket  and  look  out  for  some  one  that 
will  work  my  turn  with  better  will  and  more  thankfulness. 
And  vou  may  go  your  own  course:  break  your  indenture,  ruin 
your'fatlier,  lose  your  character,  and  bid  pretty  Mistress 
Margaret  farewell  forever  and  a  day." 

'•  Stay — stay,"  said  Jenkin;  "  the  woman  is  in  as  great  a 
hurrv  as  abro\vn  baker  when  his  oven  is  overheated.  First, 
let  me  hear  that  Avhich  you  have  to  propose  to  me." 

"'  \Yhy,  after  all,  it  fs  but  to  get  a  gentleman  of  rank  and 
fortune,  who  is  in  trouble,  carried  in  secret  down  the  river 
as  far  as  the  Isle  of  Dogs,  or  somewhere  thereabout,  wliere  he 
may  lie  concealed  until  he  can  escape  abroad.  I  know  thou 
knowest  every  place  by  the  river's  side  as  well  as  the  devil 
knows  an  usurer  or  the  beggar  knows  his  dish." 

•'•'A  plague  of  your  simUes,  dame,"  replied  the  apprentice; 
"for  the  devil  gave  me  that  knowledge,  and  beggary  may  be 
the  end  on't.  But  what  has  this  gentleman  done,  that  he 
should  need  to  be  under  hiding?  Xo  Papist,  I  hope — no 
Catesbv  and  Piercy  business — no  Gunpowder  Plot?" 

'-  Fie — fie!  what  do  you  take  me  for?"  said  Dame  Ursula. 
"1  am  as  good  a  churchwoman  as  the  parson's  wife,  save  tliat 
necessary  business  will  not  allow  me  to  go  there  of tener  than 
on  Christmas  Day,  Heaven  help  me!  Xo — no,  this  is  no 
Popisli  matter.  The  gentleman  hath  but  struck  another  in 
the  Park " 

"Ha!  what?"  said  Vincent,  interrupting  her  with  a  start. 

"  Ay — ay,  I  see  you  guess  whom  I  mean.  It  is  even  he 
we  have  spoken  of  so  often — just  Lord  Glenvarloch,  and  no 
one  else." 

Vincent  sprang  from  his  seat,  and  traversed  the  room 
with  rapid  and  disorderly  steps. 

"There — there  it  is  now;  you  are  always  ice  or  gunpow- 
der. You  sit  in  the  great  leathern  arm-chair  as  quiet  as  a 
rocket  hangs  upon  the  frame  in  a  rejoicing-night  till  the 
match  be  fired,  and  then,  whizz!  you  are  in  the  third  heaven, 
beyond  the  reach  of  the  human  voice,  eye,  or  brain.  When 
you  have  wearied  yourself  with  padding  to  and  fro  across  tlie 


246  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

room,  will  you  tell  me  your  determination,  for  time  presses? 
Will  you  aid  me  in  this  matter  or  not?"' 

"  Ho — no — no — a  thousand  times  no,"  replied  Jenkin. 
*'  Have  you  not  confessed  to  me  that  Margaret  loves  him?" 

**  Ay,"  answered  the  dame,  "^  that  she  thinks  she  does; 
but  that  will  not  last  long." 

*'  And  have  I  not  told  you  but  this  instant,"  replied  Jen- 
kin,  "  that  it  was  this  same  Glenvarloch  that  rooked  me,  at 
the  ordinary,  of  every  penny  I  had,  and  made  a  knave  of  me 
to  boot,  by  gaining  more  than  was  my  own?  0  that  cursed 
gold,  which  Shortyard,  the  mercer,  paid  me  that  morning 
on  accompt,  for  mending  the  clock  of  St.  Stephen's!  If  1 
had  not,  by  ill  chance,  had  that  about  me,  I  could  but  have 
beggared  my  purse,  without  blemishing  my  honesty;  and, 
after  I  had  been  rooked  of  all  the  rest  among  them,  I  must 
needs  risk  the  last  five  pieces  with  that  shark  among  the 
minnows!" 

"  Granted,"  said  Dame  Ursula.  "  All  this  I  know;  and  I 
own  that,  as  Lord  Glenvarloch  was  the  last  you  played  with, 
you  have  a  right  to  charge  your  ruin  on  his  head.  Moreover, 
I  admit,  as  already  said,  that  Margaret  has  made  him  your 
rival.  Yet  surely,  now  he  is  in  danger  to  lose  his  hand,  it  is 
not  a  time  to  remember  all  this?" 

"  By  my  faith,  but  it  is,  though,"  said  the  young  citizen. 
"Lose  his  hand,  indeed!  They  may  take  his  head,  for  what 
I  care.     Head  and  hand  have  made  me  a  miserable  wretch ! " 

"Now,  were  it  not  better,  my  prince  of  flat-caps,"  said 
Dame  Ursula,  "that  matters  were  squared  between  you;  and 
that,  through  means  of  the  same  Scottish  lord,  who  has,  as 
you  say,  dejorived  you  of  your  money  and  your  mistress,  you 
should  in  a  short  time  recover  both  ?  " 

"  And  how  can  your  wisdom  come  to  that  conclusion, 
dame?"  said  the  apprentice.  "My  money,  indeed,  I  can 
conceive — that  is,  if  I  comply  with  your  proposal — but  my 
pretty  Margaret  !  how  serving  this  lord,  whom  she  has  set 
her  nonsensical  head  upon,  can  do  me  good  with  her  is  far 
beyond  my  conception." 

"  That  is  because,  in  simple  phrase,"  said  Dame  Ursula, 
"  thou  knowest  no  more  of  a  woman's  heart  than  doth  a 
Norfolk  gosling.  Look  you,  man.  Were  I  to  report  to 
Mistress  Marget  that  the  young  lord  has  miscarried  through 
thy  lack  of  courtesy  in  refusing  to  help  him,  Avhy,  then,  thou 
wert  odious  to  her  forever.  She  will  loathe  thee  as  she  will 
loathe  the  very  cook  who  is  to  strike  olf  Glenvarloch's  hand 
with  his  cleaver  ;  and  then  she  will  be  yet  more  fixed  in  her 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  347 

affections  towards  this  lord.  London  "will  hear  of  nothing 
but  him — speak  of  nothing  but  him — tliink  of  nothing  but 
him,  for  three  weeks  at  least,  and  all  that  outcry  will  serve 
to  keep  him  uppermost  in  her  mind  ;  for  nothing  pleases  a 
girl  so  much  as  to  bear  relation  to  any  one  who  is  the  talk 
of  the  whole  world  around  her.  Then,  if  he  suffer  this  sen- 
tence of  tlie  law,  it  is  a  chance  if  she  ever  forgets  him.  I 
saw  that  handsome,  proper  young  gentleman,  Babington, 
suffer  in  the  Queen's  time  myself,  and  though  I  was  then  but 
a  girl,  he  was  in  my  head  for  a  year  after  he  was  hanged. 
But,  above  all,  pardoned  or  punished,  Glenvarloch  will  proba- 
bly remain  in  London,  and  his  presence  will  keep  up  the  silly 
girl's  nonsensical  fancy  about  him.  "Whereas,  if  he  escapes " 

"  Ay,  show  me  how  that  is  to  avail  me  ?"  said  Jenkin. 

"  If  he  escapes,"  said  the  dame,  resuming  her  argument, 
"  he  must  resign  the  court  for  years,  if  not  for  life  ;  and  you 
know  the  old  saying,  '  Out  of  sight,  and  out  of  mind.'' " 

"  True — most  true,"  said  Jenkin  ;  "  spoken  like  an  oracle, 
most  wise  Ursula." 

"  Ay — ay,  I  knew  you  would  hear  reason  at  last,"  said  the 
wily  dame  ;  ''and  then,  when  this  same  lord  is  oft"  and  away 
for  once  and  forever,  who,  I  pray  you,  is  to  be  pretty  pet's 
confidential  person,  and  who  is  to  fill  up  the  void  in  her  af- 
fections ?  Wliy,  who  but  thou,  thou  pearl  of  'prentices  !  And 
then  you  will  have  overcome  your  own  inclinations  to  comply 
with  hers,  and  every  woman  is  sensible  of  that ;  and  you  will 
have  run  some  risk,  too,  in  carrying  her  desires  into  effect, 
and  Avhat  is  it  that  woman  likes  better  than  bravery  and 
devotion  to  her  will  ?  Then  you  have  her  secret,  and  she 
must  treat  you  with  favor  and  observance,  and  repose  confi- 
dence in  you,  and  hold  private  intercourse  with  you,  till  she 
weeps  with  one  eye  for  the  absent  lover  whom  she  is  never 
to  see  again,  and  "^blinks  with  the  other  blythely  upon  him 
who  is  in  presence  ;  and  then  if  you  knoAV  not  how  to  im- 
prove the  relation  in  which  you  stand  with  her,  you  are  not 
the  brisk  lively  lad  that  all  the  Avorld  takes  you  for.  Said  I 
well  ?" 

"You  have  spoken  like  an  empress,  most  mighty  Ur- 
sula," said  Jenkin  Vincent;  ''and  your  will  shall  be  obeyed." 

"  You  know  Alsatia  well?"  continued  his  tutoress. 

"  Well  enough — well  enough,"  replied  he  with  a  nod;  "I 
have  heard  the  dice  rattle  there  in  my  day,  before  I  niust 
set  up  for  gentleman,  and  go  among  the  gallants  at  the  Sha- 
valeer  Bojo's,  as  they  call  him— the  worse  rookery  of  the 
two,  though  the  feathers  are  the  gayest." 


248  WAVERLEV  NOVELS 

"  And  they  will  have  a  respect  for  thee  yonder,  I  war- 
rant?^' 

"  Ay — ay/'  replied  Vin;  "  when  I  am  got  into  my  fustian 
doublet  again,  with  my  bit  of  a  trunnion  under  my  arm,  I 
can  walk  Alsatia  at  midnight  as  I  could  do  that  there  Fleet 
Street  in  mid-day;  they  will  not  one  of  them  swagger  with 
the  prince  of  'prentices  and  the  king  of  clubs:  they  know  I 
could  bring  every  tall  boy  in  the  ward  down  upon  them." 

"  And  you  know  all  the  watermen,  and  so  forth?" 

"  Can  converse  with  every  sculler  in  his  own  language, 
from  Richmond  to  Gravesend,  and  know  all  the  water-cocks 
from  John  Taylor,  the  poet,  to  little  Grigg  the  Grinner,  who 
never  pulls  but  he  shows  all  his  teeth  from  ear  to  ear,  as  if  he 
were  grimacing  through  a  horse-collar." 

"  And  you  can  take  any  dress  or  character  upon  you  well, 
such  as  a  waterman's,  a  butcher's,  a  foot-soldier's,"  continued 
Ursula,  ''or  the  like?" 

"  Not  such  a  mummer  as  I  am  within  the  walls,  and  thou 
knowest  that  well  enough,  dame,"  replied  the  aj^prentice.  "I 
can  touch  the  players  themselves  at  the  Bull  and  at  the  For- 
tune for  presenting  anything  except  a  gentleman.  Take  but 
this  d — d  skin  of  frippery  off  me,  which  I  think  the  devil 
stuck  me  into,  and  you  shall  put  me  into  nothing  else  that  I 
will  not  become  as  if  I  were  born  to  it." 

"Well,  we  will  talk  of  your  transmutation  by  and  by," 
said  the  dame,  "  and  find  you  clothes  withal,  and  money  be- 
sides; for  it  will  take  a  good  deal  to  carry  the  thing  hand- 
somely through." 

''But  where  is  that  money  to  come  from,  dame?"  said 
Jenkin;  "there  is  a  question  I  would  fain  have  answered  be- 
fore I  touch  it." 

"  Why,  what  a  fool  thou  art  to  ask  such  a  question  I  Sup- 
pose I  am  content  to  advance  it  to  please  young  madam, 
what  is  the  harm  then  ?  " 

"  I  will  suppose  no  such  thing,"  said  Jenkin,  hastily;  "I 
know  that  you,  dame,  have  no  gold  to  spare,  and  maybe 
would  not  spare  it  if  you  had;  so  that  cock  will  not  crow. 
It  must  be  from  Margaret  herself." 

"  Well,  thou  suspicious  animal,  and  what  if  it  were?" 
said  Ursula. 

"Only  this,"  replied  Jenkin,  "that  I  will  presently  to 
her,  and  learn  if  she  has  come  fairly  by  so  much  ready 
money;  for  sooner  than  connive  at  her  getting  it  by  any  in- 
direction, I  would  hang  myself  at  once.  It  is  enough  what  I 
have  done  myself,  no  need  to  engage  poor  Margaret  in  such 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  249 

villany.     I'll  to  her,  and   tell  her  of  the  danger — I  Mill,  hv 
Heaven!" 

"  You  are  mad  to  think  of  it,"  said  Dame  Suddlechop, 
considerably  alarmed;  "  hear  me  but  a  moment.  I  know  not 
precisely  from  wliom  she  got  the  money;  but  sure  I  am  that 
she  obtained  it  at  her  godfather's." 

*' Why,  Master  George  Heriot  is  not  returned  from 
France,"  said  Jenkin. 

"  Xo,"  replied  Ursula,  "  but  Dame  Judith  is  at  home; 
and  the  strange  lady,  wliom  they  call  Master  Heriot^s  ghost — 
slie  never  goes  abroad." 

"It  is  very  true,  Dame  Suddlechop,"  said  Jenkin;  "and 
I  believe  you  have  guessed  right:  they  say  that  lady  has  coin 
at  will;  and  if  Marget  can  get  a  handful  of  fairy  gold,  why, 
she  is  free  to  throw  it  away  at  will." 

"  Ah,  Jin  Vin,"  said  the  dame,  reducing  her  voice  almost 
to  a  whisper;  "we  should  not  want  gold  at  will  neither, 
could  we  but  read  the  riddle  of  that  lady  I " 

"They  may  read  it  that  list,"  said  Jenkin;  "I'll  never 
pry  into  what  concerns  me  not.  Master  George  Heriot  is  a 
worthy  and  brave  citizen,  and  an  honor  to  London,  and  has  a 
right  to  manage  his  own  household  as  he  likes  best.  There 
was  once  a  talk  of  rabbling  him  the  fifth  of  Xovember  before 
the  last,  because  they  said  he  kept  a  nunnery  in  his  house, 
like  old  Lady  Foljambe;  but  Master  George  is  well  loved 
among  the  '"prentices,  and  we  got  so  many  brisk  boys  of  us  to- 
gether as  should  have  rabbled  the  rabble  had  they  had  but  the 
heart  to  rise." 

""Well,  let  that  pass,"  said  Ursula;  "and  now,  tell  me 
how  you  will  manage  to  be  absent  from  shop  a  day  or  two,  for 
you  must  think  that  this  matter  Avill  not  be  ended  sooner." 

"AVhy,  as  to  that,  I  can  say  nothing,"  said  Jenkin,  "  I 
have  ahvays  served  duly  and  truly;  I  have  no  heart  to  play 
truant,  and  cheat  my  master  of  his  "time  as  well  as  his  money." 

"Xay,  but  the  point  is  to  get  back  his  money  for  him," 
said  Ursula,  "  which  he  is  not  likely  to  see  on  other  condi- 
tions. Could  you  not  ask  leave  to  go  down  to  your  uncle 
in  Essex  for  two  or  three  davs?     He  may  be  ill,  you  know." 

"  Why,  if  I  must,  I  must,"  said  Jenkin,  with  a  heavy 
sigh;  "  but  I  will  not  be  lightly  caught  treading  these  dark 
and  crooked  paths  again." 

"Hush  thee,  then,"  said  the  dame,  "and  get  leave  for 
this  very  evening;  and  comeback  hither,  and  I  will  introduce 
you  to  another  implement  who  must  be  employed  in  tlie  mat- 
ter.    Stay,  stay  !  the  lad  is   mazed;  you  would  not  go  into 


350  WAVERLEV  NOVELS 

your  master's  shop  in  tliat  guise,  surely  ?  Your  trunk  is  in 
ihe  matted  chamber  witli  your  'prentice  things;  go  and  put 
tliem  on  as  fast  as  you  can." 

"1  think  I  am  bewitched,"  said  Jenkin,  giving  a  glance 
towards  his  dress,  "  or  that  tliese  fool's  trappings  have  made 
as  great  an  ass  of  me  as  of  many  I  have  seen  wear  them;  but 
let  me  once  be  rid  of  the  harness,  and  if  you  catch  me  putting 
it  on  again,  I  will  give  you  leave  to  sell  me  to  a  gypsey  to  carry 
pots,  pans,  and  beggar's  bantlings  all  the  rest  of  my  life." 

So  saying,  he  retired  to  change  his  apparel. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

Chance  will  not  do  the  work.     Chance  sends  the  breeze  ; 

But  if  the  pilot  sluriiber  at  the  hchn, 

The  very  wind  that  wafts  us  towards  the  port 

May  dash  us  on  the  shelves.   The  steersman's  part  is  vigilance, 

Blow  it  or  rough  or  smooth. 

Old  Play. 

We  left  Nigel,  whose  fortunes  we  are  bound  to  trace  by  the 
engagement  contracted  in  our  title-page,  sad  and  solitary  in 
the  mansion  of  Trapbois,  the  usurer,  having  just  received  a 
letter  instead  of  a  visit  from  his  friend  the  Templar,  stating 
reasons  why  he  could  not  at  that  time  come  to  see  him  in  Al- 
satia.  So  that  it  appeared  his  intercourse  with  the  better  and 
more  respectable  class  of  society  was,  for  the  present,  entirely 
cut  off.  This  was  a  melancholy,  and,  to  a  proud  mind  like 
that  of  Nigel,  a  degrading,  reflection. 

He  went  to  the  window  of  his  apartment,  and  found  the 
street  enveloped  in  one  of  those  thick,  dingy,  yellow-colored 
fogs  which  often  invest  the  lower  part  of  London  and  West- 
minster. Amid  the  darkness,  dense  and  palpable,  Avere  seen 
to  wander  like  phantoms  a  reveller  or  two,  whom  the  morn- 
ing had  surprised  where  the  evening  left  them  ;  and  Avho  now, 
with  tottering  steps,  and  by  an  instinct  which  intoxication 
could  not  wholly  overcome,  were  groping  the  way  to  their  own 
homes,  to  convert  day  into  night,  for  the  purpose  of  sleeping 
off  the  debauch  which  had  turned  night  into  day.  Although 
it  was  broad  day  in  the  other  parts  of  the  city,  it  was  scarce 
dawn  yet  in  Alsatia ;  and  none  of  the  sounds  of  industry  or 
occupation  were  there  heard  which  had  long  before  aroused 
the  slumberers  in  every  other  quarter.  The  prospect  was  too 
tiresome  and  disagreeable  to  detain  Lord  Grlenvarloch  at  his 
station,  so,  turning  from  the  window,  he  examined  with  more 
interest  the  furniture  and  appearance  of  the  apartment  which 
he  tenanted. 

Much  of  it  had  been  in  its  time  rich  and  curious.  There 
was  a  huge  four-post  bed,  with  as  much  carved  oak  about  it 
as  would  have  made  the  head  of  a  man-of-war,  and  tapestiy 
hangings  ample  enough  to  have  been  her  sails.  There  was  a 
huge  mirror  with  a  massy  frame  of  gilt  brass- work,  which  was 
of  Venetian  manufacture,  and  must  have  been  worth  a  con- 


252  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

siderable  sum  before  it  received  the  tremendous  crack  which, 
traversing  it  from  one  corner  to  the  other,  bore  tlie  same  pro- 
portion to  the  surface  that  the  Nile  bears  to  the  maj)  of 
Egypt.  The  chairs  were  of  different  forms  and  shapes:  some 
had  been  carved,  some  gilded,  some  covered  with  damasked 
leatlicr,  some  with  embroidered  work,  but  all  were  damaged 
and  worm-eaten.  Tliere  was  a  picture  of  "  Susanna  and  the 
Elders "  over  the  chimney-piece,  which  miglit  have  been  ac- 
counted a  choice  piece,  had  not  the  rats  made  free  with  the 
chaste  fair  one's  nose,  and  with  the  beard  of  one  of  her  rev- 
erend admirers. 

In  a  word,  all  that  Lord  Glenvarloch  saw  seemed  to  have 
been  articles  carried  off  by  appraisement  or  distress,  or  bought 
as  pennyworths  at  some  obscure  broker' s,  and  huddled  to- 
gether in  the  apartment,  as  in  a  sale-room,  without  regard  to 
taste  or  congruity. 

The  place  appeared  to  Nigel  to  resemble  the  houses  near 
the  sea-coast,  which  are  too  often  furnished  with  the  sjDoils  of 
wrecked  vessels,  as  this  was  probably  fitted  up  with  the  relics 
of  ruined  profligates.  "  My  own  skiff  is  among  the  breakers," 
thought  Lord  Glenvarloch,  "^  though  my  wreck  will  add  little 
to  the  profits  of  the  spoiler." 

He  was  chiefly  interested  in  the  state  of  the  grate — a  huge 
assemblage  of  rusted  iron  bars  which  stood  in  the  chimney, 
unequally  supjiorted  by  three  brazen  feet,  moulded  into  the 
form  of  lion's  claws,  while  the  fourth,  which  had  been  bent 
by  an  accident,  seemed  proudly  uplifted  as  if  to  paw  the 
ground;  or  as  if  the  whole  article  had  nourished  the  ambitious 
purpose  of  pacing  forth  into  the  middle  of  the  apartment,  and 
had  one  foot  ready  raised  for  the  journey.  A  smile  passed 
over  Nigel's  face  as  this  fantastic  idea  presented  itself  to  his 
fancy.  "I  must  stop  its  march,  however,"  he  thought,  "for 
this  morning  is  chill  and  raw  enough  to  demand  some  fire." 

He  called  accordingly  from  the  top  of  a  large  staircase, 
with  a  heavy  oaken  balustrade,  which  gave  access  to  his  own 
and  other  apartments,  for  the  house  was  old  and  of  consider- 
able size;  but,  receiving  no  answer  to  his  repeated  summons, 
he  was  compelled  to  go  in  search  of  some  one  who  might  ac- 
commodate him  with  what  he  wanted. 

Nigel  had,  according  to  the  fashion  of  the  old  world  in 
Scotland,  received  an  education  which  might,  in  most  particu- 
lars, be  termed  simple,  hardy,  and  unostentatious;  but  he 
had,  nevertheless,  been  accustomed  to  much  personal  defer- 
ence, and  to  the  constant  attendance  and  ministry  of  one  or 
more  domestics.     This  was  the  universal  custom  in  Scotland, 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGFTL  25g 

where  wages  were  next  to  nothing,  and  where,  indeed,  a  man 
of  title  or  influence  miglit  have  as  many  attendants  as  he 
pleased  for  the  mere  expense  of  food,  clothes,  and  counte- 
nance. Nigel  was  therefore  mortified  and  displeased  when  he 
found  himself  without  notice  or  attendance;  and  the  more 
dissatisfied,  because  he  was  at  the  same  time  angr}-  with  him- 
self for  suffering  such  a  trifle  to  trouble  him  at  all  among 
matters  of  more  deep  concernment.  "  There  must  surely  be 
some  servants  in  so  large  a  house  as  this,"  said  he  as  he  wan- 
dered over  the  place,  through  which  he  was  conducted  by  a 
passage  which  branched  ofl'  from  the  gallery.  As  he  went 
on,  he  tried  the  entrance  to  several  apartments,  some  of  which 
he  found  were  locked  and  others  unfurnished,  all  apparently 
unoccupied  ;  so  that  at  length  he  returned  to  the  staircase, 
and  resolved  to  make  his  Avay  down  to  the  lower  part  of  the 
house,  Avhere  he  supposed  he  must  at  least  find  the  old  gentle- 
man and  his  ill-favored  daughter.  With  this  purpose,  he  first 
made  his  entrance  into  a  little  low,  dark  parlor,  containing  a 
well-worn  leathern  easy-chair,  before  which  stood  a  pair  of 
slippers,  while  on  the  left  side  rested  a  crutch -handled  stafl'; 
an  oaken  table  stood  before  it,  and  supported  a  huge  desk 
clamped  Avith  iron,  and  a  massive  pewter  inkstand.  Around 
the  apartment  were  shelves,  cabinets,  and  other  places  con- 
venient for  depositing  papers.  A  sword,  musketoon,  and  a 
pair  of  pistols  hung  over  the  chimney,  in  ostentatious  dis- 
play, as  if  to  intimate  that  the  proprietor  would  be  prompt  in 
the  defence  of  his  premises. 

"  This  must  be  the  usurer's  den,"  thought  Nigel;  and  he 
was  about  to  call  aloud,  when  the  old  man,  awakened  even  by 
the  slightest  noise,  for  avarice  seldom  sleeps  sound,  sooii  wus 
heard  from  the  inner  room,  speaking  in  a  voice  of  irritability, 
rendered  more  tremulous  by  his  morning  cough. 

"Ugh,  ugh,  ugh — who  is  there?  I  say — ugh,  ugh — who  is 
there?  Why,  Martha! — ugh,  ugh — Martha  Trapbois — here  be 
thieves  in  the  house,  and  they  will  not  speak  to  me — why, 
Martha! — thieves,  thieves — ugh,  ugh,  ugh!" 

Nigel  endeavored  to  explain,  but  the  idea  of  thieves  had 
taken  possession  of  the  old  man's  pineal  gland,  and  he  kept 
coughing  and  screaming,  and  screaming  and  coughing,  until 
the  gracious  Martha  entered  the  apartment ;  and,  having  first 
outscreamed  her  father  in  order  to  convince  him  that  there 
was  no  danger,  and  to  assure  him  that  the  intruderwas  their 
new  lodger,  and  having  as  often  heard  her  sire  ejaculate — 
"  Hold  him  fast— ugh,  ugh— hold  him  fast  till  I  come,"  she 
at  length  succeeded  in  silencing  his  fears  and  his  clamor,  and 


264  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

then  coldly  and  dryly  asked  Lord  Glenvarloch  what  he  wanted 
in  lier  father's  apartment. 

Her  lodger  had,  in  the  mean  time,  leisure  to  contemplate 
her  appearance,  which  did  not  by  any  means  improve  the  idea 
he  had  formed  of  it  by  candlelight  on  the  preceding  evening. 
She  was  dressed  in  what  was  called  a  Queen  Mary's  ruff  and 
farthingale  ;  not  the  falling  ruff  with  which  the  unfortunate 
Mary  of  Scotland  is  usually  painted,  but  that  which,  with 
more  than  Spanish  stiffness,  surrounded  the  throat,  and  set 
off  the  morose  head,  of  her  fierce  namesake  of  Smithfield 
memory.  This  antiquated  dress  assorted  well  with  the  faded 
complexion,  gray  eyes,  thin  lips,  and  austere  visage  of  the 
antiquated  maiden,  which  was,  moreover,  enhanced  by  a  black 
hood,  worn  as  her  head-gear,  carefully  disposed  so  as  to  pre- 
vent any  of  her  hair  from  escaping  to  view,  probably  because 
the  simplicity  of  the  period  knew  no  art  of  disguising  tlie 
color  witli  which  time  had  begun  to  grizzle  her  tresses.  Her 
figure  was  tall,  thin,  and  flat,  with  skinny  arms  and  hands, 
and  feet  of  the  larger  size,  cased  in  huge  high-heeled  shoes, 
which  added  height  to  a  stature  already  ungainly.  Appar- 
ently some  art  had  been  used  by  the  tailor  to  conceal  a  slight 
defect  of  shajDC,  occasioned  by  the  accidental  elevation  of  one 
shoulder  above  the  other  ;  but  the  praiseworthy  efforts  of  the 
ingenious  mechanic  had  only  succeeded  in  calling  the  atten- 
tion of  the  observer  to  his  benevolent  purpose  without 
demonstrating  that  he  had  been  able  to  achieve  it. 

Such  was  Mrs.  Martha  Trapbois,  whose  dry  "What  were 
you  seeking  here,  sir  ?  "  fell  again,  and  with  reiterated  sharp- 
ness, on  the  ear  of  Nigel,  as  he  gazed  upon  her  presence,  and 
compared  it  internally  to  one  of  the  faded  and  grim  figures  in 
the  old  tapestry  which  adorned  his  bedstead.  It  was,  how- 
ever, necessary  to  reply,  and  he  answered,  that  "  He  came 
in  search  of  the  servants,  as  he  desired  to  have  a  fire  kindled 
in  his  apartment  on  account  of  the  rawness  of  tlie  morning." 

"  The  woman  who  does  our  char-work,''  answered  Mistress 
Martha,  "comes  at  eight  o'clock;  if  you  want  fire  sooner, 
there  are  fagots  and  a  bucket  of  sea-coal  in  the  stone-closet  at 
the  head  of  the  stair,  and  there  is  a  flint  and  steel  on  the 
upper  shelf;  you  can  light  fire  for  yourself  if  you  Avill." 

"No — no — no,  Martha,"  ejaculated  her  father,  who, 
having  donned  his  rusty  tunic,  with  his  hose  all  ungirt,  and 
his  feet  slip-shod,  hastily  came  out  of  the  inner  apartment, 
with  his  mind  probably  full  of  robbers,  for  he  had  a  naked 
rapier  in  his  hand,  which  still  looked  formidable,  though  rust 
had  somewhat  marred  its   sliine.      What  he  had   heard  at 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  25.j 

entrance  about  lighting  a  fire  had  changed,  however,  the  cur- 
rent of  his  ideas.  "  ^o — no — no/'  he  cried,  and  each  nega- 
tive was  more  emphatic  than  its  predecessor.  '"Tlie  genfle- 
man  sliall  not  liave  tlie  trouble  to  put  on  a  fire — ugh — ugh. 
I'll  put  it  on  myself  for  a  con-sid-er-a-tion.'' 

This  last  word  was  a  favorite  expression  with  the  old 
gentleman,  which  he  pronounced  in  a  peculiar  manner,  gasp- 
ing it  out  syllable  by  syllable,  and  laying  a  strong  emphasis 
upon  the  last.  It  Avas,  indeed,  a  sort  of  protecting  clause,  by 
which  he  guarded  himself  against  all  inconveniences  atten- 
dant on  the  rash  habit  of  otfering  service  or  civility  of  any 
kind,  the  which,  when  hastily  snapped  at  by  those  to  whom 
they  are  uttered,  give  the  profferer  sometimes  room  to  repent 
his  promptitude. 

"For  shame,  father,"  said  Martha,  "that  must  not  be. 
Master  Grahame  will  kindle  his  own  fire,  or  wait  till  the  char- 
woman comes  to  do  it  for  him,  just  as  likes  him  best." 

"Xo,  child — no,  child.  Child  Martha,  no,"  reiterated 
the  old  miser;  "  no  charwoman  shall  ever  touch  a  grate  in  my 
house;  they  put — ugh,  ugh — the  fagot  uppermost,  and  so  the 
coal  kindles  not,  and  the  flame  goes  up  the  chimney,  and 
wood  and  heat  are  both  thrown  away.  Now,  I  will  lay  it 
properly  for  the  gentleman,  for  a  consideration,  so  that  it 
shall  last — ugh,  ugh — last  the  whole  day."  Here  his  vehe- 
mence increased  his  cough  so  violently,  that  Xigel  could  only, 
from  a  scattered  word  here  and  there,  comprehend  that  it  was 
a  recommendation  to  his  daughter  to  remove  the  poker  and 
tongs  from  the  stranger's  fireside,  with  an  assurance  that, 
when  necessary,  his  landlord  Avould  be  in  attendance  to  adjust 
it  himself,  "for  a  consideration." 

Martha  paid  as  little  attention  to  the  old  man's  injunctions 
as  a  predominant  dame  gives  to  those  of  a  henpecked  husband. 
She  only  repeated,  in  a  deeper  and  more  emphatic  tone  of 
censure — "  For  shame,  father — for  shame! "  then,  turning  to 
her  guest,  said,  with  her  usual  ungraciousness  of  manner — 
"  Master  Grahame,  it  is  best  to  be  plain  with  you  at  first. 
My  father  is  an  old,  a  very  old  man,  and  his  wits,  as  you  may 
see,  are  somewhat  weakened — though  I  would  not  advise  you 
to  make  a  bargain  with  him,  else  you  may  find  them  too 
sharp  for  your  OAvn.  For  myself,  I  am  a  lone  woman,  and,  to 
say  truth,  care  little  to  see  or  converse  with  any  one.  If  yoii 
can  be  satisfied  with  house-room,  shelter,  and  safety,  it  will 
be  your  own  fault  if  you  have  them  not,  and  they  are  not 
always  to  be  found  in  this  unhappy  quarter.  But,  if  you 
seek  deferential  observance  and  attendance,  I  tell  you  at  once 
70U  will  not  find  them  here." 


356  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

"1  am  not  wont  eitlier  to  thrust  myself  upon  acquaint- 
ance, madam,  or  to  give  trouble,"  said  the  guest,  "neverthe- 
less, I  shall  need  the  assistance  of  a  domestic  to  assist  me  to 
dress.     Perhaps  you  can  recommend  me  to  such?" 

^' Yes,  to  twenty,"  answered  Mistress  Martha,  "who  will 
pick  your  purse  while  they  tie  your  points,  and  cut  your 
throat  while  they  smooth  your  pillow." 

"I  will  be  his  servant  myself,"  said  the  old  man,  whose 
intellect,  for  a  moment  distanced,  had  again,  in  some  measure, 
got  up  with  the  conversation.  "  I  will  brush  his  coat — ugh, 
ugh — and  tie  his  points — ugh,  ugh — and  clean  liis  shoes — 
ugh — and  run  on  his  errands  with  sjieed  and  safety — ugh- 
ngh,  ngh,  ugh — for  a  consideration." 

"  Good-morrow  to  you,  sir,"  said  Martha  to  Nigel,  in  a 
tone  of  direct  and  positive  dismissal.  "  It  cannot  be  agree- 
able to  a  daughter  that  a  stranger  should  hear  her  father 
speak  thus.  If  yon  be  really  a  gentleman,  you  will  retire  to 
your  own  apartment." 

"I  will  not  delay  a  moment,"  said  Nigel,  respectfully, 
for  he  was  sensible  that  circumstances  palliated  the  woman's 
rudeness.  "I  would  but  ask  you,  if  seriously  there  can  be 
danger  in  procuring  the  assistance  of  a  serving-man  in  this 
place?" 

"Young  gentleman,"  said  Martha,  "you  must  know 
little  of  Whitefriars  to  ask  the  question.  We  live  alone  in 
this  house,  and  seldom  has  a  stranger  entered  it;  nor  should 
you,  to  be  plain,  had  my  will  been  consulted.  Look  at  the 
door;  see  if  that  of  a  castle  can  be  better  secured;  the  win- 
dows of  the  first  floor  are  grated  on  the  outside,  and  within, 
look  to  these  shutters." 

She  pulled  one  of  them  aside,  and  showed  a  ponderous 
apparatus  of  bolts  and  chains  for  securing  the  window- 
shutters,  while  her  father,  pressing  to  her  side,  seized  her 
gown  with  a  trembling  hand,  and  said  in  a  low  whisper, 
"  Show  not  the  trick  of  locking  and  undoing  them.  Show 
him  not  the  trick  on't,  Martha — ugh,  ugh — on  no  considera- 
tion." 

Martha  went  on,  without  paying  him  any  attention — 
"  And  yet,  young  gentleman,  we  have  been  more  than  once 
like  to  find  all  these  defences  too  weak  to  protect  our  lives; 
such  an  evil  efl'ect  on  the  wicked  generation  around  us  hath 
been  made  by  the  unhappy  report  of  my  poor  father's  wealth." 

"  Say  nothing  of  that,  housewife,"  said  the  miser,  his 
irritability  increased  by  the  very  supposition  of  his  being 
wealthy — "  say  nothing  of  that,  or  I  will  beat  thee,  house- 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  257 

wife — beat  thee  with  my  staff,  for  fetching  and  carrying  lies 
that  will  procure  our  throats  to  be  cut  at  last — ugh,  ugh.  I 
am  but  a  poor  man,'**  he  continued,  turning  to  Nigel — "a 
very  poor  man,  that  am  willing  to  do  any  honest  turn  upon 
earth  f-or  a  modest  consideration." 

"  I  therefore  warn  you  of  the  life  you  must  lead,  young 
gentleman,"  said  Martha;  "the  poor  woman  who  does  the 
char-work  will  assist  you  so  far  as  is  in  her  power,  but  the 
wise  man  is  his  own  best  servant  and  assistant." 

"It  is  a  lesson  you  have  taught  me,  madam,  and  I  thank 
you  for  it;  I  will  assuredly  study  it  at  leisure." 

"You  will  do  well,"  said  Martha;  "and  as  you  seem 
thankful  for  advice,  I,  though  I  am  no  professed  counsellor 
of  others,  will  give  you  more.  Make  no  intimacy  with  any 
one  in  Whitefriars;  borrow  no  money,  on  any  score,  especially 
from  my  father,  for,  dotard  as  he  seems,  he  will  make  an  ass 
of  you.  Last,  and  best  of  all,  stay  here  not  an  instant 
longer  than  you  can  help  it.     Farewell,  sir." 

"  A  gnarled  tree  may  bear  good  fruit,  and  a  harsh  nature 
may  give  good  counsel,"  thought  the  Lord  of  Glenvarloch,  as 
he  retreated  to  his  o^vn  apartment,  where  the  same  reflection 
occurred  to  him  again  and  again,  while,  unable  as  yet  to  recon- 
cile himself  to  the  thoughts  of  becoming  his  own  fire-maker, 
he  walked  up  and  do\\Ti  his  bedroom,  to  warm  himself  by 
exercise. 

At  length  his  meditations  arranged  themselves  in  the 
following  soliloquy — by  which  expression  I  beg  leave  to 
observe  once  for  all,  that  I  do  not  mean  that  Nigel  literally 
said  aloud  with  his  bodily  organs  the  words  -w-Tiich  follow 
in  inverted  commas,  while  pacing  the  room  by  himself,  but 
that  I  myself  choose  to  present  to  my  dearest  reader  the  pic- 
ture of  my  hero's  mind,  his  reflections  and  resolutions,  in  the 
form  of  a  speech  rather  than  in  that  of  a  narrative.  In  other 
words,  I  have  put  his  thoughts  into  language;  and  this  I  con- 
ceive to  be  the  purpose  of  the  soliloquy  upon  the  stage  as  well 
as  in  the  closet,  being  at  once  the  most  natural,  and  perhaps 
the  only,  way  of  communicating  to  the  spectator  what  is  sup- 
posed to  be  passing  in  the  bosom  of  the  scenic  personage. 
There  are  no  such  soliloquies  in  nature,  it  is  true,  but  unless 
they  were  received  as  a  conventional  medium  of  communion 
betwixt  the  poet  and  the  audience,  we  should  reduce  dramatic 
authors  to  the  recipe  of  Master  Puff,  who  makes  Lord  Bur- 
leigh intimate  a  long  train  of  political  reasoning  to  the  audience 
by  one  comprehensive  shake  of  his  noddle.  In  narrative,  no 
doubt,  the  writer  has  the  alternative  of  telling  that  his  per- 

17 


358  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

sonages  thought  so  and  so,  inferred  thus  and  thus,  and 
arrived  at  such  and  such  a  conchision  ;  but  the  soliloquy 
is  a  more  concise  and  spirited  mode  of  communicating  the 
same  information;  and  therefore  tlius  communed,  or  thus 
might  have  communed,  the  Lord  of  Glenvarloch  with  his 
own  mind: 

"  She  is  right,  and  has  taught  me  a  lesson  I  will  profit  by. 
I  have  been,  through  my  whole  life,  one  who  leant  upon 
others  for  that  assistance  which  it  is  more  truly  noble  to  derive 
from  my  own  exertions.  I  am  ashamed  of  feeling  the  paltry 
inconvenience  which  long  habit  had  led  me  to  annex  to  the 
want  of  a  servant's  assistance — I  am  ashamed  of  that;  but  far, 
far  more  am  I  ashamed  to  have  suffered  the  same  habit  of 
throwing  my  own  burden  on  others  to  render  me,  since  I 
came  to  this  city,  a  mere  victim  of  those  events  which  I  have 
never  even  attempted  to  influence — a  thing  never  acting,  but 
perpetually  acted  upon — protected  by  one  friend,  deceived  by 
another;  but  in  the  advantage  which  I  received  from  the  one, 
and  the  evil  I  have  sustained  from  the  other,  as  passive  and 
helpless  as  a  boat  that  drifts  without  oar  or  rudder  at  the 
mercy  of  the  winds  and  waves.  I  became  a  courtier,  because 
Heriot  so  advised  it;  a  gamester,  because  Dalgarno  so  con- 
trived it;  an  Alsatian,  because  Lowestoffe  so  willed  it.  What- 
ever of  good  or  bad  has  befallen  me  hath  arisen  out  of  the 
agency  of  others,  not  from  my  own.  My  father's  son  must  no 
longer  hold  this  facile  and  puerile  course.  Live  or  die,  sink 
or  swim,  Nigel  Olifaunt,  from  this  moment,  shall  owe  his  own 
safety,  success,  and  honor  to  his  own  exertions,  or  shall  fall 
with  the  credit  of  having  at  least  exerted  his  own  free  agency. 
I  will  write  it  do^vn  in  my  tablets,  in  her  very  words — '  The 
wise  man  is  his  own  best  assistant.'" 

He  had  just  put  his  tablets  in  his  pocket,  when  the  old 
charwoman,  who,  to  add  to  her  efficiency,  was  sadly  crippled 
by  rheumatism,  hobbled  into  the  room,  to  try  if  she  could 
gain  a  small  gratification  by  waiting  on  the  stranger.  She 
readily  undertook  to  get  Lord  Glenvarloch's  breakfast,  and, 
as  there  was  an  eating-house  at  the  next  door,  she  succeeded 
in  a  shorter  time  than  Nigel  had  augured. 

As  his  solitary  meal  was  finished,  one  of  the  Temple  por- 
ters, or  inferior  officers,  Avas  announced,  as  seeking  Master 
Grahame,  on  the  part  of  his  friend.  Master  Lowestoffe  ;  and, 
being  admitted  by  the  old  woman  to  his  apartment,  he  de- 
livered to  Nigel  a  small  mail-trunk,  with  the  clothes  he  had 
desired  should  be  sent  to  him,  and  then,  with  more  mystery, 
put  into  his  hand  a  casket,  or  strong-box,  which  he  carefully 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  2o9 

concealed  beneath  his  cloak.     •'  I  am  glad  to  be  rid  on't/' 
said  the  fellow,  as  he  placed  it  on  the  table. 

"  "Why,  it  is  surely  not  so  very  heavy,"  answered  Nigel, 
"  and  yon  are  a  stout  young  man." 

"Ay,  sir,"  replied  the  fellow;  "but  Sampson  himself 
would  not  have  carried  such  a  matter  safely  through  Alsutia, 
had  the  lads  of  the  huff  known  what  it  was.  Please  to  look 
into  it,  sir,  and  see  all  is  right.  I  am  an  honest  fellow,  and 
it  comes  safe  out  of  my  hands.  How  long  it  may  remain  so 
afterwards,  will  depend  upon  your  own  care.  I  would  not 
my  good  name  were  to  suffer  by  any  after-clap." 

To  satisfy  the  scruples  of  the  messenger.  Lord  Glenvarloch 
opened  the  casket  in  his  presence,  and  saw  that  his  small 
stock  of  money,  with  two  or  three  valuable  papers  which  it 
contained,  and  particularly  the  original  sign-manual  which 
tlie  King  had  granted  in  his  favor,  were  in  the  same  order  in 
which  he  had  left  them.  At  the  man's  farther  instance,  he 
availed  himself  of  the  writing-materials  which  were  in  the 
casket,  in  order  to  send  a  line  to  Master  Lowestoffe,  declaring 
that  his  property  had  reached  him  in  safety.  He  added  some 
grateful  acknowledgments  for  Lowestoffe's  services,  and,  just 
as  he  was  sealing  and  delivering  his  billet  to  the  messen- 
ger, his  aged  landlord  entered  the  apartment.  His  thread- 
bare suit  of  black  clothes  was  now  somewhat  better  arranged 
than  they  had  been  in  the  dishabille  of  his  first  appearance, 
and  his  nerves  and  intellects  seemed  to  be  less  fluttered  ;  for, 
without  much  coughing  or  hesitation,  he  invited  Nigel  to 
partake  of  a  morning-draught  of  wholesome  single  ale,  which 
he  brought  in  a  large  leathern  tankard,  or  black-jack,  carried 
in  the  one  hand,  while  the  other  stirred  it  round  with  a  sprig 
of  rosemary,  to  give  it,  as  the  old  man  said,  a  flavor. 

Nigel  declined  the  courteous  proffer,  and  intimated  by  his 
manner,  while  he  did  so,  that  he  desired  no  intrusion  on  the 
privacy  of  his  own  apartment;  which,  indeed,  he  was  the 
more  entitled  to  maintain,  considering  the  cold  reception  he 
had  that  morning  met  with  when  straying  from  its  precincts 
into  those  of  his  landlord.  But  the  open  casket  contained 
matter,  or  rather  metal,  so  attractive  to  old  Trapbois,  tbat  he 
remained  fixed  like  a  setting-dog  at  a  dead  point,  his  nose 
advanced,  and  one  hand  expanded  like  the  lifted  forepaw,  by 
which  that  sagacious  quadruped  sometimes  indicates  that  it  is 
a  hare  which  he  has  in  the  wind.  Nigel  was  about  to  break 
the  charm  which  had  thus  arrested  old  Trapbois  by  shutting 
tlie  lid  of  the  casket,  when  his  attention  was  withdrawn  from 
him  by  the  question  of  the  messenger,  Avho,  holding  out  the 


260  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

letter,  asked  whether  he  was  to  leave  it  at  Mr.  Lowestoffe's 
chambers  in  the  Temple  or  carry  it  to  the  Marshalsea. 

''The  Marshalsea!"*  repeated  Lord  Glenvarloch;  ''what 
of  the  Marshalsea?" 

"  Why,  sir,"  said  the  man,  "  the  poor  gentleman  is  laid 
up  there  in  lavender,  because,  they  say,  his  own  kind  heart 
led  him  to  scald  his  fingers  with  another  man's  broth." 

Nigel  hastily  snatched  back  the  letter,  broke  the  seal, 
joined  to  the  contents  his  earnest  entreaty  that  he  might  be 
instantly  acquainted  with  the  cause  of  his  confinement,  and 
added  that,  if  it  arose  out  of  his  own  unhappy  affair,  it  would 
be  of  brief  duration,  since  he  had,  even  before  hearing  of  a 
reason  which  so  peremptorily  demanded  that  he  should  sur- 
render himself,  adopted  the  resolution  to  do  so,  as  the  man- 
liest and  most  proper  course  which  his  ill-fortune  and  impru- 
dence had  left  in  his  own  power.  He  therefore  conjured  Mr. 
Lowestoffe  to  have  no  delicacy  ujoon  this  score,  but,  since  his 
surrender  was  what  he  had  determined  upon  as  a  sacrifice  due 
to  his  own  character,  that  he  would  have  the  frankness  to 
mention  in  what  manner  it  could  be  best  arranged,  so  as  to 
extricate  him,  Lowestoffe,  from  the  restraint  to  which  the 
writer  could  not  but  fear  his  friend  had  been  subjected,  on 
account  of  the  generous  interest  which  he  had  taken  in  his 
concerns.  The  letter  concluded,  that  the  writer  would  suffer 
twenty-four  hours  to  elapse  in  expectation  of  hearing  from 
him,  and,  at  the  end  of  that  period,  was  determined  to  put 
his  purpose  in  execution.  He  delivered  the  billet  to  the  mes- 
senger, and,  enforcing  his  request  Avith  a  piece  of  money, 
urged  him,  without  a  moment's  delay,  to  convey  it  to  the 
hands  of  Master  Lowestoffe. 

"I — I — I — will  carry  it  to  him  myself,"  said  the  old 
usurer,  "  for  half  the  consideration." 

The  man,  who  heard  this  attempt  to  take  his  duty  and  per 
quisites  over  his  head,  lost  no  time  in  pocketing  the  moneyj 
and  departed  on  his  errand  as  fast  as  he  could. 

"  Master  Trapbois,"  said  Nigel,  addressing  the  old  man 
somewhat  impatiently,  "had  you  any  particular  commands 
for  me  ?  " 

"  I — I — came  to  see  if  you  rested  well,"  answered  the  old 
man  ;  "  and — if  I  could  do  anything  to  serve  you,  on  any 
consideration." 

"  Sir,  I  thank  you,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch — "  I  thank 
you ; "  and,  ere  he  could  say  more,  a  heavy  footstep  was  heard 
©n  the  stair. 

•  See  Note  28. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  261 

"  M}'  God  ! "  exclaimed  the  old  man,  starting  up.  "  Why, 
Dorothy — charwoman — why,  daughter — draw  bolt,  I  say, 
housewives — the  door  hath  been  left  a-latch  ! " 

The  door  of  the  chamber  opened  Avide,  and  in  strutted  the 
portly  -bulk  of  the  military  hero  whom  Xigel_  had  on  the  pre- 
ceding evening  in  vain  endeavored  to  recognize. 


CHAPTER   XXm 

SwashhucMer.  Bilboe'a  the  word. 

Pierrot.  It  hath  been  spoke  too  often, 
The  spell  hath  lost  its  charm.     I  tell  thee,  friend, 
The  meanest  cur  that  trots  the  street  will  turn, 
And  snarl  against  your  proffer'd  bastinado. 

Swashbuckler.  'Tis  art  shall  do  it,  then;  I  will  dose 
the  mongrels, 
Or,  in  plain  terms,  I'll  use  the  private  knife 
'Stead  of  the  brandish'd  falchion. 

Old  Play. 

The  noble  Captain  Colepepper,  or  Peppercnll,  for  he  was 
called  by  both  these  names,  and  some  others  besides,  liad  a 
martial  and  a  swashing  exterior,  which,  on  the  present  occa- 
sion, was  rendered  yet  more  pecnliar  by  a  patch  covering  his 
left  eye  and  a  part  of  the  cheek.  The  sleeves  of  his  thickset 
velvet  jerkin  were  polished  and  shone  with  grease;  his  buff 
gloves  liad  huge  tops,  which  reached  almost  to  the  elbow;  his 
sword-belt  of  the  same  materials  extended  its  breadth  from 
his  haunch-bone  to  his  small  ribs,  and  supported  on  the  one 
side  his  large  black-hilted  back-sword,  on  the  other  a  dagger 
of  like  proportions.  He  paid  his  compliments  to  Nigel  with 
that  air  of  predetermined  effrontery  which  announces  that  it 
will  not  be  repelled  by  any  coldness  of  reception,  asked  Trap- 
bois  how  he  did  by  the  familiar  title  of  old  Peter  Pillory,  and 
then  seizing  upon  the  black-jack,  emptied  it  off  at  a  draught 
to  the  health  of  the  last  and  youngest  freeman  of  Alsatia,  the 
noble  and  loving  Master  Nigel  Grahame. 

When  he  had  set  down  the  empty  pitcher  and  drawn  his 
breath,  he  began  to  criticise  the  liquor  which  it  had  lately 
contained.  "Sufficient  single  beer,  old  Pillory,  and,  as  I 
take  it,  brewed  at  the  rate  of  a  nutshell  of  malt  to  a  butt  of 
Thames — as  dead  as  a  corpse,  too,  and  yet  it  went  hissing 
down  my  throat — bubbling,  by  Jove,  like  water  upon  hot  iron. 
You  left  us  early,  noble  Master  Grahame,  but,  good  faith,  we 
had  a  carouse  to  your  honor:  we  heard  biitt  ring  hollow  ere 
we  jiarted  ;  we  were  as  loving  as  inkle-weavers  ;  we  fought, 
too,  to  finish  off  tlie  gawdy.  I  bear  some  marks  of  the  par- 
son about  me,  you  see — a  note  of  the  sermon  or  so,  which 
should  have  been  addressed  to  my  ear,  but  missed  its  mark  and 
reached  my  left  eye.     The  mai'  of  God  bears  my  sign-manual 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  263 

too ;  but  the  uuke  made  us  friends  again,  and  it  cost  me  more 
sack  than  I  could  carry,  and  all  the  Klienish  to  boot,  to  pledge 
the  seer  in  the  way  of  love  and  reconciliation.  But,  caracco ! 
'tis  a  vile  old  canting  slave  for  all  that,  whom  I  will  one  day 
beat  out  of  his  devil's  livery  into  all  the  colors  of  the  rainbow. 
Basta!  Said  I  well,  old  Trapbois?  Where  is  thy  daughter, 
man?  "What  says  she  to  my  suit?  'Tis  an  honest  one.  AVilt 
have  a  soldier  for  thy  son-in-law,  old  Pillory,  to  mingle  the 
soul  of  martial  honor  with  thy  thieving,  miching,  petty-lar- 
ceny blood,  as  men  put  bold  brandy  into  muddy  ale?" 

"  My  daughter  receives  not  company  so  early,  noble  cap- 
tain,''  said  the  usurer,  and  concluded  his  speech  with  a  dry, 
emphatical  "ugh — ugh." 

"What,  upon  no  con-sid-er-a-tion?"  said  the  captain; 
"and  wherefore  not,  old  Tl'uei^enny?  she  has  not  much  time 
to  lose  in  driving  her  bargain,  methinks," 

"  Captain,"  said  Trapbois,  "  I  was  upon  some  little  busi- 
ness with  our  noble  friend  here.  Master  Nigel  Green — w^ih, 
ugh,  ugh 

"  And  you  would  have  me  gone,  I  warrant  you  ?"  answered 
the  bully  ;  "  but  patience,  old  Pillory,  thine  hour  is  not  yet 
come,  man.  You  see,"  he  said,  pointing  to  the  casket,  "that 
noble  Master  Grahame,  whom  you  call  Green,  has  got  the 
*  decuses '  and  the  '  smelts.' " 

"Which  you  would  willingly  rid  him  of — ha!  ha  I — ugh, 
ngh,"  answered  the  usurer,  "if  you  knew  how  ;  but,  lack-a- 
day!  thou  art  one  of  those  that  come  out  for  avooI  and  art  sure 
to  go  home  shorn.  Why  now,  but  that  I  am  sworn  against 
laying  of  wagers,  I  would  risk  some  consideration  that  this 
honest  guest  of  mine  sends  thee  home  penniless,  if  thou  dar- 
est  venture  with  him — ugh,  ugh — at  any  game  Avhicli  gentle- 
men play  at." 

"  Marry,  thou  hast  me  on  the  hip  there,  thou  old  miserly 
cony-catcher  !  "  answered  the  captain,  taking  a  bale  of  dice 
from  the  sleeve  of  his  coat.  "  I  must  always  keen  company 
with  these  damnable  doctors,  and  they  have  made  me  every 
baby's  cully,  and  purged  my  purse  into  an  atrophy;  but  never 
mind,  it  passes  the  time  as  well  as  aught  else.  How  say  you. 
Master  Grahame?  " 

The  fellow  paused;  but  even  the  extremity  of  his  impu- 
dence could  hardly  withstand  the  cold  look  of  utter  contempt 
with  which  Xigel  received  his  proposal,  returning  it  with  a 
simple  "  I  only  play  where  I  know  my  company,  and  never 
in  the  morning." 

"Cards  may  be  more  agreeable,"  said  Captain  Colepepper; 


264  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

"  and  for  knowinj;  your  company,  liere  is  honest  old  Pillory 
will  tell  you  Jack  Colepepper  plays  as  truly  on  the  square  as 
e'er  a  man  that  trowledadie.  Men  talk  of  high  and  low  dice, 
fulhams  and  bristles,  topping,  knapping,  slurring,  stabbing, 
and  a  hundred  ways  of  rooking  besides;  but  broil  me  like  a 
rasher  of  bacon,  if  1  could  ever  learn  the  trick  on  'em  ! " 

"  You  have  got  the  vocabulary  perfect,  sir,  at  the  least,'' 
said  Nigel,  in  the  same  cold  tone. 

"Yes,  by  mine  honor  have  I,"  returned  the  Hector; 
''they  are  phrases  that  a  gentleman  learns  about  town.  But 
perhaps  you  would  like  a  set  at  tennis,  or  a  game  at  balloon; 
we  have  an  indifferent  good  court  hard  by  here,  and  a  set  of 
as  gentleman-like  blades  as  ever  banged  leather  against  brick 
and  mortar." 

"  I  beg  to  be  excused  at  present,''  said  Lord  Glenvarloch, 
''and  to  be  plain,  among  the  valuable  privileges  your  society 
has  conferred  on  me,  I  hope  I  may  reckon  that  of  being  j)ri- 
vate  in  my  own  apartment  when  I  have  a  mind." 

"Your  humble  servant,  sir,"  said  the  captain;  "and  I 
thank  you  for  your  civility.  Jack  Colepepper  can  have  enough 
of  company,  and  thrusts  himself  on  no  one.  But  perhaps 
you  will  like  to  make  a  match  at  skittles  ?  " 

"  I  am  by  no  means  that  way  dis]30sed,"  replied  the  young 
nobleman. 

"Or  to  leap  a  flea — run  a  snail — match  a  wherry,   eh  ?" 

"  No — I  will  do  none  of  these,"  answered  Nigel. 

Here  the  old  man,  who  had  been  watching  with  his  little 
peery  eyes,  pulled  the  bulky  Hector  by  the  skirt,  and  whis- 
pered, "  Do  not  vajior  him  the  huff,  it  will  not  pass;  let  the 
trout  play,  he  will  rise  to  the  hook  presently." 

But  the  bully,  confiding  in  his  own  strength,  and  probably 
mistaking  for  timidity  the  patient  scorn  with  which  Nigel 
received  his  proposals,  incited  also  by  the  open  casket,  began 
to  assume  a  louder  and  more  threatening  tone.  He  drew  him- 
self up,  bent  his  brows,  assumed  a  look  of  professional  ferocity, 
and  continued,  "  In  Alsatia,  look  ye,  a  man  must  be  neigh- 
borly and  companionable.  Zouns  !  sir,  we  would  slit  any 
nose  that  was  turned  up  at  us  honest  fellows.  Ay,  sir,  we 
would  slit  it  up  to  the  gristle,  though  it  had  smelt  nothing  all 
its  life  but  musk,  ambergris,  and  court-scented  water.  Eaobit 
me,  I  am  a  soldier,  and  care  no  more  for  a  lord  than  a  lamp- 
lighter ! " 

"  A.re  you  seeking  a  quarrel,  sir?"  said  Nigel,  calmly, 
having  in  truth  no  desire  to  engage  himself  in  a  discreditable 
broil  in  such  a  place,  and  with  such  a  character. 


''  'Stand   off,  old    Pilory,  let   me   make   Scotch   collops  of  him.'" 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  265 

"Quarrel,  sir  !"  said  the  captain  ;  "I  am  not  seeking  a 
quarrel,  though  I  care  not  how  soon  I  find  one.  Only  I  wish 
you  to  understand  you  must  be  neigliborly,  that's  all.  What 
if  we  should  go  over  the  water  to  the  garden,  and  see  a  l)ull 
hanked  this  tine  morning — 'sdeath,  will  you  do  nothing  ?  " 

"  Something  I  am  strangely  tempted  to  do  at  this  mo- 
ment," said  Nigel. 

"  Videlicet,"  said  Colepepper,  with  a  swaggering  air,  "let 
ns  hear  the  temptation." 

"  I  am  tempted  to  throw  you  headlong  from  the  window, 
unless  you  presently  make  the  best  of  your  way  downstairs." 

"Throw  me  from  the  window! — hell  and  furies!"  ex- 
claimed the  captain.  "  I  have  confronted  twenty  crooked 
sabres  at  Buda  with  my  single  rapier,  and  shall  a  chitty-faced, 
beggarly  Scots  lordling  speak  of  me  and  a  window  in  the  same 
breath  ?  Stand  off,  old  Pillory,  let  me  make  Scotch  collops 
of  him  :  he  dies  the  death  ! " 

"  For  the  love  of  Heaven,  gentlemen,"  exclaimed  the  old 
miser,  throwing  himself  between  them,  "do  not  break  the 
peace  on  any  consideration !  Xoble  guest,  forbear  the  captain ; 
he  is  a  very  Hector  of  Troy.  Trusty  Hector,  forbear  my 
guest ;  he  is  like  to  prove  a  very  Achilles — ugh — ugh " 

Here  he  was  interrupted  by  his  asthma,  but,  nevertheless, 
continued  to  interpose  his  person  between  Colepepper,  who 
had  unsheathed  his  whinyard,  and  was  making  vain  passes  at 
his  antagonist,  and  Xigel,  who  had  stepped  back  to  take  his 
sword,  and  now  held  it  undrawn  in  his  left  hand. 

"  Make  an  end  of  this  foolery,  you  scoundrel! "  said  Nigel. 
"Do  you  come  hither  to  vent  your  noisy  oaths  and  your 
bottled-up  valor  on  me?  You  seem  to  know  me,  and  I  am 
half  ashamed  to  say  I  have  at  length  been  able  to  recollect 
you  ;  remember  the  garden  behind  the  ordinary,  you  dastardly 
ruffian,  and  the  speed  with  which  fifty  men  saw  you  run  from 
a  drawn  sword.  Get  you  gone,  sir,  and  do  not  put  me  to  the 
vile  labor  of  cudgelling  such  a  cowardly  rascal  downstairs." 

The  bully's  countenance  grew  dark  as  night  at  this  un- 
expected recognition  ;  for  he  had  undoubtedly  thought  him- 
self secure  in  his  change  of  dress  and  his  black  patch  from 
being  discovered  bv  a  person  who  had  seen  him  but  once. 
He  set  his  teeth,  clinched  his  hands,  and  it  seemed  as  if  he 
was  seeking  for  a  moment's  courage  to  fly  upon  his  antagonist. 
But  his  heart  failed,  he  sheathed  his  sword,  turned  his  back 
in  gloomy  silence,  and  spoke  not  until  he  reached  the  door, 
wlien.  turning  round,  he  said  with  a  deep  oath,  "If  I  be 
not  avon'::en  of  vou  for  this  insolence  ere  many  days  go  by,  I 
would  the  gallows  had  my  body  and  the  devil  my  spirit  1 " 


266  WAVEKLEV  NOVELS 

So  saying,  and  "with  a  look  where  dstermined  spite  and 
malice  made  liis  features  savagely  lieroe,  though  they  could 
not  overcome  his  fear,  he  turned  and  left  the  house.  Nigel 
followed  him  as  far  as  the  gallery  at  the  head  of  the  staircase, 
witli  the  purpose  of  seeing  him  depart,  a_  d  ere  he  returned 
was  met  by  Mistress  Martha  Trapbois,  w'  om  the  noise  of  the 
quarrel  had  summoned  from  her  own  r  faitment.  He  could 
not  resist  saying  to  her  in  his  natural  ditphasure — •'  I  would, 
madam,  you  could  teach  your  father  and  his  friends  the  lesson 
which  you  had  the  goodness  to  bestow  or.  me  this  morning, 
and  prevail  on  them  to  leave  me  the  unmolested  privacy  of 
my  own  apartment/' 

"  If  you  came  hither  for  quiet  or  retirement,  young  man,'' 
answered  she,  "  you  have  been  advised  to  an  evil  retreat. 
You  might  seek  mercy  in  the  Star  Chamber,  or  holiness  in 
hell,  with  better  success  than  quiet  in  Alsatia.  But  my 
father  shall  trouble  you  no  longer." 

So  saying,  she  entered  the  apartment,  and,  fixing  her 
eyes  on  the  casket,  she  said  with  emphasis — "  If  you  display 
such  a  loadstone,  it  will  draw  many  a  steel  knife  to  your 
throat." 

While  Nigel  hastily  shut  the  casket,  she  addressed  her 
father,  upbraiding  him,  with  small  reverence,  for  keeping 
company  with  the  cowardly,  hectoring,  murdering  villain, 
John  Oolepepper. 

"  Ay — ay,  child,"  said  the  old  man,  with  the  cunning  leer 
which  intimated  perfect  satisfaction  Avith  his  own  superior 
address,  "  I  know — I  know — ugh — but  I'll  cross-bite  him.  I 
know  them  all,  and  I  can  manage  them  ;  ay,  ay — I  have  the 
trick  on't — ugh — ugh." 

"  You  manage,  father ! "  said  the  austere  damsel  ;  "  you 
will  manage  to  have  your  throat  cut,  and  that  ere  long.  You 
cannot  hide  from  them  your  gains  and  your  gold  as  formerly." 

"  My  gains,  wench  !  my  gold  !  "  said  the  usurer  ;  "  alack- 
a-day,  few  of  these  and  hard  got — few  and  hard  got." 

"  This  will  not  serve  you,  father,  any  longer,"  said  she, 
**and  had  not  served  you  thus  long,  but  that  Bully  Oolepep- 
per had  contrived  a  cheaper  way  of  plundering  your  house, 
even  by  means  of  my  miserable  self.  But  why  do  I  speak  to 
him  of  all  this?"  she  said,  checking  herself,  and  shrugging 
her  shoulders  with  an  expression  of  pity  which  did  not  fall 
much  short  of  scorn.  "  He  hears  me  not — he  thinks  not  of 
me.  Is  it  not  strange  that  the  love  of  gathering  gold  should 
survive  the  care  to  preserve  both  property  and  life?" 

"  Your  father,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch,  who  could  not  help 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  267 

respecting  the  strong  sense  and  feeling  shown  by  this  poor 
■woman,  even  amid  all  her  rudeness  and  severity — "your 
father  seems  to  have  his  faculties  sufficiently  alert  when  he  is 
in  the  exercise  of  his  ordinary  pursuits  and  functions.  I 
wonder  he  is  not  sensible  of  the  weight  of  your  arguments.'^ 

'•Xature  made  him  a  man  senseless  of  danger,  and  that 
insensibility  is  the  best  thing  I  have  derived  from  him,"  said 
she.  *'Age  has  left  him  shrewdness  enough  to  tread  his  old 
beaten  paths,  but  not  to  seek  new  courses.  The  old  blind 
horse  will  long  continue  to  go  its  rounds  in  the  mill,  when  it 
would  stumble  in  the  open  meadow." 

"Daughter! — why,  wench — why,  houscAvife!"  said  the 
old  man,  awakening  out  of  some  dream,  in  which  he  had  been 
sneering  and  chuckling  in  imagination,  probably  over  a  suc- 
cessful piece  of  roguery — "go  to  chamber,  wench — go  to 
chamber — draw  bolts  and  chain — look  sharp  to  door — let  none 
in  or  out  but  worshipful  Master  Grahame.  I  must  take  my 
cloak,  and  go  to  Duke  Hildebrod — ay,  ay,  time  has  been,  my 
own  warrant  was  enough;  but  tn?  lower  we  lie,  the  more  are 
we  under  the  wind." 

And,  with  his  wonted  chorus  of  muttering  and  coughing, 
the  old  man  left  the  apartment.  His  daughter  stood  for  a 
moment  looking  after  him,  with  her  usual  expression  of  dis- 
content and  sorrow. 

"You  ought  to  persuade  your  father,"  said  Nigel,  "to 
leave  this  evil  neighborhood,  if  you  are  in  reality  apprehen- 
sive for  his  safety." 

"  He  would  be  safe  in  no  other  quarter,"  said  the  daugh- 
ter; "  I  would  rather  the  old  man  were  dead  than  publicly 
dishonored.  In  other  quarters  he  would  be  pelted  and  pur- 
sued, like  an  owl  which  ventures  into  sunshine.  Here  he  was 
safe,  while  his  comrades  could  avail  themselves  of  his  talents; 
he  is  now  squeezed  and  fleeced  by  them  on  every  pretence. 
They  consider  him  as  a  vessel  on  the  strand,  from  which  each 
may  snatch  a  prey;  and  the  very  Jealousy  which  they  enter- 
tain respecting  him  as  a  common  property  may  perhaps  in- 
duce them  to  guard  him  from  more  private  and  daring 
assaults." 

"  Still,  methinks,  you  ought  to  leave  this  place,''  answered 
Nigel,  "  since  you  might  find  a  safe  retreat  in  some  distant 
country." 

"In  Scotland,  doubtless,"  said  she,  looking  at  him  with  a 
sharp  and  suspicious  eye,  "  and  enrich  strangers  with  our 
rescued  wealth.     Ha!  young  man?" 

"  Madam,  if  you  knew  me,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch,  "you 
would  spare  the  suspicion  impliedjn  your  words." 


268  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

"  Who  shall  assure  me  of  that?*'  said  Martha,  sharply. 
**  They  say  you  are  a  brawler  and  a  gamester,  aud  I  know 
how  far  these  are  to  be  trusted  by  the  unhappy.'^ 

''They  do  me  wrong,  by  Heaven! ""  said  Lord  Glenvar- 
loch.  , 

"It  may  be  so,'' said  Martha;  "I  am  little  mterested  m 
the  degree  of  your  vice  or  your  folly;  but  it  is  plain  that  the 
one  or  the  other  has  conducted  you  hither,  and  that  your  best 
hope  of  peace,  safety,  and  happiness  is  to  be  gone,  with  the 
least  possible  delay,  from  a  place  which  is  always  a  sty  for 
swine,  and  often  a  shambles."  So  saying,  she  left  the  apart- 
ment. 

There  was  something  in  the  ungracious  manner  of  this 
female  amounting  almost  to  contempt  of  him  she  spoke  to — 
an  indignity  to  which  Glenvarloch,  notwithstanding  his  pov- 
erty, had  not  as  yet  been  personally  exppsed,  and  which, 
therefore,  gave  him  a  transitory  feeling  of  painful  surprise. 
Neither  did  the  dark  hints  which  Martha  threw  out  concern- 
ing the  danger  of  his  place  of  refuge  sound  by  any  means 
agreeably  to  his  ears.  The  bravest  man,  placed  in  a  situation 
in  which  he  is  surrounded  by  suspicious  persons,  and  removed 
from  all  counsel  and  assistance  except  those  afforded  by  a 
valiant  heart  and  a  strong  arm,  experiences  a  sinking  of  the 
spirit,  a  consciousness  of  abandonment,  which  for  a  moment 
chills  his  blood  and  depresses  his  natural  gallantry  of  dis- 
position. 

But,  if  sad  reflections  arose  in  Nigel's  mind,  he  had 
not  time  to  indulge  them;  and,  if  he  saw  little  prospect  ot 
finding  friends  in  Alsatia,  he  found  that  he  was  not  likely 
to  be  solitary  for  lack  of  visitors. 

He  had  scarcely  paced  his  apartment  for  ten  minutes,  en- 
deavoring to  arrange  his  ideas  on  the  course  which  he  was  to 
pursue  on  quitting  Alsatia,  Avhen  he  was  interrupted  by  the 
sovereign  of  the  quarter,  the  great  Duke  Hildebrod  himself, 
before  whose  approach  the  bolts  and  chains  of  the  miser's 
dwelling  fell,  or  withdrew,  as  of  their  own  accord;  and  both 
the  folding  leaves  of  the  door  were  opened,  that  he  might  roll 
himself  into  the  house  like  a  huge  butt  of  liquor,  a  vessel  to 
which  he  bore  a  considerable  outward  resemblance,  both  in 
size,  shape,  complexion,  and  contents. 

"  Good-morrow  to  your  lordship,"  said  the  greasy  pun- 
cheon, cocking  his  single  eye,  and  rolling  it  upon  Nigel  with 
a  singular  expression  of  familiar  impudence;  while  his  grim 
bull-dog,  which  was  close  at  his  heels,  made  a  kind  of  gurgling 
in  his  throat,  as  if  saluting,  in  similar  fashion,  a  starved  cat. 


THE  FORTl'yES  OF  NIGEL  269 

the  only  living  tiling  in  Trapbois's  house  which  we  have  not 
yet  enumerated.  ;md  which  had  liown  up  to  the  top  of  the 
tester,  where  she  stood  clutching  and  grinning  at  the  mastiff, 
whose  greeting  she  accepted  with  as  much  good-will  as  Xigel 
bestowed  on  tliat  of  the  dog's  master. 

"Peace,  Belziel — d — n  thee,  peace!"  said  Duke  Hilde- 
brod.     "  Be.ists  and  fools  will  be  meddling,  my  lord." 

"  I  thougiit,  sir,"  answered  Xigel.  witli  as  much  haughti- 
ness as  was  consistent  Avith  tlie  cool  distance  which  he  desired 
to  preserve — "I  thought  I  had  told  you  my  name  at  present 
was  Xigel  Grahame." 

His  eminence  of  Whitefriars  on  this  burst  out  into  a  loud, 
chuckling,  impudent  laugh,  repeating  tiie  word  till  his  voice 
v.Ms  almost  inarticulate,  "Xiggle  Green — Xiggle  Green — 
X'iggle  Green!  Why,  my  lord,  you  Avould  be  queered  in  the 
drinking  of  a  penny  pot  of  Malmsey,  if  you  cry  before  you 
are  touched.  Why,  you  have  told  me  the  secret  even  now, 
had  I  not  had  a  shrewd  guess  of  it  before.  Why,  Master 
Xigel,  since  that  is  the  word,  I  only  called  you  '  mv  lord  ' 
because  we  made  you  a  peer  of  Alsatia  last  night,  when  tiie 
sack  was  predominant.     How  you  look  now!     Ha!  ha!  ha! " 

Xigel,  indeed,  conscious  that  he  had  unnecessarily  be- 
trayed himself,  replied  hastily,  '•'  He  was  much  obliged  to 
him  for  the  honors  conferred,  but  did  not  propose  to  remain 
in  the  sanctuary  long  enough  to  enjoy  them." 

"  Why,  that  may  be  as  you  will,  an  you  will  walk  bv  wise 
counsel,"  answered  the  ducal  porpoise  ;  and,  although  Xigel 
remained  standing,  in  hopes  to  accelerate  his  guest's  departure, 
he  threw  himself  into  one  of  the  old  tapestry-backed  easy- 
cliairs,  which  cracked  under  his  weight,  and  began  to  call  for 
old  Trapbois. 

The  crone  of  all  work  appearing  instead  of  her  master,  the 
duke  cursed  her  for  a  careless  jade,  to  let  a  strange  gentleman, 
and  a  brave  guest,  go  without  his  morning's  draught. 

"I  never  take  one,  sir,"  said  Glenvarloch. 

"Time  to  begin — time  to  begin,"  answered  the  duke. 
'•'Here,  you  old  refuse  of  Sathan,  go  to  our  palace  and  fetch 
Lord  Green's  morning-draught.  Let  us  see — what  sliall  it  be, 
I'ly  lord  ? — a  humming  double  pot  of  ale.  with  a  roasted  crab 
dancing  in  it  like  a  wherry  above  bridge  ?  Or,  hum — ay, 
young  men  are  sweet-toothed — a  quart  of  burnt  sack,  with 
sugar  and  spice  ? — good  against  the  fogs.  Or,  what  say  you 
to  sipping  a  gill  of  right  distilled  waters  ?  Come,  we  will 
have  them  all,  and  )^ou  shall  take  your  choice.  Here,  you 
Jezebel,  let  Tim  send  the  ale,  and  the  sack,  and  the  nipper- 


270  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

kin  of  double-distilled,  with  a  bit  of  diet-loaf,  or  some  such 
trinket,  and  score  it  to  the  new-comer.-" 

(ilenvarloch,  bethinking  himself  that  it  might  be  as  well 
to  endure  tliis  fellow's  insolence  for  a  brief  season  as  to  get 
into  farther  discreditable  quarrels,  suffered  him  to  take  his 
own  way,  without  interruption,  only  observing,  "You  make 
yourself  at  home,  sir,  in  my  apartment ;  but,  for  the  time, 
you  may  use  your  pleasure.  Meanwhile,  I  would  fain  knoAv 
what  has  procured  me  the  honor  of  this  unexjDected  visit  ? " 

"You  shall  know  that  when  old  Deb  has  brought  the 
liquor ;  I  never  speak  of  business  dry-lipped.  Why,  how  she 
drumbles ;  I  warrant  she  stops  to  take  a  sip  on  the  road,  and 
then  you  will  think  you  have  had  unchristian  measure.  In 
the  mean  wliile,  look  at  that  dog  there — look  Belzebub  in  the 
face,  and  tell  me  if  you  ever  saw  a  sweeter  beast — never  flew 
but  at  head  in  his  life." 

And,  after  this  congenial  panegyric,  he  was  proceeding 
with  a  tale  of  a  dog  and  a  bull,  which  threatened  to  be  some- 
what of  the  longest,  when  he  was  interrupted  by  the  return  of 
the  old  crone,  and  two  of  his  own  tapsters,  bearing  the  various 
kinds  of  drinkables  which  he  had  demanded,  and  which  prob- 
ably was  the  only  species  of  interruption  he  would  have  en- 
dured with  equanimity. 

When  the  cups  and  cans  were  duly  arranged  upon  the 
table,  and  when  Deborah,  whom  the  ducal  generosity  honored 
with  a  penny  farthing  in  the  way  of  gratuity,  had  withdrawn 
with  her  satellites,  the  worthy  potentate,  having  first  slightly 
invited  Lord  Glenvarloch  to  partake  of  the  liquor  which  he 
was  to  pay  for,  and  after  having  observed  that,  excepting 
three  poached  eggs,  a  pint  of  bastard,  and  a  cup  of  clary,  he 
was  fasting  from  everything  but  sin,  set  himself  seriously  to 
reinforce  the  radical  moisture.  Glenvarloch  had  seen  Scottish 
lairds  and  Dutch  burgomasters  at  their  potations;  but  their 
exploits,  though  each  might  be  termed  a  thirsty  generation, 
were  nothing  to  those  of  Duke  Hildebrod,  who  seemed.  a,n 
absolute  sandbed,  capable  of  absorbing  any  given  quantity  of 
liquid,  without  being  either  vivified  or  overflowed.  He  drank 
off  the  ale  to  quench  a  thirst  which,  as  he  said,  kept  him  in  a 
fever  from  morning  to  night,  and  night  to  morning;  tippled 
off  the  sack  to  correct  the  crudity  of  the  ale;  sent  the  sjiirits 
after  the  sack  to  keejD  all  quiet,  and  then  declared  that,  prob- 
ably, he  should  not  taste  liquor  till  post  meridiem,  unless  it 
was  in  compliment  to  some  especial  friend.  Finally,  he  inti- 
mated that  he  v.'as  ready  to  proceed  on  the  business  which 
brought  him  from  home  so  early,  a  proposition  which  Nigel 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  271 

readily  received,  though  lie  could  not  help  suspecting  that  the 
most  important  purpose  of  Duke  Hildebrod's  visit  was  already 
transacted. 

In  this,  however.  Lord  Glenvarloch  proved  to  be  mistaken. 
Hildebrod,  before  opening  what  he  had  to  sa}',  nuide  an  ac- 
curate survey  of  the  apartment,  laying,  frorn  time  to  time, 
his  finger  on  his  nose,  and  winking  on  Nigel  with  his  single 
eye,  w^liile  he  opened  and  shut  the  doors,  lifted  the  tapestry, 
which  concealed,  in  one  or  two  places,  the  dilapidation  of  time 
upon  the  wainscoted  walls,  peeped  into  closets,  and,  finally, 
looked  under  the  bed,  to  assure  himself  that  the  coast  was 
clear  of  listeners  and  interlopers.  He  then  resumed  his  seat, 
and  beckoned  confidentially  to  Xigel  to  draw  his  chair  close 
to  him. 

"  I  am  well  as  I  am,  ^Master  Hildebrod, ^^  replied  the 
3-oung  lord,  little  disposed  to  encourage  the  familiarity  wliich 
the  man  endeavored  to  fix  on  him;  but  the  undismayed  duke 
proceeded  as  follows: 

"  You  shall  pardon  me,  my  lord — and  I  now  give  you  the 
title  right  seriously — if  I  remind  you  that  our  waters  may  be 
watched;  for  though  oklTrapbois  be  as  deaf  as  St.  Paul'si^yet 
his  daughter  has  sharp  ears,  and  sharp  eyes  enough,  and  it  is 
of  them  that  it  is  my  business  to  si3eak.'" 

"  Say  away,  then,  sir,"  said  Xigel,  edging  his  chair  some- 
what closer  to  the  quicksand,  "although  I  cannot  conceive 
what  business  I  have  either  with  mine  host  or  his  daugliter." 

"VsQ  will  see  that  in  the  tAvinkling  of  a  quart-pot,"  an- 
swered the  gracious  duke  ;  "and  first,  my  lord,  you  must  not 
think  to  dance  in  a  net  before  old  Jack  Hildebrod.  tliat  has 
thrice  your  years  o'er  his  head,  and  Avas  born,  like  King  Rich- 
ard, with  all  his  eye-teeth  ready  cut." 

"  Well,  sir,  go  on,"  said  Xigel. 

"  Why,  then,  my  lord,  I  presume  to  say  that,  if  you  are, 
as  I  believe  you  are,  that  Lord  Glenvarloch  whom  all  the 
world  talk  of — the  Scotch  gallant  that  has  spent  all,  to  a  thin 
cloak  and  alight  purse — be  not  moved,  my  lord,  it  is  so  noised 
of  you — men  call  you  the  sparrow-hawk,  who  will  fly  at  all — 
ay,  were  it  in  the  very  Park.     Be  not  moved,  my  lord." 

"I  am  ashamed,  sirrah,"  replied  Glenvarloch,  "that  you 
should  have  power  to  move  me  by  your  insolence  ;  but  beware 
— and,  if  you  indeed  guess  who  I  am,  consider  how  long  I  may 
be  able  to  endure  your  tone  of  insolent  familiarity." 

"  I  crave  pardon,  my  lord,"  said  Hildebrod,  ■nnth  a  sullen 
yet  apologetic  look  ;  "  I  meant  no  harm  in  speaking  my  poor 
mind.     I  know  not  what  honor  there  may  be  in  being  famil- 


272  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

iar  ^vith  your  lordship,  but  I  judge  there  is  httlo  safety,  for 
Lowestoffe  is  hiid  up  in  lavender  only  for  having  shown  you 
the  way  into  Alsatia ;  and  so,  what  is  to  come  of  those  who 
niaintam  you  when  you  are  here,  or  whetlier  they  will  get 
most  lienor  or  most  trouble  by  doing  so,  I  leave  with  your 
lordship's  better  judgment." 

"  I  will  bring  no  one  into  trouble  on  my  account,"  said 
Lord  Glenvarloeh.  ''  I  will  leave  Whitefriars  to-morrow. 
Nay,  by  Heaven,  I  will  leave  it  this  day." 

"''  You  will  have  more  wit  in  your  anger,  I  trust,"  said 
Duke  llildebrod  ;  "listen  first  to  what  I  have  to  say  to  you, 
and,  if  honest  Jack  Hildebrod  puts  you  not  in  the  way  of 
nicking  them  all,  may  he  never  cast  doublets  or  gull  a  green- 
horn again!  And  so,  my  lord,  in  plain  words,  you  must  wap 
and  win." 

"  Your  words  must  be  still  plainer  before  I  can  under- 
stand them,"  said  Nigel. 

"  What  the  devil — a  gamester,  one  who  deals  with  the 
devil's  bones  and  the  doctors,  and  not  understand  peddler's 
French!  Nay,  then,  I  must  speak  plain  English,  and  that's 
the  simpleton's  tongue." 

"  Speak,  then,  sir,"  said  Nigel  ;  '•  and  I  pray  you  be  brief, 
for  I  have  little  more  time  to  bestow^  on  you." 

"  Well,  then,  my  lord,  to  be  brief,  as  you  and  the  lawyers 
call  it — I  understand  you  have  an  estate  in  the  North,  which 
changes  masters  for  want  of  the  redeeming  ready.  Ay,  you 
start,  but  you  cannot  dance  in  a  net  before  me,  as  I  said  be- 
fore; and  so  the  King  runs  the  frowning  humor  on  you,  and 
the  court  vapors  you  the  go-by,  and  the  Prince  scowls  at  you 
from  under  his  cap,  and  the  favorite  serves  you  out  the  puck- 
ered brow  and  the  cold  shoulder,  and  the  favorite's  favor- 
ite  " 

"To  go  no  farther,  sir,"  interrupted  Nigel,  "  suppose  all 
this  true,  and  what  follows?" 

"What  follows?"  returned  Duke  Hildebrod.  "Marry, 
this  follows,  that  you  will  owe  good  deed,  as  well  as  good  will, 
to  him  who  shall  put  you  in  the  way  to  walk  with  your  beaver 
cocked  in  the  presence,  as  an  ye  were  Earl  of  Kildare,  bully 
the  courtiers,  meet  the  Prince's  blighting  look  with  a  bold 
brow,  confront  the  favorite,  baffle  his  deputy,  and " 

"This  is  all  w^ell,"  said  Nigel;  "but  how  is  it  to  be  ao- 
complished  ?  " 

"  By  making  thee  a  prince  of  Peru,  my  lord  of  the  north- 
ern latitudes — propping  thine  old  castle  with  ingots — fertil- 
izing  thy  failing  fortunes  with  gold  dust;  it  shall  but  cost 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  273 

tliee  to  put  tliy  baron's  coronet  for  a  day  or  so  on  the  brows  of 
an  old  Caduca  here,  the  man's  daughter  of  the  house,  and 
tliou  art  master  of  a  mass  of  treasure  that  shall  do  all  I  have 
said  for  thee,  and " 

"  What,  you  would  have  me  marry  this  old  gentlewoman 
here,  the  daughter  of  mine  host?"  said  Nigel,  surprised  and 
angry,  yet  unable  to  suppress  some  desire  to  laugh. 

*'Xay,  my  lord,  I  would  have  you  marry  fifty  thousand 
good  sterling  pounds,  for  that,  and  better,  hath  old  Trapbois 
hoarded;  and  thou  shalt  do  a  deed  of  mercy  in  it  to  the  old 
man,  who  will  lose  his  golden  smelts  in  some  worse  way,  for 
now  that  he  is  well-nigh  past  his  day  of  work,  his  day  of  pay- 
ment is  like  to  follow." 

"■  Truly,  this  is  a  most  courteous  offer,"  said  Lord  Glen- 
varloch;  "but  may  I  pray  of  your  candor,  most  noble  duke, 
to  tell  me  why  you  dispose  of  a  ward  of  so  much  wealth  on  a 
stranger  like  me,  who  may  leave  you  to-morrow  ?  " 

"In  sooth,  my  lord,"  said  the  duke,  "that  question 
smacks  more  of  the  wit  of  Beaujeu's  ordinary  than  any  word 
I  have  yet  heasd  your  lordship  speak,  and  reason  it  is  you 
should  be  answered.  Touching  my  peers,  it  is  but  necessary 
to  say,  that  Mistress  Martha  Trapbois  will  none  of  them, 
svhether  clerical  oi  laic.  The  captain  hath  asked  her,  so  hath 
the  parson,  but  she  will  none  of  them:  she  looks  higher  than 
either,  and  is,  to  say  truth,  a  woman  of  sense,  and  so  forth, 
too  profound,  und  of  spirit  something  too  high,  to  put  up 
with  greasy  buff  or  rusty  prunella.  For  ourselves,  we  need 
but  hint  that  we  have  a  consort  in  the  land  of  the  living,  and, 
wluit  is  more  to  purpose,  Mrs.  Martha  knows  it.  So,  as  she 
will  not  face  her  kersey  hood  save  with  a  quality  binding,  you, 
my  lord,  must  be  the  man,  and  must  carry  off  fifty  thousand 
decuses,  the  spoils  of  five  thousand  bullies,  cutters,  and  spend- 
thrifts, always  deducting  from  the  main  sum  some  five 
thousand  pounds  for  our  princely  advice  and  countenance, 
without  which,  as  matters  stand  in  Alsatia,  you  would  find 
it  hard  to  win  the  plate." 

"But  has  your  Avisdom  considered,  sir,"  rejalied  Glenvar- 
loch,  "  how  this  wedlock  can  serve  me  in  my  present  emer- 
gence?" 

"As  for  that,  my  lord,"  said  Duke  Hildebrod,  "  if,  with 
forty  or  fifty  thousand  pounds  in  your  pouch,  you  cannot 
save  yourself,  you  will  deserve  to  lose  your  head  for  your 
folly,  and  your  hand  for  being  close-fisted." 

"  But,  since  your  goodness  has  taken  my  matters  into 
such  serious  consideration,"  continued  Nigel,  who  conceived 

18 


274  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

there  was  no  prudence  in  breaking  with  a  man  who,  in  his 
way,  meant  him  favor  rather  than  offence,  *'  perhaps  you  may 
be  able  to  tell  me  how  my  kindred  will  be  likely  to  receive 
such  a  bride  as  you  recommend  to  me?" 

"Touching  that  matter,  my  lord,  I  have  always  heard 
your  countrymen  knew  as  well  as  other  folk  on  which  side 
their  bread  was  buttered.  And,  truly,  speaking  from  report, 
I  know  no  place  where  fifty  thousand  pounds — fifty  thousand 
pounds,  I  say — will  make  a  woman  more  welcome  than  it  is 
likely  to  do  in  your  ancient  kingdom.  And,  truly,  saving 
the  slight  twist  m  her  shoulder,  Mrs.  Martha  Trapbois  is  a 
person  of  very  awful  and  majestic  appearance,  and  may,  for 
aught  I  know,  be  come  of  better  blood  than  any  one  wots  of; 
for  old  Trapbois  looks  not  over  like  to  be  her  father,  and  her 
mother  was  a  generous,  liberal  sort  of  a  woman." 

"  I  am  afraid,"  answered  Nigel,  "  that  chance  is  rather  too 
vague  to  assure  her  a  gracious  reception  into  an  honorable 
house." 

''Why,  then,  my  lord,"  replied  Hildebrod,  "I  think  it 
like  she  will  be  even  with  them  ;  for  I  will  venture  to  say,  she 
has  as  much  ill-nature  as  will  make  her  a  match  for  your 
whole  clan." 

"  That  may  inconvenience  me  a  little,"  replied  Nigel. 

"  Not  a  whit — not  a  whit,"  said  the  duke,  fertile  in  ex- 
pedients ;  "if  she  should  become  rather  intolerable,  which  is 
not  unlikely,  your  honorable  house,  which  I  presume  to  be  a 
castle,  hath,  doubtless,  both  turrets  and  dungeons,  and  ye  may 
bestow  your  bonny  bride  in  either  the  one  or  the  other,  and 
then  you  know  you  will  be  out  of  hearing  of  her  tongue,  and 
she  will  be  either  above  or  below  the  contempt  of  your 
friends." 

"It  is  sagely  counselled,  most  equitable  sir,"  replied 
Nigel,  "and  such  restraint  would  be  a  fit  meed  for  her  folly 
that  gave  me  any  power  over  her." 

"  You  entertain  the  project  then,  my  lord  ?"  said  Duke 
Hildebrod. 

"I  must  turn  it  in  my  mind  for  twenty-four  hours,"  said 
Nigel ;  "  and  I  will  pray  you  so  to  order  matters  that  I  be  not 
farther  interrupted  by  any  visitors." 

"  We  will  utter  an  edict  to  secure  your  privacy,"  said  the 
duke  ;  "  and  you  do  not  think,"  he  added,  lowering  his  voice 
to  a  confidential  whisper,  "  that  ten  thousand  is  too  much  to 
pay  to  the  sovereign  in  name  of  wardship  ?  " 

"Ten  thousand!"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch ;  "why,  you 
said  five  thousand  but  now." 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  275 

"  Aha  1  art  avised  of  that  ?  "  said  the  duke,  touching  the 
side  of  his  nose  with  his  finger ;  "  nay,  if  you  have  marked 
rae  so  closely,  you  are  thinking  on  the  case  more  nearly  than 
I  believed  till  you  trapped  me.  Well— well,  we  will  not 
quarrel  about  the  consideration,  as  old  Trapbois  would  call 
it  ;  do  you  win  and  wear  the  dame  ;  it  will  be  no  hard  matter 
with  your  tace  and  figure,  and  I  will  take  care  that  no  one 
interrupts  you.  I  will  have  an  edict  from  the  senate  as  soon 
as  they  meet  for  their  meridiem.'' 

So  saying,  Duke  Hildebrod  took  his  leave. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

This  is  the  time.     Heaven's  maiden  sentinel 
Hath  quitted  her  high  watch,  the  lesser  spangles 
Are  paling  one  by  one;  give  me  the  ladder 
And  the  short  lever;  bid  Anthony- 
Keep  with  his  carabine  the  wicket-gate; 
And  do  thou  bare  thy  knife  and  follow  me. 
For  we  will  in  and  do  it.     Darkness  like  this 
Is  dawning  of  our  fortunes. 

Old  Play. 

When  Duke  Hildebrod  had  withdrawn,  Nigel's  first  impulse 
was  an  irresistible  feeling  to  laugh  at  the  sage  adviser,  who 
would  have  thus  connected  him  with  age,  ugliness,  and  ill- 
temper;  but  his  next  thought  was  pity  tor  the  unfortunate 
father  and  daughter,  who,  being  the  only  persons  possessed  of 
wealth  in  this  unhappy  district,  seemed  like  a  wreck  on  the 
sea-shore  of  a  barbarous  country,  only  secured  from  plunder 
for  the  moment  by  the  jealousy  of  the  tribes  among  whom  it 
had  been  cast.  Neither  could  he  help  being  conscious  that 
his  own  residence  here  was  upon  conditions  equally  precarious, 
and  that  he  was  considered  by  the  Alsatians  in  the  same  light 
of  a  godsend  on  the  Cornish  coast,  or  a  sickly  but  wealthy 
caravan  travelling  through  the  wilds  of  Africa,  and  emphati- 
cally termed  by"  the  nations  of  despoilers  through  whose 
regions  it  passes  dummalafong ,  which  signifies  a  thing  given 
to  be  devoured — a  common  prey  to  all  men. 

Nigel  had  already  formed  his  own  plan  to  extricate  him- 
self, at  whatever  risk,  from  his  perilous  and  degrading  situa- 
tion; and,  in  order  that  he  might  carry  it  into  instant  execu- 
tion, he  only  awaited  the  return  of  Lowestoffe's  messenger. 
He  expected  him,  however,  in  vain,  and  could  only  amuse 
liimself  by  looking  through  such  parts  of  his  baggage  as  had 
been  sent  to  him  from  his  former  lodgings,  in  order  to  select 
a  small  packet  of  the  most  necessary  articles  to  take  with  him, 
in  the  event  of  his  quitting  his  lodgings  secretly  and  suddenly, 
as  speed  and  privacy  would,  he  foresaw,  be  particularly  neces- 
sary, if  he  meant  to  obtain  an  interview  with  the  Kine;,  which 
was  the  course  his  spirit  and  his  interest  alike  determined  him 
to  pursue. 

While  he  was  thus  engaged,  he  found,  greatly  to  his  satis- 
faction, that  Master  Lowestoffe  had  transmitted  not  only  his 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  277 

rapier  and  poniard,  bnt  a  pair  of  pistols,  which  he  had  used 
in  travelling,  of  a  smaller  and  more  convenient  size  than  the 
large  petronels,  or  horse  pistols,  which  were  then  in  common 
use,  as  being  made  for  wearing  at  the  girdle  or  in  the  pockets. 
Next  to  having  stout  and  friendly  comrades,  a  man  is  chiefly 
emboldened  by  finding  himself  well  armed  in  case  of  need, 
and  Nigel,  avIio  had  thought  with  some  anxiety  on  the  hazard 
of   trusting   his  life,   if   attacked,   to  the   protection  of  the 
clumsy  weapon  with  which  Lowestolfe  had  equipped  him,  in 
order  to  complete  his  disguise,  felt  an  emotion  of  confidence 
approaching  to  triumph  as,  drawing  his  own  good  and  well- 
tried  rapier,  he  wiped  it  with  his  handkerchief,  examined  its 
point,  bent  it  once  or  twice  against  the  ground  to  prove  its 
well-kno^\ni  metal,  and  finally  replaced  it  in  the  scabbard,  the 
more  hastily,  that  he  heard  a  tap  at  the  door  of  his  chaml)er, 
and  had  no  mind  to  be  found  vaporing  in  the  apartment  with 
his  sword  drawn. 

It  was  his  old  host  who  entered,  to  tell  him  with  many 
cringes  that  the  price  of  his  apartment  was  to  be  a  crown  per 
diem;  and  that,  according  to  the  custom  of  "W'hitefriars,  the 
rent  was  always  payable  per  advance,  although  he  never  scru- 
pled to  let  the  money  lie  till  a  Aveek  or  fortnight,  or  even  a 
month,  in  the  hands  of  any  honorable  guest  like  ;Muster 
Grahame,  always  upon  some  reasonable  consideration  for  the 
use.  Nigel  got  rid  of  the  old  dotard's  intrusion  by  throA\ing 
down  two  pieces  of  gold,  and  requesting  theaccomnicdation 
of  his  present  apartment  for  eight  days,  adding,  however,  he 
did  not  think  he  should  tarry  so  long. 

The  miser,  with  a  sparkling  eye  and  a  trembling  hand, 
clutched  fast  the  proffered  coin,  and,  having  balanced  the 
pieces  with  exquisite  pleasure  on  the  extremity  of  his  withered 
finger,  began  almost  instantly  to  show  that  not  even  the  pos- 
session of  gold  can  gratify  for  more  than  an  instant  the  very 
heart  that  is  most  eager  in  the  pursuit  of  it.  First,  the  pieces 
might  be  light;  with  hasty  hand  he  drew  a  small  pair  of 
scales  from  his  bosom  and  weighed  them,  first  together,  then 
separately,  and  smiled  with  glee  as  he  saw  them  attain  the 
due  depression  in  the  balance — a  circumstance  which  might 
add  to  his  profits,  if  it  were  true,  as  was  currently  reported, 
that  little  of  the  gold  coinage  was  current  in  Alsatia  in  a  per- 
fect state,  and  that  none  ever  left  the  sanctuary  in  that 
condition. 

Another  fear  then  occurred  to  trouble  the  old  miser's 
pleasure.  He  had  just  been  able  to  comprehend  that  Nigel 
intended  to  leave  the  Friars  sooner  than  the  arrival  of  the  term 


278  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

for  which  he  had  deposited  the  rent.  This  might  imply  an 
expectation  of  refunding,  which,  as  a  Scotch  wag  said,  of  all 
species  of  funding,  jumped  least  with  the  old  gentleman's 
iiunior.  lie  was  beginning  to  enter  a  hypotlietical  caveat 
on  this  subject,  and  to  quote  several  reasons  why  no  part  of 
the  money  once  consigned  as  room-rent  could  be  repaid  back 
on  any  pretence,  without  great  hardship  to  the  landlord,  when 
Nigel,  growing  impatient,  told  him  that  the  money  was  his 
absolutely,  and  without  any  intention  on  his  part  of  resuming 
any  of  it;  all  he  asked  in  return  was  the  liberty  of  enjoying 
in  private  the  apartment  he  had  paid  for.  Old  Trapbois, 
who  had  still  at  liis  tongue's  end  much  of  the  smooth  lan- 
guage by  which,  in  his  time,  he  had  hastened  the  ruin  of 
many  a  young  spendthrift,  began  to  launch  out  upon  the 
noble  and  generous  disposition  of  his  new  guest,  until  Nigel, 
growing  impatient,  took  the  old  gentleman  by  the  hand,  and 
gently,  yet  irresistibly,  leading  him  to  the  door  of  his  cham- 
ber, put  him  out,  but  with  such  a  decent  and  moderate  exer- 
tion of  his  superior  strength  as  to  render  the  action  in  no 
shape  indecorous,  and,  fastening  the  door,  began  to  do  that 
for  liis  pistols  which  he  had  done  for  his  favorite  sword, 
examining  with  care  the  flints  and  locks,  and  reviewing  the 
state  of  his  small  provision  of  ammunition. 

In  this  operation  he  was  a  second  time  interrupted  by  a 
knocking  at  his  door;  he  called  upon  the  person  to  enter,  hav- 
ing no  doubt  that  it  was  Lowestoffe's  messenger  at  length  ar- 
rived. It  was,  however,  the  ungracious  daughter  of  old  Trap- 
bois, who,  muttering  something  about  her  father's  mistake, 
laid  down  upon  the  table  one  of  the  pieces  of  gold  which  Nigel 
had  just  given  to  him,  saying,  tliat  what  she  retained  was  the 
full  rent  for  the  term  he  had  specified.  Nigel  replied,  he  had 
paid  the  money,  and  had  no  desire  to  receive  it  again. 

''  Do  as  you  will  with  it,  then,"  replied  his  hostess,  '^for 
there  it  lies,  and  shall  lie  for  me.  If  you  are  fool  enough  to 
pay  more  than  is  reason,  my  father  shall  not  be  knave  enough 
to  take  it." 

*'But  your  father,  mistress,"  said  Nigel — "your  father 
told  me " 

"  Oh,  my  father — my  father,"  said  she,  interrupting  him— 
^^my  father  managed  these  affairs  while  he  was  able;  I  manage 
them  now,  and  that  may  in  the  long  run  be  as  well  for  both 
of  us." 

She  then  looked  on  the  table,  and  observed  the  weapons. 

"  You  have  arms,  I  see,"  she  said  ;  "  do  you  know  how  to 
use  them  ?  " 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  279 

"  I  should  do  so,  mistress,"  replied  Nigel,  "  for  it  has 
been  my  occupation." 

"  You  are  a  soldier,  then  ?"  she  demanded. 

*'  No  farther  as  yet  tlian  as  every  gentleman  of  my  coun- 
try is  a  soldier." 

"  Ay,  that  is  your  point  of  honor — to  cut  the  throats  of 
tlie  poor — a  proper  gentlemanlike  occupation  for  those  who 
should  protect  them  ! " 

*'' I  do  not  deal  in  cutting  throats,  mistress,"  replied  Nigel ; 
'•'  but  I  carry  arms  to  defend  myself,  and  my  country  if  it 
needs  me." 

"  Ay,"  replied  Martha,  "  it  is  fairly  worded  ;  but  men  say 
you  are  as  prompt  as  others  in  petty  brawls,  where  neither 
your  safety  nor  your  country  is  in  hazard  ;  and  that  had  it 
not  been  so  you  Avould  not  liavebeen  in  the  sanctuary  to-day." 

" Mistress,"  returned  Nigel,  "I  should  labor  in  vain  to 
make  you  understand  that  a  man's  honor,  Avhich  is,  or  should 
be,  dearer  to  him  than  his  life,  may  often  call  on  and  compel 
us  to  hazard  our  own  lives,  or  those  of  others,  on  what  would 
otherwise  seem  trifling  contingencies." 

"  God's  law  says  naught  of  that,"  said  the  female  :  "  I 
have  only  read  tliere  that  *  Thou  slialt  not  kill.'  But  I  have 
neither  time  nor  inclination  to  preacli  to  you  ;  you  will  find 
enough  figliting  here  if  you  like  it,  and  well  if  it  come  not  to 
seek  you  when  you  are  least  prepared.  Farewell  for  tlie 
present ;  the  charwoman  will  execute  your  commands  for 
your  meals." 

She  left  the  room,  just  as  Nigel,  provoked  at  her  assuming 
a  superior  tone  of  judgment  and  of  censure,  was  about  to  be 
so  superfluous  as  to  enter  into  a  dispute  with  an  old  pawn- 
broker's daughter  on  the  subject  of  the  point  of  honor.  He 
smiled  at  himself  for  the  folly  into  which  the  spirit  of  self- 
vindication  had  so  nearly  hurried  him. 

Lord  Glenvarloch  then  applied  to  old  Deborah  the  char- 
woman, by  whose  intermediation  he  was  provided  with  a 
tolerably  decent  dinner  ;  and  tlie  only  embarrassment  which 
he  experienced  was  from  the  almost  forcible  entry  of  the  old 
dotard,  his  landlord,  who  insisted  upon  giving  his  assistance 
at  laying  the  cloth.  Nigel  had  some  difliculty  to  prevent  him 
from  displacing  his  arms  and  some  papers  which  were  lying 
on  the  small  table  at  which  he  had  been  sitting  ;  and  nothing 
short  of  a  stern  and  positive  injunction  to  the  contrary  could 
compel  him  to  use  anotlier  board,  though  there  were  two  in 
the  room,  for  the  purpose  of  laying  the  cloth. 

Having:  at  length  obliged  him  to  relinquish  his  purpose. 


280  VVAVERLEY  NOVELL 

he  could  not  help  observing  that  the  eyes  of  the  old  dotard 
seemed  still  anxiously  tixeil  upon  the  small  table  on  which 
lay  his  sword  and  i)istols;  and  that,  amid  all  the  little  duties 
which  he  seemed  olliciously  anxious  to  render  to  his  guest,  he 
took  every  opportunity  of  looking  towards  and  approaching 
these  objects  of  his  attention.  At  length,  when  Trapbois 
thought  he  had  completely  avoided  the  notice  of  his  guest, 
Nigel,  through  the  observation  of  one  of  the  cracked  mirrors, 
on  which  channel  of  communication  the  old  man  had  not  cal- 
culated, beheld  him  actually  extend  his  hand  towards  the 
table  in  question,  lie  thought  it  unnecessary  to  use  farther 
ceremony,  but  telling  his  landlord,  in  a  stern  voice,  that  he 
permitted  no  one  to  touch  his  arms,  he  commanded  him  to 
leave  the  apartment.  The  old  usurer  commenced  a  maun- 
dering sort  of  apology,  in  which  all  that  Nigel  distinctly  ap- 
prehended was  a  frequent  rei^etition  of  the  word  "  consider- 
ation,''  and  which  did  not  seem  to  him  to  require  any  other 
answer  than  a  reiteration  of  his  command  to  him  to  leave  the 
apartment,  upon  pain  of  Avorse  consequences. 

The  ancient  Hebe  who  acted  as  Lord  Glenvarloch^s  cup- 
bearer took  his  part  against  the  intrusion  of  the  still  more 
antiquated  Ganymede,  and  insisted  on  old  Trapbois  leaving 
the  room  instantly,  menacing  him  at  the  same  time  with  her 
mistress's  displeasure  if  he  remained  there  any  longer.  The 
old  man  seemed  more  under  petticoat  government  than  any 
other,  for  the  threat  of  the  charwoman  produced  greater  effect 
upon  him  than  the  more  formidable  displeasure  of  Nigel.  He 
withdrew  grumbling  and  muttering,  and  Lord  Glenvarloch 
heard  him  bar  a  large  door  at  the  nearer  end  of  the  gallery, 
which  served  as  a  division  betwixt  the  other  parts  of  the  ex- 
tensive mansion  and  the  apartment  occupied  by  his  guest, 
which,  as  the  reader  is  aware,  had  its  access  from  the  landing- 
place  at  the  head  of  the  grand  staircase. 

Nigel  accejDted  the  careful  sound  of  the  bolts  and  bars  as 
they  were  severally  drawn  by  the  trembling  hand  of  old  Trap- 
bois, as  an  omen  that  the  senior  did  not  mean  again  to  revisit 
him  in  the  course  of  the  evening,  and  heartily  rejoiced  that  he 
was  at  length  to  be  left  to  uninterrupted  solitude. 

The  old  woman  asked  if  there  was  aught  else  to  be 
done  for  his  accommodation  ;  and,  indeed,  it  had  hitherto 
seemed  as  if  the  pleasure  of  serving  him,  or  more  prop- 
erly the  reward  which  she  expected,  had  renewed  her  youth 
and  activity.  Nigel  desired  to  have  candles,  to  have  a  fire 
lighted  in  his  apartment,  and  a  few  fagots  placed  beside  it, 
that  he  might  feed  it  from  time  to  time,  as  he  began  to  feel 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  ZoL 

the  chilly  effects  of  the  damp  and  low  situation  of  the  house, 
close  as  it  Avas  to  tlie  Thames.  But  while  the  old  woman  was 
absent  upon  his  errand,  he  began  to  think  in  wliat  Avay  he 
should  pass  the  long  solitary  evening  with  which  he  was 
threatened. 

His  own  reflections  promised  to  Nigel  little  amusement, 
and  less  applause.  He  had  considered  his  own  perilous  situ- 
ation in  every  light  in  which  it  could  be  viewed,  and  foresaw 
as  little  utility  as  comfort  in  resuming  the  survey.  To  divert 
the  current  of  his  ideas,  books  were,  of  course,  the  readiest 
resource  ;  and  although,  like  most  of  us,  Nigel  had,  in  his 
time,  sauntered  though  large  libraries,  and  even  spent  a  long 
time  there  without  greatly  disturbing  their  learned  contents, 
he  was  now  in  a  situation  where  the  possession  of  a  volume, 
even  of  very  inferior  merit,  becomes  a  real  treasure.  The  old 
houscAvife  returned  shortly  afterwards  with  fagots,  and  some 
pieces  of  half-burnt  wax-candles,  the  perquisites,  probably, 
real  or  usurped,  of  some  experienced  groom  of  the  chambers, 
two  of  which  she  placed  in  large  brass  candlesticks,  of  differ- 
ent sliapes  and  patterns,  and  laid  the  others  on  the  table,  that 
Nigel  might  renew  them  from  time  to  time  as  they  burnt  to 
the  socket.  She  heard  with  interest  Lord  Glenvarloch's  re- 
quest to  have  a  book — any  sort  of  book — to  pass  away  the 
night  withal,  and  returned  for  answer,  that  she  knew  of  no 
other  books  in  the  house  than  her  young  mistress's  (as  she  al- 
ways denominated  Mistress  Martha  Trapbois)  Bible,  which 
the  owner  would  not  lend ;  and  her  master's  Whetstone  of 
Witte,  being  the  second  jxirt  of  Arithmetic,  hij  Rohert  Record, 
tvith  the  Cossihe  Practice  and  Ride  of  Eciuation,  which  prom- 
ising volume  Nigel  declined  to  borrow.  Slie  offered,  how- 
ever, to  bring  him  some  books  from  Duke  Hildebrod — ''who 
sometimes,  good  gentleman,  gave  a  glance  at  a  book  when  the 
state  affairs  of  Alsatia  left  him  as  much  leisure." 

Nigel  embraced  the  proposal,  and  his  unwearied  Iris  scut- 
tled away  on  this  second  embassy.  She  returned  in  a  short 
time  with  a  tattered  quarto  volume  under  her  arm,  and  a 
pottle  of  sack  in  her  hand  ;  for  the  duke,  judging  that  mere 
reading  was  dry  Avork,  had  sent  the  wine  by  way  of  sauce  to 
help  it  down,  not  forgetting  to  add  the  price  in  the  morning's 
score  which  he  had  already  run  up  against  the  stranger  in  the 
sanctuary. 

Nigel  seized  on  the  book,  and  did  not  refuse  the  wine, 
thinking  that  a  glass  or  tAvo,  as  it  really  proved  to  be  of  good 
quality,  Avould  be  no  bad  interlude  to  his  studies.  He  dis- 
missed with  thanks  and   assurance   of  reward  the  poor  old 


282  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

drudge  who  had  been  so  zealous  in  his  service  ;  trimmed  hia 
fire  and  candles,  and  placed  the  easiest  of  the  old  arm-chairs 
in  a  convenient  posture  betwixt  the  fire  and  the  table  at  which 
he  had  dined,  and  which  now  supported  the  measure  of  sack 
and  the  lights ;  and  thus  accompanying  his  studies  with  such 
luxurious  appliances  as  were  in  his  power,  he  began  to  examine 
the  only  volume  with  which  the  ducal  library  of  Alsatia  had 
been  able  to  supply  him. 

The  contents,  though  of  a  kind  generally  interesting,  were 
not  well  calculated  to  dispel  the  gloom  by  which  he  was  sur- 
rounded. The  book  was  entitled  God's  Revenge  agamsi 
Muriher* — not,  as  the  bibliomaniacal  reader  may  easily  con- 
jecture, the  work  which  Reynolds  published  under  that  im- 
Eosing  name,  but  one  of  a  much  earlier  date,  printed  and  sold 
y  old  Wolfe ;  and  which,  could  a  copy  now  be  found,  would 
sell  for  much  more  than  its  weight  in  gold. 

Nigel  had  soon  enough  of  the  doleful  tales  which  the  book 
contains,  and  attempted  one  or  two  modes  of  killing  the 
evening.  He  looked  out  at  window,  but  the  night  was  rainy, 
with  gusts  of  wind ;  he  tried  to  coax  the  fire,  but  the  fagots 
were  green,  and  smoked  without '  burning ;  and  as  he  was 
naturally  temperate,  he  felt  his  blood  somewhat  heated  by  the 
canary  sack  which  he  had  already  drunk,  and  had  no  farther 
inclination  to  that  pastime.  He  next  attempted  to  compose 
a  memorial  addressed  to  the  King,  in  which  he  set  forth  his 
case  and  his  grievances  ;  but,  speedily  stung  with  the  idea 
that  his  supplication  would  be  treated  with  scorn,  he  flung 
the  scroll  into  the  fire,  and,  in  a  sort  of  desperation,  resumed 
the  book  which  he  had  laid  aside. 

Nigel  became  more  interested  in  the  volume  at  the  second 
than  at  the  first  attempt  which  he  made  to  peruse  it.  The 
narratives,  strange  and  shocking  as  they  were  to  human  feel- 
ing, possessed  yet  the  interest  of  sorcery  or  of  fascination, 
which  rivets  the  attention  by  its  awakening  horrors.  Much 
was  told  of  the  strange  and  horrible  acts  of  blood  by  which 
men,  setting  nature  and  humanity  alike  at  defiance,  had,  for 
the  thirst  of  revenge,  the  lust  of  gold,  or  the  cravings  of 
irregular  ambition,  broken  into  the  tabernacle  of  life.  Yet 
more  surprising  and  mysterious  tales  were  recounted  of  the 
mode  in  which  such  deeds  of  blood  had  come  to  be  discovered 
and  revenged.  Animals — irrational  animals — had  told  the 
secret,  and  birds  of  the  air  had  carried  the  matter.  The  ele- 
ments had  seemed  to  betray  the  deed  which  had  polluted 
them :  earth  had  ceased  to  support  the  murderer's  steps,  fire 

♦See  Note 89. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  283 

to  warm  his  frozen  limbs,  water  to  refresh  his  parched  lips, 
air  to  relieve  his  gasping  lungs.  All,  in  short,  bore  evidence 
to  the  homicide's  guilt.  In  other  circumstances,  the  crimi- 
nal's  own  awakened  conscience  pursued  and  brought  him  to 
justice;  and  in  some  narratives  the  grave  was  said  to  have 
yawned,  that  the  ghost  of  the  sufferer  might  call  for  revenge. 

It  was  now  wearing  late  in  the  night,  and  the  book  was 
still  in  Nigel's  hands,  when  the  tapestry  which  hung  behind 
him  flapped  against  the  wall,  and  the  wind  produced  by  its 
motion  waved  the  flame  of  the  candles  by  which  he  was  reading. 
Xigel  started  and  turned  round,  in  that  excited  and  irritated 
state  of  mind  which  arose  from  the  nature  of  his  studies, 
especially  at  a  period  when  a  certain  degree  of  superstition 
was  inculcated  as  a  point  of  religious  faith.  It  was  not  with- 
out emotion  that  he  saw  the  bloodless  countenance,  meagre 
form,  and  ghastly  aspect  of  old  Trapbois,  once  more  in  the 
very  act  of  extending  his  withered  hand  towards  the  table 
which  supported  his  arms.  Convinced  by  this  untimely 
apparition  that  something  evil  was  meditated  towards  him, 
Nigel  sprang  up,  seized  his  sword,  drew  it,  and  placing  it  at 
the  old  man's  breast,  demanded  of  him  what  he  did  in  his 
apartment  at  so  untimely  an  hour.  Trapbois  shoAved  neither 
fear  nor  surprise,  and  only  answered  by  some  imperfect  ex- 
pressions, intimating  that  he  would  part  with  his  life  rather 
than  with  his  proi^erty;  and  Lord  Glenvarloch,  strangely 
embarrassed,  knew  not  Avhat  to  think  of  the  intruder's  mo- 
tives, and  still  less  how  to  get  rid  of  him.  As  he  again  tried 
the  means  of  intimidation,  he  was  surprised  by  a  second 
apparition  from  behind  the  tapestry  in  the  person  of  the 
daughter  of  Trapbois,  bearing  a  lamp  in  her  hand.  She  also 
seemed  to  possess  her  father's  insensibility  to  danger,  for, 
coming  close  to  Nigel,  she  pushed  aside  impetuously  his 
naked  sword,  and  even  attempted  to  take  it  out  of  his  hand. 

''  For  shame,"  she  said,  "  your  sword  on  a  man  of  eighty 
years  and  more!  This  the  honor  of  a  Scottish  gentleman! 
Give  it  to  me  to  make  a  spindle  of." 

'^  Stand  back,"  said  Nigel.  "  I  mean  your  father  no  in- 
jury; but  I  luill  know  what  has  caused  him  to  prowl  this 
whole  day,  and  even  at  this  late  hour  of  night,  around  my 
arms." 

''Your  arms!"  repeated  she;  "alas!  young  man,  the 
whole  arms  in  the  Tower  of  London  are  of  little  value  to 
him,  in  comparison  of  this  miserable  piece  of  gold  which  I 
left  this  morning  on  the  table  of  a  youn^  spendthrift,  too 
careless  to  put  what  belonged  to  him  into  his  own  purse." 


284  WAVFRLEY  NOVELS 

So  saying,  she  showed  the  piece  of  gold,  which,  still  re- 
maining on  the  table  where  she  left  it,  had  been  the  bait  that 
attracted  old  Trapbois  so  frequently  to  the  spot;  and  which, 
even  in  the  silence  of  the  night,  had  so  dwelt  on  his  imagina- 
tion, that  he  had  made  use  of  a  private  passage  long  disused 
to  enter  his  guest's  apartment,  in  order  to  possess  himself  of 
the  treasure  during  his  slumbers.  He  now  exclaimed,  at  the 
highest  tones  of  his  cracked  and  feeble  voice — 

"It  is  mine — it  is  mine!  He  gave  it  to  me  for  a  consid- 
eration.    I  will  die  ere  I  part  with  my  property ! " 

"It  is  indeed  his  own,  mistress,"  said  Nigel,  "and  I  do 
entreat  you  to  restore  it  to  the  person  on  whom  I  have  be- 
stowed it,  and  let  me  have  my  apartment  in  quiet.''' 

"  I  will  account  with  you  for  it,  then,"  said  the  maiden, 
reluctantly  giving  to  her  father  the  morsel  of  Mammon,  on 
which  he  darted  as  if  his  bony  fingers  had  been  the  talons  of 
a  hawk  seizing  its  prey;  and  then  making  a  contented  mut- 
tering and  mumbling,  like  an  old  dog  after  he  has  been  fed, 
and  just  when  he  is  wheeling  himself  thrice  round  for  the 
purpose  of  lying  down,  he  followed  his  daughter  behind  the 
tapestry,  through  a  little  sliding-door,  which  was  perceived 
when  the  hangings  were  drawn  apart. 

"  This  shall  be  properly  fastened  to-morrow,"  said  the 
daughter  to  Nigel,  speaking  in  such  a  tone  that  her  father, 
deaf,  and  engrossed  by  his  acquisition,  could  not  hear  her; 
"to-night  I  will  continue  to  watch  him  closely.  I  wish  you 
good  repose." 

These  few  words,  pronounced  in  a  tone  of  more  civility 
than  she  had  yet  made  use  of  towards  her  lodger,  contained  a 
wish  which  was  not  to  be  accomplished,  although  her  guest, 
presently  after  her  departure,  retired  to  bed. 

There  was  a  slight  fever  in  Nigel's  blood,  occasioned  by 
the  various  events  of  the  evening,  which  put  him,  as  the 
phrase  is,  beside  his  rest.  Perplexing  and  painful  thoughts 
rolled  on  his  mind  like  a  troubled  stream,  and  the  more  he 
labored  to  hill  himself  to  slumber,  the  farther  he  seemed  from 
attaining  his  object.  He  tried  all  the  resources  common  in 
such  cases:  kept  counting  from  one  to  a  thousand,  until  his 
head  was  giddy;  he  watched  the  embers  of  the  wood  fire  till 
his  eyes  were  dazzled;  he  listened  to  the  dull  moaning  of  the 
wind,  the  swinging  and  creaking  of  signs  which  projected 
from  the  houses,  and  the  baying  of  here  and  there  a  homeless 
dog,  till  his  very  ear  was  weary. 

Suddenly,  however,  amid  this  monotony,  came  a  sound 
which  startled  him  at  once.     It  was  a  female  shriek.     He  sat 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  285 

np  in  his  bed  to  listen,  then  rememhered  he  was  in  Alsatia, 
where  brawls  of  every  sort  were  current  among  tlie  unruly 
inhabitants.  But  another  scream,  and  anotlier,  and  another, 
succeeded  so  close,  that  he  was  certain,  though  the  noise  was 
remote  and  sounded  stifled,  it  must  be  in  the  same  house  with 
himself. 

Nigel  jumped  up  hastily,  pnt  on  a  part  of  his  clothes, 
seized  his  sword  and  pistols,  and  ran  to  the  door  of  his 
chamber.  Here  he  plainly  heard  the  screams  redoubled,  and, 
as  he  thought,  the  sounds  came  from  the  usurer's  apartment. 
All  access  to  the  gallery  was  effectually  excluded  by  the  inter- 
mediate door,  which  the  brave  young  lord  shook  Avith  eager 
but  vain  impatience.  But  the  secret  passage  occurred  sud- 
denly to  his  recollection.  He  hastened  back  to  his  room, 
and '  succeeded  with  some  difficulty  in  lighting  a  candle, 
powerfully  agitated  by  hearing  the  cries  repeated,  yet  still 
more  afraid  lest  they  should  sink  into  silence. 

He  rushed  along  the  narrow  and  winding  entrance,  guided 
by  the  noise,  which  now  burst  more  wildly  on  his_  ear  ;  and, 
while  he  descended  a  narrow  staircase  which  terminated  the 
passage,  he  heard  the  stifled  voices  of  men,  encouraging,  as 
it  seemed,  each  other.  "  D — n  her,  strike  her  down — silence 
]^er — beat  her  brains  out  ! "  while  the  voice  of  his  hostess, 
though  now  almost  exhausted,  was  repeating  the  cry  of 
"murder,"  and  "  help."  At  the  bottom  of  the  staircase 
was  a  small  door  which  gave  way  before  Nigel  as  he  precipi- 
tated himself  upon  the  scene  of  action,  a  cocked  pistol  in  one 
hand,  a  candle  in  the  other,  and  his  naked  sword  under  his 
arm. 

Two  ruffians  had,  with  great  difficulty,  overpowered,  or, 
rather,  were  on  the  point  of  overpowering,  the  daughter  of 
Trapbois,  whose  resistance  appeared  to  have  been  most  des- 
perate, for  the  floor  was  covered  with  fragments  of  her  clothes 
and  handf uls  of  her  hair.  It  appeared  that  her  life  was  about 
to  be  the  price  of  her  defence,  for  one  villain  had  drawn 
a  long  clasp  knife,  when  they  were  surprised  by  the  entrance 
of  Nigel,  who,  as  they  turned  towards  him,  shot  the  fellow 
with  the  knife  dead  on  the  spot,  and,  when  the  other  advanced 
to  him,  hurled  the  candlestick  at  his  head,  and  then  attacked 
iiim  with  his  sword.  It  was  dark  save  some  pale  moonlight 
from  the  window  ;  and  the  ruffian,  after  firing  a  pistol  with- 
out effect,  and  fighting  a  traverse  or  two  with  his  sword,  lost 
heart,  made  for  the  window,  leaped  over  it,  and  escaped. 
Nigel  fired  his  remaining  pistol  after  him  at  a  venture,  and 
then  called  for  light. 


286  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

"  There  is  light  in  the  kitchen/*'  answered  Martha  Trapbois, 
with  more  presence  of  mind  than  could  have  been  expected. 
"  Stay,  you  know  not  the  way;  I  will  fetch  it  myself.  Oh! 
my  father — my  poor  father!  I  knew  it  would  come  to  this, 
and  all  along  of  the  accursed  gold!  They  have  murdered 
himr' 


CHAPTER  XXV 

Death  finds  us  'mid  our  plaj'things,  snatches  us, 
As  a  cross  nurse  might  do  a  way^vard  child, 
From  all  our  toys  and  baubles.     His  rough  call 
Unlooses  all  our  favorite  ties  on  earth  ; 
And  well  if  they  are  such  as  may  be  answer'd 
In  yonder  world,  where  all  is  judged  of  truly. 

Old  Play. 

It  was  a  ghastly  scene  which  opened  upon  i\Iartha  Trap- 
bois's  return  with  a  light.  Her  own  haggard  and  austere  fea- 
tures were  exaggerated  by  all  the  desperation  of  grief,  fear, 
and  passion;  but  the  latter  was  predominant.  On  the  floor 
lay  the  body  of  the  robber,  who  had  expired  without  a  groan, 
while  his  blood,  flowing  plentifully,  had  crimsoned  all 
around.  Another  body  lay  also  there,  on  which  the  unfortu- 
nate woman  precipitated  herself  in  agony,  for  it  was  that  of 
her  unhappy  father.  In  the  next  moment  she  started  up,  and 
exclaiming — "There  may  be  life  yet!"  strove  to  raise  the 
body.  Nigel  went  to  her  assistance,  but  not  without  a  glance 
at  the  open  window;  which  Martha,  as  acute  as  if  undisturbed 
either  by  passion  or  terror,  failed  not  to  interpret  justly. 

"Fear  not,"  she  cried — "fear  not;  they  are  base  cowards, 
to  whom  courage  is  as  much  unknown  as  mercy.  If  I  had  had 
weapons,  I  could  have  defended  myself  against  them  without 
assistance  or  protection.  Oh!  my  poor  father!  protection 
comes  too  late  for  this  cold  and  stiff  corpse.  He  is  dead — 
dead!" 

While  she  spoke,  they  were  attempting  to  raise  the  dead 
body  of  the  old  miser;  but  it  was  evident,  even  from  the  feel- 
ing of  the  inactive  weight  and  rigid  joints,  that  life  had  for- 
saken her  station.  Nigel  looked  for  a  wound,  but  saw  none. 
The  daughter  of  the  deceased,  with  more  presence  of  mind 
than  a  daughter  could  at  the  time  have  been  supposed  capable 
of  exerting,  discovered  the  instrument  of  his  murder — a  sort 
of  scarf,  which  had  been  drawn  so  tight  round  his  throat  as  to 
stifle  his  cries  for  assistance  in  the  first  instance,  and  after- 
wards to  extinguish  life. 

She  undid  the  fatal  noose;  and,  laying  the  old  man's  body 
in  the  arms  of  Lord  Glenvarloch,  she  ran  for  water,  for 
spirits,  for  essences,  in  the  vain  hope  that  life  might  be  only 


288  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

suspended.  That  liope  jiroved  indeed  vain.  She  chafed  his 
temples,  raised  his  head,  loosened  his  nightgown,  for  it 
seemed  as  if  he  had  arisen  from  bed  upon  hearing  the  entrance 
of  the  villains,  and,  finally,  opened  with  difficulty  his  fixed 
and  closely-clinched  hands,  from  one  of  which  dropped  a  key, 
from  the  other  the  very  piece  of  gold  about  which  the  un- 
happy man  had  been  a  little  before  so  anxious,  and  which 
probably,  in  tlie  impaired  state  of  his  mental  faculties,  he  was 
disposed  to  defend  with  as  desperate  energy  as  if  its  amount 
had  been  necessary  to  his  actual  existence. 

"  It  is  in  vain — it  is  in  vain,"  said  the  daughter,  desisting 
from  her  fruitless  attempts  to  recall  the  spirit  which  had 
been  effectually  dislodged,  for  the  neck  had  been  twisted  by 
the  violence  of  the  murderers — ''it  is  in  vain;  he  is  mur- 
dered. I  always  knew  it  would  be  thus,  and  now  I  witness 
it  ! " 

She  then  snatched  up  the  key  and  the  piece  of  money, 
but  it  was  only  to  dash  them  again  on  the  floor,  as  she  ex- 
claimed, "  Accursed  be  ye  both,  for  you  are  the  causes  of  this 
deed!/' 

Nigel  would  have  spoken — would  have  reminded  her  that 
measures  should  be  instantly  taken  for  the  pursuit  of  the 
murderer  who  had  escaped,  as  Avell  as  for  her  own  security 
against  his  return  ;  but  she  interrupted  him  sharply. 

"Be  silent,"  she  said — "be  silent.  Think  you,  the 
thoughts  of  my  own  heart  are  not  enough  to  distract  me,  and 
with  such  a  sight  as  this  before  me  ?  I  say,  be  silent,"  she 
said  again,  and  in  a  yet  sterner  tone.  "Can  a  daughter 
listen,  and  her  father's  murdered  corjose  lying  on  her  knees  ?  " 

Lord  Glenvarloch,  however  overpowered  by  the  energy 
of  her  grief,  felt  not  the  less  the  embarrassment  of  his  own 
situation.  He  had  discharged  both  his  pistols  ;  the  robber 
might  return  ;  he  had  probably  other  assistants  besides  the 
man  who  had  fallen,  and  it  seemed  to  him,  indeed,  as  if  he 
had  heard  muttering  beneath  the  windows.  He  explained 
hastily  to  his  companion  the  necessity  of  procuring  ammuni- 
tion. 

"You  are  right,"  she  said,  somewhat  contemptuously, 
"and  have  ventured  already  more  than  ever  I  expected  of 
man.  Go,  and  shift  for  yourself,  since  that  is  your  purpose  ; 
leave  me  to  my  fate." 

Without  stopping  for  needless  expostulation,  Nigel  hast- 
ened to  his  own  room  through  the  secret  passage,  furnished 
himself  with  the  ammunition  he  sought  for,  and  returned 
with  the  same  celerity ;  wondering  himself  at  the  accuracy 
with  which  he  achieved,  in  jthe  dark,  all  the  meanderings  of 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIQEL  28i 

the  passage  whicli  lie  had  tra\'ersea  oiuy  once,  and  that  in  a 
moment  of  sneh  violent  agitation. 

He  found,  on  his  return,  the  unfortunate  woman  standing 
like  a  statue  by  the  body  of  her  father,  Avhicli  she  had  laid 
sti'aight  on  the  floor,  having  covered  the  face  with  the  skirt 
of  his  gown.  She  testified  neither  surprise  nor  pleasure  at 
i*: '.gel's  return,  but  said  to  him  calmly — "  ^ly  moan  is  made 
■  --my  sorrow — all  the  sorrow  at  least  that  man  shall  ever  have 
noting  of — is  gone  past  ;  but  I  will  have  justice,  and  the  base 
villain  who  murdered  this  poor  defenceless  old  man,  when  he 
lad  not,  by  the  course  of  nature,  a  twelvemonth's  life  in 
him,  shall  not  cumber  the  earth  longer  after  him.  Stranger, 
whom  Heaven  has  sent  to  forward  the  revenge  reserved  for 
this  action,  go  to  Hildel)rod's — there  they  are  awake  all  night 
in  their  revels — bid  him  come  hither ;  he  is  bound  by  his 
duty,  and  dare  not,  and  shall  not,  refuse  his  assistance,  which 
he  knows  well  I  can  reward.  Why  do  ye  tarry  ? — go  in- 
stantly." 

"  I  would,"  said  Nigel,  "  but  I  am  fearful  of  leaving  you 
alone;  the  villains  may  return,  and " 

"True — most  true,"  answered  Martha;  "  he  may  return; 
and,  though  I  care  little  for  his  murdering  me,  he  may  pos- 
sess himself  of  what  has  most  tempted  him.  Keep  this  key 
and  this  piece  of  gold — they  are  both  of  importance;  defend 
your  life  if  assailed,  and  if  you  kill  the  villain  I  will  make  you 
rich.     I  go  myself  to  call  for  aid." 

Nigel  would  have  remonstrated  with  her,  but  she  had  de- 
parted, and  in  a  moment  he  heard  the  house-door  clank 
behind  her.  For  an  instant  he  thought  of  following  her;  but 
upon  recollection  that  the  distance  was  but  short  betwixt  the 
tavern  of  Hildebrod  and  the  house  of  Trapbois,  he  concluded 
that  she  knew  it  better  than  he,  incurred  little  danger  in  pass- 
ing it,  and  that  he  Avould  do  well  in  the  mean  while  to  remain 
on  the  watch  as  she  recommended. 

It  was  no  pleasant  situation  for  one  unused  to  such  scenes 
to  remain  in  the  apartment  with  two  dead  bodies,  recently 
those  of  living  and  breathing  men,  who  had  both,  within  the 
space  of  less  than  half  an  hour,  suffered  violent  death;  one  of 
them  by  the  hand  of  the  assassin,  the  other,  whose  blood  still 
continued  to  flow  from  tlie  Avound  in  his  throat,  and  to  flood 
all  around  him,  by  the  spectator's  own  deed  of  violence,  though 
of  justice.  He  turned  his  face  from  those  wretched  relics  of 
mortality  with  a  feeling  of  disgust,  mingled  with  superstition; 
and  he  found,  when  he  had  done  so,  that  the  consciousness  of 
the  presence  of  these  ghastly  objects,  though  unseen  by  him, 
19 


290  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

rendered  liim  more  uncomfortable  than  even  when  he  had  li_ 
eyes  fixed  upon,  and  reflected  by,  the  cold,  staring,  lifeless 
eyeballs  of  the  deceased.  Fancy  also  played  her  usual  pport 
with  him.  He  now  thouglit  he  heard  the  well-worn  damask 
nightgown  of  the  deceased  usurer  rustle;  anon,  that  he  heara 
the  slaughtered  bravo  draw  uj)  his  leg,  the  boot  scratching 
the  floor  as  if  he  was  about  to  rise;  and  again  he  deemed  he 
heard  the  footsteps  and  the  whisper  of  the  returned  ruffian 
under  the  window  from  which  he  had  lately  escaped.  To  face 
the  last  and  most  real  danger,  and  to  parry  the  terrors  which 
the  other  class  of  feelings  were  like  to  impress  upon  him, 
Nigel  went  to  the  window,  and  was  much  cheered  to  observe 
the  light  of  several  torches  illuminating  the  street,  and  fol- 
lowed, as  the  murmur  of  voices  denoted,  by  a  number  of  per- 
sons, armed,  it  would  seem,  with  firelocks  and  halberds,  and 
attendant  on  Hildebrod,  who  (not  in  his  fantastic  office  of  duke, 
but  in  that  which  he  really  possessed  of  bailiff  of  the  liberty 
and  sanctuary  of  Whitefriars)  was  on  his  way  to  inquire  into 
the  crime  and  its  circumstances. 

It  was  a  strange  and  melancholy  contrast  to  see  these  de- 
bauchees, disturbed  in  the  very  depth  of  their  midnight  revel, 
on  their  arrival  at  such  a  scene  as  this.  They  stared  on  each 
other,  and  uj)on  the  bloody  work  before  them,  with  lack-lus- 
tre eyes  ;  staggered  with  uncertain  steps  over  boards  slippery 
with  blood  ;  their  noisy  brawling  voices  sank  into  stammei- 
ing  whispers  ;  and,  with  spirits  quelled  by  what  they  saw, 
while  their  brains  were  still  stupefied  by  the  liquor  which 
they  had  drunk,  they  seemed  like  men  walking  in  their 
sleep. 

Old  Hildebrod  was  an  exception  to  the  general  condition. 
That  seasoned  cask,  however  full,  was  at  all  times  capable 
of  motion,  when  there  occurred  a  motive  sufficiently  strong  to 
set  him  a-rolling.  He  seemed  much  shocked  at  what  he  be- 
held, and  his  proceedings,  in  consequence,  had  more  in  them 
of  regularity  and  propriety  than  he  might  have  been  sujd- 
posed  capable  of  exhibiting  upon  any  occasion  whatever. 
The  daughter  was  first  examined,  and  stated,  with  wonderful 
accuracy  and  distinctness,  the  manner  in  which  she  had  been 
alarmed  with  a  noise  of  struggling  and  violence  in  her  fa- 
ther's apartment,  and  that  the  more  readily,  because  she  was 
watching  him  on  account  of  some  alarm  concerning  his  health. 
On  her  entrance,  she  had  seen  her  father  sinking  under 
the  strength  of  two  men,  upon  whom  she  rushed  with  all  the 
fury  she  was  capable  of.  As  their  faces  were  blackened  and 
their  figures  disguised,  she  could  not  pretend,  in  the  hurry 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  Ml 

of  a  mcment  so  dreadfully  agitating,  to  distinguisli  either  of 
them  as  persons  whom  she  had  seen  before.  She  remembered 
little  more  except  tlie  firing  of  shots,  until  she  found  herself 
alone  witli  her  guest,  and  saw  that  the  ruffian  hud  escaped. 

Lord  Glenvarloch  tuld  his  story  as  we  have  given  it  to 
the  reader.  The  direct  evidence  thus  received,  Ilildebrod 
examined  the  premises.  lie  found  that  the  villains  had 
made  their  entrance  by  the  window  out  of  which  the  survivor 
had  made  his  escape;  j^et  it  seemed  singular  tliat  they  should 
have  done  so,  as  it  was  secured  with  strong  iron  bars,  wliich 
old  Trapbois  was  in  the  habit  of  shutting  witli  his  own  hand 
at  niglitfall.  Tie  minuted  down  with  great  accuracy  the 
state  of  everything  in  tlie  apartment,  and  examined  carefully 
the  features  of  the  slain  robber.  He  was  dressed  like  a  sea- 
man of  the  lowest  order,  but  his  face  was  known  to  none 
present.  Hildebrod  next  sent  for  an  Alsatian  surgeon,  whose 
rices,  undoing  what  his  skill  might  have  done  for  him,  had 
consigned  him  to  the  wretched  practice  of  this  place.  He 
made  him  examine  the  dead  bodies,  and  make  a  proper  dec- 
laration of  the  manner  in  which  the  sufferers  seemed  to  have 
come  by  their  end.  Tlie  circumstance  of  the  sash  did  not 
escape  the  learned  judge,  and  having  listened  to  all  that 
could  be  heard  or  conjectured  on  the  subject,  and  collected 
all  particulars  of  evidence  which  appeared  to  bear  on  the 
bloody  transaction,  he  commanded  the  door  of  the  apartment 
to  be  locked  until  next  morning;  and  carrying  the  unfortu- 
nate daughter  of  the  murdered  man  into  the  kitchen,  where 
there  was  no  one  in  presence  but  Lord  Glenvarloch,  he  asked 
her  gravely,  whether  she  suspected  no  one  in  particular  of 
having  committed  the  deed. 

''Do  yoic  suspect  no  one?"  answered  Martha,  looking 
fixedly  on  him. 

"  Perhaps  I  may,  mistress;  but  it  is  my  part  to  ask  ques- 
tions, yours  to  answer  them.     That's  the  rule  of  the  game." 

"  Then  I  suspect  him  who  wore  yonder  sash.  Do  not  you 
know  whom  I  mean  ?  " 

"  Why,  if  you  call  on  me  for  honors,  I  must  needs  say  1 
have  seen  Captain  Peppercull  have  one  of  such  a  fashion, 
and  he  was  not  a  man  to  change  his  suits  often." 

"  Send  out,  then,"  said  Martha,  "  and  have  him  appre- 
hended." 

"If  it  is  he,  he  will  be  far  by  this  time;  but  I  will  com- 
municate with  the  higher  powers,"  answered  the  judge. 

"  You  would  have  him  escape,"  resumed  she,  fixing  her 
eyes  on  him  sternly. 


292  W AVE  RLE  Y  NOVELS 

*'  By  cock  and  pie,"  replied  Ilildebrod,  "  did  it  depend  on 
me,  the  murdering  cut-throat  siiould  hang  as  high  as  ever 
Hainan  did;  but  let  me  take  my  time.  lie  has  friends 
among  us,  thai  you  wot  well;  and  all  that  should  assist  me 
areas  drunk  as  fiddlers." 

"  I  will  have  revenge — Iwill  have  it,"  repeated  she;  "and 
take  heed  you  trilie  not  with  me." 

"  Trifle!  I  would  sooner  trifle  witli  a  she-bear  the  minute 
after  they  had  baited  her.  I  tell  you,  mistress,  be  patient, 
and  we  will  have  him.  I  know  all  his  haunts,  and  he  cannot 
forbear  them  long;  and  I  will  have  trap-doors  open  for  him. 
You  cannot  want  justice,  mistress,  for  you  have  the  means  to 
get  it." 

"  They  who  help  me  in  my  revenge,"  said  Martha,  "  shall 
share  those  means." 

"Enough  said,"  replied  Hildebrod;  "and  now  I  would 
have  you  go  to  my  house  and  get  something  hot;  you  will  be 
but  dreary  here  by  yourself." 

"I  will  send  for  the  old  charwoman,"  replied  Martha, 
"and  we  have  the  stranger  gentleman,  besides." 

"  TJmph — umph,  the  stranger  gentleman! "  said  Hildebrod 
to  Nigel,  whom  he  drew  a  little  apart.  "  I  fancy  the  captain 
has  made  the  stranger  gentleman's  fortune  when  he  was  mak- 
ing a  bold  dash  for  his  own.  I  can  tell  your  honor — I  must 
not  say  lordship — that  I  think  my  having  chanced  to  give  the 
greasy  buff-and-iron  scoundrel  some  hint  of  what  I  recom- 
mended to  you  to-day  has  put  him  on  this  rough  game.  The 
better  for  you :  you  will  get  the  cash  without  the  father-in-law. 
You  will  keep  conditions,  I  trust?" 

"  I  wish  you  had  said  nothing  to  any  one  of  a  scheme  so 
absurd,"  said  Nigel. 

"  Absurd!  Why,  think  you  she  will  not  have  thee?  Take 
her  with  the  tear  in  her  eye,  man — take  her  with  the  tear  in 
her  eye.  Let  me  hear  from  you  to-morrow.  Good-night, 
good-night;  a  nod  is  as  good  as  a  wink.  I  must  to  my  busi- 
ness of  sealing  and  locking  up.  By  the  way,  this  horrid  work 
has  put  all  out  of  my  head.  Here  is  a  fellow  from  Mr.  Lowe- 
stoffe  has  been  asking  to  see  you.  As  he  said  his  business 
was  express,  the  senate  only  made  him  drink  a  couple  of 
flagons,  and  he  was  just  coming  to  beat  up  your  quarters 
when  this  breeze  blew  wp.  Aliey,  friend!  there  is  Master 
Nigel  Grahame." 

A  young  man,  dressed  in  a  green  plush  jerkin,  with  a 
badge  on  the  sleeve,  and  having  the  appearance  of  a  water- 
man, approached  and  took  Nigel  aside,    while  Duke  Hilda- 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  291 

brod  went  from  place  to  place  to  exercise  his  authority,  and 
to  see  the  windows  fastened  and  the  doors  of  the  apartment 
locked  up.  The  news  communicated  by  Lowestoffe's  messen- 
ger were  not  the  most  pleasant.  They  were  intimated  in  a 
courteous  whisper  to  Nigel,  to  the  following  effect:  That 
Master  Lowestolle  prayed  him  to  consult  his  safety  by 
instantly  leaving  "Whitefriars,  for  that  a  warrant  from  the 
Lord  Chief  Justice  liad  been  issued  out  for  apprehending 
him,  and  would  be  put  in  force  to-morrow,  by  the  assistance 
of  a  party  of  musketeers,  a  force  which  the  Alsatians  neither 
would  nor  dared  to  resist. 

"  And  so,  squire,"  said  the  aquatic  emissary,  "myAvherry 
is  to  wait  you  at  the  Temple  Stairs  yonder,  at  five  this  morn- 
ing, and,  if  you  would  give  the  bloodhounds  the  slip,  why, 
you  may." 

^MVhy  did  not  Master  Lowestoffe  write  to  me? "said 
Nigel. 

"  Alas!  the  good  gentleman  lies  up  in  lavender  for  it  him- 
self, and  has  as  little  to  do  with  pen  and  ink  as  if  he  were  a 
parson. " 

''^Did  he  send  any  token  to  me?"  said  Nigel. 

"  Token!  ay,  marry  did  he — token  enough,  an  I  have  not 
forgot  it,"  said  the  fellow;  then,  giving  a  hoist  to  the  waist- 
band of  his  breeches,  he  said,  "  Ay,  I  have  it;  you  were  to 
believe  me,  because  your  name  was  written  with  an  0  for 
Grahame.  Ay,  that  was  it,  I  think.  Well,  shall  we  meet 
in  two  hours,  when  tide  turns,  and  go  down  the  river  like  a 
twelve-oared  barge  ?  " 

''Where  is  the  King  just  now,  knowest  thou?"  answered 
Lord  Glenvarloch. 

''The  King!  why,  he  went  down  to  Greenwich  yesterday 
by  water,  like  a  noble  sovereign  as  he  is,  who  will  always  float 
where  he  can.  He  was  to  have  hunted  this  week,  but  that 
purpose  is  broken,  they  say;  and  the  Prince,  and  the  Duke, 
and  all  of  them  at  Greenwich,  are  as  merry  as  minnows." 

''  Well,"  replied  Nigel,  "I  will  be  ready  to  go  at  five;  do 
thou  come  hither  to  carry  my  baggage." 

'^Ay — ay,  master,"  replied  the  fellow,  and  left  the  house, 
mixing  himself  with  the  disorderly  attendants  of  Duke  Hilde- 
brod,  who  were  now  retiring.  That  potentate  entreated  Nigel 
to  make  fast  the  doors  behind  him,  and,  pointing  to  the  female 
who  sat  by  the  expiring  fire  with  her  limbs  outstretched,  like 
one  whom  the  hand  of  death  had  already  arrested,  he  whispered, 
"  Mind  3^ourhits,  and  mind  your  bargain,  or  I  will  cut  your 
bowstring  for  you  before  you  can  draw  it." 


«94  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

Feeling  deeply  the  ineffable  brutality  which  could  recom^ 
mend  tlie  prosecuting  such  views  over  a  wretch  in  such  a  con- 
dition,  Lord  Glenvarloch  yet  commanded  his  temper  so  far  as 
to  receive  the  advice  in  silence,  and  attend  to  the  former  part 
of  it,  by  barring  the  door  carefully  behind  Duke  Hildebrod 
and  his  suite,  with  the  tacit  hope  that  he  should  never  again 
see  or  hear  of  them.  He  then  returned  to  the  kitchen,  in 
which  the  unhappy  woman  remained,  her  hands  still  clinched, 
her  eyes  fixed,  and  her  limbs  extended  like  those  of  a  person 
in  a  trance.  Much  moved  by  her  situation,  and  with  the 
prospect  which  lay  before  her,  he  endeavored  to  awaken  her 
to  existence  by  every  means  in  his  power,  and  at  length  ap- 
parently succeeded  in  dispelling  her  stupor  and  attracting  her 
attention.  He  then  explained  to  her  that  he  was  in  the  act  of 
leaving  Whitefriars  in  a  few  hours,  that  his  future  destination 
was  uncertain,  but  that  he  desired  anxiously  to  know  whether 
he  could  contribute  to  her  protection  by  apprising  any  friend 
of  her  situation,  or  otherwise.  With  some  difficulty  she  seemed 
to  comprehend  his  meaning,  and  thanked  him  with  her  usual 
short  ungracious  manner.  "  He  might  mean  well,"  she  said, 
'*  but  he  ought  to  know  that  the  miserable  had  no  friends." 

Nigel  said,  "  He  would  not  willingly  be  importunate,  but 
as  he  was  about  to  leave  the  Friars " 

She  interrupted  him — ^'You  are  about  to  leave  the  Friars? 
I  will  go  with  you." 

"You  go  with  me!  "  exclaimed  Lord  Glenvarloch. 

"  Yes,"  she  said,  ''I  will  persuade  my  father  to  leave  tnis 
murdering  den."  But,  as  she  spoke,  the  more  perfect  recollec- 
tion of  what  had  passed  crowded  on  her  mind.  She  hid  her 
face  in  her  hands,  and  burst  out  into  a  dreadful,  fit  of  sobs, 
moans,  and  lamentations,  which  terminated  in  hysterics,  violent 
in  proportion  to  the  uncommon  strength  of  her  body  and 
mind. 

Lord  Glenvarloch,  shocked,  confused,  and  inexperienced, 
was  about  to  leave  the  house  in  quest  of  medical,  or  at  least 
female,  assistance  ;  but  the  patient,  when  the  paroxysm  had 
somewhat  spent  its  force,  held  him  fast  by  the  sleeve  with 
one  hand,  covering  her  face  with  the  other,  while  a  copious 
flood  of  tears  came  to  relieve  the  emotions  of  grief  by  which 
she  had  been  so  violently  agitated. 

"Do  not  leave  me,"  she  said — "do  not  leave  me,  and  call 
no  one.  I  have  never  been  in  this  way  before,  and  would  not 
now,"  she  said,  sitting  upright  and  wiping  her  eyes  with  her 
apron — "would  not  now — but  that — but  that  he  loved  7ne,  if 
he  loved  nothing  else  that  was  human.  To  die  so,  and  by 
such  hands  I'' 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  295 

And  again  the  unhappy  woman  gave  way  to  a  paroxysm 
of  sorrow,  mingling  lier  tears  with  sobbing,  wailing,  and  all 
the  abandonment  of  female  grief  when  at  its  utmost  height. 
At  length,  she  gradually  recovered  the  austerity  of  her 
natural  composure,  and  maintained  it  as  if  by  a  forcible  ex- 
ertion of  resolution,  repelling,  as  she  spoke,  the  repeated  re- 
turns of  the  hysterical  affection,  by  such  an  effort  as  that  by 
which  epileptic  patients  are  known  to  suspend  the  recur- 
rence of  their  fits.  Yet  her  mind,  however  resolved,  could  not 
so  absolutely  overcome  the  affection  of  her  nerves  but  that 
she  was  agitated  by  strong  fits  of  trembling,  which,  for  a 
minute  or  two  at  a  time,  shook  her  whole  frame  in  a  manner 
frightful  to  witness.  Nigel  forgot  his  own  situation,  and,  in- 
deed, everything  else,  in  the  interest  inspired  by  the  unhappy 
woman  before  him — an  interest  which  affected  a  proud  spirit 
the  more  deeply,  that  she  herself,  -wath  correspondent  high- 
ness of  mind,  seemed  determined  to  owe  as  little  as  possible 
either  to  the  humanity  or  the  pity  of  others. 

"  I  am  not  wont  to  be  in  this  way,"  she  said ;  "  but — but — 
nature  will  have  power  over  the  frail  laeings  it  has  made.  Over 
you,  sir,  I  have  some  right;  for,  Avithout  you,  I  had  not  sur- 
vived this  awful  night.  I  wish  your  aid  had  been  either  ear- 
lier or  later;  but  you  have  saved  my  life,  and  you  are  bound  to 
assist  in  making  it  endurable  to  me." 

"  If  you  will  show  me  how  it  is  possible,"  answered  Nigel. 

"  You  are  going  hence,  you  say,  instantly ;  carry  me  with 
you,"  said  the  unhappy  woman.  "  By  my  own  efforts,  I  shall 
never  escape  from  this  wilderness  of  guilt  and  misery." 

**Alas!  what  can  I  do  for  you?"  replied  Nigel.  _*'■  My 
own  way,  and  I  must  not  deviate  from  it,  leads  me,  in  all 
probability,  to  a  dungeon.  I  might,  indeed,  transport  you 
from  hence  with  me,  if  you  could  afterwards  bestow  yourself 
with  any  friend." 

''Friend! "she  exclaimed,  "1  have  no  friend;  they  have 
long  since  discarded  us.  A  spectre  arising  from  the  dead  Avere 
more  welcome  than  I  should  be  at  the  door  of  those  who  have 
disclaimed  us;  and,  1  they  were  willing  to  restore  their 
friendship  to  me  no^*,  I  would  despise  it,  because  they  with- 
drew it  from  him — from  him  [here  she  underwent  strong  but 
suppressed  agitation,  and  then  added  firmly] — from  Jiitn  who 
lies  vonder.  I  have  na  friend."  Here  she  paused;  and  then 
suddenly,  as  if  recollecting  herself,  added,  "  I  have  no  friend; 
but  I  have  that  will  purchase  many — I  have  that  which  will 
purchase  both  friends  and  avengers.  It  is  well  thought  of;  I 
must  not  leave  it  for  •»  prey  to  cneats  and  ruflSans.    Stranger, 


^6  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

you  must  return  to  yonder  room.  Pass  tlirougli  it  boldly  .o 
his — tliiit  is,  to  the  sleeping-apartment;  push  the  bedstead 
aside;  beneath  each  of  the  posts  is  a  brass  plate,  as  if  to  sup- 
port the  weight,  but  it  is  that  upon  the  left,  nearest  to  the 
wall,  which  must  serve  your  turn;  press  the  corner  of  the 
plate,  and  it  will  sj^ring  up  and  show  a  keyhole,  which  this 
key  will  open.  You  will  then  lift  a  concealed  trap-door,  and 
in  a  cavity  of  the  floor  you  will  discover  a  small  chest.  Bring 
it  hither;  it  shall  accompany  our  journey,  and  it  will  be  hard 
if  the  contents  cannot  purchase  me  a  place  of  refuge. "" 

"  But  the  door  communicating  with  the  kitchen  has  been 
locked  by  these  people,"  said  Nigel. 

"  True,  I  had  forgot;  they  had  their  reasons  for  that, 
doubtless,"  answered  she.  "  But  the  secret  passage  from 
your  apartment  is  open,  and  you  may  go  that  way." 

Lord  Glenvarloch  took  the  key,  and,  as  he  lighted  a  lamp 
to  show  him  the  way,  she  read  in  his  countenance  some  un- 
willingness to  the  task  imposed. 

"  You  fear?  "  she  said.  "  There  is  no  cause:  the  murderer 
and  his  victim  are  both  at  rest.  Take  courage,  I  will  go  with 
you  myself;  you  cannot  know  the  trick  of  the  spring,  and  the 
chest  will  be  too  heavy  for  you." 

"  No  fear — no  fear,"  answered  Lord  Glenvarloch,  ashamed 
of  the  construction  she  put  upon  a  momentary  hesitation, 
arising  from  a  dislike  to  look  upon  what  is  horrible,  often 
connected  with  those  high-wrought  minds  which  are  the  last 
to  fear  what  is  merely  dangerous.  "  I  will  do  your  errand  as 
you  desire;  but  for  you,  you  must  not — cannot  go  yonder." 

"  I  can — I  will,"  she  said.  "  I  am  composed.  You  shall 
see  that  I  am  so."  She  took  from  the  table  a  piece  of  un- 
finished sewing-work,  and,  with  steadiness  and  composure, 
passed  a  silken  thread  into  the  eye  of  a  fine  needle.  "Could 
I  have  done  that,"  she  said,  with  a  smile  yet  more  ghastly  than 
her  previous  look  of  fixed  despair,  "had  not  my  heart  and 
hand  been  both  steady  ?  " 

She  then  led  the  way  rapidly  upstairs  to  Nigel's  chamber, 
and  proceeded  throagh  the  secret  passage  witli  the  same  haste, 
as  if  she  had  feared  her  resolution  might  have  failed  her  ere 
her  purjDose  was  executed.  At  the  bottom  of  the  stairs  she 
paused  a  moment,  before  entering  the  fatal  ajDartment,  then 
Imrried  through  with  a  rapid  step  to  the  sleeping-chamber 
beyond,  followed  closely  by  Lord  Glenvarloch,  whose  reluc- 
tance to  approach  the  scene  of  butchery  was  altogether  lost  in 
the  anxiety  which  he  felt  on  account  of  the  survivor  of  the 
tragedy. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  297 

Her  first  action  was  to  i^ull  aside  the  curtains  of  her 
father's  bed.  The  bedclotlies  were  thrown  aside  in  confusion, 
doubtless  in  the  action  of  liis  starting  from  sleep  to  opjjose 
tlie  entrance  of  the  villains  into  the  next  apartment.  The 
hard  inattress  scarcely  showed  the  slight  pressure  where  the 
emaciated  body  of  the  old  miser  had  been  deposited.  His 
daughter  sank  beside  the  bed,  clasped  her  hands,  and  prayed 
to  Heaven,  in  a  short  and  affecting  manner,  for  su})port  in 
her  affliction,  and  for  vengeance  on  tiie  villains  who  had  made 
her  fatherless.  A  low-muttered  and  still  more  brief  petition 
recommended  to  Heaven  the  soul  of  the  sufferer,  and  invoked 
pardon  for  his  sins,  in  virtue  of  the  great  Christian  atone- 
ment. 

This  duty  of  piety  performed,  she  signed  to  Xigel  to  aid 
her;  and,  having  pushed  aside  the  heavy  beadstead,  they  saw 
the  brass  plate  whicli  ^lartha  had  described.  She  pressed  the 
spring,  and  at  once  the  plate  starting  up,  showed  the  key- 
hole, and  a  large  iron  ring  used  in  lifting  the  trap-door, 
which,  when  raised,  displayed  the  strong-box,  or  small  chest, 
she  had  mentioned,  and  which  proved  indeed  so  very  weighty 
that  it  might  perhaps  have  been  scarcely  possible  for  Nigel, 
though  a  very  strong  man,  to  have  raised  it  without  assistance. 

iftiving  replaced  everything  as  they  had  found  it,  Nigel, 
with  such  help  as  his  companion  Avas  able  to  afford,  assumed 
his  load,  and  made  a  shift  to  carry  it  into  the  next  apartment, 
where  lay  the  miserable  osvmer,  insensible  to  sounds  and  cir- 
cumstances which,  if  anything  could  have  broken  his  long 
last  slumber,  would  certainly  have  done  so. 

His  unfortunate  daughter  went  up  to  his  body,  and  had 
even  the  courage  to  remove  the  sheet  which  had  been  de- 
cently disposed  over  it.  She  put  her  hand  on  the  heart,  but 
there"  was  no  throb;  held  a  feather  to  tlie  lips,  but  there  Avas 
no  motion;  then  kissed  with  deep  reverence  the  starting 
veins  of  the  pale  forehead,  and  then  the  emaciated  hand. 

"  I  would  you  could  hear  me,"  she  said,  "  father!  I  would 
you  could  hear  me  swear  that,  if  I  now  save  what  you  most 
valued  on  earth,  it  is  only  to  assist  me  in  obtaining  vengeance 
for  your  death ! " 

She  replaced  the  covering,  and,  without  a  tear,  a  sigh,  or 
an  additional  word  of  any  kind,  renewed  her  efforts,  until 
they  conveyed  the  strong-box  betwixt  them  into  Lord  Glen- 
varioch's  sleeping-apartment.  "  It  must  pass,"  she  said, 
•'  as  part  of  your  baggage.  I  will  be  in  readiness  as  soon  as 
the  waterman  calls." 

She  retired;  and  Lord  Glenvarloch,  who  saw  the  hour  of 


298  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

their  departure  approach,  tore  down  a  part  of  tlie  old  hang- 
ing to  make  a  covering,  which  he  corded  upon  the  trunk, 
lest  the  peculiarity  of  its  shape,  and  the  care  with  which  it 
was  banded  and  counterbanded  with  bars  of  steel,  might 
alford  suspicions  respecting  the  treasure  which  it  contained. 
Having  taken  this  means  of  precaution,  he  changed  the  ras- 
cally disguise,  which  he  had  assumed  on  entering  Whitef  riars, 
into  a  suit  becoming  his  quality,  and  then,  unable  to  sleep, 
though  exhausted  with  the  events  of  the  night,  he  threw 
himself  on  his  bed  to  await  the  summons  of  the  waterman. 


CHAPTER    XXVI 

Give  us  good  voj'age,  gentle  stream.     We  stun  not 
Thy  sober  ear  with  sounds  of  revehy, 
Wake  not  the  slumbering  echoes  of  thy  banks 
With  voice  of  flute  and  horn;  we  do  but  seek 
On  the  broad  pathway  of  thy  swelling  bosom 
To  glide  in  silent  safety. 

Tlie  Double  Bridal. 

GrRAT,  or  ratlier  yellow,  light  was  beginning  to  twinkle 
through  the  fogs  of  Whitefriars,  when  a  low  tap  at  the  door 
of  the  unliappy  miser  announced  to  Lord  Glenvarloeh  tlie 
summons  of  tlie  boatman.  He  found  at  the  door  tlie  man 
whom  he  had  seen  the  night  before,  with  a  companion. 

"  Come — come,  master,  let  us  get  afloat,"  said  one  of 
them,  in  a  rough,  impressive  whisper,  "  time  and  tide  wait 
for  no  man." 

"  They  shall  not  wait  for  me,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloeh; 
•"^but  I  have  some  things  to  carry  with  me." 

"  Ay — ay,  no  man  will  take  a  pair  of  oars  now.  Jack,  un- 
iess  he'  means  to  load  the  Avherry  like  a  six-horse  wagon. 
When  they  don't  want  to  shift  the  whole  kit,  they  take  a 
sculler,  and  be  d — d  to  them.  Come — come,  where  be  your 
rattle-traps  ?  " 

One  of  the  men  was  soon  sufficiently  loaded,  in  his  own 
estimation  at  least,  with  Lord  Glenvarloch's  mail  and  its 
accompaniments,  with  wliich  burden  he  began  to  trudge 
towards  the  Temple  Stairs.  His  comrade,  who  seemed  the 
principal,  began  to  handle  the  trunk  which  contained  the 
miser's  treasure,  but  pitched  it  down  again  in  an  instant, 
declaring,  with  a  great  oath,  that  it  was  as  reasonable  to 
expect  a  man  to  carry  Paul's  on  his  back.  The  daugliter  of 
Trapbois,  who  had  by  this  time  joined  them,  muffled  up  in  a 
long  dark  hood  and  mantle,  exclaimed  to  Lord  Glenvarloeh — 
"  Let  them  leave  it  if  they  will — let  them  leave  it  all;  let  us 
but  escape  from  this  horrilale  place." 

We  have  mentioned  elsewhere  that  Nigel  was  a  very 
atliletic  young  man,  and,  impelled  by  a  strong  feeling  of  com- 
passion and  indignation,  he  showed  his  bodily  strength  singu- 
larly on  this  occasion,  by  seizing  on  the  ponderous  strong- 
box, and,  by  means  of  the  rope  he  had  cast  around  it,  throw- 

£»0 


300  WAVEELEY  NOVELS 

ing  it  on  his  shoulders,  and  marching  resolutely  forward 
under  a  weiglit  which  would  have  sunk  to  the  earth  three 
young  gallants,  at  the  least,  of  our  degenerate  day.  The 
waterman  followed  him  in  amazement,  calling  out,  "'Why. 
master — master,  you  might  as  well  gie  me  t'other  end  on "t!" 
and  anon  offered  his  assistance  to  support  it  in  some  degree 
behind,  which,  after  the  first  minute  or  two,  Nigel  was  fain 
to  accept.  His  strength  Avas  almost  exhausted  when  he 
reached  the  wherry,  which  was  lying  at  the  Temple  Stairs 
according  to  appointment;  and,  when  he  pitched  the  trunk 
into  it,  the  weight  sank  the  how  of  the  boat  so  low  in  the 
water  as  well-nigh  to  overset  it. 

"  We  shall  have  as  hard  a  fare  of  it,"  said  the  waterman 
to  his  companion,  "  as  if  we  were  ferrying  over  an  honest 
bankrupt  with  all  his  secreted  goods.  Ho,  ho!  good  woman, 
what  are  you  stepping  in  for?  our  gunwale  lies  deep  enough 
in  the  water  without  live  luinber  to  boot." 

"This  person  comes  with  me,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch; 
"she  is  for  the  present  under  my  protection." 

"Come — come,  master,"  rejoined  the  fellow,  "that is  out 
of  my  commission.  You  must  not  double  my  freight  on  me. 
She  may  go  by  land;  and,  as  for  protection,  her  face  will  pro- 
tect her  from  Berwick  to  the  Land's  End." 

"  You  will  not  except  at  my  doubling  the  loading  if  I 
double  the  fare?"  said  Nigel,  determined  on  no  account  to 
relinquish  the  protection  of  this  unhappy  woman,  for  which 
he  had  already  devised  some  sort  of  plan,  likely  now  to  be 
baffled  by  the  characteristic  rudeness  of  the  Thames  water- 
men. 

"  Ay,  by  G — ,  but  I  will  except  though,"  said  the  fellow 
with  the  green  plush  jacket.  "  I  will  overload  my  wherry 
neither  for  love  nor  money.  I  love  my  boat  as  well  as  my 
wife,  and  a  thought  better." 

"Nay — nay,  comrade,"  said  his  mate,  "that  is  speaking 
no  true  water  language.  For  double  fare  we  are  bound  to 
row  a  witch  in  her  eggshell  if  she  bid  us;  and  so  pull  away. 
Jack,  and  let  us  have  no  more  prating." 

They  got  into  the  stream-way  accordingly,  and,  although 
heavily  laden,  beg-an  to  move  down  the  river  with  reasonable 
speed. 

The  lighter  vessels  which  passed,  overtook,  or  crossed 
them,  in  their  course,  failed  not  to  assail  them  with  the 
boisterous  raillery  which  was  then  called  water- wit ;  for  which 
the  extreme  plainness  of  Mistress  Martha's  features,  con- 
trasted with  the  youth,  handsome  figure,  and  good  looks  of 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  301 

!N'igel,  furnished  tlie  principal  topics  ;  while  the  circumstance 
of  the  boat  being  somewhat  overloaded  did  not  escape  their 
notice.  They  were  hailed  successively  as  a  grocer's  wife  upon 
a  party  of  pleasure  with  her  eldest  apprentice ;  as  an  old 
woman  carrying  her  grandson  to  school ;  and  as  a  young 
strapping  Irisliman,  conveying  an  ancient  maiden  to  Dr. 
Rigmarole's  at  Kedriffe,  who  buckles  beggars  for  a  tester  and 
a  dram  of  Geneva.  All  this  abuse  was  retorted  in  a  similar 
strain  of  humor  by  Green-Jacket  and  his  companion,  who 
maintained  the  war  of  wit  with  the  same  alacrity  with  which 
they  were  assailed. 

MeauAvhile,  Lord  Glenvarloch  asked  his  desolate  com- 
panion if  she  had  thought  of  any  place  where  she  could  re- 
main in  safety  with  her  property.  She  confessed,  in  more 
detail  tlian  formerly,  that  her  father's  character  had  left  her 
no  friends  ;  and  that,  from  the  time  he  had  betaken  himself 
to  Whitefriars,  to  escape  certain  legal  consequences  of  his 
eager  pursuit  of  gain,  she  had  lived  a  life  of  total  seclusion ; 
not  associating  vnt\\  the  society  which  the  place  afforded,  and, 
by  her  residence  there,  as  well  as  her  father's  parsimonv, 
effectually  cut  off  from  all  other  company.  What  she  now 
wished,  was,  in  the  first  place,  to  obtain  the  shelter  of  a  de- 
cent lodging,  and  the  countenance  of  honest  people,  however 
low  in  life,  until  she  should  obtain  legal  advice  as  to  the 
mode  of  obtaining  justice  on  her  father's  murderer.  She 
had  no  hesitation  to  charge  the  guilt  upon  Colepepper,  com- 
monly called  Peppercull,  whom  she  knew  to  be  as  capable  of 
any  act  of  treacherous  cruelty  as  he  was  cowardly  where  actual 
manhood  was  required.  He  had  been  strongly  suspected  of 
two  robberies  before,  one  of  which  was  coupled^  with  an  atro- 
cious murder.  He  had,  she  intimated,  made  pretensions  to 
her  hand  as  the  easiest  and  safest  way  of  obtaining  possession 
of  her  father's  wealth ;  and,  on  her  refusing  his  addresses,  if 
they  could  be  termed  so,  in  the  most  positive  terms,  he  had 
throAvn  out  such  obscure  hints  of  vengeance  as,  Joined  with 
some  imperfect  assaults  upon  the  house,  had  kept  her  in  fre- 
quent alarm,  both  on  her  father's  account  and  her  own. 

Nigel,  but  that  his  feeling  of  respectful  delicacy  to  tlie 
unfortunate  woman  forbade  him  to  do  so,  could  here  have 
communicated  a  circumstance  corroborative  of  her  suspicions, 
which  had  already  occurred  to  his  own  mind.  He  recollected 
the  hint  that  old  Hildobrod  threw  forth  on  the  preceding 
night,  that  some  communication  betwixt  himself  and  Cole- 
pepper  had  hastened  the  catastrophe.  As  this  communication 
related  to  the  plan  which  Uildebrod  had  been  pleased  to  form 


302  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

of  promoting  a  marriage  Ijetwixt  Xigel  himself  and  the  ricu 
heiress  of  Trai)bois,  the  fear  of  losing  an  opportunity  not  to 
be  regained,  together  with  the  mean  malignity  of  a  low-bred 
riiflfian,  disappointed  in  a  favorite  scheme,  was  most  likely  to 
instigate  the  bravo  to  the  deed  of  violence  which  had  been 
committed.  The  reflection,  that  his  own  name  was  in  some 
degree  implicated  with  the  causes  of  this  horrid  tragedy, 
doubled  Lord  Glenvarloch's  anxiety  in  behalf  of  the  victim 
whom  he  had  rescued,  while  at  the  same  time  he  formed  the 
tacit  resolution  that,  so  soon  as  his  own  affairs  were  put  upon 
some  footing,  he  would  contribute  all  in  his  power  towards 
the  investigation  of  this  bloody  afi'air. 

After  ascertaining  from  his  companion  that  she  could  form 
no  better  plan  of  her  own,  he  recommended  to  her  to  take  up 
her  lodging  for  the  time  at  the  house  of  his  old  landlord, 
Christie,  the  ship-chandler,  at  Paul's  Wharf,  describing  the 
decency  and  honesty  of  that  worthy  cou23le,  and  expressing 
his  hopes  that  they  would  receive  her  into  their  own  house, 
or  recommend  her  at  least  to  that  of  some  person  for  whom 
they  would  be  responsible,  until  she  should  have  time  to  enter 
upon  other  arrangements  for  herself. 

The  poor  woman  received  advice  so  grateful  to  her  in  her 
desolate  condition  with  an  expression  of  thanks,  brief  indeed, 
but  deeper  than  anything  had  yet  extracted  from  the  austerity 
of  her  natural  disposition. 

Lord  Glenvarloch  then  proceeded  to  inform  Martha  that 
certain  reasons,  connected  with  his  personal  safety,  called  him 
immediately  to  Greenwich,  and,  therefore,  it  would  not  be  in 
his  power  to  accompany  her  to  Christie's  house,  which  he 
would  otherwise  have  done  with  pleasure;  but,  tearing  a  leaf 
from  his  tablet,  he  wi'ote  on  it  a  few  lines,  addressed  to  his 
landlord,  as  a  man  of  honesty  and  humanity,  in  which  he 
described  the  bearer  as  a  person  who  stood  in  singular  neces- 
sity of  temporary  protection  and  good  advice,  for  which  her 
circumstances  enabled  her  to  make  ample  acknowledgment. 
He  therefore  requested  John  Christie,  as  his  old  and  good 
friend,  to  afford  her  the  shelter  of  his  roof  for  a  short  time; 
or,  if  that  might  not  be  consistent  with  his  convenience,  at 
least  to  direct  her  to  a  proper  lodging;  and,  finally,  he  imposed 
on  him  the  additional,  and  somewhat  more  difficult,  commis- 
sion to  recommend  her  to  the  counsel  and  services  of  an  hon- 
est, at  least  a  rej)utable  and  skilful,  attorney,  for  the  trans- 
acting some  law  business  of  importance.  This  note  he 
subscribed  with  his  real  name,  and,  delivering  it  to  his  protegee, 
who  received  it  with  another  deeply  uttered  "I  thank  you," 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  803 

which  spoke  the  sterhng  feelings  of  her  gratitude  better  than 
a  thousand  combined  pbruses,  he  commanded  the  watermen  to 
pull  in  for  Paul's  Wharf,  which  they  were  now  approaching. 

"■'We  have  not  time/'  said  Green-Jacket;  **'we  cannot  be 
stopping  every  instant." 

But,  upon  Nigel  insisting  upon  his  commands  being  obeyed, 
and  adding,  that  it  was  for  the  purpose  of  putting  the  lady 
ashore,  the  waterman  declared  he  would  rather  have  her  room 
than  her  company,  and  put  the  wherry  alongside  of  the  wliarf 
accordingly.  Here  two  of  the  porters,  who  ply  in  such 
places,  were  easily  induced  to  undertake  the  charge  of  the 
i:)onderous  strong-box,  and  at  the  same  time  to  guide  the 
owner  to  the  well-known  mansion  of  John  Christie,  with 
whom  all  who  lived  in  that  neighborhood  Avere  perfectly  ac- 
quainted. 

The  boat,  much  lightened  of  its  load,  went  down  the 
Thames  at  a  rate  increased  in  proportion.  But  Ave  must  for- 
bear to  pursue  her  in  her  voyage  for  a  few  minutes,  since  we 
have  previously  to  mention  the  issue  of  Lord  Glenvarloch's 
recommendation. 

Mistress  ]\Iartha  Trapbois  reached  the  shop  in  perfect 
safety,  and  was  about  to  enter  it,  Avhen  a  sickening  sense  of 
the  uncertainty  of  her  situation,  and  of  the  singularly  pain- 
ful task  of  telling  her  story,  came  over  her  so  strongly,  that 
she  paused  a  moment  at  the  very  threshold  of  her  proposed 
place  of  refuge,  to  think  in  what  manner  she  could  best 
second  the  recommendation  of  the  friend  Avhom  Providence 
had  raised  up  to  her.  Had  she  possessed  that  knowledge  of 
the  world  from  which  her  habits  of  life  had  completely  ex- 
cluded her,  she  might  have  known  tliat  tlie  large  sum  of 
money  which  she  brought  along  with  her  might,  judiciously 
managed,  have  been  a  passport  to  her  into  the  mansions  of 
nobles  and  the  palaces  of  princes.  But,  however  conscious 
of  its  general  power,  Avhich  assumes  so  many  forms  and  com- 
plexions, she  was  so  inexperienced  as  to  be  most  unnecessar- 
ily afraid  that  the  means  by  which  the  Avealth  had  been  ac- 
quired might  exclude  its  inheritrix  from  shelter  even  in  the 
house  of  a  humble  tradesman. 

While  slie  thus  delayed,  a  more  reasonable  cause  for  hes- 
itation arose,  in  a  considerable  noise  and  altercation  Avithin 
the  house,  which  grew  louder  and  louder  as  the  disputants 
issued  forth  upon  the  street  or  lane  before  the  door. 

The  first  Avho  entered  upon  the  scene  Avas  a  tall,  raAv- 
boned,  hard-favored  man,  Avho  stalked  out  of  the  sliop  luistily, 
with  a  gait  like  that  of  a  Spaniard  in  a  jjassiou,  wlio,  dis- 


30i  V.  AVERLEY  NOVELS 

daining  to  add  speed  to  his  locomotion  by  running,  only  con- 
descends, in  the  utmost  extremity  of  his  angry  haste,  to  add 
length  to  his  stride.  He  faced  about,  so  soon  as  he  was  out  of 
the  house,  upon  his  pursuer,  a  decent-looking,  elderly,  plain 
tradesman — no  other  than  John  Christie  himself,  the  owner 
of  the  shop  and  tenement,  by  whom  he  seemed  to  be  fol- 
lowed, and  who  was  in  a  state  of  agitation  more  than  is 
usually  expressed  by  such  a  person. 

"  ill  hear  no  more  on't,''  said  the  personage  who  first  ap- 
peared on  the  scene — "  sir,  I  will  hear  no  more  on  it.  Besides 
being  a  most  false  and  impudent  figment,  as  I  can  testify,  it 
is  sccmdaalum  magnaatum,  sir — scandaahim  vmgnaatum,"  he 
reiterated  with  a  broad  accentuation  of  the  first  vowel,  well 
known  in  the  colleges  of  Edinburgh  and  Glasgow,  which  we 
can  only  express  in  print  by  doubling  the  said  first  of  letters 
and  of  vowels,  and  which  would  have  cheered  the  cockles  of 
the  reigning  monarch  had  he  been  within  hearing — as  he  was 
a  severer  stickler  for  what  he  deemed  the  genuine  pronunci- 
ation of  the  Roman  tongue  than  for  any  of  the  royal  prerog- 
atives, for  which  he  was  at  times  disj)osed  to  insist  so  strenu- 
ously in  his  speeches  to  Parliament. 

"  I  care  not  an  ounce  of  rotten  cheese,"  said  John  Christie 
in  reply,  '•  what  you  call  it — but  it  is  true  ;  and  I  am  a  free 
Englishman,  and  have  right  to  speak  the  truth  in  my  own 
concerns  ;  and  your  master  is  little  better  than  a  villain,  and 
you  no  more  than  a  swaggering  coxcomb,  whose  head  I  will 
presently  break,  as  I  have  known  it  well  broken  before  on 
lighter  occasion." 

And  so  saying,  he  flourished  the  paring  shovel  which 
usually  made  clean  the  steps  of  his  little  shop,  and  which  he 
had  caught  up  as  the  readiest  weapon  of  working  his  foeman 
damage,  and  advanced  therewith  upon  him.  The  cautious 
Scot,  for  sucli  our  readers  must  have  already  pronounced 
him,  from  his  language  and  pedantry,  drew  back  as  the 
enraged  sliip-chandler  approached,  but  in  a  surly  manner, 
and  "bearing  his  hand  on  his  sword-hilt  rather  in  the  act  of 
one  who  was  losing  habitual  forbearance  and  caution  of  de- 
portment than  as  alarmed  by  the  attack  of  an  antagonist 
inferior  to  himself  in  youth,  strength,  and  weapons. 

'•'  Bide  back,"  he  said,  "  Maister  Christie — I  say,  bide 
back,  and  consult  your  safety,  man.  I  have  evited  striking 
you  in  your  ain  house  under  muckle  provocation,  because  I 
am  ignorant  how  the  laws  here  may  pronounce  respecting 
burglary  and  hamesucken,  and  such  matters  ;  and,  besides,  I 
woiild  not  willingly  hurt  ye,  man,  e'en  on  the  causeway,  thi.r 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  805 

is  free  to  us  buith,  because  I  mind  your  kindness  of  lang  syne, 
and  partly  consider  ye  as  a  poor  deceived  creature.  But 
deil  d — n  me,  sir,  and  I  am  not  wont  to  swear,  but  if  you 
touch  my  Scotch  shoutlier  with  tliat  shule  of  yours,  I  will 
make  six  inches  of  my  Andrew  Ferrara  deevilish  intimate 
with  your  guts,  neighbor." 

And  therewithal,  tbough  still  retreating  from  the  bran- 
dished shovel,  he  made  one-third  of  the  basket-hilted  broad- 
sword which  he  wore  visible  from  the  sheath.  The  wrath  of 
John  Christie  was  abated,  either  by  his  natural  temperance  of 
disposition,  or  perhaps  in  part  by  the  glimmer  of  cold  steel, 
which  flashed  on  him  from  his  adversary's  last  action. 

"  I  would  do  well  to  cry  clubs  on  thee,  and  have  thee 
ducked  at  the  wharf,"  he  said,  grounding  his  shovel,  however, 
at  the  same  time,  "  for  a  paltry  swaggerer,  that  would  draw 
th}"  bit  of  iron  there  on  an  honest  citizen  before  his  own  door  ; 
but  get  thee  gone,  and  reckon  on  a  salt  eel  for  thy  supper,  if 
thou  shouldst  ever  come  near  my  house  again.  I  wish  it  had 
been  at  the  bottom  of  Thames  when  it  first  gave  the  use  of 
its  roof  to  smooth-faced,  oily-tongued,  double-minded  Scots 
thieves  ! " 

"  It's  an  ill  bird  that  fouls  its  own  nest,"  replied  his  ad- 
versary, not  perhaps  the  less  bold  that  he  saw  matters  were 
taking  the  tuni  of  a  jjacific  debate  ;  "  and  a  pity  it  is  that  a 
kindly  Scot  should  ever  have  married  in  foreign  parts,  and 
given  life  to  a  purse-proud,  pudding-headed,  fat-gutted,  lean- 
brained  Southron,  "e'en  such  as  you,  Maister  Christie.  But 
fare  ye  weel — fare  ye  weel,  forever  and  a  day ;  and,  if  you 
quarrel  wi'  a  Scot  again,  man,  say  as  mickle  ill  o'  himsell  as 
ye  like,  but  say  nane  of  his  patron  or  his  countrymen,  or  it 
'will  scarce  be  your  flat  cap  that  vnW  keep  your  lang  lugs  from 
the  sharp  abridgement  of  a  Highland  whinger,  man." 

"  And,  if  you  continue  your  insolence  to  me  before  ray  own 
door,  were.it  but  two  minutes  longer,"  retorted  John  Christie, 
*•'  I  will  call  the  constable,  and  make  your  Scottish  ankles  ac- 
quainted with  an  English  pair  of  stocks!" 

So  saying,  lie  turned  to  retire  into  his  shop  with  some  show 
of  victory;  for  his  enemy,  whatever  might  be  his  innate  valor, 
manifested  no  desire  to  drive  matters  to  extremity — conscious, 
perhaps,  that  whatever  advantage  he  might  gain  in  single 
combat  with  John  Christie  would  be  more  than  overbalanced 
by  incurring  an  affair  with  the  constituted  authorities  of  Old 
England,  not  at  that  time  apt  to  be  particularly  favorable  to 
their  new  fellow-subjects  in  the  various  successive  broils  which 
were  then  constantly  taking  place  between  the  individuals  of 
so 


806  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

two  proud  nations,  who  still  retained  a  stronger  sense  of  their 
national  animosity  during  centuries  than  of  their  late  union 
for  a  few  years  under  the  government  of  the  same  prince. 

Mrs.  Martha  Trapbois  had  dwelt  too  long  in  Alsatia  to  be 
either  surprised  or  terrified  at  the  altercation  slie  had  witnessed. 
Indeed,  she  only  Avondered  that  the  debate  did  not  end  in  some 
of  those  acts  of  violence  by  which  they  were  usually  terminated 
in  the  sanctuary.  As  the  disputants  separated  from  each  other, 
she,  who  had  no  idea  that  the  cause  of  the  quarrel  was  more 
deeply  rooted  than  in  the  daily  scenes  of  the  same  nature  which 
she  had  heard  of  or  Avitnessed,  did  not  hesitate  to  stop  Master 
Christie  in  his  return  to  his  shop,  and  present  to  him  the  letter 
wJiich  Lord  Glenvarloch  had  given  to  her.  Had  she  been  better 
acquainted  with  life  and  its  business,  she  would  certainly  have 
Avaited  for  a  more  temperate  moment;  and  she  had  reason  to 
repent  of  her  precipitation,  when,  without  saying  a  single 
word,  or  taking  the  trouble  to  gather  more  of  the  information 
contained  in  the  letter  than  was  expressed  in  the  subscription, 
the  incensed  ship-chandler  threw  it  down  on  the  ground, 
trampled  it  in  high  disdain,  and,  without  addressing  a  single 
word  to  the  bearer,  except,  indeed,  something  much  more 
like  a  hearty  curse  than  was  perfectly  consistent  with  his  own 
grave  appearance,  he  retired  into  his  shop  and  shut  the  hatch- 
door. 

It  was  with  the  most  inexpressible  anguish  that  the  deso- 
late, friendless,  and  unhappy  female  thus  beheld  her  sole  hope 
of  succor,  countenance,  and  protection  vanish  at  once,  with- 
out being  able  to  conceive  a  reason;  for,  to  do  her  justice,  the 
idea  that  her  friend,  whom  she  knew  by  the  name  of  Nigel 
Grahame,  had  imposed  on  her — a  solution  which  might 
readily  have  occurred  to  many  in  her  situation — never  once 
entered  her  mind.  Although  it  was  not  her  temper  easily  to 
bend  her  mind  to  entreaty,  she  could  not  help  exclaiming 
after  the  ireful  and  retreating  ship-chandler — "  Good  Master, 
hear  me  but  a  moment !  for  mercy's  sake,  for  honesty^s  sake ! "'' 
•  "  Mercy  and  honesty  from  him,  mistress  V  said  the  Scot, 
who,  though  he  essayed  not  to  interrupt  the  retreat  of  his 
antagonist,  still  kept  stout  possession  of  the  field  of  action; 
"ye  might  as  weel  expect  brandy  from  bean-stalks,  or  milk 
from  a  craig  of  blue  whunstane..  The  man  is  mad — horn 
mad,  to  boot." 

"  I  must  have  mistaken  the  person  to  whom  the  letter  was 
addressed,  then ; "  and,  as  she  spoke.  Mistress  Martha  Trap- 
bois was  in  the  act  of  stooping  to  lift  the  paper  which  had 
been  so  uncourteously  received.     Her  companion,  with  natural 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  307 

civility,  anticipated  her  purpose;  but,  "what  was  not  quite  so 
much  in  etiquette,  lie  took  u  sly  glance  at  it  as  he  was  about 
to  hand  it  to  her,  and  his  eye  having  caught  the  subscription, 
he  said,  with  surprise,  ''  Glenvarloch — Nigel  Olifaunt  of 
Glenvarloch !     Do  you  know  the  Lord  Glenvarloch,  mistress?  ^' 

'^' I  know  not  of  whom  you  speak,"  said  Mrs.  Martha, 
peevishly.     "'  I  had  that  paper  from  one  Master  Xigel  Gram." 

"  Xigel  Grahame  I — umph,  0  ay,  very  true — I  had  forgot," 
said  the  Scotsman.  "  A  tall,  well-set  young  man,  about  my 
height;  bright  blue  eyes  like  a  hawk's,  a  pleasant  speech, 
something  leaning  to  the  kindly  North-country  accentuation, 
but  not  much,  in  respect  of  his  having  been  resident  abroad?" 

'■'All  this  is  true;  and  what  of  it  all?"  said  the  daughter 
of  the  miser. 

"  Hair  of  my  complexion?  " 

"  Yours  is  red,"  replied  she. 

"  I  pray  you  peace,"  said  the  Scotsman.  "  I  was  going  to 
say — of  my  complexion,  but  with  a  deeper  shade  of  the  chest- 
nut. Weel,  mistress,  if  I  have  guessed  the  man  aright,  he  is 
one  with  whom  I  am,  and  have  been,  intimate  and  familiar — 
nay,  I  may  truly  say  I  have  done  him  much  service  in  my 
time,  and  may  live  to  do  him  more.  I  had  indeed  a  sincere 
good- will  for  him,  and  I  doubt  he  has  been  much  at  a  loss 
since  we  parted;  but  the  fault  is  not  mine.  Wherefore,  as 
this  letter  will  not  avail  you  with  him  to  whom  it  is  directed, 
you  may  believe  that  Heaven  hath  sent  it  to  me,  who  have  a 
special  regard  for  the  writer.  I  have,  besides,  as  much  mercy 
and  honesty  within  me  as  man  can  weel  make  his  bread  Avith, 
and  am  willing  to  aid  any  distressed  creature,  that  is  my 
friend's  friend,  with  my  counsel,  and  otherwise,  so  that  I  am 
not  put  to  much  charges,  being  in  a  strange  country,  like  a 
poor  lamb  that  has  wandered  from  its  ain  native  hirsel,  and 
leaves  a  tait  of  its  woo'  in  every  d — d  Southron  bramble  that 
comes  across  it."  While  he  spoke  thus,  he  read  the  contents 
of  the  letter,  without  waiting  for  permission,  and  then  con- 
tinued—  ''And  so  this  is  all  you  are  wanting,  my  dove? 
nothing  more  than  safe  and  honorable  lodging  and  sustenance, 
upon  your  o^vn  charges  ?  " 

''  Nothing  more,"  said  she.  "  If  you  are  a'  man  and  a 
Christian,  you  will  help  me  to  what  I  need  so  much." 

'•'A  man  am  I,"  replied  the  former  Caledonian,  "e'en  sic 
as  ye  see  me;  and  a  Christian  I  may  call  myself,  though  un- 
worthy, and  though  I  have  heard  little  pure  doctrine  since  I 
came  hither — a'  polluted  "w^ith  men's  devices — ahem  !  Weel, 
an  if  ye  be  an  honest  woman   [here  he  peeped  under  her 


808  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

muffler],  as  an  honest  woman  ye  seem  likely  to  be — though, 
let  me  tell  you,  they  are  a  kind  of  cattle  not  so  rife  in  the 
streets  of  this  city  as  I  would  desire  them;  I  was  almost 
strangled  with  my  own  band  by  twa  rampallians,  wha  wanted 
yestreen,  nae  farther  ga-ne,  to  harle  me  into  a  change-house — 
however,  if  ye  be  a  decent  honest  woman  [here  he  took  another 
peep  at  features  certainly  bearing  no  beauty  which  could  infer 
suspicion],  as  decent  and  honest  ye  seem  to  be,  why,  I  will 
advise  you  to  a  decent  house,  where  you  will  get  douce,  quiet 
entertainment,  on  reasonable  terms,  and  the  occasional  bene- 
fit of  my  own  counsel  and  direction — that  is,  from  time  to 
time,  as  my  other  avocations  may  permit/' 

''  May  I  venture  to  accept  of  such  an  offer  from  a 
stranger^"  said  Martha,  with  natural  hesitation. 

"  Troth,  I  see  nothing  to  hinder  you,  mistress,''  replied 
the  bonny  Scot;  "  ye  can  but  see  the  place,  and  do  after  as 
ye  think  best.  Besides,  we  are  nae  such  strangers,  neither; 
for  I  know  your  friend,  and  you,  it's  like,  know  mine,  whilk 
knowledge,  on  either  hand,  is  a  medium  of  communication 
between  us,  even  as  the  middle  of  the  string  connecteth  its 
twa  ends  or  extremities.  But  I  will  enlarge  on  this  farther 
as  we  pass  along,  gin  ye  list  to  bid  your  twa  lazy  loons  of  _ 
porters  there  lift  up  your  little  kist  between  them,  whilk  ae ' 
true  Scotsman  might  carry  under  his  arm.  Let  me  tell  you, 
mistress,  ye  will  soon  make  a  toom  pock-end  of  it  in  Lon'on, 
if  you  hire  twa  knaves  to  do  the  Avork  of  ane." 

So  saying,  he  led  the  way,  folloAved  by  Mistress  Martha 
Trapbois,  whose  singular  destiny,  though  it  had  heaped  her 
with  wealth,  had  left  her,  for  the  moment,  no  wiser  counsel- 
lor, or  more  distinguished  protector,  than  honest  Richie 
Moniplies,  a  discarded  serving-man. 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

This  way  lie  safety  and  a  sure  retreat; 

Yonder  lie  danger,  shame,  and  punishment. 

Most  welcome  danger  then.     Najs  let  me  say, 

Thougli  spoke  with  swelling  heart,  welcome  e'en  sham*; 

And  welcome  punishment;  for,  call  me  guilty, 

I  do  but  pay  the  tax  that's  due  to  justice; 

And  call  me  guiltless,  then  that  punishment 

Is  shame  to  those  alone  who  do  inflict  it. 

The  Tribunal. 

We  left  Lord  Glenvarloch,  to  whose  fortunes  our  story  chief- 
ly attaches  itself,  gliding  swiftly  down  the  Thames.  _  He 
was  not,  as  the  reader  may  have  observed,  very  affable  in  his 
disposition,  or  apt  to  enter  into  conversation  with  those  into 
whose  company  he  was  casually  thrown.  This  was,  indeed, 
an  error  in  his  conduct,  arising  less  from  pride,  though  of 
that  feeling  we  do  not  pretend  to  exculpate  him,  tlian  from  a 
sort  of  bashful  reluctance  to  mix  in  the  conversation  of  those 
with  whom  he  was  not  familiar.  It  is  a  fault  only  to  be  cured 
by  experience  and  knowledge  of  the  world,  which  soon  teaches 
every  sensible  and  acute  person  the  important  lesson  that 
amusement,  and,  what  is  of  more  consequence,  that  information 
and  increase  of  knowledge,  are  to  be  derived  from  the  con- 
versation of  every  individual  whatever,  with  whom  he  is  thrown 
into  a  natural  train  of  communication.  For  ourselves,  we 
can  assure  the  reader — and  perhaps,  if  we  have  ever  been  able 
to  afford  him  amusement,  it  is  owing  in  a  great  degree  to  this 
cause — that  we  never  found  ourselves  in  company  with  the 
stupidest  of  all  possible  companions  in  a  post-chaise,  or  with 
the  most  arrant  cumber-corner  that  ever  occupied  a  place  in 
the  mail-coach,  without  finding  that,  in  the  course  of  our  con- 
versation with  him,  we  had  some  ideas  suggested  to  us,  either 
grave  or  gay,  or  some  information  communicated  in  the  course 
of  our  journey,  which  we  should  have  regretted  not  to  have 
learned,  and  which  we  should  be  sorry  to  have  immediately 
forgotten.  But  Nigel  was  somewhat  immured  within  the 
Bastile  of  his  rank,  as  some  philosopher  (Tom  Paine,  we  think) 
has  happilv  enough  expressed  that  sort  of  shyness  which  men 
of  dignified  situations  arc  apt  to  be  beset  with,  rather  from 
not  exactly  knowing  how  far,  or  with  whom,  they  ought  to  be 

309 


310  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

familiar,  than  from  any  real  touch  of  aristocratic  pride.  Be- 
sides, the  immediate  jn-essure  of  our  adventurer's  own  affairs 
was  such  as  exclusively  to  engross  his  attention. 

He  sat,  tlierefore,  wrapped  in  his  cloak,  in  the  stern  of  the 
boat,  with  his  mind  entirely  bent  upon  the  probable  issue  of 
the  interview  with  his  sovereign,  which  it  was  his  purpose  to 
seek;  for  which  abstraction  of  mind  he  may  be  fully  justified, 
although,  perhaps,  by  questioning  the  watermen  who  were 
transporting  him  down  the  river,  he  might  have  discovered 
matters  of  high  concernment  to  him. 

At  any  rate,  Nigel  remained  silent  till  the  wherry  ap- 
proached the  town  of  Greenwich,  when  he  commanded  the 
men  to  put  in  for  the  nearest  landing-place,  as  it  was  his  pur- 
pose to  go  ashore  there,  and  dismiss  them  from  farther  at- 
tendance. 

"  That  is  not  possible,"  said  the  fellow  with  the  green 
jacket,  who,  as  we  have  already  said,  seemed  to  take  on  him- 
self the  charge  of  pilotage.  ''We  must  go,"  he  continued, 
"to  Gravesend,  where  a  Scottish  vessel,  which  dropped  down 
the  river  last  tide  for  the  very  purpose,  lies  with  her  anchor 
apeak,  waiting  to  carry  you  to  your  own  dear  Northern 
country.  Your  hammock  is  slung,  and  all  is  ready  for  you, 
and  you  talk  of  going  ashore  at  Greenwich,  as  seriously  as  if 
such  a  thing  were  possible  !  " 

"  I  see  no  impossibility,"  said  Nigel,  ''  in  your  landing 
me  where  I  desire  to  be  landed  ;  but  very  little  possibility  of 
your  carrying  me  anywhere  I  am  not  desirous  of  going." 

'*'  Why,  whether  do  you  manage  the  wherry,  or  we, 
master  ?  "  asked  Green-Jacket,  in  a  tone  betwixt  jest  and 
earnest  ;  "I  take  it  she  will  go  the  way  we  row  her." 

"  Ay,"  retorted  Nigel,  '''  but  I  take  it  you  will  row  her  on 
the  course  I  direct  you,  otherwise  your  chance  of  j^ayment  is 
but  a  poor  one." 

"  Suppose  we  are  content  to  risk  that,"  said  the  undaunted 
waterman,  "  I  wish  to  know  how  you,  who  talk  so  big — I 
mean  no  offence,  master,  but  you  do  talk  big — would  help 
yourself  in  such  a  case  ?  " 

"  Simply  thus,"  answered  Lord  Glenvarloch.  "  You  saw 
me,  an  hour  since,  bring  down  to  the  boat  a  trunk  that 
neither  of  you  could  lift.  If  we  are  to  contest  the  destination 
of  our  voyage,  the  same  strength  which  tossed  that  chest  into 
the  wherry  will  suffice  to  fling  you  out  of  it ;  wherefore, 
before  wc  begin  the  scuffle,  I  pray  you  to  remember  that, 
whither  I  would  go,  there  I  will  oblige  you  to  carry  me." 

"  Gramercy  for  your  kindness,"  said  Green-Jacket ;  "  and 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  3H 

now  mark  me  in  return.  My  comrade  and  I  are  two  men, 
and  you,  were  you  as  stout  as  George-a-Green,  can  pass  but 
for  one;  and  two,  you  will  allow,  are  more  than  a  match  for 
one.     You  mistake  in  your  reckoninsf,  my  friend." 

"  It  is  you  who  mistake,"  said  Nigel,  wlio  began  to  grow 
warm.  "It  is  I  who  am  three  to  two,  sirrah  :  I  carry  two 
men's  lives  at  my  girdle."  So  saying,  he  opened  his  cloak 
and  showed  the  two  pistols  which  he  had  disj^osed  at  his 
girdle. 

Green-Jacket  was  unmoved  at  the  display.  "  I  have  got," 
said  he,  "  a  pair  of  barkers  that  will  match  yours,"  and  he 
showed  that  he  also  was  armed  with  pistols  ;  "  so  you  may 
begin  as  soon  as  you  list." 

"Then,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch,  drawing  forth  and  cock- 
xnn  a  pistol,  "  the  sooner  the  better.  Take  notice,  I  hold  you 
as  a  ruffian,  who  have  declared  you  will  put  force  on  my  per- 
son ;  and  that  I  will  shoot  you  through  the  head  if  you  do  not 
instantly  j^ut  me  ashore  at  Greenwich." 

The'otlier  waterman,  alarmed  at  Nigel's  gesture,  lay  upon 
his  oar  ;  but  Green-Jacket  replied  coolly,  "  Look  you,  master, 
I  should  not  care  a  tester  to  venture  a  life  with  you  on  this 
matter  ;  but  the  truth  is,  I  am  employed  to  do  you  good,  and 
not  to  do  you  harm." 

"By  whom  are  you  employed?"  said  the  Lord  Glenvar- 
loch; "  or  who  dare  concern  themselves  in  me,  or  my  affairs, 
without  my  authority?" 

"As  to  that,"  answered  the  waterman,  in  the  same  tone 
of  indifference,  "  I  shall  not  show  my  commission.  For  my- 
self, I  care  not,  as  I  said,  whether  you  land  at  Greenwich  to 
get  yourself  hanged,  or  go  down  to  get  aboard  the  '  Royal 
Thistle,'  to  make  your  escape  to  your  own  country;  you  will 
be  equally  out  of  my  reach  either  way.  But  it  is  fair  to  put 
the  choice  before  you." 

"My  choice  is  made,"  said  Nigel.  "I  have  told  you 
thrice  already  it  is  my  pleasure  to  be  landed  at  Greenwich." 

"  Write  il  on  a  piece  of  paper,"  said  the  waterman,  "  that 
such  is  your  positive  will;  I  must  have  something  to  show  to 
my  employers  that  the  transgression  of  their  orders  lies  with 
yourself,  not  with  me." 

"I  choose  to  hold  this  trinket  in  my  hand  for  the  pres- 
ent," said  Nigel,  showing  his  pistol,  "and  will  write  you  the 
acquittance  when  I  go  ashore." 

"  I  would  not  go  ashore  with  you  for  a  hundred  pieces," 
said  the  waterman.  "  lil-luck  has  ever  attended  you,  except 
in  small  gaming;  do  me  fair  justice,  and  give    me  the    testi- 


Sia  WAVEHLEY  NOVELS 

mony  I  desire.  If  you  are  afraid  of  foul  play  while  you  write 
it,  you  may  liold  my  pistols,  if  you  will."  He  offered  the 
AveapoTis  to  Nigel  accordingly,  who,  while  they  were  under 
his  control,  and  all  possibility  of  his  being  taken  at  advantage 
was  excluded,  no  longer  hesitated  to  give  the  waterman  an 
acknowledgment,  in  the  following  terms: 

"  Jack  in  the  Green,  with  his  mate,  belonging  to  the 
wherry  called  tiie  'Jolly  Eaven,'  have  done  their  duty  faith- 
fully by  me,  landing  me  at  Greenwich  by  my  express  com- 
mand; and  being  themselves  willing  and  desirous  to  carry  me 
on  board  the  '  Royal  Thistle,^  presently  lying  at  Gravesend." 
Having  finished  this  acknowledgment,  which  he  signed  with 
the  letters  "  X.  0.  G."  as  indicating  his  name  and  title,  he 
again  requested  to  know  of  the  waterman  to  whom  he  deliv- 
ered it  the  name  of  his  employers. 

"  Sir,"  replied  Jack  in  the  Green,  "  I  have  respected  your 
secret,  do  not  you  seek  to  pry  into  mine.  It  would  do  you 
no  good  to  know  for  whom  I  am  taking  this  present  trouble; 
and,  to  be  brief,  you  shall  not  know  it;  and,  if  you  will  fight 
in  the  quarrel,  as  you  said  even  now,  the  sooner  we  begin  the 
better.  Only  this  you  may  be  cock-sure  of,  that  we  designed 
you  no  harm,  and'  that,  if  you  fall  into  any,  it  will  be  of  your 
own  wilful  seeking."  As  he  spoke,  they  approached  the  land- 
ing-place, where  Nigel  instantly  jumped  ashore.  The  water- 
man placed  his  small  mail-trunk  on  the  stairs,  observing,  that 
there  were  plenty  of  s^sare  hands  about,  to  carry  it  where  he 
would. 

"  We  part  friends,  I  hope,  my  lads,"  said  the  young 
nobleman,  offering  at  the  same  time  a  piece  of  money  more 
than  double  the  usual  fare  to  the  boatmen. 

"  We  part  as  we  met,"  answered  Green- Jacket;  ''^and,  for 
your  money,  I  am  paid  sufficiently  with  this  bit  of  paper. 
Only,  if  you  owe  me  any  love  for  the  cast  I  have  given  you, 
I  pray  you  not  to  dive  so  deep  into  the  pockets  of  the  next 
apprentice  that  you  find  fool  enough  to  play  the  cavalier.  And 
you,  you  greedy  swine,"  said  he  to  his  companion,  who  still 
had  a  longing  eye  fixed  on  the  money  which  Nigel  continued 
to  offer,  "push  off,  or,  if  I  take  a  stretcher  in  hand,  I'll  break 
the  knave's  pate  of  thee."  The  fellow  pushed  off,  as  he  was 
commanded,  but  still  could  not  hel])  muttering,  "  This  was 
entirely  out  of  waterman's  rules." 

Glenvarloch,  though  without  the  devotion  of  the  "  injured 
Thales"  of  the  moralist  to  the  memory  of  that  great  princess, 
had  now  attained 

The  liallow'd  soil  which  gave  Eliza  birth, 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  313 

whose  halls  were  now  less  respectably  occupied  by  her  suc- 
cessor. It  was  not,  ac  has  been  well  shown  by  a  lat  author, 
that  James  was  void  either  of  parts  or  of  good  intentions;  and 
his  predecessor  was  at  least  as  arbitrary  in  effect  as  he  was  in 
theory.  But,  while  Elizabeth  possessed  a  sternness  of  mas- 
culine sense  and  determination  wliich  rendered  even  her 
weaknesses,  some  of  wliich  were  in  themselves  sufficiently 
ridiculous,  in  a  certain  degree  respectable,  James,  on  the 
other  hand,  was  so  utterly  devoid  of  "firm  resolve/'  so  well 
called  by  the  Scottich  bard. 

The  stalk  of  carle-hemp  in  man, 

that  even  his  virtues  and  his  good  meaning  became  laughable, 
from  the  whimsical  uncertainty  of  his  conduct;  so  that  the 
wisest  things  he  ever  said,  and  the  best  actions  he  ever  did, 
were  often  touched  with  a  strain  of  the  ludicrous  and  fidgety 
character  of  the  man.  Accordingly,  though  at  different 
periods  of  his  reign  he  contrived  to  acquire  with  his  people  a 
certain  degree  of  temporary  popularity,  it  never  long  outlived 
the  occasion  which  produced  it;  so  true  it  is,  that  the  mass 
of  mankind  will  respect  a  monarch  stained  with  actual  guilt 
more  than  one  whose  foibles  render  him  only  ridiculous. 

To  return  from  this  digression.  Lord  Glenvarloch  soon 
received,  as  Green-Jacket  had  assured  him,  the  offer  of  an 
idle  bargeman  to  transport  his  baggage  Avhere  he  listed;  but 
that  ivhere  was  a  question  of  momentary  doubt.  At  length, 
recollecting  the  necessity  that  his  hair  and  beard  should  be 
properly  arranged  before  he  attempted  to  enter  the  royal 
presence,  and  desirous,  at  the  same  time,  of  obtaining  some 
information  of  the  motions  of  the  sovereign  and  of  the  court, 
he  desired  to  be  guided  to  the  next  barber's  shop,  which  we 
have  already  mentioned  as  the  place  where  news  of  every  kind 
circled  and  centred.  He  was  speedily  shown  the  way  to  such 
an  emporium  of  intelligence,  and  soon  found  he  was  likely  to 
hear  all  he  desired  to  know,  and  much  more,  Avhile  his  head 
was  subjected  to  the  art  of  a  nimble  tonsor,  the  glibness  of 
whose  tongue  kept  pace  with  the  nimbleness  of  his  fingers, 
while  he  ran  on,  without  stint  or  stop,  in  the  following  excur- 
sive manner: 

"The  court  here,  master  ?— yes,  master — much  to  the  ad- 
vantage of  trade — good  custom  stirring.  His  Majesty  loves 
Greenwich — hunts  every  morning  in  the  Park — all  decent 
persons  admitted  that  have  the  entries  of  the  palace— no  rab- 
ble—frightened the  King's  horse  with  their  ludlooing,  the 
uncombed  slaves.     Yes,  sir,  the  beard  more  peaked  ?     Yes, 


314  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

master,  so  it  is  worn.  I  know  the  last  cut — dress  several  of 
the  conrtiers — one  valet  of  the  chamber,  two  passes  of  the 
body,  the  clerk  of  the  kitchen,  three  running  footmen,  two 
dog-boys,  and  an  honorable  Scottish  knight.  Sir  Munko  Mai- 
growler." 

"  Malagrowther,  I  suppose  ?"  said  Nigel,  thrusting  in  his 
conjectural  emendation,  with  infinite  difficulty,  betwixt  two 
clauses  of  the  barber's  text. 

''Yes,  sir — Malcrowder,  sir,  as  you  say,  sir — hard  names 
the  Scots  have,  sir,  for  an  English  mouth.  Sir  Munko  is  a 
handsome  person,  sir — perhaps  you  know  him  ? — bating  the 
loss  of  his  fingers,  and  the  lameness  of  his  leg,  and  the 
length  of  his  chin.  Sir,  it  takes  me  one  minute  twelve 
seconds  more  time  to  trim  that  chin  of  his  than  any  chin 
that  I  know  in  the  town  of  Greenwich,  sir.  But  he  is  a  very 
comely  gentleman  for  all  that ;  and  a  pleasant — a  very  pleas- 
ant gentleman,  sir ;  and  a  good-humored,  saving  that  he  is  so 
deaf  he  can  never  hear  good  of  any  one,  and  so  wise,  that  he 
can  never  believe  it ;  but  he  is  a  very  good-natured  gentle- 
man for  all  that,  except  when  one  speaks  too  low,  or  when  a 
hair  turns  awry.  Did  I  graze  you,  sir  ?  Vie  shall  put  it  to 
rights  in  a  moment,  with  one  drop  of  styptic — my  styptic,  or 
rather  my  wife's,  sir.  She  makes  the  water  herself.  One 
drop  of  the  styptic,  sir,  and  a  bit  of  black  taffeta  patch,  just 
big  enough  to  be  the  saddle  to  a  flea,  sir.  Yes,  sir,  rather 
improves  than  otherwise.  The  Prince  had  a  patch  the  other 
day,  and  so  had  the  Duke ;  and,  if  you  will  believe  me,  there 
are  seventeen  yards  three-quarters  of  black  taffeta  already  cut 
into  patches  for  the  courtiers.'^ 

"  But  Sir  Mungo  Malagrowther  ?"  again  interjected  Nigel, 
with  difficulty. 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir — Sir  Munko,  as  you  say  ;  a  pleasant,  good- 
humored  gentleman  as  ever To  be  spoken  with,  did  you 

say?  0  ay,  easily  to  be  spoken  withal,  that  is,  as  easily  as  his 
infirmity  will  permit.  He  will  presently,  unless  some  one  hath 
asked  him  forth  to  breakfast,  be  taking  his  bone  of  broiled 
beef  at  my  neighbor  Ned  Kilderkin's  yonder,  removed  from 
over  the  way.  Ned  keeps  an  eating-house,  sir,  famous  for 
pork-griskins;  but  Sir  Munko  cannot  abide  pork,  no  more  than 
the  King's  most  sacred  Majesty,*  nor  my  Lord  Duke  of 
Lennox,  nor  Lord  Dalgarno — nay,  I  am  sure,  sir,  if  I  touched 
you  this  time,  it  was  your  fault,  not  mine.  But  a  single  drop 
of  the  styptic,  another  little  patch  that  woidd  make  a  doublet 
for  a  flea,  just  under  the  left  mustachio  ;  it  will  become  you 

*  See  Scots'  Dislike  to  Pork.    Note  30. 


TUB  FORTiJXES  OF  NIGEL  318 

when  you  smile,  sir,  as  well  as  a  dimple  ;  and  if  you  would 
salute  your  fair  mistress — but  I  beg  pardon,  you  are  a  grave 
gentleman,  very  grave  to  be  so  young.  Hope  I  have  given  no 
offeuce  ;  it  is  my  duty  to  entertain  customers — my  duty,  sir, 
and  my  pleasure.  Sir  Munko  ^Malcrowthcr  ?  Yes,  sir,  I 
dare  say  he  is  at  this  moment  iu  Xod's  eating-house,  for  few 
folks  ask  him  out,  now  Lord  Iluntinglen  is  gone  to  London. 
You  will  get  touched  again.  Yes,  sir,  there  you  shall  find 
him  with  his  can  of  single  ale,  stirred  with  a  sprig  of  rosemary, 
for  he  never  drinks  strong  potations,  sir,  unless  to  oblige 
Lord  Iluutinglen — take  heed,  sir — or  any  other  person  who 
asks  him  forth  to  breakfast ;  but  single  beer  he  always  drinks 
at  Ked's,  with  his  broiled  bone  of  beef  or  mutton — or,  it  may 
be,  lamb  at  tlie  season  ;  but  not  pork,  though  Xed  is  famous 
for  his  griskins.  But  the  Scots  never  eat  pork — strange  that! 
some  folks  think  they  are  a  sort  of  Jews.  There  is  a  resem- 
blance, sir.  Do  you  not  think  so?  Then  they  call  our  most 
gracious  sovereign  the  second  Solomon,  and  Solomon,  you 
know,  Avas  king  of  the  Jews  ;  so  the  thing  bears  a  face,  you 
see.  I  believe,  sir,  you  will  find  yourself  trimmed  now  to  your 
content.  I  will  be  judged  by  the  fair  mistress  of  your  affec- 
tions. Crave  pardon — no  offence,  I  trust.  Pray,  consult  the 
glass.  One  touch  of  the  crisping-tongs  to  reduce  this  strag- 
gler. Thank  your  munificence,  sir  ;  hope  your  custom  while 
you  stay  in  Greenwich.  "Would  you  have  a  tune  on  that 
ghittern,  to  put  your  temper  iu  concord  for  the  day  ?  Twang, 
twang — twang,  twang,  dillo.  Something  out  of  tune,  sir — 
too  many  hands  to  touch  it — we  cannot  keep  these  things 
like  artists.  Let  me  help  you  Avith  your  cloak,  sir — yes,  sir. 
You  would  not  play  yourself,  sir,  would  you  ?  "Way  to  Sir 
Munko's  eating-house  ?  Yes,  sir,  but  it  is  Ned's  eating- 
house,  not  Sir  Munko's.  The  knight,  to  be  sure,  eats  there, 
and  that  makes  it  his  eating-house  in  some  sense,  sir — ha,  ha! 
Y'onder  it  is,  removed  from  over  the  way,  new  white-washed 
posts,  and  red  lattice — fat  man  in  his  doublet  at  tlie  door — 
Ned  himself,  sir — worth  a  thousand  pounds,  they  say  ;  better 
singeing  pigs'  faces  than  trimming  courtiers',  but  ours  is  the 
less  mechanical  vocation.  Farewell, isir  ;  hope  your  custom."' 
So  saying,  he  at  length  permitted  Nickel  to  depart,  whose 
ears,  so  long  tormented  with  his  continued  babble,  tingled 
when  it  had  ceased,  as  if  a  bell  had  been  rung  close  to  ther 
for  the  same  space  of  time. 

Upon  his  arrival  at  the  eating-house,  where  he  proposed 
to  meet  with  Sir  Mungo  Malagrowther,  from  whom,  in  de- 
spair of  better  advice,  he  trusted  to  receive  some  information 


fll6  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

as  to  the  best  mode  of  introducing  himself  into  the  royul 
presence,  Lord  Glenvarloch  found,  in  the  host  with  whom'he 
communed,  the  consequential  taciturnity  of  an  Englishman 
well  to  pass  in  the  Avorld.  Xed  Kilderkin  spoke  as  a  banker 
writes,  only  touching  the  needful.  Being  asked  if  Sir  Mungo 
Malagrowther  was  there  ?  he  replied,  "  ^o."  Being  interro- 
gated whether  he  was  expected  ?  he  said,  *'  Yes/'  And  being 
again  required  to  say  when  he  was  expected,  he  answered, 
"  Presen^-Jy."  As  Lord  Glenvarloch  next  inquired  whether 
he  himself  could  have  any  breakfast  ?  the  landlord  wasted 
not  even  a  syllable  in  reply,  but,  ushering  him  into  a  neat 
room  Avhere  there  were  several  tables,  he  placed  one  of  them 
before  an  arm-chair,  and  beckoning  Lord  Glenvarloch  to  take 
possession,  he  set  before  him,  in  a  very  few  minutes,  a  sub- 
stantial repast  of  roast-beef,  together  with  a  foaming  tankard, 
to  which  refreshment  the  keen  air  of  the  river  disjiosed  him, 
notwithstanding  his  mental  embarrassments,  to  do  much 
honor. 

While  Ned  was  thus  engaged  in  discussing  his  commons, 
but  raising  his  head  at  the  same  time  whenever  lie  heard  the 
door  of  the  apartment  open,  eagerly  desiring  the  arrival  of 
Sir  Mungo  Malagrowther  (an  event  which  had  seldom  been 
expected  by  any  one  with  so  much  anxious  interest),  a  per- 
sonage, as  it  seemed,  of  at  least  equal  importance  with  the 
knight,  entered  into  the  apartment,  and  began  to  hold 
earnest  colloquy  -svith  the  publican,  who  thought  proper  to 
carry  on  the  conference  on  his  side  unbonneted.  This  impor- 
tant gentleman's  occupation  might  be  guessed  from  his  dress. 
A  milk-white  jerkin,  and  hose  of  white  kersey  ;  a  white  apron 
twisted  around  his  body  in  the  manner  of  a  sash,  in  which, 
instead  of  a  warlike  dagger,  was  stuck  a  long-bladed  knife, 
hilted  with  buck-horn  ;  a  white  nightcap  on  his  head,  under 
which  his  hair  was  neatly  tucked,  sufficiently  portrayed  him 
as  one  of  those  priests  of  Comus  whom  the  vulgar  call  cooks; 
and  the  air  with  which  he  rated  the  publican  for  having 
neglected  to  send  some  provisions  to  the  palace  showed  that 
he  ministered  to  royalty  itself. 

"  This  will  never  answer,"  he  said,  "  Master  Kilderkin;  the 
King  twice  asked  for  sweetbreads  and  fricasseed  coxcombs, 
which  are  a  favorite  dish  of  his  most  sacred  j\Iajesty,  and  they 
were  not  to  be  hud,  because  Master  Kilderkin  had  not  sup- 
plied them  to  the  clerk  of  the  kitchen,  as  by  bargain  bound.'' 
Here  Kilderkin  made  some  apology,  brief,  according  to  his 
own  nature,  and  muttered  in  a  lowly  tone  after  the  fashion 
jt  all  Avho  find  themselves  m  a  scrape.     His  superior  replied. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  817 

in  a  lofty  strain  of  voice,  ''  Do  not  tell  mo  of  the  carrier  and 
his  wain,  and  of  the  hen-coops  coining  from  Xorfolk  with  tlie 
poultry;  a  loyal  man  would  have  sent  an  express — he  would 
have  gone  upon  his  stumps,  like  Widdrington.  Wliat  if  the 
King  had  lost  his  appetite.  Master  Kilderkin  ?  AVliat  if  his 
most  sacred  ^Miijesty  had  lost  his  dinner  ?  0,  blaster  Kilder- 
kin, if  you  liad  but  the  just  sense  of  the  dignity  of  our  pro- 
fession, wliich  is  told  of  by  tlie  Avitty  African  slave,  for  so  the 
King's  most  excellent  Majesty  designates  him,  Publius  Teren- 
tius,  Tanquam  in  sjiecidn,  in  patinax  inspirerc  juhen." 

"You  are  learned.  Master  Linklator,"  replied  the  English 
publican,  compelling,  as  it  were,  with  difliculty,  his  moiitl)  to 
utter  three  or  four  words  consecutively. 

"A  poor  smatterer,"  said  Mr.  Linklator;  "  but  it  would  he 
a  shame  to  us,  who  are  his  most  excellent  Majesty's  country- 
men, not  in  some  sort  to  have  cherished  those  arts  wherewith 
he  is  so  deeply  imbued.  Regis  ad  exemplar ,  Master  Kilderkin, 
totus  componiiur  orhis;  Avhich  is  as  much  as  to  say,  as  the 
King  quotes  the  cook  learns.  In  brief.  Master  Kilderkin, 
having  had  the  luck  to  be  bred  where  humanities  may  be  had 
at  the  matter  of  an  Englisli  five  groats  by  the  quarter,  I,  like 
others,  have  acquired — ahem — ahem  !  "  Here,  the  speaker's 
eye  having  fallen  upon  Lord  Glenvarloch,  he  suddenly 
stopped  in  his  learned  harangue,  with  such  symptoms  of  em- 
barrassment as  induced  Ned  Kilderkin  to  stretch  his  tacitur- 
nity so  far  as  not  only  to  ask  him  what  he  ailed,  but  whether 
he  would  take  anything. 

"  Ail  nothing!,''  replied  the  learned  rival  of  the  philosophi- 
cal Syrus — "  nothing — and  yet  I  do  feel  a  little  giddy.  I 
could  taste  a  glass  of  your  dame's  aqua  mirahilis." 

"  I  will  fetch  it,"  said  Ned,  giving  a  nod  ;  and  his  back 
was  no  sooner  turned  than  the  cook  walked  near  the  table 
where  Lord  Glenvarloch  was  seated,  and  regarding  him  with 
a  look  of  significance,  where  more  was  meant  than  met  the 
ear,  said — "  You  are  a  stranger  in  Greenwich,  sir.  I  advise 
you  to  take  the  opportunity  to  step  into  the  Park ;  the 
western  wicket  was  ajar  when  I  came  hither  ;  I  think  it  will 
be  locked  presently,  so  you  had  better  make  the  best  of  your 
way — that  is,  if  you  have  any  curiosity.  The  venison  are 
coming  into  season  just  now,  sir,  and  there  is  a  pleasure  in 
looking  at  a  hart  of  grease.  I  always  think  when  tliey  are 
bounding  so  blithely  past,  what  a  pleasure  it  would  be  to 
broach  their  plumb  haunohes  on  a  spit,  and  to  embattle  tlieir 
breasts  in  a  noble  fortifictition  of  puff-paste,  with  plenty  of 
black  pepper. '* 


il8  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

He  ?ai(i  no  more,  as  Kilderkin  re-entered  with  the  cordial, 
but  edged  off  from  Nigel  without  waiting  any  reply,  only 
repeating  the  same  look  of  intelligence  with  which  lie  had 
accosted  him. 

Nothing  makes  men's  wits  so  alert  as  personal  danger, 
Nigel  took  the  first  opportunity  which  his  host's  attention  to 
the  yeoman  of  the  royal  kitchen  permitted  to  discharge  his 
reckoning,  and  readily  obtained  a  direction  to  the  wicket  in 
question.  He  found  it  upon  the  latch,  as  he  had  been  taught 
to  expect ;  and  perceived  that  it  admitted  him  to  a  narrow 
footpath,  wiiich  traversed  a  close  and  tangled  thicket,  designed 
for  the  cover  of  the  does  and  the  young  fawns.  Here  he  con- 
jectured it  would  be  proper  to  wait ;  nor  had  he  been  station- 
ary above  five  minutes,  when  the  cook,  scalded  as  much  with 
lieat  of  motion  as  ever  he  had  been  at  his  huge  fireplace, 
arrived  almost  breathless,  and  with  his  pass-key  hastily  locked 
the  Avicket  behind  him. 

Ere  Lord  Glenvarloch  had  time  to  speculate  upon  this 
action,  the  man  approached  with  anxiety,  and  said — "  Good 
lord,  my  Lord  Glenvarloch,  why  will  you  endanger  yourself 
thus  ?  " 

"  You  know  me  then,  my  friend  ?  '*  said  Nigel. 

"  Not  much  of  that,  my  lord  ;  but  I  know  your  honor's 
noble  house  well.     My  name  is  Laurie  Linklater,  my  lord." 

"  Linklater  !  "  repeated  Nigel.     "  I  should  recollect " 

"Under  your  lordship's  favor,"  he  continued,  "I  was 
'prentice,  my  lord,  to  old  Mungo  Moniplies,  the  fleshcr  at  the 
wanton  West  Port  of  Edinburgh,  which  I  wish  I  saAV  again 
before  I  died.  And  your  honor's  noble  father  having  taken 
Eichie  Moniplies  into  his  house  to  wait  on  your  lordship,  there 
was  a  sort  of  connection,  your  lordship  sees." 

''  Ah! "  said  Lord  Glenvarloch,  ''  I  had  almost  forgot  your 
name,  but  not  your  kind  purpose.  You  tried  to  put  Eichie 
in  the  way  of  presenting  a  supplication  to  his  Majesty?  " 

"Most  true,  my  lord,"  replied  the  king's  cook.  "1  had 
like  to  have  come  by  mischief  in  the  job;  for  Eichie,  who 
was  always  wilful,  '  wadna  be  guided  by  me,'  as  the  sang  says. 
But  nobody  among  these  brave  English  cooks  can  kittle  up 
his  Majesty's  most  sacred  palate  with  our  own  gusty  Scottish 
dishes.  So  I  e'en  betook  myself  to  my  craft,  and  concocted 
a  mess  of  friar's  chicken  for  the  soup,  and  a  savory  Itachis, 
that  made  the  whole  cabal  coup  the  crans;  and,  instead  of  dis- 
grace, I  came  by  preferment.  I  am  one  of  the  clerks  of  the 
kitchen  now,  make  me  thankful  !  with  a  finger  in  the  pur- 
veyor's office,  and  may  get  my  Avliole  hand  in  by  and  by. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  819 

-■  I  am  truly  glad/"  said  Xigel,  ''  to  hear  that  yon  have  not 
suffered  on  my  account — still  more  so  at  your  good  fortune." 

"  You  bear  a  kind  heart,  my  lord,"  said  Linklater,  "and 
do  not  forget  poor  people;  and,  troth,  I  see  not  why  they 
should  be  forgotten,  since  the  king's  errand  may  sometimes 
fall  in  the  cadger's  gate.  I  have  followed  your  lordship  in 
the  street,  just  to  look  at  such  a  stately  shoot  of  the  old  oak- 
tree;  and  my  heart  Jumped  into  my  throat  Avhen  I  saw  you 
sitting  openly  in  the  eating-house  yonder,  and  knew  there  was 
such  danger  to  your  person." 

"What!  there  are  warrants  against  me,  then?"  said 
Nigel. 

"  It  is  even  true,  my  lord;  and  there  are  those  are  Avilling 
to  blacken  you  as  much  as  they  can.  God  forgive  them,  that 
would  sacrilicean  honorable  house  for  their  own  base  ends  !" 

"Amen,"  said  Nigel. 

"  For,  say  your  lordship  may  have  been  a  little  wild,  like 
other  young  gentlemen " 

"  We  liave  little  time  to  talk  of  it,  my  friend,"  said  Nigel. 
"  The  point  in  question  is,  how  am  I  to  get  speech  of  the 
King?" 

"  The  King,  my  lord!"  said  Linklater,  in  astonishment ; 
"  why,  will  not  that  be  rushing  wilfully  into  danger? — scalding 
yourself,  as  I  may  say,  with  your  own  ladle  ?  " 

"  My  good  friend,"  answered  Nigel,  "my  experience  of 
the  court,  and  my  knowledge  of  the  circumstances  in  which  I 
stand,  tell  me  that  the  manliest  and  most  direct  road  is,  in  my 
case,  the  surest  and  the  safest.  The  King  has  both  a  head  to 
apprehend  what  is  just  and  a  heart  to  do  what  is  kind." 

"  It  is  e'en  true,  my  lord,  and  so  we,  his  old  servants, 
know%"  added  Linklater;  "but,  woe's  me,  if  you  knew  how 
many  folks  make  it  their  daily  and  nightly  purpose  to  set  his 
head  against  his  heart,  and  his  heart  against  his  head:  to 
make  him  do  hard  things  because  they  are  called  just, 
and  unjust  things  because  they  are  represented  as  kind. 
Woe's  me!  it  is  with  his  sacred  Majesty  and  the  favorites 
who  work  upon  him  even  according  to  the  homely  j)rov- 
erb  that  men  taunt  my  calling  with,  '  God  sends  good 
meat,  but  the  devil  sends  cooks."  " 

"  It  signifies  not  talking  of  it,  my  good  friend,"  said 
Nigel,  "  I  must  take  my  risk;  my  honor  peremptorily  demands 
it.  They  may  maim  me  or  beggar  me,  Init  they  shall  not  say 
I  ik'd  from  my  accusers.   My  peers  shall  hear  my  vindication." 

"  Your  peers!  "  exclaimed  the  cook.  "■  Alack-a-day,  my 
lord,  we  are  not  in  Scotland,  where  the  nobles  can  bang  it  out 


320  WAVER  LEY  NOVELS 

bravely,  were  it  CA'en  with  the  King  himself,  now  and  then. 
This  mess  must  he  cooked  in  the  Star  Chamber,  and  that  is  an 
oven  seven  times  heated,  my  lord;  and  yet,  if  you  are  deter- 
mined to  see  the  King,  I  will  not  say  but  you  may  find  some 
favor,  for  he  likes  well  anything  tliat  is  appealed  directly  to 
his  own  wisdom,  and  sometimes,  in  the  like  cases,  I  have 
known  him  stick  by  his  own  opinion,  which  is  always  a  fair 
one.  Only  mind,  if  you  will  forgive  me,  my  lord — mind  to 
spice  high  with  Latin;  a  curn  or  two  of  Greek  would  not  be 
amiss;  and,  if  you  can  bring  in  anything  about  the  judgment 
of  Solomon,  in  the  original  Hebrew,  and  season  with  a  merry 
jest  or  so,  the  dish  will  be  the  more  palatable.  Truly,  I  think 
that,  besides  my  skill  in  art,  I  owe  much  to  the  stripes  of  the 
rector  of  the  High  School,  who  imprinted  on  my  mind  that 
cooking  scene  in  the  Hemitontimorumenos." 

"  Leaving  that  aside,  my  friend,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch, 
"  can  you  inform  me  which  way  I  shall  most  readily  get  to 
the  sight  and  speech  of  the  King?" 

"  To  the  sight  of  him  readily  enough,"  said  Linklater; 
"  he  is  galloping  about  these  alleys,  to  see  them  strike  the 
hart,  to  get  him  an  appetite  for  a  nooning — and  that  reminds 
me,  I  should  be  in  the  kitchen.  To  the  speech  of  the  King 
you  will  not  come  so  easily,  unless  you  could  either  meet  him 
alone,  which  rarely  chances,  or  wait  for  him  among  the  crowd 
that  go  to  see  him  alight.  And  now,  farewell,  my  lord,  and 
God  speed!     If  I  could  do  more  for  you,  I  would  offer  it." 

"You  have  done  enough,  perhaps,  to  endanger  yourself,"' 
said  Lord  Glenvarloch.     "  I  pray  you  to  be  gone,  and  leave 
me  to  my  fate." 

The  honest  cook  lingered,  but  a  nearer  burst  of  the  horns 
apprised  him  tliat  there  was  no  time  to  lose;  and,  acquainting 
Nigel  that  he  would  leave  the  postern  door  on  the  latch  to 
secure  his  retreat  in  that  direction,  he  bade  God  bless  him, 
and  farewell. 

In  the  kindness  of  this  humble  countryman,  flowing 
partly  from  national  partiality,  partly  from  a  sense  of  long- 
remembered  benefits,  which  had  been  scarce  thought  on  by 
those  who  had  bestowed  them.  Lord  Glenvarloch  thought  he 
saw  the  last  touch  of  sympathy  which  he  was  to  receive  in 
this  cold  and  courtly  region,  and  felt  that  he  must  now  be 
sufficient  to  himself  or  be  utterly  lost. 

He  traversed  more  than  one  alley,  guided  by  the  sounds  oi 
the  chase,  and  met  several  of  the  inferior  attendants  ujjon 
the  King's  sport,  who  regarded  liim  only  as  one  of  tlie  spec- 
tators who  were  sometimes  permitted  to  enter  the  Park  by 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  321 

the  concurrence  of  tlie  officers  about  the  court.  Still  there 
was  no  api.earance  of  James  or  any  of  his  principal  courtiers, 
and  Nigel  began  to  think  whether,  at  the  risk  of  incurring 
disgrace  simikir  to  that  which  had  attended  the  rash  exploit 
ui  Eichie  Mouiplies,  he  sliould  not  repair  to  the  palace  gate, 
in  order  to  address  the  King  on  his  return,  when  Fortune 
[)resented  him  the  opportunity  of  doing  so,  in  her  own  way. 

He  was  in  one  of  those  long  walks  by  Avhich  the  Park  wlis 
traversed,  Avhen  he  heard,  first  a  distant  rustling,  then  the 
rapid  approach  of  hoofs  sliaking  the  firm  earth  on  which  he 
stood,  then  a  distant  halloo,  warned  by  which  he  stood  uj)  by 
t  he  side  of  the  avenue,  leaving  free  room  for  the  passage  of  the 
chase.  The  stag,  reeling,  covered  with  foam,  and  blackened 
with  sweat,  his  nostrils  expanded  as  he  gasped  for  breath,  made 
a  shift  to  come  up  as  far  as  where  Xigel  stood,  and,  without 
turning  to  bay,  was  there  pulled  doAvn  by  two  tall  greyhounds 
of  tlie  breed  still  used  by  the  hardy  deer-stalkers  of  the  Scot- 
tish Highlands,  but  which  has  been  long  unknown  in  England. 
One  dog  struck  at  the  buck's  throat,  another  dashed  his 
sharp  nose  and  fangs,  I  might  almost  say,  into  the  animal's 
bowels.  It  would  have  been  natural  for  Lord  Glenvarloch, 
himself  persecuted  as  if  by  hunters,  to  have  thought  upon  the 
occasion  like  the  melancholy  Jacques  ;  but  liabit  is  a  strange 
matter,  and  I  fear  that  his  feelings  on  the  occasion  were 
rather  those  of  the  practiced  huntsman  than  of  the  moralist. 
He  had  no  time,  however,  to  indulge  them,  for  mark  what 
befell. 

A  single  horseman  followed  the  clia-se,  upon  a  steed  so 
thoroughly  subjected  to  the  rein  that  it  obeyed  the  touch  of 
the  bridle  as  if  it  had  been  a  mechanical  impulse  operating 
on  the  nicest  piece  of  machinery  ;  so  that,  seated  deep  in  his 
derai-pique  saddle,  and  so  trussed  up  there  as  to  make  falling 
almost  impossible,  the  rider,  without  either  fear  or  hesitation, 
might  increase  or  diminish  the  speed  at  which  he  rode,  which, 
even  on  the  most  animating  occasions  of  the  chase,  seldom 
exceeded  three-fourths  of  a  gallop,  the  horse  keeping  his 
h  ranches  under  him,  and  never  stretching  forward  beyond  the 
m  maged  pace  of  the  academy.  The  security  with  which  he 
ciose  to  prosecute  even  this  favorite,  and,  in  the  ordinary 
;,';ise,  somewhat  dangerous  amusement,  as  well  as  the  rest  of 
his  equipage,  marked  King  James.  No  attendant  was  within 
sight ;  indeed,  it  was  often  a  nice  strain  of  flattery  to  permit 
t.ie  sovereign  to  suppose  he  had  outridden  and  distanced  all 
t  le  rest  of  the  chase. 

"  Weel  dune.  Bash — weel  dune.  Battle!"  he  exclaimed,  as 

31 


322       .  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

he  came  up.  "  By  the  honor  of  a  king,  ye  are  a  credit  to 
the  Braes  of  Balwhither  !  Ilaad  my  horse,  man,"  he  called 
out  to  Nigel,  without  stopping  to  see  to  whom  he  had  ad- 
dressed himself — "  hand  my  naig,  and  help  me  doun  out  o' 
the  saddle  ;  deil  ding  your  saul,  sirrah,  canna  ye  mak  haste 
before  these  lazy  smaiks  come  up?  Ilaud  the  rein  easy — 
dinna  let  him  swprve — now,  haud  the  stirrup  ;  that  will  do, 
man,  and  now  we  are  on  terra  jirma."  So  saying,  without 
casting  an  eye  on  his  assistant,  gentle  King  Jamie,  unsheath- 
ing the  short,  sharp  hanger  {cotiteau  de  chasse),  which  was  the 
only  thing  approacliing  to  a  sword  that  he  could  willingly  en- 
dure the  sight  of,  drew  the  blade  with  great  satisfaction  across 
the  throat  of  the  buck,  and  put  an  end  at  once  to  its  strug- 
gles and  its  agonies. 

Lord  Glenvarloch,  who  knew  well  the  sylvan  duty  which 
the  occasion  demanded,  hung  the  bridle  of  the  King's  pal- 
frey on  the  branch  of  a  tree,  and,  kneeling  duteously  down, 
turned  the  slaughtered  deer  upon  its  back,  and  kept  the 
quarrce  in  that  position,  while  the  King,  too  intent  upon  his 
sport  to  observe  anything  else,  drew  his  couteau  down  the 
breast  of  the  animal  secundum  artem;  and,  having  made  a  cross 
cut,  so  as  to  ascertain  the  depth  of  the  fat  upon  the  chest,  ex- 
claimed, in  a  sort  of  rapture,  "  Three  inches  of  white  fat  on 
the  brisket  ! — prime — prime — as  I  am  a  crowned  sinner  ;  and 
deil  ane  o'  the  lazy  loons  in  but  mysell  !  Seven — aught — 
aught  tines  on  the  antlers.  By  G — d,  a  hart  of  aught  tines, 
and  the  first  of  the  season!  Bash  and  Battle,  blessings  on 
the  heart's-root  of  ye!  Buss  me,  my  bairns,  buss  me."  The 
dogs  accordingly  fawned  upon  him,  licked  him  with  bloody 
Jaws,  and  soon  put  him  in  such  a  state  that  it  might  have 
seemed  treason  had  been  doing  its  fell  work  upon  his  anointed 
body.  '''Bide  doun,  with  a  mischief  to  ye — bide  doun,  with 
a  wanion,"  cried  the  King,  almost  overturned  by  the  obstrep- 
erous caresses  of  the  large  stag-hoiinds.  "  But  ye  are  just 
like  ither  folks,  gie  ye  an  inch  and  ye  take  an  ell.  And  wha 
may  ye  be,  friend  ?  "  he  said,  now  finding  leisure  to  take  a 
nearer  view  of  Nigel,  and  observing  what  in  his  first  emotion 
of  sylvan  delight  had  escaped  him.  "  Ye  are  nane  of  our 
train,  man.     In  the  name  of  God,  what  the  devil  are  ye?  " 

"An  unfortunate  man,  sire,"  replied  Nigel. 

"1  dare  say  that,"  answered  the  King,  snappishly,  "or  I 
wad  have  seen  naething  of  you.  My  lieges  keep  a'  their 
happiness  to  themselves;  but  let  boM'ls  row  wrang  wi'  them, 
and  I  am  sure  to  hear  of  it." 

"  And  to  whom  else  can  we  carry  our  complaints  but  to 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  3;;^ 

your  Majesty,  who  is  Heaven's  vicegerent  over  us?"  answered 
ISi^igel. 

"  Riglit,  man,  right — very  weel  spoken,"  said  the  Kinir; 
"  but  you  should  leave  Heaven's  vicegerent  some  quiet  on 
earth,  too." 

"li  your  Majesty  will  look  on  me,"  for  hitherto  the  King 
had  been  so  busy,  first  with  the  dogs,  and  then  with  the  mys- 
tic operation  of ''breaking,"  in  vulgar  phrase,  cutting  up,  the 
deer,  that  he  had  scarce  given  his  assistant  above  a  transient 
glance,''  you  will  see  whom  necessity  makes  bold  to  avail  him- 
self of  an  opportunity  which  may  never  again  occur." 

King  James  looked;  his  blood  left  his  cheek,  though  it 
continued  stained  with  that  of  the  animal  which  lay  at  his 
feet,  he  dropped  the  knife  from  his  hand,  cast  behind  him  a 
faltering  eye,  as  if  he  either  meditated  flight  or  looked  out  for 
assistance,  and  then  exclaimed — "  Glenvarlochides!  as  sure  as 
I  was  christened  James  Stuart.  Here  is  a  bonny  spot  of 
work,  and  me  alone,  and  on  foot  too!"  he  added,  bustling  to 
get  upon  his  horse. 

"Forgive  me  that  I  interrupt  you,  my  liege,"  said  Nigel, 
placing  himself  between  the  King  and  the  steed;  "hear  me 
but  a  moment." 

"  I'll  hear  ye  best  on  horseback,"  said  the  King.  "  I 
canna  hear  a  word  on  foot,  man — not  a  word;  and  it  is  not 
seemly  to  stand  cheek-for-chowl  confronting  us  that  gate. 
Bide  out  of  our  gate,  sir,  we  charge  you  on  your  allegiance. 
The  deil's  in  them  a',  what  can  they  be  doing?" 

"'  By  the  crown  which  you  wear,  my  liege,"  said  Xigel, 
"and  for  which  my  ancestors  have  worthily  fought,  I  conjure 
you  to  be  composed,  and  to  hear  me  but  a  moment!" 

That  which  he  asked  was  entirely  out  of  the  monarch's 
power  to  gran*:.  The  timidity  which  he  showed  was  not  the 
plain  downright  cowardice  which,  like  a  natural  impulse, 
compels  a  man  to  flight,  and  which  can  excite  little  but  pity 
or  contempt,  but  a  much  more  ludicrous,  as  well  as  more 
mingled,  sensation.  The  poor  king  was  frightened  at  once 
and  angry,  desirous  of  securing  his  safety,  and  at  the  same 
time  ashamed  to  compromise  his  dignity;  so  that,  without 
attending  to  what  Lord  Glenvarloch  endeavored  to  explain, 
he  kept  making  at  his  horse,  and  repeating,  "We  are  a  free 
king,  man — we  are  a  free  king;  we  will  not  be  controlled  by 
a  subject.  In  the  name  of  God,  what  keeps  Steenie?  And, 
praised  be  His  name!  they  are  coming.  Hillo,  ho — here, 
here — Steenie.  Steenie!" 

The  Duke  of  Buckingham  galloped  up,  iolioweJ  by  several 


324  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

courtiers  and  attendants  of  the  royal  cliase,  and  commenced 
with  his  usual  familiarity — "I  see  Fortune  has  graced  our 
dear  dad,  as  usual.     But  what's  this?" 

"  What  is  it?  It  is  treason  for  Avhat  I  ken/'  said  the  King; 
"  and  a'  your  wyte,  8teenie.  Your  dear  dad  and  gossip  might 
have  been  murdered,  for  what  you  care." 

"Murdered!  Secure  the  villain!"  exclaimed  the  duke. 
"  By  Heaven,  it  is  Olifaunt  himself! '"  A  dozen  of  the  hunters 
dismounted  at  once,  letting  their  horses  run  wild  through  the 
Park.  Some  seized  roughly  on  Lord  Glenvarloch,  who 
thought  it  folly  to  offer  resistance,  wliile  others  busied  them- 
selves witn  the  King.  "Are  you  wounded,  my  liege — are 
you  wounded  ? " 

"Not  that  I  ken  of,"  said  the  King,  in  the  paroxysm  of 
his  apprehension,  which,  by  the  way,  might  be  pardoned  in 
one  of  so  timorous  a  temper,  and  who,  in  his  time,  had  been 
exposed  to  so  many  strange  attemjits — "not  that  I  ken  of; 
but  search  him — search  him.  I  am  sure  I  saw  firearms  under 
his  cloak.  I  am  sure  I  smelled  powder — I  am  dooms  sure  of 
that." 

Lord  Glenvarloch's  cloak  being  stripped  off,  and  his  pistols 
discovered,  a  shout  of  wonder  and  of  execration  on  the  sup- 
posed criminal  purpose  arose  from  the  crowd  now  thickening 
every  moment,  Kot  that  celebrated  pistol  which,  though 
resting  on  a  bosom  as  gallant  and  as  loyal  as  Nigel's,  spread 
such  causeless  alarm  among  knights  and  dames  at  a  late  high 
solemnity — not  that  very  pistol  caused  more  temporary  con- 
sternation than  was  so  groundlessly  excited  by  the  arms  which 
were  taken  from  Lord  Glenvarloch's  person;  and  not  Mhic- 
AUastar-More*  himself  could  repel  with  greater  scorn  and 
indignation  the  insinuations  that  they  were  worn  for  any 
sinister  purposes. 

"  Away  with  the  wretch — the  parricide — the  blood}^- 
minded  villain  !  "  was  echoed  on  all  hands  ;  and  the  King, 
who  naturally  enough  set  the  same  value  on  his  own  life  at 
which  it  was,  or  seemed  to  be,  rated  by  others,  cried  out, 
louder  than  all  tlie  rest,  "  Ay — ay,  away  with  him.  I  have 
had  enough  of  him,  and  so  has  the  country.  But  do  him  no 
bodily  harm  ;  and,  for  God's  sake,  sirs,  if  ye  are  sure  that  ye 
have  thoroughly  disarmed  him,  put  up  your  swords,  dirks, 
and  skenes,  for  you  will  certainly  do  each  other  a  mischief." 

There  was  a  speedy  sheathing  of  weapons  at  the  King's 
command  ;  for  those  who  had  hitherto  been  brandishing  them 
in  loyal  bravado  began  thereby  to  call  to  mind  the  extreme 

*  See  Note  31, 


THE  FORTUXES  OF  MGJ:.^  825 

dislike  which  his  Majesty  nourished  against  naked  steel— a 
foible  v.'hieh  seemed  to  be"  as  constitutional  as  his  timidity, 
and  was  usually  ascribed  to  the  brutal  murder  of  Rizzio  hav- 
ing been  perpetrated  in  his  unfortunate  mothers  presence 
before  he  yet  saw  the  light. 

At  this  moment,  tlie  Prince,  who  had  been  hunting  in  a 
different  part  of  the  then  extensive  Park,  and  had  received 
some  hasty  and  confused  information  of  what  was  going  for- 
ward, came  rapidly  up,  with  one  or  two  noblemen  in  his  train, 
aiul  among  others  Lord  Dalgarno.  He  sprang  from  iiis 
horse,  and  asked  eagerly  if  his  fatiier  were  wounded. 

"Xot  that  I  am  sensible  of,  Baby  Charles;  but  a  wee 
matter  exhausted,  with  struggling  single-handed  with  the 
.tssassin.  Steenie,  fill  us  a  cup  of  wine— the  leathern  bottle 
is  lianging  at  our  pommel.  Buss  me,  then.  Baby  Charles," 
continued  the  monarch,  after  he  had  taken  this  cup  of  coni- 
fort.*  *'  0  man,  the  Commonwealth  and  you  have  had  a  fair 
escape  from  the  heavy  and  bloody  loss  of  a  dear  father  ;  for 
we  are  pater  pat ricB  as  weel  aspaterfannlias.^  Qiiis  desiderio 
sit  pudor  aid  modus  tarn  cari  capitis!  Woe  is  me,  black 
cloth  would  have  been  dear  in  England,  and  dry  een  scarce!" 

And,  at  the  very  idea  of  the  general  grief  which  must 
have  attended  his  death,  the  good-natured  monarch  cried 
heartily  himself. 

"Is  this  possible  ?-*' said  Charles,  sternly;  for  his  pride 
was  hurt  at  his  father's  demeanor  on  the  one  hand,  while,  on 
the  other,  he  felt  the  resentment  of  a  son  and  a  subject  at 
the  supposed  attempt  on  the  King's  life.  "  Let  some  one 
speak  who  has  seen  what  happened.  Uj  Lord  of  Bucking- 
ham ! " 

-'  I  cannot  say,  my  lord,"  replied  the  Duke,  "  that  I  saw 
any  actual  violence  offered  to  his  Majesty,  else  I  should  have 
avenged  him  on  tlie  spot." 

"  You  would  have  done  wrong,  then,  in  your  zeal, 
George,"  answered  the  Prince;  "  such  offenders  were  better 
left  to  be  dealt  with  by  the  laws.  But  was  the  villain  not 
struggling  with  his  Majesty?" 

"  1  cannot  term  it  so,  my  lord,"  said  the  Duke,  who,  with 
many  faults,  would  have  disdained  an  untruth.  "  He  seemed 
to  desire  to  detain  his  Majesty,  who,  on  the  contrary, 
appeared  to  wish  to  mount  his  horse;  but  they  have  found 
})istols  on  his  person,  contrary  to  the  proclamation,  and,  aait 
proves  to  be  Nigel  Olifaunt,  of  whose  ungoverned  disposition 
vour  Eoyal  Highness  has  seen  some  samples,  we  seem  to  be 
justified  in  apprehending  the  Avorst." 

*  See  King  Jaa^es'B  Huntiiuc-Bottle.    Note  82. 


326  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

"  Xigel  Olifuinit !  "  said  the  Prince;  "  can  that  unhappy 
man  so  soon  have  engaged  in  a  new  trespass?  Let  me  see 
those  pistols." 

*'  Ye  are  not  so  unwise  as  to  meddle  with  such  snap- 
haunces.  Baby  Charles?"  said  James.  "Do  not  give  him 
them,  Steenie — I  command  you  on  your  allegiance.  They 
may  go  off  of  their  own  accord,  whilk  often  befalls.  You 
will  do  it,  then?  Saw  ever  man  sic  wilful  bairns  as  we  are 
cumbered  with!  Havena  we  guardsmen  and  soldiers  enow, 
but  you  must  unload  the  weapons  yoursell — you,  the  heir  of 
our  body  and  dignities,  and  sae  mony  men  around  that  are 
paid  for  venturing  life  in  our  cause  ?  " 

But,  without  regarding  his  father's  exclamations.  Prince 
Charles,  with  the  obstinacy  which  characterized  him  in  trifles 
as  Avell  as  matters  of  consequence,  persisted  in  unloading  the 
pistols  with  his  own  hand  of  the  double  bullets  with  which 
each  was  charged.  The  hands  of  all  around  were  held  up  in 
astonishment  at  the  horror  of  the  crime  supposed  to  have 
been  intended,  and  the  escape  which  was  presumed  so 
narrow. 

Nigel  had  not  yet  spoken  a  word;  he  now  calmly  desired 
to  be  heard. 

"  To  what  purpose?"  answered  the  Prince,  coldly.  "  You 
knew  yourself  accused  of  a  heavy  offence,  and,  instead  of 
rendering  yourself  up  to  justice,  in  terms  of  the  proclama- 
tion, you  are  here  found  intruding  yourself  on  his  Majesty's 
presence,  and  armed  with  unlawful  weapons." 

"  May  it  please  you,  sir,"  answered  Nigel,  "  I  wore  these 
unhappy  weapons  for  my  own  defence;  and  not  very  many 
hours  since  they  were  necessary  to  protect  the  lives  of  others." 

"Doubtless,  my  lord,"  answered  the  Prince,  still  calm  and 
unmoved,  "  your  late  mode  of  life,  and  the  associates  with 
whom  you  have  lived,  have  made  you  familiar  with  scenes  and 
weapons  of  violence.  But  it  is  not  to  me  you  are  to  plead 
your  cause." 

"  Hear  me — hear  me,  noble  prince  ! "  said  Nigel,  eagerly. 
"  Hear  me  !  Y^ou — even  you  yourself — may  one  day  ask  to 
be  heard,  and  in  vain." 

"  How,  sir,"  said  the  Prince,  haughtily — "  how  am  I  to 
construe  that,  my  lord  ?  " 

"  If  not  on  earth,  sir,"  replied  the  prisoner,  "  yet  to 
Heaven  we  must  all  pray  for  patient  and  favorable  audience." 

"  True,  my  lord,"  said  the  Prince,  bending  his  head  with 
haughty  acquiescence;  "nor  would  I  now  refuse  such  audience 
to  you,  could  it  avail  you.  But  you  shall  suffer  no  wrong 
We  will  ourselves  look  into  ^our  case." 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIOEL  82" 

"Ay— ay,"  answered  the  King,  "he  hath  made  appellat  in 
ad  Ccesarem  :  we  will  interrogate  Glendarloehides  ourselves, 
time  and  place  fitting;  and  in  the  mean  while,  have  him  and 
his  weapons  away,  for  I  am  weary  of  the  sight  of  tlani." 

In  consequence  of  directions  hastily  given,  Nigel  was  ac- 
cordingly removed  from  the  presence,  where,  however,  his  wordt- 
had  not  altogether  fallen  to  the  ground.*  "This  is  a  most 
strange  matter,  George,"  said  the  Prince  to  the  favorite; 
"  this  gentleman  hath  a  good  countenance,  a  happy  presence, 
and  much  calm  firmness  in  his  look  and  speech.  I  cannot 
think  he  would  attempt  a  crime  so  desperate  and  useless." 

"  I  profess  neither  love  nor  favor  to  the  young  man," 
answered  Buckingham,  whose  high-spirited  ambition  bore 
always  an  open  character;  ''  out  I  cannot  but  agree  with  your 
Higlmess,  that  our  dear  gossip  hatlr  been  something  hasty  in 
aj)prehending  personal  danger  from  him."  f 

By  my  saul,  Steenie,  ye  are  not  blate,  to  say  so  !  "  said  the 
King.  "  Do  I  not  ken  the  smell  of  pouther,  think  ye  ?  Who 
else  nosed  out  the  Fifth  of  Xovember,  save  our  royal  selves? 
Cecil,  and  Suffolk,  and  all  of  them  were  at  fault,  like  sae 
mony  mongrel  tykes,  when  I  puzzled  it  out ;  and  trow  ye 
that  I  cannot  smell  pouther?  Why,  'sblood,  man,  Joannes 
Barclaius  thought  my  ingine  was  in  some  measure  inspiration, 
and  terms  his  history  of  the  plot  Series  jxtfefacii  divinitus 
parricidii;  and  Spoudanus,  in  like  manner,  saith  of  us, 
Divinitus  evasit." 

"  The  land  Avas  happy  in  your  Majesty's  escape,"  said  the 
Duke  of  Buckingham,  "  and  not  less  in  the  quick  wit  which 
tracked  that  labyrinth  of  treason  by  so  fine  and  almost  in- 
visible a  clew." 

"Saul,  man,  Steenie,  ye  are  right !  There  are  few  youths 
have  sic  true  judgment  as  you  respecting  the  wisdom  of  their 
.  elders ;  and  as  for  this  f ause,  traitorous  smaik,  I  doubt  he  is 
a  hawk  of  the  same  nest.  Saw  ye  not  something  Paj^istical 
about  him  ?  Let  them  look  that  he  bears  not  a  crucifix  or 
some  sic  Eoman  trinket  about  him." 

"It  would  ill  become  me  to  attempt  the  exculpation  of  this 
unhappy  man,"  said  Lord  Dalgarno,  "considering  tlie  height 
of  his  present  attempt,  which  has  made  all  true  men's  blood 
curdle  in  their  veins.  Yet  I  cannot  avoid  intimating,  with  all 
due  submission  to  his  Majesty's  infallible  judgment,  in  justice 
to  one  who  showed  himself  formerly  only  my  enemy,  though 
he  now  displays  himself  in  much  blacker  colors,  that  this 

•  See  Scene  in  Greenwich  Park.    Not©  83, 
t  See  King  James's  Timidity.    Note  84. 


828  WAVE  RLE  Y  NOVELS 

Olifannt  always  appeared  to  me  more  as  a  Puritan  than  as  a 

Papist." 

"Ah,  Dalgarno,  art  thou  there,  man?"  said  the  King. 
"  And  ye  behoved  to  keep  back,  too,  and  leave  us  to  our  own 
natural  strength  and  the  care  of  Providence  when  we  were  in 
grips  witli  the  villain  !" 

""Providence,  may  it  please  your  most  gracious  Majesty, 
would  not  fail  to  aid,  in  sucli  a  strait,  the  care  of  three  weep- 
ing kingdoms,"  said  Lord  Dalgarno. 

"Surely,  man — surely,"  replied  the  King;  "but  a  sight 
of  your  fatlier,  with  his  long  whinyard,  Avould  have  been  a 
blithe  matter  a  short  while  s}Tie ;  and  in  future  we  will  aid 
the  ends  of  Providence  in  our  favor  by  keeping  near  us  two 
stout  beef-eaters  of  the  guard.  And  so  tliis  Olifaunt  is  a 
Puritan  ?  not  the  less  like  to  be  a  Papist  for  all  that,  for 
extremities  meet,  as  the  scholiast  jiroveth.  There  are,  as  I 
have  proved  in  my  book,  Puritans  of  Papistical  principles  :  it 
is  just  a  new  tout  on  an  auld  horn." 

Here  the  King  was  reminded  by  the  Prince,  who  dreaded 
perhaps  that  he  was  going  to  recite  the  whole  Basilicon  Doron, 
that  it  would  be  best  to  move  towards  the  palace,  and  con- 
sider what  was  to  be  done  for  satisfying  the  public  mind,  in 
whom  the  morning's  adventure  was  likely  to  excite  much 
speculation.  As  they  entered  the  gate  of  the  palace,  a  female 
bowed  and  presented  a  paper,  which  the  King  received,  and, 
with  a  sort  of  groan,  thrust  it  into  his  side  pocket.  The 
Prince  expressed  some  curiosity  to  know  its  contents.  "  Tlie 
valet  in  waiting  will  tell  you  them,"  said  the  King,  "when  1 
strip  off  my  cassock.  D'ye  think,  Baby,  that  I  can  read  all 
that  is  thrust  into  my  hands  ?  See  to  me,  man  [he  pointed  to 
the  pockets  of  his  great  trunk  breeches,  which  were  stuffed 
with  papers].  "We  are  like  an  ass — that  we  should  so  speak  I— - 
stopping  betwixt  two  burdens.  Ay — ay,  Asimis  fort  is  ac-- 
cumhens  inter  terminos  as,  the  Vulgate  hath  it.  Ay,  ay,  Vid: 
terrain  quod  esset  ojotima,  et  supposui  humerum  ad portan- 
dum,  et  f actus  sum  tributis  serviens — I  saw  this  land  of 
England,  and  became  an  overburdened  king  thereof." 

"  You  are  indeed  well  loaded,  my  dear  dad  and  gossip," 
said  the  Duke  of  Buckingham,  receiving  the  papers  which 
King  James  emptied  out  of  his  pockets. 

"  Ay — ay,"  continued  the  monarch;  "  take  them  to  you  per 
aversionein,  bairns — tlie  one  pouch  stuffed  with  petitions, 
t'other  Avithpasquinadoes;  a  fine  time  we  have  on't.  On  my 
conscience,  IbelieA'C  the  tale  of  Cadmus  Avas  hieroglyphical, 
and  that  the  dragon's  teeth  Avhilk  he  sowed  were  the  letters 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  323 

he  invented.  Ye  are  laughing,  Baby  Charles  ?  ilind  -what 
I  say.  AVhen  I  came  here  first  frae  our  ain  country,  where 
tlie  men  are  as  rude  as  the  weatlier,  by  my  conscience,  Eng- 
land was  a  bieldy  bit:  one  would  liavc  tiiuught  the  King  had 
little  to  do  but  to  walk  by  quiet  waters — per  aquam  refec- 
fionis.  But,  I  kenna  how  or  why,  the  place  is  sair  changed — 
read  that  libel  upon  us  and  on  our  regimen.  The  dragon's 
teeth  are  sown,  Baby  Charles;  I  pray  God  they  bearna  their 
armed  harvest  in  your  day,  if  I  suld  not  live  to  see  it.  God 
forbid  I  should,  for  there  will  be  an  awful  day's  keraping  at 
the  shearing  of  them." 

"  I  shall  know  how  to  stifle  the  crop  in  the  blade — ha, 
George?"  said  the  Prince,  turning  to  the  favorite  with  a  look 
expressive  of  some  contempt  for  his  father's  apprehensions, 
and  full  of  confidence  in  the  superior  firmness  and  decision 
of  his  own  counsels. 

While  this  discourse  was  passing,  Xigel,  in  charge  of  a 
pursuivant-at-arms,  was  pushed  and  dragged  through  tlio 
small  town,  all  the  inhabitants  of  which,  having  been  alarmed 
by  the  report  of  an  attack  on  the  King's  life,  now  pressed 
forward  to  see  the  supposed  traitor.  Amid  the  confusion  of 
the  moment,  he  could  descry  the  face  of  the  victualler,, 
arrested  into  a  stare  of  stolid  wonder,  and  that  of  the  barber 
grinning  betwixt  horror  and  eager  curiosity.  He  thought 
that  he  also  had  a  glimpse  of  his  waterman  in  the  green 
jacket. 

He  had  no  time  for  remarks,  being  placed  in  a  boat  with 
the  pursuivant  and  two  yeomen  of  the  guard,  and  rowed  up 
the  river  as  fast  as  the  arms  of  six  stout  watermen  could  pull 
against  the  tide.  They  passed  the  groves  of  masts  which 
even  then  astonished  the  stranger  with  the  extended  com- 
merce of  London,  and  now  approached  those  low  and  black- 
ened walls  of  curtain  and  bastion  which  exhibit  here  and  there 
a  piece  of  ordnance,  and  here  and  there  a  solitary  sentinel 
under  arms,  but  have  otherwise  so  little  of  the  military  ter- 
rors of  a  citadel.  A  projecting  low-browed  arch,  which  had 
lowered  over  many  an  innocent  and  many  a  guilty  head,  in  sim- 
ilar circumstances,  now  spread  its  dark  f ro\\'ns  over  that  of 
Xigel.*  The  boat  was  put  close  up  to  the  broad  steps  against 
which  the  tide  was  lapping  its  lazy  wave.  The  warder  on 
duty  looked  from  the  wicket,  and  spoke  to  the  pursuivant  in 
whispers.  In  a  few  minutes  the  lieutenant  of  tlie  Tower  ap- 
peared, received,  and  granted  an  acknowledgment  for  the  boav 
'jf  Nigel  Lord  Glenvarloch. 

•  See  Traitor's  Gate.    Note  8&. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

Ye  towers  of  Julius  1  London's  lasting  shame; 
With  many  a  foul  and  midnight  murder  fed  I 

Gray. 

Such  is  the  exclamation  of  Grray.  Bandello,  long  before 
him,  has  said  sometliing  like  it;  and  the  same  sentiment  mnst, 
in  some  sliape  or  other,  liave  frequently  occurred  to  those 
who,  remembering  the  fate  of  other  captives  in  that  memor- 
able state  prison,  may  have  had  but  too  much  reason  to  antici- 
pate their  own.  The  dark  and  low  arch,  which  seemed,  like  the 
entrance  to  Dante's  Hell,  to  forbid  hope  of  regress;  the  mut- 
tered sounds  of  the  warders,  and  petty  formalities  observed  in 
opening  and  shutting  the  grated  wicket;  tlie  cold  and  con- 
strained salutation  of  the  lieutenant  of  the  fortress,  who 
showed  his  prisoner  that  distant  and  measured  respect  which 
authority  pays  as  a  tax  to  decorum — all  struck  ujDon  Xigel's 
heart,  impressing  on  him  the  cruel  consciousness  of  captivity. 

"  I  am  a  prisoner,"  he  said,  the  words  escaping  from  him 
almost  unawares — "  I  am  a  prisoner,  and  in  the  Tower!" 

The  lieutenant  bowed.  "Audit  is  my  duty,"  he  said, 
"to  show  your  lordship  your  chamber,  where,  I  am  com- 
pelled to  say,  my  orders  are  to  place  you  under  some  restraint. 
I  will  make  it  as  easy  as  my  duty  permits." 

Nigel  only  bowed  in  return  to  this  compliment,  and  fol- 
lowed the  lieutenant  to  the  ancient  buildings  on  the  western 
side  of  the  parade,  and  adjoining  to  the  chapel,  used  in  those 
days  as  a  state  prison,  but  in  ours  as  the  mess-room  of  the 
officers  of  the  guard  upon  duty  at  the  fortress.  The  double 
doors  were  unlocked;  the  prisoner  ascended  a  few  steps,  fol- 
lowed by  the  lieutenant  and  a  warder  of  the  higher  class. 
They  entered  a  large,  but  irregular,  low-roofed,  and  dark 
apartment,  exhibiting  a  very  scanty  proportion  of  furniture. 
The  warder  had  orders  to  light  a  fire  and  attend  to  Lord 
Glenvarloch's  commands  in  all  things  consistent  with  his 
duty;  and  the  lieutenant,  having  made  his  reverence  with 
tlie  customary  compliment  that,  "He  trusted  his  lordship 
would  not  long  remain  under  his  guardianship,"  took  his 
leave. 

Nigel  would  have  asked  some  questions  of  the  warder. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  331 

who  remained  to  put  the  apartment  in  order,  but  tlie  man 
had  caught  the  spirit  of  his  office.  He  seemed  not  to  hear 
some  of  the  prisoner's  questions,  though  of  the  most  ordi- 
nary kind,  did  not  reply  to  others,  and  when  he  did  speak,  it 
was  in  a  short  and  sullen  tone,  which,  though  not  positively 
disrespectful,  was  such  as  at  least  to  encourage  no  farther 
communication, 

Xigel  left  him,  therefore,  to  do  his  work  in  silence,  and 
proceeded  to  amuse  himself  with  the  melancholy  task  of 
deciphering  the  names,  mottoes,  verses,  and  hieroglyphics 
with  which  his  predecessors  in  captivity  had  covered  the  walls 
of  their  prison-house.  There  he  saw  the  names  of  many  a  for- 
gotten sufferer,  mingled  with  others  which  will  continue  in 
remembrance  until  English  history  shall  perish.  There  were 
the  pious  effusions  of  "the  devout"  Catholic,  poured  forth  on 
the  eve  of  his  sealing  his  profession  at  Tyburn,  mingled  with 
those  of  the  firm  Protestant,  about  to  feed  the  fires  of  Smith- 
field.  There  the  slender  hand  of  the  unfortunate  Jane  Grey, 
whose  fate  was  to  draw  tears  from  future  generations,  might 
be  contrasted  with  the  bolder  touch  which  impressed  deep  on 
the  walls  the  bear  and  ragged  staff,  the  proud  emblem  of  the 
proud  Dudleys.  It  was  tike  the  roll  of  the  prophet,  a  record 
of  lamentation  and  mourning,  and  yet  not  unmixed  _  with 
brief  interjections  of  resignation,  and  sentences  expressive  of 
the  firmest  resolution.* 

In  the  sad  task  of  examining  the  miseries  of  his  predeces- 
sors in  captivity.  Lord  Glenvarioch  was  interrupted  by  the 
sudden  opening  of  the  door  of  his  prison-room.  It  was  the 
warder,  who  came  to  inform  him  that,  by  order  of  the  lieu- 
tenant of  the  Tower,  his  lordship  was  to  have  the  society  and 
attendance  of  a  fellow-prisoner  in  his  place  of  confinement. 
Nigel  replied  hastily,  that  he  wished  no  attendance,  and  would 
rather  be  left  alone  ;  but  the  warder  gave  him  to  understand, 
with  a  kind  of  grumbling  civility,  that  the  lieutenant  was  the 
best  judge  how  his  prisoners  should  be  accommodated,  and 
that  he  would  have  no  trouble  with  the  boy,  who  was  such  a 
slip  of  a  thing  as  was  scarce  worth  turning  a  key  upon. 
"There,  Giles,"  he  said,  "  bring  the  child  in." 

Another  warder  put  the  "lad  before  him,"  into  the  room, 
and,  both  withdrawing,  bolt  crashed  and  chain  clanged  as 
they  replaced  these  ponderous  obstacles  to  freedom.  The  boy 
was'  clad  in  a  gray  suit  of  the  finest  cloth,  laid  down  with 
silver  lace,  with  a  buff-colored  cloak  of  the  same  pattern. 
His  cap,  which  was  a  montero  of  black  velvet,  was  pulled 

•  See  Memorials  of  Illustrious  Criminals.    Not«  86. 


332  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

over  his  brows,  and,  with  the  j)rofusion  of  his  long  ringlets, 
almost  concealed  his  face.  He  stood  on  the  very  spot  Avhere 
the  warder  liad  quitted  his  collar,  about  two  steps  from  the 
door  of  the  apartment,  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  ground,  and  every 
joint  trembling  with  confusion  and  terror.  Nigel  could  well 
liave  dispensed  with  his  society,  but  it  was  not  in  his  nature 
to  beliold  distress,  whether  of  body  or  mind,  without  endeav- 
oring to  relieve  it. 

"  Cheer  up,"  he  said,  "  my  pretty  lad.  We  are  to  be 
companions,  it  seems,  for  a  little  time — at  least  I  trust  your 
confinement  will  be  short,  since  you  are  too  young  to  have 
done  aught  to  deserve  long  restraint.  Come,  come,  do  not  be 
discouraged.  Your  hand  is  cold  and  trembles,  tlie  air  is 
warm  too — but  it  may  be  the  damp  of  this  darksome  room. 
Place  you  by  the  fire.  What!  weeping-ripe,  my  little  man? 
I  pray  you,  do  not  be  a  child.  You  have  no  beard  yet,  to  be 
dishonored  by  your  tears,  but  yet  you  should  not  cry  like  a 
girl.  Think  you  are  only  shut  up  for  playing  truant,  and 
you  can  pass  a  day  without  weeping,  surely." 

The  boy  suffered  himself  to  be  led  and  seated  by  the  fire, 
but,  after  retaining  for  a  long  time  the  very  posture  which  he 
assumed  in  sitting  down,  he  suddenly  changed  it  in  order  to 
wring  his  hands  with  an  air  of  the  bitterest  distress,  and  then, 
spreading  them  before  his  face,  wept  so  plentifully  that  the 
tears  found  their  way  in  floods  tlirough  his  slender  fingers. 

Nigel  was  in  some  degree  rendered  insensible  to  his  own 
situation  by  his  feelings  for  the  intense  agony  by  which  so 
young  and  beautiful  a  creature  seemed  to  be  utterly  over- 
wlielmed  ;  and,  sitting  down  close  beside  the  boy,  he  applied 
the  most  soothing  terms  which  occurred,  to  endeavor  to  alle- 
viate his  distress  ;  and,  with  an  action  which  the  difference 
of  their  age  rendered  natural,  drew  his  hand  kindly  along  the 
long  hair  of  the  disconsolate  child.  The  lad  appeared  so  shy 
as  even  to  shrink  from  this  slight  approach  to  familiarity  ; 
yet,  when  Lord  Glenvarloch,  perceiving  and  allowing  for  his 
timidity,  sat  doAvn  on  the  farther  side  of  the  fire,  he  appeared 
to  be  more  at  his  ease,  and  to  hearken  with  some  apparent 
interest  to  the  arguments  which  from  time  to  time  Nigel 
used,  to  induce  him  to  moderate,  at  least,  the  violence  of 
his  grief.  As  the  boy  listened,  his  tears,  though  they  con- 
tinued to  flow  freely,  seemed  to  escape  from  their  source 
more  easily,  his  sobs  were  less  convulsive,  and  becam.e  grad- 
luilly  changed  into  low  sighs,  which  succeeded  each  other,  in- 
dicating as  much  sorrow,  perhaps,  but  less  alarm,  than  his 
first  transports  had  shown. 


THE  FORTUXES  OF  NIGEL  Z  .3 

"  Tell  me  v.ho  and  what  you  are,  my  pretty  boy,"  said 
Nigel.  "Consider  me,  cliild,  as  a  companion,  who  wishes 
to  be  kind  to  you,  would  you  but  teach  him  how  he  can  be 

SO. 

''  Sir — my  lord,  I  mean,"  answered  the  boy,  very  timidly, 
and  in  a  voice  which  could  scarce  be  heard  even  across  the 
brief  distance  which  divided  them,  "  you  are  very  good — and 
I — am  very  unliapp}' " 

A  second  fit  of  tears  interrupted  what  else  he  had  intended 
to  say,  and  it  required  a  renewal  of  Lord  Glenvarloch's  good- 
natured  expostulations  and  encouragements  to  bring  him  once 
more  to  such  composure  as  rendered  the  lad  capable  of  ex- 
pressing himself  intelligibly.  At  length,  however,  he  was 
able  to  say — "  I  am  sensible  of  3'our  goodness,  my  lord,  and 
grateful  for  it;  but  I  am  a  poor,  unhappy  creature,  and,  what 
is  worse,  have  myself  only  to  thank  for  my  misfortunes." 

'MVe  are  seldom  absolutely  miserable,  my  young  acquaint- 
ance," said  Nigel,  "without  being  ourselves  more  or  less  re- 
sponsible for  it.  I  may  well  say  so,  otherwise  I  had  not  been 
here  to-day;  but  you  are  very  young,  and  can  have  but  little 
to  answer  for." 

"  0  sir!  I  wish  I  could  say  so.  I  have  been  self-willed 
and  obstinate — and  rash  and  ungovernable — and  now — now, 
liow  dearly  do  I  pay  the  price  of  it!" 

"Pshaw,  my  boy,"  replied  Nigel,  "this  must  be  some 
childish  frolic — some  breaking  out  of  bounds — some  truant 
trick.  And  yet  how  should  any  of  tliese  have  brought  you  to 
the  Tower?  There  is  something  mysterious  about  you,  young 
man,  which  I  must  inquire  into." 

"  Indeed — indeed,  my  lord,  there  is  no  harm  about  me," 
said  tlie  boy,  more  moved,  it  would  seem,  to  confession  by  the 
last  words,  by  which  he  seemed  considerably  alarmed,  than  by 
all  the  kind  expostulations  and  arguments  which  Nigel  had 
previously  used.  "  I  am  inocent — that  is,  I  have  done  wrong, 
but  nothing  to  deserve  being  in  this  frightful  place." 

"  Tell  me  the  truth,  then,"  said  Nigel,  in  a  tone  in  which 
command  mingled  witli  encouragement;  "you  have  nothing 
to  fear  from  me,  and  as  little  to  hope,  perhaps;  yet,  placed  as 
I  am,  I  would  know  with  wliom  I  speak." 

"  With  an  unliappy — boy,  sir — and  idle  and  truantly  dis- 
posed, as  your  lordship  said,"  answered  the  lad,  looking  up 
and  sliowing  a  countenance  in  which  paleness  and  blushes 
succeeded  eacli  other,  as  fear  and  shamefacedness  alternately 
had  influence.  "I  left  my  father's  house  without  leave,  to 
see  the  King  hunt  in  the  Park  at  Green wicli;  there  came  a 


3:^4  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

cry  of  •  Treason/  and  all  the  gates  were  shut.  I  was  fright- 
ened, and  hid  myself  in  a  thicket,  and  1  was  found  by  some  of 
the  rangers  and  examined — and  they  said  i  gave  no  good  ac- 
count of  myself — and  so  I  was  sent  liither." 

*' I  am  an  unhappy — a  most  unhappy  being,"  said  Lord 
Gleuvarloch,  rising  and  walking  through  the  apartment; 
'*  nothing  approaclies  me  but  sliares  my  own  bad  fate  !  Death 
and  iinprisoumont  dog  my  steps,  and  involve  all  who  are  found 
near  me.  Yet  this  boy's  story  sounds  strangely.  You  say 
you  were  exauiined,  my  young  friend.  Let  me  pray  you  to 
say  whether  you  told  your  name,  and  your  means  of  gaining 
admission  into  the  Park;  if  so,  they  surely  would  not  have 
detained  you?" 

"  0  my  lord,"  said  the  boy,  "  I  took  care  not  to  tell  them 
the  name  of  the  friend  that  let  me  in;  and  as  to  my  fatlier — 
I  would  not  he  knew  where  I  now  am  for  all  the  wealth  in 
London  ! " 

"  But  you  do  not  expect,"  said  Nigel,  "  that  they  will  dis- 
miss you  till  you  let  them  know  who  and  what  you  are?" 

"What  good  will  it  do  tliem  to  keep  so  useless  a  creature 
as  myself?"  said  the  boy;  "  they  must  let  me  go,  were  it  but 
out  of  shame." 

•'  Do  not  trust  to  that.  Tell  me  your  name  and  station; 
I  will  co'.nmuuicate  them  to  the  lieutenant;  he  is  a  man  of 
quality  and  honor,  and  will  not  only  be  willing  to  procure 
your  liberation,  but  also,  I  have  no  doubt,  will  intercede  with 
your  father.  I  am  partly  answerable  for  such  poor  aid  as  1 
can  afford,  to  get  you  out  of  this  embarrassment,  since  I  oc- 
casioned the  alarin  owing  to  which  you  were  arrested;  so  tell 
me  your  name  and  your  father's  name." 

' '  My  name  to  you  ?  0  never — never  ! "  answered  the  boy, 
in  a  tone  of  deep  emotion,  the  cause  of  which  Nigel  could 
not  comprehend. 

"  Are  you  so  much  afraid  of  me,  young  man,"  he  replied, 
"  because  I  am  here  accused  and  a  prisoner?  Consider,  a  man 
may  be  both  and  deserve  neither  suspicion  nor  restraint.  Wliy 
should  you  distrust  me  ?  You  seem  friendless,  and  I  am 
myself  so  much  in  the  same  circumstances  that  I  cannot  bui: 
pity  your  situation  when  I  reflect  on  my  OAvn.  Be  wise;  I 
nave  spoken  kindly  to  you,  I  mean  as  kindly  as  I  speak." 

''  0,  I  doubt  it  not — I  doubt  it  not,  my  lord,"  said  the 
boy,  "  and  I  could  tell  you  all — that  is,  almost  all." 

"Telbne  nothing,  my  young  friend,  excepting  what  may 
assist  me  in  being  useful  to  you."  said  Nigel. 

**  You  are  generous.   mV  lord."  said  the  boy;  "  and  I  am 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  335 

sure — 0  sure,  I  might  safely  trust  to  your  lionor.  But  yet — 
but  yet — 1  am  so  sore  beset.  1  have  been  so  rasli,  so  un- 
guarded— 1  can  never  tell  you  of  my  folly.  Besitles,  1  have 
already  told  too  much  to  one  whose  heart  I  thought  I  had 
moved — yet  I  find  myself  here." 

"  To  whom  did  you  make  this  disclosure  ?  "  said  Nigel. 

"  I  dare  not  tell,"  replied  the  youth. 

"  Tliere  is  something  singular  about  you,  my  young 
friend,"  said  Lord  Glenvarlocli, withdrawing  with  a  gentle  de- 
gree of  compulsion  the  hand  with  wliich  the  boy  had  again 
covered  his  eyes  ;  "do  not  pain  yourself  with  thinking  on 
your  situation  just  at  present.  Your  pulse  is  high,  and  your 
hand  feverish  ;  lay  yourself  on  yonder  pallet,  and  try  to  com- 
pose yourself  to  sleep.  It  is  the  readiest  and  best  remedy 
for  the  fancies  with  which  you  are  worrying  yourself." 

"  I  thank  you  for  your  considerate  kindness,  my  lord," 
said  the  boy  ;  "•  with  your  leave,  I  will  remain  for  a  little 
space  quiet  in  this  chair  :  I  am  better  thus  than  on  the  couch. 
I  can  think  undisturbedly  on  what  I  have  done,  and  have 
still  to  do  ;  and  if  God  sends  slumber  to  a  creature  so  ex- 
hausted, it  shall  be  most  welcome." 

So  saying,  the  boy  drew  his  hand  from  Lord  Nigel's,  and, 
drawing  around  him  and  partly  over  liis  face  the  folds  of 
liis  ample  cloak,  he  resigned  himself  to  sleep  or  meditation, 
while  his  companion,  notwithstanding  the  exhausting  scenes 
of  this  and  the  preceding  day,  continued  liis  pensive  walk 
up  and  down  the  apartment. 

Every  reader  has  experienced  tliat  times  occur  when,  far 
from  being  lord  of  external  circumstances,  man  is  unable  to 
rule  even  tlie  wayward  realm  of  his  own  thoughts.  It  was 
Nigel's  natural  wish  to  consider  his  own  situation  coolly, 
and  fix  on  the  course  w^icli  it  became  him  as  a  man  of  sense 
and  courage  to  adopt  ;  and  yet,  in  spite  of  himself,  and  not- 
withstanding the  deep  interest  of  the  critical  state  in  which 
he  was  placed,  it  did  so  happen  that  his  fellow-prisoner's 
situation  occupied  more  of  liis  thoughts  than  did  his  own. 
There  was  no  accounting  for  this  wandering  of  the  imagina- 
tion, but  also  there  was  no  striving  with  it.  The  pleading 
tones  of  one  of  the  sweetest  voices  he  had  ever  heard  still 
rang  in  his  ear,  though  it  seemed  that  sleep  had  now  fettered 
the  tongue  of  the  speaker.  He  drew  near  on  tijitoe  to  satisfy 
himself  whether  it  were  so.  The  folds  of  the  cloak  hid  the 
lower  part  of  his  face  entirely  ;  but  the  bonnet,  which  had 
fallen  a  little  aside,  permitted  him  to  see  the  forehead 
streaked  with  blue  veins,  the  closed  eyes,  and  the  long  silkeu 
eyelashes. 


336  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

"  Poor  child/'  said  Nigel  to  himself,  as  he  looked  on  him, 
nestled  up  as  it  were  in  the  folds  of  his  mantle,  ' '  the  dew  is 
yet  on  thy  eyelashes,  and  thou  hast  fairly  wept  thyself  asleep. 
Sorrow  is  a  rough  nurse  to  one  so  young  and  delicate  as  thou 
art.  Peace  be  to  thy  slumbers,  I  will  not  disturb  them.  My 
own  misfortunes  require  my  attention,  and  it  is  to  their  con- 
templation that  I  must  resign  myself.'' 

He  attempted  to  do  so,  but  was  crossed  at  every  turn  by 
conjectures  which  intruded  themselves  as  before,  and  which 
all  regarded  the  sleeper  rather  than  himself.  He  was  angry 
and  vexed,  and  expostulated  with  himself  concerning  the 
overweening  interest  which  he  took  in  the  concerns  of  one  of 
whom  he  knew  nothing,  saving  that  the  boy  was  forced  into 
his  company,  perhaps  as  a  spy,  by  those  to  whose  custody  he 
was  committed  ;  but  the  spell  could  not  be  broken,  and  the 
thoughts  which  he  struggled  to  dismiss  continued  to  haunt 
him. 

Thus  passed  half  an  hour  or  more,  at  the  conclusion  of 
Avhich  the  harsh  sound  of  the  revolving  bolts  was  again  heard, 
and  the  voice  of  the  warder  announced  that  a  man  desired  to 
speak  with  Lord  Glenvarloch.  "A  man  to  speak  with  me, 
under  my  present  circumstances!  Who  can  it  be  ?"  And 
John  Christie,  his  landlord  of  Paul's  Wharf,  resolved  his 
doubts  by  entering  the  apartment. 

"  Welcome — most  welcome,  mine  honest  landlord  !  "  said 
Lord  Glenvarloch.  "  How  could  I  have  dreamt  of  seeing  you 
in  my  present  close  lodgings?"  And  at  the  same  time,  with 
the  frankness  of  old  kindness,  he  walked  uj?  to  Christie  and 
offered  his  hand  ;  but  John  started  back  as  from  the  look  of 
a  basilisk. 

"  Keep  your  courtesies  to  yourself,  my  lord,"  said  he, gruff- 
ly  ;  "I  have  had  as  many  of  them  already  as  may  serve  me  for 
my  life." 

"Why,  Master  Christie,"  said  Nigel,"  what  means  this? 
I  trust  I  have  not  offended  you?" 

"  Ask  me  no  questions,  my  lord,"  said  Christie,  bluntly. 
"  I  am  a  man  of  peace  :  I  came  not  hither  to  wrangle  with  you 
at  this  place  and  season.  Just  suppose  that  I  am  well  in- 
formed of  all  the  obligements  from  your  honor's  nobleness, 
and  then  acquaint  me,  in  as  few  words  as  may  be,  where  is 
the  unhappy  woman.     What  have  you  done  with  her?" 

"What  have  I  done  with  her!  "said  Lord  Glenvarloch. 
"  Done  with  whom  ?    I  know  not  what  you  are  speaking  of." 

"  Oh  yes,  my  lord,"  said  Christie  ;  "  play  surprise  as 
well  as  you  will,  you  must  have  some  guess  that  I  am  speak- 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIOEL  837 

ing  of  the  poor  fool  that  was  my  wife,  till  she  became  yonr 
lordship's  light  o'  love." 

"  Your  wife  !  Has  your  wife  left  you?  and,  if  she  has, 
do  you  come  to  ask  her  of  me?  " 

"  Yes,  my  lord,  singular  as  it  may  seem,"  returned 
Christie,  in  a  tone  of  bitter  irony,  and  with  a  sort  of  grin 
widely  discording  from  the  discomposure  of  his  features,  the 
gleam  of  his  eye,  and  the  froth  which  stood  on  his  lip,  "  I  do 
come  to  make  that  demand  of  your  lordship.  Doubtless, 
you  are  surprised  I  should  take  the  trouble;  but,  I  cannot 
tell,  great  men  and  little  men  think  diHerently.  She  has 
lain  in  my  bosom  and  drunk  of  my  cup,  and,  such  as  she  is, 
I  cannot  forget  that,  though  I  will  never  see  her  again;  she 
must  not  starve,  my  lord,  or  do  worse  to  gain  bread,  though 
I  reckon  your  lordship  may  think  I  am  robbing  the  public  in 
trying  to  change  her  courses." 

"  By  my  faith  as  a  Christian,  by  my  honor  as  a  gentle- 
man," said  Lord  Glenvarloch,  "if  aught  amiss  has  chanced 
with  your  wife,  I  know  nothing  of  it.  I  trust  in  Heaven  you 
are  as  much  mistaken  in  imputing  guilt  to  her  as  in  suppos- 
ing nie  her  partner  in  it." 

"  Fie!  fie!  my  lord,"  said  Christie,  "  why  will  you  make  it 
so  tough?  She  is  Mit  the  wife  of  a  clod-pated  old  chandler, 
who  was  idiot  enough  to  marry  a  wench  twenty  years  younger 
than  himself.  Y^our  lordship  cannot  have  more  glory  by  it 
than  you  have  had  already;  and,  as  for  advantage  and  solace, 
I  take  it  Dame  Nelly  is  now  unnecessary  to  your  gratification. 
I  should  be  sorry  to  interrupt  the  course  of  your  pleasure:  an 
old  wittol  should  have  more  consideration  of  his  condition. 
But,  your  precious  lordship  being  mewed  up  here  among 
other  choice  jewels  of  the   kingdom.  Dame  Nelly   cannot,  I 

take  it,  be  admitted  to  share  the  Jiours  of  dalliance  which " 

Here  the  incensed  husband  stammered,  broke  off  his  tone  of 
irony,  and  proceeded,  striking  his  staff  against  the  ground — 
"  0  that  these  false  limbs  of  yours,  which  I  wish  had  been 
hamstrung  when  they  first  crossed  mv  honest  threshold,  were 
free  from  the  fetters  they  have  well  deserved!  I  would  give 
you  the  odds  of  your  youth,  and  ynur  weapon,  and  would 
bequeath  my  soul  to  the  foul  fiend,  if  I,  with  this  piece  of  oak, 
did  not  make  you  such  an  example  to  all  ungrateful,  pick- 
thank  courtiers  that  it  should  be  a  proverb  to  the  end  of  time 
how  John  Christie  swaddled  his  wife's  fine  leman!" 

'_' I  understand  not  your  insolence," said  Nigel,  "but  I 
forgive  it,  because  you  labor  under  some  strage  delusion.  In 
so  far  as  I  can  comprehend  your  vehement  charge,    it  is  en- 


338  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

tirely  undeserved  on  my  part.  You  seem  to  impute  to  me 
the  seduction  of  your  wife;  I  trust  slie  is  innocent.  For  me, 
at  least,  she  is  as  innocent  as  an  angel  in  bliss.  I  never 
thought  of  her — never  touched  her  hand  or  cheek,  save  in  hon- 
orable courtesy." 

"  0  ay — courtesy!  that  is  the  very  word.  She  always 
praised  your  lordship's  honorahle  courtesy.  Ye  have  cozened 
me  between  ye,  with  your  courtesy.  My  lord — my  lord,  you 
came  to  us  no  very  wealthy  man,  you  know  it.  It  was  for  no 
lucre  of  gain  I  took  you  and  your  swashbuckler,  yoar  Don 
Diego  yonder,  under  my  poor  roof.  I  never  cared  if  the 
little  room  were  let  or  no  :  I  could  live  without  it.  If  you 
could  not  have  paid  for  it,  you  should  never  have  been  asked. 
All  the  wharf  knows  John  Christie  has  the  means  and  spirit 
to  do  a  kindness.  AVhen  you  first  darkened  my  honest  door- 
way, I  was  as  happy  as  a  man  need  to  be,  who  is  no  young- 
ster, and  has  the  rheumatism.  Nelly  was  the  kindest  and 
best-humored  wench — we  might  have  a  word  now  and  then 
about  a  gown  or  a  ribbon,  but  a  kinder  soul  on  the  whole, 
and  a  more  careful,  considering  her  years,  till  you  came — 
and  what  is  she  now!  But  I  will  not  be  a  fool  to  cry,  if  I 
can  help  it.  Wliat  she  is,  is  not  the  question,  but  ivhere  she 
is  ;  and  that  I  must  learn,  sir,  of  you." 

''How  can  you,  when  I  tell  you,"  replied  Nigel,  "  that  I 
am  as  ignorant  as  yourself,  or  rather  much  more  so?  Till 
this  moment,  I  never  heard  of  any  disagreement  betwixt  your 
dame  and  you." 

"  That  is  a  lie,"  said  John  Christie,  bluntly. 

''How,  you  base  villain! "  said  Lord  Glenvarloch,  "do 
you  presume  on  my  situation  ?  If  it  were  not  that  I  hold  you 
mad,  and  perhaps  made  so  by  some  wrong  sustained,  you 
should  find  my  being  weaponless  were  no  protection  :  I  would 
beat  your  brains  out  against  the  wall." 

"  Ay — ay,"  answered  Christie,  "  bully  as  ye  list.  Ye  have 
been  at  the  ordinaries,  and  in  Alsatia,  and  learned  the  ruf- 
fian's rant,  I  doubt  not.  But  I  repeat,  you  have  spoken  an 
untruth,  when  you  said  you  knew  not  of  my  wife's  falsehood  ; 
for,  when  you  were  twitted  with  it  among  your  gay  mates,  it 
was  a  common  jest  among  you,  and  your  lordship  took  all  the 
credit  they  would  give  you  for  your  gallantry  and  gratitude." 

There  was  a  mixture  of  truth  in  this  part  of  the  charge 
which  disconcerted  Lord  Glenvarloch  exceedingly;  for  he 
could  not,  as  a  man  of  honor,  deny  that  Lord  Dalgarno  and 
others  had  occasionally  jested  with  him  on  the  subject  of 
Dame  Nelly,  and  that,  although  he  had  not  played  exactly 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  339 

h  fanfaron  des  vices  qu'il  u'avoit  jyas,  he  had  not  at  least 
been  sulnciently  anxious  to  clear  himself  of  the  suspicion  of 
sucli  a  crime  to  men  who  considered  it  as  a  merit.  It  was 
therefore  with  some  hesitation,  and  in  a  sort  of  qualifying 
tone,  that  he  admitted  that  some  idle  jests  had  passed  upon 
such  a  supposition,  although  without  the  least  foundation  in 
truth. 

John  Christie  would  not  listen  to  his  vindication  any 
longer.  "  By  your  own  account/Mie  said,  "you  permitted 
lies  to  be  told  of  you  in  jest.  Hoav  do  I  know  you  are  speak- 
ing truth,  now  you  are  serious?  You  thought  it,  I  suppose, 
a  line  thing  to  Avear  the  reputation  of  having  dishonored  an 
honest  family;  who  will  not  think  that  you  had  real  grounds 
for  your  base  bravado  to  rest  upon?  I  will  not  believe  other- 
wise for  one,  and  therefore,  my  lord,  mark  what  I  have  to 
say.  You  are  now  yourself  in  trouble.  As  you  hope  to 
come  through  it  safely,  and  without  loss  of  life  and  property, 
tell  me  where  this  unhappy  woman  is.  Tell  me,  if  you  hope 
for  Heaven;  tell  me,  if  you  fear  Hell;  tell  me,  as  you  Avould 
not  have  the  curse  of  an  utterly  ruined  woman  and  a  broken- 
hearted man  attend  you  through  life,  and  bear  witness 
against  you  at  the  Great  Day  which  shall  come  after  death. 
You  are  moved,  my  lord,  I  see  it.  I  cannot  forget  the  wrong 
you  have  done  me.  I  cannot  oven  promise  to  forgive  it;  but 
— tell  me,  and  you  shall  never  see  me  again,  or  hear  more  of 
my  reproaches." 

"  Unfortunate  man,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch,  "  you  have 
said  more — far  more  than  enough  to  move  me  deeply.  Were 
I  at  liberty,  I  would  lend  you  my  best  aid  to  search  out  him 
wlio  has  wronged  you,  the  rather  that  I  do  suspect  my  having 
been  your  lodger  has  been  in  some  degree  the  remote  cause 
of  bringing  the  spoiler  into  the  sheepfold." 

"  I  am  glad  your  lordship  grants  me  so  much,"  said  John 
Christie,  resuming  the  tone  of  embittered  irony  with  which  he 
had  opened  the  singular  conversation;  ''I  Avill  spare  you 
farther  reproach  and  remonstrance;  your  mind  is  made  up, 
and  so  is  mine.  So  ho,  warder  !"  The  Avarder  entered,  and 
John  went  on — "  I  Avant  to  get  out,  brother.  Look  Avell  to 
your  cliarge:  it  were  better  that  half  the  wild  beasts  in  their 
dens  yonder  Avere  turned  loose  upon  ToAver  Hill  than  that  this 
same  smooth-faced,  civil-spoken  gentleman  avc re  again  returned 
to  honest  men's  company  I " 

So  saying,  he  hastily  left  the  apartment;  and  Xigel  had 
full  leisure  to  lament  the  AvayAvardness  of  his  fate,  Avhich  seemed 
never  to  tire  of  persecuting  liini  for  crimes  of  Avhich  he  was 


340  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

innocent,  and  investing  him  with  the  appearances  of  guilt 
which  his  mind  abhorred.  He  could  not,  however,  help  ac- 
knowledging to  himself  that  all  the  pain  which  he  might 
sustain  from  the  present  accusation  of  John  Christie  was  so 
far  deserved,  from  his  having  suffered  himself,  out  of  vanity, 
or  rather  an  unwillingness  to  encounter  ridicule,  to  be  sup- 
posed capable  of  a  base  inhospitable  crime,  merely  because 
fools  called  it  an  affair  of  gallantry;  and  it  was  no  balsam  to 
tlie  wound,  when  he  recollected  what  Richie  had  told  him  of 
his  having  been  ridiculed  behind  his  back  by  the  gallants  of 
the  ordinary  for  affecting  the  reputation  of  an  intrigue  which 
he  had  not  in  reality  spirit  enougli  to  have  carried  on.  His 
simulation  had,  in  a  word,  placed  him  in  the  unlucky  pre- 
dicament of  being  rallied  as  a  braggart  among  the  dissipated 
youths,  with  whom  the  reality  of  the  amour  would  have  given 
him  credit;  while,  on  the  other  hand,  he  was  branded  as  an 
inhospitable  seducer  by  the  injured  husband,  who  was  obsti- 
nately persuaded  of  his  guilt. 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

How  fares  the  man  on  whom  good  men  would  look 
With  eyes  where  scorn  and  censure  combated, 
But  that  kind  Christian  love  hath  taught  the  lesson- 
That  they  who  merit  most  contempt  and  hate 
Do  most  deserve  our  pity. 

Old  Play. 

It  might  have  seemed  natural  that  the  visit  of  John 
Christie  should  have  entirely  diverted  Nigel's  attention  from 
his  slumbering  companion,  and,  for  a  time,  such  was  the 
immediate  effect  of  the  chain  of  new  ideas  which  the  inci- 
dent introduced  ;  yet,  soon  after  the  injured  man  had  departed. 
Lord  Glenvarloch  began  to  think  it  extraordinary  that  the 
boy  should  have  slept  so  soundly  while  they  talked  loudly  in 
his  vicinity.  Yet  he  certainly  did  not  appear  to  have  stirred. 
Was  he  well — was  he  only  feigning  sleep  ?  He  went  close  to 
him  to  make  his  observations,  and  perceived  that  he  had 
wept,  and  was  still  weeping,  though  his  eyes  were  closed. 
He  touched  him  gently  on  the  shoulder  ;  the  boy  shrank  from 
his  touch,  but  did  not  awake.  He  pulled  him  harder,  and 
asked  him  if  he  was  sleeping. 

"  Do  they  waken  folk  in  your  country  to  know  whether 
thev  are  asleep  or  no  ?"  said  the  boy,  in  a  peevish  tone. 

'^''No,  my  young  sir,"  answered  Nigel ;  "but  when  they 
weep  in  the  'manner  you  do  in  your  sleep,  they  awaken  them 
•to  see  what  ails  them." 

"  It  signifies   little  to   any  one   what  ails  me,"  said  the 

boy. 

"True,"  replied  Lord  Glenvarloch;  "but  you  knew  before 
you  went  to  sleep  how  little  I  could  assist  you  in  your  diffi- 
culties, and  you  seemed  disposed,  notwithstanding,  to  put 
gome  confidence  in  me." 

"  If  I  did,  I  have  changed  my  mind,"  said  the  lad. 

"  And  wliat  may  have  occasioned  this  change  of  mind,  I 
trow  ?"  said  Lord  'Glenvarloch.  "  Some  men  speak  through 
their  sleep  ;  perhaps  vou  have  the  gift  of  hearing  in  it?" 

"  No,  but  the  Patriarch  Joseph  never  dreamt  truer 
dreams  than  I  do." 

"Indeed  !"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch.  "  And,  pray,  what 
dream   have   you   had   that   has   deprived  me  of  your  good 


842  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

opinion;  for  that,    I   think,    seems   the  moral   of  the  mat- 
ter?'^ 

"  You  shall  judge  yourself,"  answered  the  boy.  "  I 
dreamed  I  was  in  a  wild  forest,  where  there  was  a  cry  of 
hounds,  and  Avinding  of  horns,  exactly  as  I  heard  in  Green- 
wich Park." 

"  That  was  because  you  were  in  the  Park  this  morning, 
you  simple  child,"  said  Nigel. 

"  Stay,  my  lord,"  said  the  youth.  "  I  went  on  in  my 
dream,  till,  at  the  toj^  of  a  broad  green  alley,  I  saw  a  noble 
stag  which  had  fallen  into  the  toils;  and  methought  I  knew 
that  he  was  the  very  stag  which  the  whole  j)arty  were  hunt- 
ing, and  that,  if  the  chase  came  up,  the  dogs  would  tear  him 
to  pieces,  or  the  hunters  would  cut  his  throat;  and  I  had  pity 
on  the  gallant  stag,  and  though  I  was  of  a  different  kind 
from  him,  and  though  I  was  somewhat  afraid  of  him,  I 
thought  I  would  venture  something  to  free  so  stately  a  crea- 
ture; and  I  pulled  out  my  knife,  and  just  as  I  was  begin- 
ning to  cut  the  meshes  of  the  net,  the  animal  started  up  in 
my  face  in  the  likeness  of  a  tiger,  much  larger  and  fiercer 
than  any  you  have  seen  in  the  ward  of  the  wild  beasts 
yonder,  and  was  just  about  to  tear  me  limb  from  limb  when 
you  aAvaked  me." 

"  Methinks,"  said  Nigel,  "  I  deserved  more  thanks  than  I 
have  got  for  rescuing  you  from  such  a  danger  by  waking  you. 
But,  my  pretty  master,  methinks  all  this  tale  of  a  tiger  and  a 
stag  has  little  to  do  Avithyour  change  of  temper  towards  me." 

"  I  know  not  whether  it  has  or  no,"  said  the  lad;  "^but  I 
will  not  tell  you  who  I  am." 

"  You  will  keep  your  secret  to  yourself  then,  peevish  boy," 
said  Nigel,  turning  from  him,  and  resuming  his  walk  through 
the  room;  then  stopi^ing  suddenly,  he  said,  "And  yet  you 
shall  not  escape  from  mo  without  knowing  that  I  penetrate 
your  myster}^" 

"  My  mystery  ! "  said  the  youth,  at  once  alarmed  and 
irritated.     "What  mean  you,  my  lord?" 

"  Only  that  I  can  read  your  dream  without  the  assistance 
of  a  Chaldean  interpreter,  and  my  exijosition  is — that  my  fair 
companion  does  not  wear  the  dress  of  her  sex." 

"  And  if  I  do  not,  my  lord,"  said  his  companion,  hastily 
starting  up  and  folding  her  cloak  tight  around  her,  "my 
dress,  such  as  it  is,  covers  one  who  will  not  disgrace  it." 

"  Many  would  call  that  speech  a  fair  challenge,"  said 
Lord  Glenvarloch,  looking  on  her  fixedly;  "women  do  not 
masquerade  in  men's  clothes  to  make  use  of  men's  weapons." 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  343 

*'  I  have  no  such  purpose,"  said  the  seeming  boy.  "  I 
have  other  means  of  protection,  and  powerful;  but  I  woulu 
first  know  what  is  your  purpose." 

**'  An  honorable  and  a  most  respectful  one,"  said  Lord 
rrlcnvarloch;  "  whatever  you  are — whatever  motive  may  have 
brought  you  into  this  ambiguous  situation,  I  am  sensible — 
every  look,  word,  and  action  of  yours  makes  me  sensible — 
that  you  are  no  proper  subject  of  importunity,  far  less  of 
ill-usage.  What  circumstances  can  have  forced  you  into  so 
doubtful  a  situation,  I  know  not;  but  I  feel  assured  there  is, 
and  can  be,  nothing  in  them  of  premeditated  wrong,  Avhich 
should  expose  you  to  cold-blooded  insult.  From  me  you 
have  nothing  to  dread." 

"  I  expected  nothing  less  from  your  nobleness,  my  lord," 
answered  the  female;  ''my  adventure,  though  I  feel  it  was 
both  desperate  and  foolish,  is  not  so  very  foolish,  nor  my 
safety  here  so  utterly  unprotected,  as  at  first  sight,  and  in 
this  strange  dress,  it  may  appear  to  be.  I  have  suffered 
enough,  and  more  than  enough,  by  the  degradation  of  having 
been  seen  in  this  unfeminine  attire,  and  the  comments  you 
must  nece^arily  have  made  on  ray  conduct;  but  I  thank  God 
that  I  am  so  far  protected  that  I  could  not  have  been  sub- 
jected to  insult  unavenged." 

When  this  extraordinary  explanation  had  proceeded  thus 
far,  the  warder  appeared,  to  place  before  Lord  Glenvarloch  a 
meal  which,  for  his  present  situation,  might  be  called  com- 
fortable, and  which,  if  not  equal  to  the  cookery  of  the  cele- 
brated Chevalier  Beaujeu,  was  much  superior  in  neatness  and 
cleanliness  to  that  of  Alsatia.  A  warder  attended  to  do  the 
honors  of  the  table,  and  made  a  sign  to  the  disguised  female 
to  rise  and  assist  him  in  his  functions.  But  Nigel,  declaring 
that  he  knew  the  youth's  parents,  interfered,  and  caused  his 
companion  to  eat  along  with  him.  She  consented  with  a 
sort  of  embarrassment  which  rendered  her  pretty  features 
yet  more  interesting.  Yet  she  maintained  with  a  natural 
grace  that  sort  of  good-breeding  which  belongs  to  the  table  ; 
and  it  seemed  to  Nigel,  whether  already  prejudiced  in  her 
favor  by  the  extraordinary  circumstances  of  their  meeting, 
or  whether  really  judging  from  what  was  actually  the  fact, 
that  he  had  seldom  seen  a  young  person  comport  herself  with 
more  decorous  propriety,  mixed  with  ingenuous  simplicity  ; 
while  the.  consciousness  of  the  peculiarity  of  her  situation 
threw  a  singular  coloring  over  her  whole  demeanor,  which 
could  be  neither  said  to  be  formal,  nor  easy,  nor  embarrassed, 
but  was  compounded  of,  and  shaded  with,  an  interchange  of 


344  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

all  these  three  clianicteristies.  Wine  was  placed  on  the  table, 
of  which  she  could  not  be  prevailed  on  to  taste  a  glass. 
Their  conversation  was,  of  course,  limited  by  the  presence 
of  the  warder  to  the  business  of  tlie  table  ;  but  iSTigel  had, 
long  ere  the  cloth  was  removed,  formed  the  resolution,  if 
possible,  of  making  himself  master  of  this  young  person's 
history,  the  more  especially  as  he  now  began  to  think  that 
the  tones  of  her  voice  and  her  features  were  not  so  strange  to 
him  as  he  had  originally  supposed.  This,  however,  was 
a  conviction  which  he  adopted  slowly,  and  only  as  it  dawned 
upon  him  from  particular  circumstances  during  the  course 
of  the  repast. 

At  length  the  prison-meal  was  finished,  and  Lord  Glen- 
varloch  began  to  think  how  he  might  most  easily  enter  upon 
the  topic  he  meditated,  when  the  warder  announced  a  visitor. 

"  Soh!"  said  Nigel,  something  displeased,  "I  find  even  a 
prison  does  not  save  one  from  importunate  visitations." 

He  prepared  to  receive  his  guest,  however,  while  his 
alarmed  companion  flew  to  the  large  cradle-shaped  chair 
which  had  first  served  her  as  a  place  of  refuge,  drew  her 
cloak  around  her,  and  disposed  herself  as  much  as  she  could 
to  avoid  observation.  She  had  scarce  made  her  arrangements 
for  that  purjjose  when  the  door  opened,  and  the  worthy  citi- 
zen, George  Ileriot,  entered  the  prison-chamber. 

He  cast  around  the  apartment  his  usual  sharp,  quick 
glance  of  observation,  and,  advancing  to  Nigel,  said — "  My 
lord,  I  wish  I  could  say  I  was  happy  to  see  you." 

''The  sight  of  those  who  are  unhappy  themselves.  Master 
Heriot,  seldom  produces  happiness  to  their  friends.  I,  how- 
ever, am  glad  to  see  you." 

He  extended  his  hand,  but  Heriot  bowed  with  much 
formal  complaisance,  instead  of  accepting  the  courtesy,  which 
in  those  times,  when  the  distinction  of  ranks  was  much 
guarded  by  etiquette  and  ceremony,  was  considered  as  a  dis- 
tinguished favor. 

"You  are  displeased  with  me.  Master  Heriot,"  said  Lord 
Glenvarloch,  reddening,  for  he  was  not  deceived  by  the 
worthy  citizen's  affectation  of  extreme  reverence  and  respect. 

"By  no  means,  my  lord,"  replied  Heriot;  "but  I  have 
been  in  France,  and  have  thought  it  as  well  to  import,  along 
with  other  more  substantial  articles,  a  small  sample  of  that 
good-breeding  which  the  French  are  so  renowned  for." 

"It  is  not  kind  of  you,"  said  Nigel,  "to  bestow  the  first 
use  of  it  on  an  old  and  obliged  friend." 

Heriot  only  answered  to  this  observation  with  a  short  dry 
cough,  and  then  proceeded. 


'^EE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  845 

''Hem!  hem! — I  say,  ahem!  My  lord,  as  my  French 
politeness  may  not  carry  me  far,  I  would  willingly  know 
whether  I  am  to  speak  as  a  friend,  since  your  lordship  is 
pleased  to  term  me  such;  or  Avhether  I  am,  as  befits  my  con- 
dition, to  confine  myself  to  the  needful  business  which  must 
be  treated  of  between  us." 

"  Speak  as  a  friend  by  all  means.  Master  Heriot,"  said 
Nigel;  ''I  perceive  you  have  adopted  some  of  the  numerous 
prejudices  against  me,  if  not  all  of  them.  Speak  out,  and 
frankly — what  I  cannot  deny  I  will  at  least  confess.'' 

"And  I  trust,  my  lord,  redress,"  said  Ileriot. 

"  So  far  as  is  in  my  power,  certainly,"  answered  Nigel. 

"  Ah!  my  lord,"  continued  Heriot,  "  that  is  a  melancholy 
though  a  necessary  restriction;  for  how  lightly  may  any  one 
do  an  hundred  times  more  than  the  degree  of  evil  which  it 
may  be  within  his  power  to  repair  to  the  sufferers  and  to 
society!  But  we  are  not  alone  here,"  he  said,  stopping,  and 
darting  his  shrewd  eye  towards  the  muffled  figure  of  the  dis- 
guised maiden,  whose  utmost  efforts  had  not  enabled  her  so 
to  adjust  her  position  as  altogether  to  escape  observation. 

More  anxious  to  prevent  her  being  discovered  than  to 
keep  his  own  affairs  private,  Xigel  hastily  answered — "'Tis  a 
page  of  mine;  you  may  speak  freely  before  him.  He  is  of 
France,  and  knows  no  English." 

*'  I  am  then  to  speak  freely,"  said  Heriot,  after  a  second 
glance  at  the  chair;  "perhaps  my  words  may  be  more  free 
than  welcome." 

"Go  on,  sir,"  said  Nigel;  "I  have  told  you  I  can  bear 
reproof." 

"  In  one  word,  then,  my  lord,  why  do  I  find  yon  in  this 
place,  and  whelmed  with  charges  which  must  blacken  a 
name  rendered  famous  by  ages  of  virtue?" 

"'  Simply,  then,  you  find  me  here,"  said  Nigel,  "because, 
to  begin  from  my  original  error,  I  would  be  wiser  than  my 
father." ' 

"  It  was  a  difficult  task,  my  lord,"  replied  Heriot:  "  your 
father  was  voiced  generally  as  the  wisest  and  one  of  the 
bravest  men  of  Scotland." 

"He  commanded  me,"  continued  Nigel,  "to_  avoid  all 
gambling;  and  I  took  upon  me  to  modify  this  injunction 
into  regulating  my  play  according  to  my  skill,  means,  and 
the  course  of  my  luck." 

"  Ay,  self -opinion,  acting  on  a  desire  of  acquisition,  my 

lord;  you  hoped  to  touch  pitch  and  not  to  be  defiled,"  an- 

wered  Heriot.     "  TVell,  my  lord,  you   need  not  say,  for  I 


346  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

have  heard  with  much  regret,  how  far  this  conduct  dimin- 
isiied  your  reputation.  Your  next  error  I  may  without 
scruple  remind  you  of.  My  lord — ray  lord,  in  whatever 
degree  Lord  Dalgarno  may  have  failed  towards  you,  the  son 
of  his  father  should  have  been  sacred  from  your  violence." 

"  You  speak  in  cold  blood.  Master  Heriot,  and  I  was 
smarting  under  a  thousand  wrongs  inflicted  on  me  under  the 
mask  of  friendship." 

"  That  is,  he  gave  your  lordship  bad  advice,  and  you — —' 
said  Heriot. 

*' Was  fool  enough  to  follow  his  counsel,"  answered  Nigel. 
''But  we  will  pass  this.  Master  Heriot,  if  you  please.  Old 
men  and  young  men,  men  of  the  sword  and  men  of  peaceful 
occupation,  always  have  thought,  always  will  think,  dilfer- 
ently  on  such  subjects." 

'*  I  grant,"  answered  Heriot,  "the  distinction  between 
the  old  goldsmith  and  the  young  nobleman;  still  you  should 
have  had  patience  for  Lord  Huntinglen's  sake,  and  prudence 
for  your  own.     Supposing  your  quarrel  just — ■ — " 

"  I  pray  you  to  pass  on  to  some  other  charge,"  said  Lord 
Glenvarloch. 

"  I  am  not  your  accuser,  my  lord;  but  I  trust  in  Heaven 
that  your  own  heart  has  already  accused  you  bitterly  on  the 
inhos^jitable  wrong  which  your  late  landlord  has  sustained  at 
your  hand." 

"  Had  I  been  guilty  of  what  you  allude  to,"  said  Lord 
Glenvarloch — "  had  a  moment  of  temptation  hurried  me 
away,  I  had  long  ere  now  most  bitterly  repented  it.  But, 
whoever  may  have  wronged  the  unhappy  woman,  it  was  not 
I.     I  never  heard  of  her  folly  until  Avithin  this  hour." 

"  Come,  my  lord,"  said  Heriot,  with  some  severity, 
"  this  sounds  too  much  like  affectation.  I  know  there  is 
among  our  modern  youth  a  new  creed  respecting  adultery  as 
well  as  homicide.  I  would  rather  hear  you  speak  of  a  re- 
vision of  the  Decalogue,  with  mitigated  penalties  in  favor  of 
the  privileged  orders — I  would  rather  hear  you  do  this,  than 
deny  a  fact  in  which  you  have  been  known  to  glory." 

"  Glory  !  I  never  did,  never  would  have  taken  honor  to 
myself  from  such  a  cause,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch.  "  I  could 
not  prevent  other  idle  tongues  and  idle  brains  from  making 
false  inferences." 

"  You  would  have  known  well  enough  how  to  stop  their 
mouths,  my  lord,"  replied  Heriot,  *'had  they  spoke  of  you 
what  was  unpleasing  to  your  ears,  and  what  the  truth  did 
not  warrant.     Come,  my  lord,   remember  your  promise  to 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  847 

confess  ;  and,  indeed,  to  confess  is,  in  this  case,  in  some 
slight  sort  to  redress.  I  will  grant  you  are  young,  the  woman 
handsome,  and,  as  I  myself  have  observed,  light-lieaded 
enough.  Let  me  know  where  she  is.  Her  foolish  husband 
has  still  some  compassion  for  her,  will  save  her  from  infamy, 
perhaps,  in  time,  receive  her  back ;  for  we  are  a  good- 
natured  generation,  we  traders.  Do  not,  my  lord,  emulate 
those  who  work  mischief  merely  for  the  pleasure  of  doing 
so;  it  is  the  very  devil's  worst  quality." 

"  Your  grave  remonstrances  will  drive  me  mad,"  said 
Mgel.  "  There  is  a  show  of  sense  and  reason  in  what  you 
say ;  and  yet  it  is  positively  insisting  on  my  telling  the  re- 
treat of  a^  fugitive  of  whom  I  know  nothing  earthly." 

"  It  is  well,  my  lord,"  answered  Heriot,  coldly.  "You 
have  a  right,  such  as  it  is,  to  keep  your  own  secrets;  but, 
since  my  discourse  on  these  points  seems  so  totally  unavail- 
ing, we  "had  better  proceed  to  business.  Yet  your  father's 
image  rises  before  me  and  seems  to  plead  that  I  should  go 
on." 

"Be  it  as  you  Avill,  sir,"  said  Glenvarloch;  "he  who 
donbts  my  word  shall  have  no  additional  security  for  it." 

"  Well,  my  lord,  in  the  sanctuary  at  Whitefriars — a  place 
of  refuge  so  unsuitable  to  a  young  man  of  quality  and  char- 
acter— I  am  told  a  murder  was  committed." 

"  And  you  believe  that  I  did  the  deed,  I  suppose  ?" 
"God    forbid,  my  lord!  "said  Heriot.     "The  coroner's 
inquest  hath  sat,  and  it  appeared  that  your  lordship,  under 
your  assumed  name  of  Grahame,  behaved  with  the  utmost 
bravery." 

"  No  compliment,  I  pray  you!  "  said  Nigel.  "  I  amonly 
too  happy  to  find  that  I  did  not  murder,  or  am  not  believed 
to  have  murdered,  the  old  man." 

"  True,  my  lord,"  said  Heriot;  "  but  even  in  this  affair 
there  lacks  explanation.  Your  lordship  embarked  this  morn- 
ing in  a  wherry  with  a  female,  and,  it  is  said,  an  immense 
sum  of  money,  in  specie  and  other  valuables  ;  but  the  woman 
has  not  since  been  heard  of." 

"I  parted  with  her  at  Paul's  Wharf,"  said  Nigel,  "  where 
she  went  ashore  with  her  charge.  I  gave  her  a  letter  to  that 
very  man,  John  Christie," 

"Ay,  that  is  the  waterman's  story;  but  John  Christie 
denies  "that  he  remembers  anything  of  the  matter." 

"I  am  sorry  to  hear  this,"  said  the  young  nobleman; 
"  I  hope  in  Heaven  she  has  not  been  trepanned  for  the 
treasure  she  had  with  her." 


848  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

''I  hope  not,  my  lord,"  replied  Heriot;  "bnt  men's 
minds  are  much  disturbed  about  it.  Our  national  character 
suffers  on  all  hands.  Men  remember  the  fatal  case  of  Lord 
Sanquhar,  hanged  for  the  murder  of  a  fencing-master;  and 
exclaim,  they  will  not  have  their  wives  whored  and  their  prop- 
erty stolen  by  the  nobility  of  Scotland." 

"  And  all  this  is  laid  to  my  door!"  said  Nigel;  "my  ex- 
culpation is  easy." 

"  I  trust  so,  my  lord,*'  said  Heriot;  ''nay,  in  this  partic- 
ular, I  do  not  doubt  it.  But  why  did  you  leave  Whitef  riars 
under  such  circumstances?" 

"  Master  Reginald  Lowestoffe  sent  a  boat  for  me,  with 
intimation  to  provide  for  my  safety." 

"  I  am  sorry  to  say,"  replied  Heriot,  ''that  he  denies  all 
knowledge  of  your  lordship's  motions,  after  having  dis- 
patched a  messenger  to  you  with  some  baggage." 

"  The  watermen  told  me  they  were  employed  by  him." 

"Watermen!  "  said  Heriot.  "One  of  these  proves  to  be 
an  idle  apprentice,  an  old  acquaintance  of  mine,  the  other 
has  escaped;  but  the  fellow  who  is  in  custody  persists  in  say- 
ing he  was  employed  by  your  lordship,  and  you  only." 

"  He  lies,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch,  hastily.  "  He  told  me 
Master  Lowestoffe  had  sent  him.  I  hope  that  kind-hearted 
gentleman  is  at  liberty." 

"He  is,"  answered  Heriot;  "and  has  escaped  with  a  re- 
buke from  the  benchers,  for  interfering  in  such  a  matter  as 
your  lordsiiip's.  The  court  desire  to  keep  well  with  the 
young  Templars  in  these  times  of  commotion,  or  he  had  not 
come  off  so  well." 

"  That  is  the  only  word  of  comfort  I  have  heard  from 
you,"  replied  Nigel.  "  But  this  poor  woman — she  and  her 
trunk  were  committed  to  the  charge  of  two  porters." 

"So  said  the  pretended  waterman;  but  none  of  the  fel- 
lows who  ply  at  the  wharf  will  acknowledge  the  employment. 
I  see  the  idea  makes  you  uneasy,  my  lord;  but  every  effort  is 
made  to  discover  the  poor  woman's  place  of  retreat — if.  indeed, 
she  yet  lives.  And  now,  my  lord,  my  errand  is  spoken,  so 
far  as  it  relates  exclusively  to  your  lordship;  what  remains  is 
matter  of  business  of  a  more  formal  kind." 

"Let  us  proceed  to  it  without  delay,"  said  Lord  Glenvar- 
loch. "  I  would  hear  of  the  affairs  of  any  one  rather  than  of 
my  own." 

"  You  cannot  have  forgotten,  my  lord,'' said  Heriot,  "  the 
transaction  which  took  place  some  weeks  since  at  Lord  Hunt- 
inglen's,  by  Avhich  a  large  sum  of  money  Avas  advanced  foi 
the  redemption  of  jour  lordship's  estate?" 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIOEL  349 

•*  I  remember  it  perfectly,"  said  Nigel;  "and  your  present 
austerity  cannot  make  me  forget  your  kindness  on  the  oc- 
casion." 

Heriot  bowed  gravely,  and  went  on — "  That  money  was 
advanced  under  the  expectation  and  hope  that  it  might  be 
replaced  by  the  contents  of  a  grant  to  your  lordship,  under 
the  royal  sign-manual,  in  payment  of  certain  monies  due  by 
the  crown  to  your  father.  1  trust  your  lordship  understood 
the  transaction  at  the  time ;  I  trust  you  now  understand  my 
resumption  of  its  import,  and  hold  it  to  be  correct  ?" 

"  Undeniably  correct,"  answered  Lord  Glenvarloch.  "  If 
t'.ie  sums  contained  in  the  warrant  caimot  be  recovered,  my 
lands  become  the  property  of  those  who  paid  off  the  original 
holders  of  the  mortgage,  and  now  stand  in  tlieir  right." 

"  Even  so,  my  lord,"  said  Heriot.  "  And  your  lordship's 
unhappy  circumstances  having,  it  would  seem,  alarmed  these 
creditors,  they  are  now,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  pressing  for  one 
or  other  of  these  alternatives — possession  of  the  land  or  pay- 
ment of  their  debt." 

"  They  have  a  right  to  one  or  other,"  answered  Lord  Glen- 
varloch ;  ' '  and  as  I  cannot  do  the  last  in  my  present  condition, 
I  suppose  they  must  enter  on  possession." 

"  Stay,  my  lord,"  replied  Heriot;  "  if  you  have  ceased  to 
call  me  a  friend  to  your  person,  at  least  you  shall  see  I  am 
willing  to  be  such  to  your  father's  house,  w^ere  it  but  for  the 
sake  of  your  father's  memory.  H  you  will  trust  me  with  the 
warrant  under  the  sign-manual,  I  believe  circumstances  do 
now  80  stand  at  court  that  I  may  be  able  to  recover  the  money 
for  you." 

"  I  would  do  so  gladly,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch,  "  but  the 
casket  which  contains  it  is  not  in  my  possession.  It  was  seized 
when  I  was  arrested  at  Greenwich." 

"  It  will  be  no  longer  withheld  from  you,"  said  Heriot, 
"  for,  I  understand,  my  master's  natural  good  sense,  and  some 
information  which  he  has  procured,  I  know  not  how,  has  in- 
duced him  to  contradict  the  whole  charge  of  the  attempt  on 
his  person.  It  is  entirely  hushed  up;  and  you  will  only  be 
proceeded  against  for  your  violence  on  Lord  Dalgarno,  com- 
mitted within  tlie  verge  of  the  palace,  and  that  you  will  find 
heavy  enough  to  answer." 

"  I  will  not  shrink  under  the  weight,"  said  Lord  Glen- 
varloch. "  But  that  is  not  the  present  point.  If  I  had  that 
casket " 

"  Your  baggage  stood  in  the  little  anteroom,  as  I  passed," 
said  the  citizen;  "the  casket  caught  my  eye.     I  think  you 


350  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

had  it  of  me.     It  was  my  old  friend  Sir  Faithful  Frugal's. 
Ay,  1  :e  too  had  a  son " 

Here  he  stopped  short. 

"  A  son  who,  like  Lord  Glenvarloch's,  did  no  credit  to  his 
father.  AVas  it  not  so  you  would  have  ended  the  sentence, 
Master  Heriot?"  asked  the  young  nobleman. 

"  My  lord,  it  was  a  word  spoken  rashly,"  answered  Heriot. 
"  God  may  mend  all  in  His  own  good  time.  This,  however, 
I  will  say,  that  I  have  sometimes  envied  my  friends  their  fair 
and  fiourisliing  families;  and  yet  have  I  seen  such  changes 
when  death  has  removed  the  head,  so  many  rich  men's  sons 
penniless,  the  heirs  of  so  many  knights  and  nobles  acreless, 
that  I  think  mine  own  estate  and  memory,  as  I  shall  order  it, 
has  a  fair  chance  of  outliving  those  of  greater  men,  though 
God  has  given  me  no  heir  of  my  name.  But  this  is  from  the 
purpose.  Ho!  warder,  bring  in  Lord  Glenvarloch's  bag- 
gage." 

The  officer  obeyed.  "  Seals  had  been  placed  upon  the 
trunk  and  casket,  but  were  now  removed,"  the  warder  said, 
"  in  consequence  of  the  subsequent  orders  from  court,  and 
the  whole  was  placed  at  the  prisoner's  free  disposal." 

Desirous  to  bring  this  painful  visit  to  a  conclusion.  Lord 
Glenvarloch  opened  the  casket,  and  looked  through  the 
papers  which  it  contained,  first  hastily,  and  then  more  slowly 
and  accurately;  but  it  was  all  in  vain.  The  sovereign's 
signed  warrant  had  disappeared. 

"  I  thought  and  expected  nothing  better,"  said  George 
Heriot,  bitterly.  "■  The  beginning  of  evil  is  the  letting  out 
of  water.  Here  is  a  fair  heritage  lost,  I  dare  say,  on  a  foul 
cast  at  dice  or  a  conjuring-trick  at  cards!  My  lord,  your  sur- 
prise is  well  played,  I  give  you  full  joy  of  your  accomplish- 
ments. I  have  seen  many  as  young  brawlers  and  sj^endthrif  ts, 
but  never  so  young  and  accomplished  a  dissembler.  Nay, 
man,  never  bend  your  angry  brows  on  me.  I  speak  in  bitter- 
ness of  heart,  from  what  I  remember  of  your  worthy  father; 
and  if  his  son  hears  of  his  degeneracy  from  no  one  else,  he 
shall  hear  it  from  the  old  goldsmith." 

This  new  suspicion  drove  Nigel  to  the  very  extremity  of 
his  patience;  yet  the  motives  and  zeal  of  the  good  old  man, 
as  well  as  the  circumstances  of  suspicion  which  created  his 
dis]3leasure,  were  so  excellent  an  excuse  for  it,  that  they 
formed  an  absolute  curb  on  the  resentment  of  Lord  Glenvar- 
loch, and  constrained  him,  after  two  or  three  hasty  exclama- 
tions, to  observe  a  proud  and  sullen  silence.  At  length 
Master  Heriot  resumed  his  lecture. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  351 

''Hark  you,  my  lord,"  he  said,  ''it  is  scarce  possible  that 
this  most  important  paper  can  be  absolutely  assigned  away 
Let  me  know  in  what  obscure  corner,  and  for   what  petty 
sum,  it  lies  pledged;  something  may  yet  be  done." 

"  Your  efforts  in  my  favor  are  the  more  generous,"  said 
Lord  Glenvarloch,  *'  as  you  offer  them  to  one  whom  you 
believe  you  have  cause  to  think  hardly  of  ;  but  they  are  alto- 
gether unavailing.  Fortune  has  taken  the  field  against  me 
at  every  point.     Even  let  her  win  the  battle." 

"Zouns!  "  exclaimed  Ileriot,  impatiently,  ''you  would 
make  a  saint  swear!  "Why,  I  tell  you,  if  this  paper,  the  loss 
of  which  seems  to  sit  so  light  on  you,  be  not  found,  farewell 
to  the  fair  lordship  of  Glenvarloch — firth  and  forest,  sea  and 
furrow,  lake  and  stream — all  that  has  been  in  the  house  of 
Olifaunt  since  the  days  of  William  the  Lion!" 

"  Farewell  to  them,  then/'  said  Nigel,  "  and  that  moan 
is  soon  made." 

'"Sdeath!  my  lord,  you  will  make  more  moan  for  it  ere 
you  die,"  said  Heriot,  in  the  same  tone  of  angry  impatience. 

"  Not  I,  my  old  friend,"  said  Nigel.  "  If  I  mourn, 
Master  Heriot,  it  will  be  for  having  lost  the  good  opinion  of 
a  worthy  man,  and  lost  it,  as  I  must  say,  most  undeservedly." 

"  Ay — ay,  young  man,"  said  Heriot,  shaking  his  head, 
"  make  me  believe  that  if  you  can.  To  sum  the  matter  up," 
he  said,  rising  from  his  seat  and  walking  towards  that  occu- 
pied by  the  disguised  female,  "  for  our  matters  are  now  drawn 
into  small  compass,  you  shall  as  soon  make  me  believe  that 
tliis  masquerading  mummer,  on  whom  I  now  lay  the  hand  of 
paternal  authority,  is  a  French  page,  who  understands  no 
English." 

So  saying,  he  took  hold  of  the  supposed  page's  cloak,  and, 
not  without  some  gentle  degree  of  violence,  led  into  the  mid- 
dle of  the  apartment  the  disguised  fair  one,  who  in  vain 
attempted  to  cover  her  face,  first  with  her  mantle  and  after- 
Avards  with  her  hands;  both  which  impediments  Master 
Heriot  removed,  something  unceremoniously,  and  gave  to 
view  the  detected  daughter  of  the  old  chronologist,  his  own 
fair  goddaughter,  Margaret  Eamsay. 

"Here  is  goodly  gear!"  he  said;  and,  as  he  spoke,  he 
could  not  prevent  hfmself  from  giving  her  a  slight  shake,  for 
we  have  elsewhere  noticed  that  he  was  a  severe  disciplinarian. 
"How  comes  it,  minion,  that  I  find  you  in  so  shameless  a 
dress  and  so  unworthy  a  situation?  Nay,  your  modesty  is  now 
mistimed,  it  should  have  come  sooner.     Speak,  or  I  will " 

"Master  Heriot,"  said   Lord    Glenvarloch,   "whatever 


352  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

riglit  you  may  have  over  this  maiden  elsewhere,  while  in  my 
apartment  she  is  under  my  protection." 

"Your  protection,  my  lord!  a  proper  protector!  And 
how  long,  mistress,  have  you  been  under  my  lord's  pro- 
tection?    Speak  out,  forsooth!" 

"  For  the  matter  of  two  hours,  godfather,"  answered  the 
maiden,  with  a  countenance  bent  to  the  ground  and  covered 
with  blushes,  "but  it  was  against  my  will." 

"  Two  hours!"  repeated  Heriot,  •'^ space  enough  for  mis- 
chief. My  lord,  this  is,  I  suppose,  another  victim  offered  to 
your  character  of  gallantry — another  adventure  to  be  boasted 
of  at  Beaujeu's  ordinary?  Methinks  the  roof  under  which 
you  first  met  this  silly  maiden  should  have  secured  ?ier,  at 
least,  from  such  a  fate." 

"  On  my  honor.  Master  Heriot,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch, 
''you  remind  me  now,  for  the  first  time,  that  I  saw  this 
young  lady  in  your  family.  Her  features  are  not  easily  for- 
gotten, and  yet  I  was  trying  in  vain  to  recollect  where  I  had 
last  looked  on  them.  For  your  suspicions,  they  are  as  false 
as  they  are  injurious  both  to  her  and  me.  I  had  but  discov- 
ered her  disguie  as  you  entered.  I  am  satisfied,  from  her 
whole  behavior,  that  her  presence  here  in  this  dress  was  invol- 
untary; and  God  forbid  that  I  had  been  capable  of  taking 
advantage  of  it  to  her  prejudice." 

"  It  is  well  mouthed,  my  lord,"  said  Master  Heriot ;  "  but 
a  cunning  clerk  can  read  the  Apocrypha  as  loud  as  the  Scrip- 
ture. Frankly,  my  lord,  you  are  come  to  that  pass  where  your 
words  will  not  be  received  without  a  warrant. 

"I  should  not  speak,  perhaps,"  said  Margaret,  the  natural 
vivacity  of  whose  temper  could  never  be  long  suppressed  by  any 
situation,  however  disadvantageous,  ''but  I  cannot  be  silent. 
Godfather,  you  do  me  wrong,  and  no  less  wrong  to  this 
young  nobleman.  You  say  his  words  want  a  warrant.  I 
know  where  to  find  a  warrant  for  some  of  them,  and  the  rest 
I  deeply  and  devoutly  believe  witliout  one." 

"And  I  thank  you,  maiden,"  replied  Nigel,  "for  the  good 
opinion  you  have  expressed.  I  am  at  that  point,  it  seems, 
though  how  I  have  been  driven  to  it  I  know  not,  where 
every  fair  construction  of  my  actions  and  motives  is  refused 
me.  I  am  the  more  obliged  to  her  who  grants  me  that  right 
which  the  world  denies  me.  For  you,  lady,  were  I  at  liberty, 
I  have  a  sword  and  arm  should  know  how  to  guard  your 
reputation." 

"Upon  my  word,  a  perfect  Amadis  andOriana!"  said 
George  Heriot.     "  I  should  soon  get  my  throat  cut  betwixt 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  86S 

tlie  knight  and  the  princess,  I  suppose,  but  that  the  beef -eaters 
are  happily  within  halloo.  Come — come,  lady  light  o'  love,  if 
you  mean  to  make  your  way  with  me,  it  must  be  by  plain 
facts,  not  by  speeches  from  romaunts  and  play-books.  How, 
in  Heaven's  name,  came  you  here?" 

*'  Sir,  "  answered  Margaret,  "  since  I  must  speak,  I  went  to 
Greenwich  this  morning  with  Monna  Paula,  to  present  a 
petition  to  the  King  on  the  part  of  the  Lady  Hermione." 

*' Mercy-a-gad!"  exclaimed  Hcriot,  "  is  she  in  the  dance, 
too?  Could  she  not  have  waited  my  return  to  stir  in  her 
affairs?  But  I  suppose  the  intelligence  I  sent  her  had  ren- 
dered her  restless.  Ah!  woman — woman!  he  that  goes  partner 
with  you  had  need  of  a  double  share  of  patience,  for  you  will 
bring  none  into  the  common  stock.  AVell,  but  what  on  earth 
had  this  embassy  of  Monna  Paula's  to  do  with  your  absurd 
disguise?     Speak  out." 

"  Monna  Paula  was  frightened,"  answered  Margaret,  "  and 
did  not  know  how  to  set  about  the  .rrand,  for  you  know  she 
scarce  ever  goes  out  of  doors — and  so — and  so — I  agreed  to  go 
with  her  to  give  her  courage;  and,  for  the  dress,  I  am  sure  you 
i-emember  I  wore  it  at  a  Christmas  mumming,  and  you 
thought  it  not  unbeseeming." 

"  Yes,  for  a  Christmas  parlor,"  said  Heriot,  "  but  not  to 
go  a-masking  through  the  country  in.  I  do  remember  it, 
minion,  and  I  knew  it  even  now;  that  and  your  little  shoe 
there,  linked  with  a  hint  I  had  in  the  morning  from  a  friend, 
or  one  who  called  himself  such,  led  to  your  detection." 

Here  Lord  Glenvarloch  could  not  help  giving  a  glance  at 
the  pretty  foot  which  even  the  staid  citizen  thought  worth 
recollection;  it  was  but  a  glance,  for  he  saw  how  much  the 
least  degree  of  observation  added  to  Margaret's  distress  and 
confusion. 

"And  tell  me,  maiden,"  continued  Master  Heriot,  for 
what  we  have  observed  was  by-play,  ''did  the  Lady  Her- 
mione know  of  this  fair  work  ?  " 

"  I  dared  not  have  told  her  for  the  world,"  said  Margaret; 
*'she  thought  one  of  our  apprentices  went  with  Monna 
Paula." 

It  may  be  here  noticed,  that  the  words  " our  apprentices'' 
Bcemed  to  have  in  them  something  of  a  charm  to  break  the 
fascination  with  which  Lord  Glenvarloch  had  hitherto  lis- 
tened to  the  brolcen  yet  interesting  details  of  Margaret's 
history. 

"  And  wherefore  went  he  not?  He  had  been  a  fitter  com- 
panion for  Monna  Paula  than  you,  I  wot,"  said  the  citizen. 


354  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

"  He  was  otherAvise  employed/'  said  Maiyaret,  m  a  voice 
scarce  audible. 

Master  George  darted  a  hasty  glance  at  Nigel,  and  when 
he  saw  his  features  betoken  no  consciousness,  he  muttered  to 
himself — "  It  must  be  better  than  I  feared.  And  so  this 
cursed  Spaniard,  with  her  head  full,  as  they  all  have,  of  dis- 
guises, trap-doors,  rope-ladders,  and  masks,  was  "jade  and  fool 
enough  to  take  you  with  her  on  this  wild-goose  errand?  And 
how  sped  you,  I  pray?^' 

"  Just  as  we  reached  the  gate  of  the  Park,''  replied  Mar- 
garet, "the  cry  of  'Treason 'was  raised.  I  know  not  Avhat 
became  of  Monna,  but  I  ran  till  I  fell  into  the  arms  of  a  very 
decent  serving-man,  called  Linklater;  and  I  was  fain  to  tell 
him  I  was  your  goddaughter,  and  so  he  kept  the  rest  of 
them  from  me,  and  got  me  to  speech  of  his  Majesty,  as  I  en- 
treated him  to  do," 

"  It  is  the  only  sign  yon  showed  in  the  whole  matter,  that 
common  sense  had  not  utterly  deserted  your  little  skull,"  said 
Heriot. 

"  His  Majesty,"  continued  the  damsel,  "was  so  gracious 
as  to  receive  me  alone,  though  the  courtiers  cried  out  against 
the  danger  to  his  person,  and  would  have  searched  me  for 
arms,  God  help  me!  hut  the  King  forbade  it.  I  fancy  he  had 
a  hint  from  Linklater  how  the  truth  stood  with  me." 

'•  Well,  maiden,  I  ask  not  what  passed,"  said  Heriot ;  *'  it 
becomes  not  me  to  pry  into  my  masters  secrets.  Had  you 
been  closeted  with  his  grandfather,  the  Eed  Tod  of  St.  An- 
drews, as  Davie  Lindsay  used  to  call  him,  by  my  faith,  I 
should  have  had  my  own  thoughts  of  the  matter;  but  our 
master,  God  bless  him,  is  douce  and  temperate,  and  Solomon 
in  everything  save  in  the  chapter  of  wives  and  concubines." 

"  I  know  not  what  you  mean,  sir,"  answered  Margaret. 
"  His  Majesty  was  most  kind  and  compassionate,  but  said  1 
must  be  sent  hither,  and  that  the  lieutenant's  lady,  the  Lady 
Mansel,  would  have  a  charge  of  me,  and  see  that  I  sustained  no 
WTong;  and  the  King  promised  to  send  me  m  a  tilted  barge, 
and  under  conduct  of  a  person  well  kno\NTi  to  you;  and  thus 
I  come  to  be  in  the  Tower." 

"  But  how  or  why  in  this  apartment,  nymph?  "  said  George 
Heriot.  ''  Expound  that  to  me,  for  I  think  the  riddle  needs 
reading." 

"I  cannot  explain  it,  sir,  farther  than  that  the  Lady  Man- 
sel sent  me  here,  in  spite  of  my  earnest  prayers,  tears,  and  en- 
treaties. I  was  not  afraid  of  anything,  for  I  knew  I  should 
be  protected.  But  I  could  have  died  then — could  die  now — 
for  very  shame  and  confusion!" 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  355 

"  Well — well,  if  your  teiirs  are  genuine,"  said  Ileriot,  "  they 
'x.ay  the  sooner  wash  out  the  memory  of  your  fault.  Knows 
your  father  aught  of  this  escape  of  yours?" 

"  I  would  not  for  the  world  he  did,"  replied  she;  "  he  be- 
lieves me  with  tlie  Lady  Hermione." 

"  Ay.  honest  Davie  can  regulate  his  horologes  hotter  than 
his  family.  Come,  damsel,  now  I  will  escort  you  back  to  the 
La.dy  Mansel,  and  pray  her,  of  her  kindness,  that,  when  she 
is  agaiu  trusted  with  a  goose,  she  will  not  give  it  to  the  fox 
to  keep.  The  Avarders  will  let  us  pass  to  my  lady's  lodgings, 
I  trust," 

"  Stay  but  one  moment,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch.  "What- 
ever hard  opinion  you  may  have  formed  of  me,  I  forgive  you, 
for  time  will  show'^that  you  do  mo  wrong;  and  you  yourself,  I 
think,  will  be  the  first  to  regret  tlie  injustice  you  have  done 
me.  But  involve  not  in  your  suspicions  this  young  person, 
for  whose  purity  of  thought  angels  themselves  should  be 
vouchers.  I  have  marked  every  look,  every  gesture;  aixl 
while  I  can  draw  breath,  I  shall  ever  think  of  her  with " 

''Think  not  at  all  of  her,  my  lord,"  answered  George 
Heriot,  interrupting  him;  "  it  is,  I  have  a  notion,  the  best 
favor  you  can  do  her;  or  think  of  her  as  the  daughter  of 
Davie  Ramsay,  the  clock-maker,  no  proper  subject  for  fine 
speeches,  romantic  adventures,  or  high-flown  Arcadian 
compliments.  I  give  you  god-den,  my  lord.  I  think  not 
altogether  so  harshly  as  my  speech  may  have  spoken.  If  I 
can  help — that  is,  if  I  saw  my  way  clearly  through  this 
labyrinth — but  it  avails  not  talking  now.  I  give  your  lord- 
ship god-den.  Here,  warder!  Permit  us  to  pass  to  the 
Lady  Mansel's  apartment." 

The  warder  said  he  must  have  orders  from  the  lieutenant; 
and  as  he  retired  to  procure  them,  the  parties  remained 
standing  near  each  other,  but  without  speaking,  and  scarce 
looking  at  each  other  save  by  stealth — a  situation  which, 
in  two  of  the  party  at  least,  was  sufficiently  embarrass- 
ing. The  difference  of  rank,  though  in  that  age  a  consider- 
ation so  serious,  could  not  prevent  Lord  Glenvarloch  from 
seeing  that  Margaret  Eamsay  was  one  of  the  prettiest  young 
Avomen  he  had  ever  beheld:  from  suspecting,  he  could  scarce 
tell  why,  that  he  himself  was  not  indifferent  to  her;  from 
feeling  assured  that  ho  had  been  the  cause  of  much  of  her 
present  distress — admiration,  self-love,  and  generosity,  acting 
in  favor  of  the  same  object,  and  when  tlie  yeoman  returned 
with  permission  to  his  guests  to  witlidraw,  Nigel's  obeisance 
to  the  beautiful  daughter  of  the  mechanic  was  marked  with 


356  WAVE  RLE  Y  NOVELS 

an  expression  wliicli  called  up  in  her  cheeks  as  mitch  color 
as  any  incident  of  the  eventfnl  day  had  hitherto  excited. 
She  returned  the  courtesy  timidly  and  irresolutely,  clung  to 
her  godfather's  arm,  and  left  the  apartment  which,  dark  as 
it  was,  had  never  yet  appeared  so  obscure  to  Nigel  as  when 
the  door-closed  behind  her. 


CHAPTER  XXX 

Tet  though  thou  shouldst  be  dragg'd  in  Bcom 

To  yonder  ignominious  tree, 
Thou  shalt  not  want  one  faithful  friend 

To  share  the  cruel  fates'  decree. 

Ballad  of  Jemmy  Dawson. 

Master  G  eorge  Heriot  and  his  ward,  as  she  might  justly  be 
termed,  for  his  affection  to  Margaret  imposed  on  him  all  the 
cures  of  guardian,  were  ushered  by  the  yeoman  of  the  guard 
to  the  lodging  of  the  lieutenant,  where  they  found  him  seated 
with  his  lady.  They  were  received  by  both  with  that  decorous 
civility  which  Master  Heriot's  character  and  supposed  influence 
demanded,  even  at  the  hand  of  a  punctilious  old  soldier  and 
courtier  like  Sir  Edward  Mansel.  Lady  Mansel  received 
Margaret  Avith  like  courtesy,  and  informed  Master  George 
that  she  was  now  only  her  guest,  and  no  longer  her  prisoner. 
"  She  is  at  liberty,-"  she  said,  "  to  return  to  her  friends 
under  your  charge;  such  is  his  Majesty's  pleasure." 

''I  am  glad  of  it,  madam,''  answered  Heriot,  "but  only  I 
could  have  wished  her  freedom  had  taken  place  before  her 
foolish  interview  with  that  singular  young  man;  and  I  mar- 
vel your  ladyship  permitted  it." 

''My  good  Master  Heriot,"  said  Sir  Edward,  "we  act  ac- 
cording'to  the  commands  of  one  better  and  wiser  than  our- 
selves; our  orders  from  his  Majesty  must  be  strictly  and  liter- 
ally obeyed;  and  I  need  not  say  that  the  wisdom  of  his  Majes- 
ty doth  more  than  insure " 

"  I  know  his  Majesty's  wisdom  well,"  said  Heriot,  "  yet 

there  is  an  old  proverb  about  fire  and  flax — well,  let  it  pass.'* 

"I  see  SirMungo  Malagrowther  stalking  towards  the  door 

of  the  lodging."  said  the  Lady  Mansel,  "with  the  gait  of  a 

lame  crane;  it  is  his  second  visit  this  morning." 

"  He  brought  the  warrant  for  discharging  Lord  Glenvar- 
loch  of  the  charge  of  treason,"  said  Sir  Edward. 

"And  from  him,"  said  Heriot,  "I  heard  much  of  what 
had  befallen  ;  for  I  came  from  France  only  late  last  evening, 
and  somewhat  unexpectedly." 

As  thev  spoke,  Sir  ^Mungo  entered  the  apartment,  saluted 
the  lieutenant  of  the  Tower  and  his  lady  with  ceremonious 
civility,  honored  George  Heriot  with   a  patronizing  nod  of 


358  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

ackiiovvledgment^^^  and  accosted  Margaret  with — ''Hey!  my 
young  cliarge,  you  have  not  doffed   your  masculine   attire 

yet?" 

"She  does  not  mean  to  lay  it  aside,  Sir  Mungo/' said 
Heriot,  speaking  loud,  '^  until  she  has  had  satisfaction  from 
you  for  betraying  her  disguise  to  me,  like  a  false  knight; 
and  in  very  deed.  Sir  Mungo,  I  think,  when  you  told  me 
she  was  rambling  about  in  so  strange  a  dress,  you  might 
have  said  also  that  she  was  under  Lady  Mansel's  protection." 

''That  was  the  King's  secret,  Master  Heriot,"  said  Sir 
Mungo,  throwing  himself  into  a  chair  with  an  air  of  atrabi- 
larious  importance  ;  "the  other  was  a  well-meaning  hint  to 
yourself,  as  the  girl's  friend." 

"  Yes," replied  Ileriot,  "it  was  done  like  yourself  ;  enough 
told  to  make  me  unhajjpy  about  her,  not  a  word  which  could 
relieve  my  uneasiness." 

"  Sir  Mungo  will  not  hear  that  remark,"  said  the  lady  ; 
"vfd  must  change  the  subject.  Is  there  any  news  from 
court.  Sir  Mungo  ?  you  have  been  to  Grreenwich  ?  " 

"  You  might  as  well  ask  me,  madam,"  answered  the 
knight,  "  whether  there  is  any  news  from  hell." 

"How,  Sir  Mungo — how  !"  said  Sir  Edward  ;  "measure 
your  words  something  better.  You  speak  of  the  court  of 
King  James." 

•'  Sir  Edward,  if  I  spoke  of  the  court  of  the  twelve  kaisers, 
I  would  say  it  is  as  confused  for  the  present  as  the  infernal 
regions.  Courtiers  of  forty  years'  standing,  and  such  I  may 
write  myself,  are  as  far  to  seek  in  the  matter  as  a  minnow  in 
the  Maelstrom.  Some  folk  say  that  the  King  has  frowned 
on  the  Prince,  some  that  the  Prince  has  looked  grave  on  the 
Duke,  some  that  Lord  Glenvarloch  will  be  hanged  for  high 
treason,  and  some  that  there  is  matter  against  Lord  Dal- 
garno  that  may  cost  him  as  much  as  his  head's  worth." 

'And  what  do  you,  that  are  a  courtier  of  forty  years 
standing,  think  of  it  all?  "  said  Sir  Edward  Mansel. 

"  Nay — nay,  do  not  ask  him.  Sir  Edward,"  said  the  lady, 
with  an  expressive  look  to  her  husband. 

"Sir  Mungo  is  too  witty,"  added  Master  Heriot,  "to 
remember  that  he  who  says  aught  that  may  be  repeated  to 
his  own  prejudice  does  but  load  a  piece  for  any  of  the  com- 
pany to  shoot  him  dead  with,  at  their  pleasure  and  conven- 
ience." 

"  What!  "  said  the  bold  knight,  "  you  think  I  am  afraid 
of  the  trepan?  Why  now,  what  if  I  should  say  that  Dal- 
garuo  has  more  wit  than  honesty,  the  Duke  more  sail  tha  i 


THF  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  359 

')allast,  the  Prince  more  pride  than  prudence,  and  that  the 
King "'  The  Lady  Mansel  held  up  her  finger  in  a  warn- 
ing manner — 'that  the  King  is  m}' very  good  master  who 
has  given  me,  for  forty  years  and  more,  dog's  wages,  videlicet, 
bones  and  beating.  Why  now,  all  this  is  said,  and  Archie 
Armstrong  *  says  worse  than  this  of  the  best  of  them  every 
day." 

"  The  more  fool  he,"  said  George  Heriot;  "  yet  he  is  not 
so  utterly  wrong,  for  folly  is  his  best  wisdom.  But  do  not 
yon.  Sir  Mungo,  set  your  wit  against  a  fool's,  though  he  be  a 
court  fool." 

"  A  fool,  said  yon?"  replied  Sir  Mungo,  not  having  fully 
heard  what  Master  Heriot  said,  or  not  choosing  to  have  it 
thought  so — '•  I  have  been  a  fool  indeed,  to  hang  on  at  a 
close-fisted  court  here,  when  men  of  understanding  and  men 
of  action  have  been  making  fortunes  in  every  other  place  of 
Europe.  But  here  a  man  comes  indifferently  off  unless  he 
gets  a  great  key  to  turn  [looking  at  Sir  Edward],  or  can 
beat  tattoo  with  a  hammer  on  a  pewter  plate.  Well,  sirs,  I 
must  make  as  much  haste  back  on  mine  errand  as  if  I  were  a 
fee'd  messenger.  Sir  Edward  and  my  lady,  I  leave  my  com- 
mendations with  you;  and  my  good- will  with  you.  Master 
Heriot;  and  for  this  breaker  of  bounds,  if  you  will  act  by  my 
counsel,  seme  maceration  by  fasting,  and  a  gentle  use  of  the 
rod,  is  the  best  cure  for  her  giddy  fits." 

"If  you  propose  for  Greenwich,  Sir  Mungo,"  said  the 
lieutenant,  "  I  can  spare  you  the  labor;  the  King  comes  im 
mediately  to  Whitehall." 

"  And  that  must  be  the  reason  the  council  are  summon^jd 
to  meet  in  such  hurry,"  said  Sir  Mungo.  "  Well,  I  will, 
with  your  permission,  go  to  the  poor  lad  Glenvarloch,  and 
bestow  some  comfort  on  him." 

The  lieutenant  seemed  to  look  \\^  and  pause  for  a  moment 
as  if  in  doubt. 

''  The  lad  will  want  a  pleasant  companion,  who  can  tell  him 
tlie  nature  of  the  punishment  which  he  is  to  suffer,  and  other 
matters  of  concernment.  I  will  not  leare  him  until  I  show 
him  how  absolutely  he-hatli  ruined  himself  from  feather  to 
spur,  how  deplorable  is  his  present  state,  and  how  small  his 
chance  of  mending  it." 

'MVell,  Sir  Mungo,"  replied  the  lieutenant,  "if  you  really 
think  all  this  likely  to  be  very  consolatory  to  the  party  con- 
cerned, I  will  send  a  warder  to  conduct  you." 

*'  And  1"  said  George  Heriot,  ''  will  humbly  pray  of  Lady 

*  The  celebrated  court  jester. 


860  WAVERLEY  NOVELL 

Mansel  that  she  will  lend  some  of  her  handmaiden's  apparel 
to  this  giddy-brained  girl;  for  I  shall  forfeit  my  reputation  if 
I  walk  up  Tower  Hill  with  her  in  that  mad  guise —and  yet  the 
silly  lassie  looks  not  so  ill  in  it  neither  " 

"  I  will  send  my  coach  with  you  instantly,"  said  the  obliging 
lady. 

''  Faith,  madam,  and  if  you  will  honor  us  by  such  courtesy, 
I  will  gladly  accept  it  at  your  hands,"  said  the  citizen,  ''for 
business  presses  hard  on  me,  and  the  forenoon  is  already  lost, 
to  little  purpose." 

Tlie  coach,  being  ordered  accordingly,  transported  the 
worthy  citizen  and  his  charge  to  his  mansion  in  Lombard 
Street.  There  he  found  his  presence  was  anxiously  expected 
by  the  Lady  Hermione,  who  had  just  received  an  order  to  be 
in  readiness  to  attend  upon  the  royal  privy  council  in  the 
course  of  an  hour;  and  u]3on  whom,  in  her  inexperience  of 
business,  and  long  retirement  from  society  and  the  world,  the 
intimation  had  made  as  deep  an  impression  as  if  it  had  not 
been  the  necessary  consequence  of  the  petition  which  she  had 
presented  to  the  King  by  Monna  Paula.  George  Heriot 
gently  blamed  her  for  taking  any  steps  in  an  affair  so  impor- 
tant until  his  return  from  France,  especially  as  he  had  re- 
quested her  to  remain  quiet,  in  a  letter  which  accompanied 
the  evidence  he  had  transmitted  to  her  from  Paris.  She  could 
only  plead  in  answer  the  influence  which  her  immediately  stir- 
ring in  the  matter  was  likely  to  have  on  the  affair  of  her  kins- 
man Lord  Glenvarloch,  for  she  was  ashamed  to  acknowledge 
how  much  she  had  been  gained  on  by  the  eager  importunity 
of  her  youthful  companion.  The  motive  of  Margaret's  eager- 
ness was,  of  course,  the  safety  of  Nigel,  but  we  must  leave  it 
to  time  to  show  in  what  particulars  that  came  to  be  connected 
with  the  petition  of  the  Lady  Hermione.  Meanwhile,  we  re- 
turn to  the  visit  with  which  Sir  Mungo  Malagrowther  favored 
the  afflicted  young  nobleman  in  his  place  of  captivity. 

The  knight,  after  the  usual  salutations,  and  having  pref- 
aced his  discourse  with  a  great  deal  of  professed  regret  for 
Nigel's  situation,  sat  down  beside  him,  and,  composing  his 
grotesque  features  into  the  most  lugubrious  despondence^ 
began  his  raven-song  as  follows  : 

''  I  bless  God,  my  lord,  that  I  was  the  person  who  had  the 
pleasure  to  bring  his  Majesty's  mild  message  to  the  lieutenant, 
discharging  the  higher  prosecution  against  ye,  for  anything 
meditated  against  his  Majesty's  sacred  person;  for,  admit  you 
be  prosecuted  on  the  lesser  offence,  or  breach  of  privilege  of 
the  palace  and  its  precincts,  u^iie  ad  mutilationemr—eveu  to 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  361 

dismeniberation — as  it  is  most  likely  you  will,  yet  the  loss  of 
a  member  is  nothing  to  being  hanged  and  drawn  quick,  after 
the  fashion  of  a  traitor." 

"I  should  feel  the  shame  of  having  deserved  such  a  pun- 
ishment," answered  Nigel,  "more  than  the  pain  of  under- 
going it." 

"  Doubtless,  my  lord,  the  having,  as  you  say,  deserved  it 
must  be  an  excruciation  to  your  own  mind,"  replied  his  tor- 
mentor— "  a  kind  of  raentafand  metaphysical  hanging,  draw^ 
ing,  and  quartering,  which  may  be  in  some  measure  equipol- 
lent with  the  external  application  of  hemp,  iron,  fire,  and 
the  like,  to  the  outer  man." 

"I  say,  Sii  Mungo,"  repeated  Nigel,  "and  beg  you  to 
understand  my  words,  that  I  am  unconscious  of  any  error, 
save  that  of  having  arms  on  my  person  when  I  chanced  to 
approach  that  of  my  sovereign." 

"Ye  are  right,  my  lord,  to  acknowledge  nothing,"  said 
Sii  Mungo.  "We  have  an  old  proverb.  Confess,  and — so 
forth.  And  indeed,  as  to  the  weapons,  his  Majesty  has  a 
special  ill-will  at  all  arms  *  whatsoever,  and  more  especially 
pistols;  but,  as  I  said,  there  is  an  end  of  that  matter.  I  wish 
vou  as  well  through  the  next,  which  is  altogether  unlikely." 

"Surely,  Sir  Mungo,"  answered  Xigel,  "you  yourself 
might  say  something  in  my  favor  concerning  the  affair  in  the 
Park.  None  knows  better  than  you  that  I  was  at  that 
moment  urged  by  wrongs  of  the  most  heinous  nature,  offered 
to  me  by  Lord  Dalgarno,  many  of  which  were  reported  to  me 
by  yourself,  much  to  the  inflammation  of  my  passion." 

"Alack-a-day! — alack-a-day!"  replied  Sir  Mungo,  "I 
remember  but  too  well  how  much  your  choler  was  inflamed, 
in  spite  of  the  varioui  remonstrances  which  I  made  to  you 
respecting  the  sacred  nature  of  the  place.  Alas! — alas!  you 
cannot  say  you  leaped  into  the  mire  for  want  ot  warning." 

"I  see,  Sir  Mungo,  you  are  determined  to  remember 
nothing  which  can  do  me  service,"  said  Nigel. 

"  Blithely  would  I  do  ye  service,"  said  the  knight;  "and 
the  best  whilk  I  can  think  of  is,  to  tell  you  the  process  of  the 
punishment  to  the  whilk  you  will  be  indubitably  sub- 
jected, I  having  had  the  good' fortune  to  behold  it  performed 
in  the  Queen's  time,  on  a  chield  thit  had  written  a  pasquin- 
ade. I  was  then  in  my  Lord  Gray's  train,  who  lay  leaguer 
here,  and,  being  always  covetous  of  pleasing  and  profitable 
sights,  I  could  not  dispense  with  being  present  on  the  occa- 
sion." 

*  See  Jamea  I.'s  Dislika  to  Arms.    Nota  V. 


362  W AVE  RLE  Y  NOVELS 

"  I  should  be  surprised  indeed,"  said  Lord  Gleiivarlocn, 
"  if  you  had  so  far  put  restraint  upon  your  benevolence  as  to 
stay  away  from  such  an  exhibition." 

"Hey!  was  your  lordship  praying  me  to  be  present  at 
your  own  execution?  "  answered  the  knight.  '•' Troth,  my 
lord,  it  will  be  a  painful  sight  to  a  friend,  but  I  will  rather 
punish  myself  than  balk  you.  It  is  a  pretty  pageant,  in 
the  main — a  very  pretty  pageant.  The  fallow  came  on  with 
such  a  bold  face,  it  was  a  pleasure  to  look  on  him.  He  was 
dressed  all  in  white,  to  signify  harmlessness  and  innocence. 
The  thing  was  done  on  a  scaffold  at  Westminster  ;  most 
likely  yours  will  be  at  Charing.  There  were  the  sheriff's  and 
the  marshal's  men,  and  what  not;  the  executioner,  with  his 
cleaver  and  mallet,  and  his  man,  with  a  pan  of  hot  char- 
coal, and  the  irons  for  cautery.  He  was  a  dexterous  fallow 
that  Derrick.  This  man  Gregory  is  not  fit  to  jipper  a  joint 
with  him;  it  might  be  worth  your  lordship's  while  to  have 
the  loon  sent  to  a  barber-surgeon's,  to  learn  some  needful 
scantling  of  anatomy;  it  may  be  for  the  benefit  of  yourself  and 
other  unhai^iiy  sufferers,  and  also  a  kindness  to  Gregory." 

"  I  will  not  take  the  trouble,"  said  Nigel.  "  If  the  laws 
will  demand  my  hand,  the  executioner  may  get  it  off  as  best 
he  can.  If  the  King  leaves  it  where  it  is,  it  may  chance  to  do 
him  better  service." 

"  Vera  noble — vera  grand,  indeed,  my  lord,"  said  Sir 
Mungo;  ""  it  is  jileasant  to  see  a  brave  man  suffer.  This  fallow 
whom  I  spoke  of — this  Tubbs,  or  Stubbs,  or  whatever  the 
plebeian  was  called — came  forward  as  bold  as  an  emperor  and 
said  to  the  people,  '  Good  friends,  I  come  to  leave  here 
the  hand  of  a  true  Englishman,'  and  clapped  it  on  the  dress- 
ing-block with  as  much  ease  as  if  he  had  laid  it  on  his 
sweetheart's  shoulder;  whereupon  Derrick,  the  hangman,  ad- 
justing, d'ye  mind  me,  the  edge  of  his  cleaver  on  the  very 
joint,  hit  it  with  the  mallet  with  such  force  that  the  hand 
flew  off  as  far  from  the  owner  as  a  gauntlet  which  the  challen- 
ger casts  down  in  the  tilt-yard.  Well,  sir,  Stubbs,  or  Tubbs, 
lost  no  whit  of  countenance,  until  the  fallow  clapped  the 
hissing  hot  iron  on  his  raw  .stump.  My  lord,  it  fizzed  like  a 
rasher  of  bacon,  and  the  fallow  set  up  an  elritch  screech, 
Avhich  made  some  think  his  courage  was  abated;  but  not  a 
whit,  for  he  plucked  off  his  hat  with  his  left  liand  and  waved 
it,  crying,  '^  God  save  the  Queen,  and  confound  all  evil  coun- 
sellors:' The  people  gave  him  three  cheers,  which  he  de- 
served for  his  stout  heart;  and,  truly,  I  hope  to  see  your  lord 
ship  suffer  with  the  same  magnanimity."* 

•  See  Punisbment  of  Stubbs  by  Mutilation.    Note  38. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  388 

"  I  thank  you.  Sir  Mungo/'said  Nigel,  who  had  not  been 
able  to  forbear  some  natural  feelings  of  an  unpleasant  nature 
during  this  lively  detail;  "  I  have  no  aoubt  the  exhibition 
will  be  a  very  engaging  one  to  you  and  the  other  spectators, 
whatever  it  may  prove  to  the  party  principally  concerned." 

"  Vera  engaging/' answered  Sir  Mungo,  "  vera  interesting 
— vera  interesting  indeed,  though  not  altogether  so  much  so 
as  an  execution  for  high  treason.  I  saw  Digby,  the  Winters, 
Fawkes,  and  the  rest  of  the  Gunpowder  gang,  sutler  for  that 
treason,  whilk  was  a  vera  grand  spectacle,  as  well  in  regard 
to  their  sufferings  as  to  their  constancy  in  enduring." 

*'  I  am  the  more  obliged  to  your  goodness.  Sir  Mungo," 
replied  Xigel,"  that  has  induced  you,  although  you  have  lost 
tlie  sight,  to  congratulate  me  on  my  escape  from  the  hazard 
of  making  the  same  edifying  aj^pearance." 

"  As  you  say,  my  lord,"  answered  Sir  Mungo,  "the  loss 
is  chiefly  in  appearance.  Nature  has  been  very  bountiful  to 
us,  and  has  given  duplicates  of  some  organs,  that  we  may 
endure  the  loss  of  one  of  them,  should  some  such  circumstance 
chance  in  our  pilgrimage.  See  my  poor  dexter,  abridged  to 
one  thumb,  one  finger,  and  a  stump — by  the  blow  of  my  ad- 
versary's weapon,  however,  and  not  by  any  carnificial  knife. 
Weel,  sir,  this  poor  maimed  hand  doth  me,  in  some  sort,  as 
much  service  as  ever;  and,  admit  yours  to  be  taken  off  by  the 
wrist,  you  have  still  your  left  hand  for  your  service,  and 
are  better  off  than  the  little  Dutch  dwarf  here  about  town, 
who  threads  a  needle,  limns,  writes,  and  tosses  a  pike  merely 
by  means  of  his  feet,  without  ever  a  hand  to  help  him." 

"  Well,  Sir  Mungo,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch,  "  this  is  all 
no  doubt  very  consolatory;  but  I  hope  the  King  will  spare  my 
hand  to  fight  for  him  in  battle,  where,  notwithstanding  all 
your  kind  encouragement,  I  could  spend  my  blood  much 
more  cheerfully  than  on  a  scaffold." 

^'  It  is  even  a  sad  truth,"  replied  Sir  Mungo,  "  that  your 
lordship  was  but  too  like  to  have  died  on  a  scaffold — not  a 
soul  to  speak  for  you  but  that  deluded  lassie,  Maggie  Earn- 
say." 

"  Whom  mean  you?"  said  Nigel,  with  more  interest  than 
he  had  hitherto  shown  in  the  knight's  communications. 

"  Nay,  who  should  I  mean  but  tliat  travestied  lassie  whom 
we  dined  with  when  we  honored  Ileriot,  the  goldsmith?  Ye 
ken  best  how  you  have  made  interest  with  her;  but  I  saw  her 
on  her  knees  to  the  King  for  you  She  Avas  committed  to  my 
charge,  to  bring  her  up  hither  in  honor  and  safety.  Had  I 
had  my  own  will,  I  would  have  had  her  to  Bridewell^  to  flog 


884  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

the  wild  blood  out  of  her — a  cutty-queen,  to  think  of  wearing 
the  breeches,  and  not  so  much  as  married  yet!" 

"  Hark  ye,  Sir  Mungo  Malagrowther,"  answered  Nigel,  "  I 
would  have  you  talk  of  that  young  person  with  fitting  re- 
spect." 

"  With  all  the  respect  that  befits  your  lordship's  paramour 
and  Davie  Ramsay's  daughter  I  shall  certainly  speak  of  her, 
my  lord,"  said  Sir  Mungo,  assuming  a  dry  tone  of  irony. 

Nigel  was  greatly  disposed  to  have  made  a  serious  quarrel 
of  it,  but  with  Sir  Mungo  such  an  affair  would  have  been 
ridiculous;  he  smothered  his  resentment,  therefore,  and  con- 
jured him  to  tell  what  he  had  heard  and  seen  respecting  this 
young  person. 

"  Simply,  that  I  was  in  the  anteroom  when  she  had 
audience,  and  heard  the  King  say,  to  my  great  perplexity, 
'  Pulchra  sane  2Juella; '  and  Maxwell,  who  hath  but  indiffer- 
ent Latin  ears,  thought  that  his  Majesty  called  on  him  by  his 
own  name  of  Sawney,  and  thrust  into  the  presence,  and  there 
I  saw  our  sovereign  James,  with  his  own  hand,  raising  up  the 
lassie,  who,  as  I  said  heretofore,  was  travestied  in  man's 
attire.  I  should  have  had  my  own  thoughts  of  it,  but  our 
gracious  master  is  auld,  and  was  nae  great  gilravager  amang 
the  queens  even  in  his  youth;  and  he  was  comforting  her  in 
his  own  way,  and  saying,  '  Ye  needna  greet  about  it,  my 
bonny  woman,  Glenvarlochides  shall  have  fair  play;  and,  in- 
deed, when  the  hurry  was  off  our  spirits,  we  could  not  believe 
that  he  had  any  design  on  our  person.  And  touching  his 
other  offences,  we  will  look  wisely  and  closely  into  the  mat- 
ter.' So  I  got  charge  to  take  the  young  fence-louper  to  the 
Tower  here,  and  deliver  her  to  the  charge  of  Lady  Mansel; 
and  his  Majesty  charged  me  to  say  not  a  word  to  her  about 
your  offences.  '  For,'  said  he,  '  the  poor  thing  is  breaking 
her  heart  for  him.'  " 

"  And  on  this  you  have  charitably  founded  the  opinion  to 
the  prejudice  of  this  young  lady  which  you  have  now  thought 
proper  to  express  ? "  said  Lord  Glenvarloch. 

"In  honest  truth,  my  lord,"  replied  Sir  Mungo,  "what 
opinion  would  you  have  me  form  of  a  wench  who  gets  into 
male  habiliments,  and  goes  on  her  knees  to  the  King  for  a 
wild  young  nobleman?  I  wot  not  what  the  fashionable  word 
may  be,  for  the  phrase  changes,  though  the  custom  abides. 
But  truly  I  must  needs  think  this  young  leddy — if  you  call 
Watchie  Eamsay's  daughter  a  young  leddy — demeans  her- 
self more  like  a  leddy  of  pleasure  than  a  leddy  of  honor." 

"  You  do  her  egregious  wrong.  Sir  Mungo,"  said  Nigel; 
"  or  rather  you  have  been  misled  by  appearances.'' 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  865 

"  So  will  all  the  world  be  misled,  my  lord/'  replied  the 
satirist,  "  unless  you  were  doing  that  to  disabuse  them  which 
your  father's  son  will  hardly  judge  it  fit  to  do/' 

"  And  what  may  that  be,  I  pray  you?" 

"  E'en  marry  the  lass — make  her  Leddy  Glenvarloch.  Ay 
— ay,  ye  may  start,  but  it  is  the  course  you  are  driving  on. 
Rather  marry  than  do  worse,  if  the  worse  be  not  done 
already." 

"  Sir  Mungo,"  said  Nigel,  "'  I  pray  you  to  forbear  this 
subject,  and  rather  return  to  that  of  the  mutilation,  upon 
which  it  pleased  you  to  enlarge  a  short  while  since." 

"  I  have  not  time  at  present,"  said  Sir  Mungo,  hearing 
the  clock  strike  four;  ''but  so  soon  as  you  shall  have  re- 
ceived sentence,  my  lord,  you  may  rely  on  my  giving  you  the 
fullest  detail  of  the  whole  solemnity  ;  and  I  give  you  my 
word,  as  a  knight  and  gentleman,  that  I  will  myself  attend 
you  on  the  scaffold,  whoever  may  cast  sour  looks  on  me  for 
doing  so.  I  bear  a  heart  to  stand  by  a  friend  in  the  worst  of 
times." 

So  saying,  he  wished  Lord  Glenvarloch  farewell,  who  felt 
as  heartily  rejoiced  at  his  departure,  though  it  may  be  a  bold 
word,  as  any  person  who  had  ever  undergone  his  society. 

But,  when  left  to  his  own  reflections,  Nigel  could  not 
help  feeling  solitude  nearly  as  irksome  as  the  company  of 
Sir  Mungo  Malagrowther.  The  total  wreck  of  his  fortune, 
which  seemed  now  to  be  rendered  unavoidable  by  the  loss  of 
the  royal  warrant,  that  had  afforded  him  the  means  of  redeem- 
ing his  paternal  estate,  was  an  unexpected  and  additional  blow. 
When  he  had  seen  the  warrant  he  could  not  precisely  remem- 
ber; but  was  inclined  to  think  it  was  in  the  casket  when  he 
took  out  money  to  pay  the  miser  for  his  lodgings  at  White- 
friars.  Since  then,  the  casket  had  been  almost  constantly 
under  his  own  eye,  except  during  the  short  time  he  was 
separated  from  his  baggage  by  the  arrest  in  Greenwich  Park. 
It  might,  indeed,  have  been  taken  out  at  that  time,  for  he 
had  no  reason  to  think  either  his  person  or  his  property  was 
in  the  hands  of  those  who  wished  him  well;  but,  on  the 
other  hand,  the  locks  of  the  strong-box  had  sustained  no 
violence  that  he  could  observe,  and,  being  of  a  particular  and 
complicated  construction,  lie  thought  they  could  scarce  be 
opened  without  an  instrument  made  on  purpose,  adapted  to 
their  peculiarities,  and  for  this  there  had  been  no  time. 
But,  speculate  as  he  would  on  the  matter,  it  was  clear  that 
this  important  document  was  gone,  and  probable  that  it  had 
passed  into  no  friendly  hands.     "  Let  it  be  so,"  said  Nigel 


866  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

to  himself;  "  I  am  scarcely  worse  off  respecting  my  prospects 
of  fortune  than  when  I  first  reached  this  accursed  city.  But 
to  be  hampered  with  cruel  accusations  and  stained  with  foul 
suspicions*  to  be  the  object  of  pity  of  the  most  degrading 
kind  to  yonder  honest  citizen,  and  of  the  malignity  of  that 
envious  and  atrabilarious  courtier,  who  can  endure  the  good 
fortune  and  good  qualities  of  another  no  more  than  the  mole 
can  brook  sunshine — this  is  indeed  a  dejilorable  reflection; 
and  the  consequences  must  stick  to  my  future  life,  and  impede 
whatever  my  head,  or  my  hand,  if  it  is  left  me,  might  be  able 
to  execute  in  my  favor. " 

The  feeling  that  he  is  the  object  of  general  dislike  and 
dereliction  seems  to  be  one  of  the  most  unendurably  painful 
to  which  a  human  being  can  be  subjected.  The  most  atrocious 
criminals,  whose  nerves  have  not  shrunk  from  perpetrating 
the  most  horrid  cruelty,  endure  more  from  the  consciousness 
that  no  man  will  sympathize  with  their  sufferings  than  from 
apprehension  of  the  j)ersonal  agony  of  their  impending  pun- 
ishment; and  are  known  often  to  attempt  to  palliate  their 
enormities,  and  sometimes  altogether  to  deny  what  is  estab- 
lished by  the  clearest  proof,  rather  than  to  leave  life  under 
the  general  ban  of  humanity.  It  was  no  wonder  that  Nigel, 
laboring  under  the  sense  of  general,  though  unjust,  suspicion, 
should,  while  pondering  on  so  painful  a  theme,  recollect  that 
one  at  least  had  not  only  believed  him  innocent,  but  hazarded 
herself,  with  all  her  feeble  power,  to  interpose  in  his  behalf. 

''Poor  girl!"  he  repeated — "  poor,  rash,  but  generous 
maiden!  your  fate  is  that  of  her  in  Scottish  story,  who  thrust 
her  arm  into  the  staple  of  the  door,  to  oppose  it  as  a  bar 
against  the  assassins  who  threatened  the  murder  of  her  sov- 
ereign.* The  deed  of  devotion  was  useless,  save  to  give  an 
immortal  name  to  her  by  whom  it  was  done,  and  whose  blood 
flows,  it  is  said,  in  the  veins  of  my  house." 

I  cannot  explain  to  the  reader  whether  the  recollection  of 
this  historical  deed  of  devotion,  and  the  lively  effect  which 
the  comparison,  a  little  overstrained,  perhaps,  was  likely  to 
produce  in  favor  of  Margaret  Eamsay,  was  not  qualified  by 
the  concomitant  ideas  of  ancestry  and  ancient  descent  witli 
which  that  recollection  was  mingled.  But  the  contending 
feelings  suggested  a  new  train  of  ideas.  "  Ancestry,"  he 
thought,  "and  ancient  descent,  what  are  they  to  me?  My 
patrimony  alienated — my  title  become  a  reproach — for  what 
can  be  so  absurd  as  titled  beggary? — my  character  subjected 
to  suspicion — I  will  not  remain  in  this  country;  and  should 

*  See  Assassination  of  James  I.  of  Scotland.    Note39. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  367 

I,  at  leaving  it,  procure  the  society  of  one  so  lovely,  so  brave, 
and  so  faithful,  who  should  say  that  I  derogated  from  the 
rank  which  I  am  virtually  renouncing?" 

There  was  something  romantic  and  pleasing,  as  he  pur- 
sued this  picture  of  an  attached  and  faithful  pair,  becoming 
all  the  world  to  each  other,  and  stemming  the  tide  of  fate 
arm  in  arm;  and  to  be  linked  thus  with  a  creature  so  beauti- 
ful, and  who  had  taken  such  devoted  and  disinterested  con- 
cern in  his  fortunes,  formed  itself  into  such  a  vision  as 
romantic  youth  loves  best  to  dwell  upon. 

Suddenly  his  dream  was  painfully  dispelled  by  the  recol- 
lection that  its  very  basis  rested  \\])0\\  the  most  selfish  ingrati- 
tude on  his  cwn  part.  Lord  of  his  castle  and  his  towers,  his 
forests  and  fields,  his  fair  patrimony  and  noble  name,  his 
mind  would  have  rejected,  as  a  sort  of  impossibility,  the  idea 
of  elevating  to  his  rank  the  daughter  of  a  mechanic;  but, 
when  degraded  from  his  nobility  and  plunged  into  poverty 
and  difficulties,  he  was  ashamed  to  feel  himself  not  unwill- 
ing that  this  poor  girl,  in  the  blindness  of  her  affection, 
should  abandon  all  the  better  prospects  of  her  own  settled 
condition  to  embrace  the  precarious  and  doubtful  course 
which  he  himself  was  condemned  to.  The  generosity  of 
Nigel's  mind  recoiled  from  the  selfishness  of  the  plan  of  hap- 
piness which  he  projected;  and  he  made  a  strong  effort  to 
expel  from  his  thoughts  for  the  rest  of  the  evening  this 
fascinating  female,  or,  at  least,  not  to  permit  them  to  dwell 
upon  the  perilous  circumstance  that  she  was  at  present  the 
only  creature  living  who  seemed  to  consider  him  as  an  object 
of  kindness. 

He  could  not,  however,  succeed  in  banishing  her  from  his 
slumbers,  when,  after  having  sjjent  a  weary  day,  he  betook 
himself  to  a  jjerturbed  couch.  The  form  of  Margaret  min- 
gled with  the  wild  mass  of  dreams  which  his  late  adventures 
had  suggested  ;  and  even  when,  copying  the  lively  narrative 
of  Sir  Mungo,  fancy  j^resented  to  him  the  blood  bubbling 
and  hissing  on  the  heated  iron,  Margaret  stood  behind  him 
like  a  spirit  of  light,  to  breathe  healing  on  the  wound.  At 
length  nature  was  exhausted  by  these  fantastic  creations,  and 
Nigel  slept,  and  slept  soundly,  until  awakened  in  the  morn- 
ing by  the  sound  of  a  well-known  voice,  which  had  often 
broken  his  slumbers  about  the  same  hour. 


CHAPTER  XXXI 

Marry,  come  up,  sir.  with  your  gentle  blood 
Here's  a  red  stream  beneath  tliis  coarse  blue  doublet 
That  warms  the  heart  as  kindly  as  if  drawn 
From  the  far  source  of  old  Assj-rian  kings, 
Who  first  made  mankind  subject  to  their  sw&y. 

Old  Play. 

The  sounds  to  which  Ave  alluded  in  our  last  were  no  other 
than  the  grumbling  tones  of  Richie  Moniplies's  voice. 

This  worthy,  like  some  otlier  persons  who  rank  high  in 
their  own  opinion,  was  very  apt,  when  he  could  have  no 
other  auditor,  to  hold  conversation  with  one  who  was  sure  to 
be  a  willing  listener — I  mean  with  himself.  He  was  now 
brushing  and  arranging  Lord  Glenvarloch's  clothes,  with  as 
much  composure  and  quiet  assiduity  as  if  he  had  never  been 
out  of  his  service,  and  grumbling  betwixt  whiles  to  the  fol- 
lowing purpose — "  Humph — ay,  time  cloak  and  jerkin  were 
through  my  hands;  I  question  if  horse-hair  has  been  passed 
over  tliem  since  they  and  I  last  parted.  The  embroidery 
finely  frayed  too;  and  the  gold  buttons  of  the  cloak— by  my 
conscience,  and  as  I  am  an  honest  man,  there  is  a  round 
dozen  of  them  gane!  This  comes  of  Alsatian  frolics — God 
keep  us  with  His  grace,  and  not  give  us  over  to  our  own  de- 
vices! I  see  no  sword,  but  that  will  be  in  respect  of  pi^sent 
circumstances."' 

Nigel  for  some  time  could  not  help  believing  that  he  was 
still  in  a  dream,  so  imj^robable  did  it  seem  that  his  domestic, 
whom  he  supposed  to  be  in  Scotland,  should  have  found  him 
out,  and  obtained  access  to  him,  in  his  present  circumstances. 
Looking  through  the  curtains,  however,  he  became  well 
assured  of  the  fact,  when  he  beheld  the  stiff  and  bony  length 
of  Richie,  with  a  visage  charged  with  nearly  double  its  ordi- 
nary  degree  of  importance,  employed  sedulously  in  brushin[" 
his  master's  cloak,  and  refreshing  himself  with  whistling  or 
humming,  from  interval  to  interval,  some  snatch  of  an  old 
melancholy  Scottish  ballad-tune.  Although  sufficiently  con- 
vinced of  the  identity  of  the  party,  Lord  Glenvarloch  could 
not  help  expressing  his  surprise  in  the  superfluous  question^ 
"  In  the  name  of  Heaven,  Richie,  is  this  you?  " 

*'  And  wha  else  suld  it  be,  my  lord?"  answered    Richie 

set 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  369 

"  I  dreamna  that  your  lordsliip's  levee  in  this  place  is  like  to 
be  attended  by  ony  that  are  not  bounden  thereto  by  duty." 

"  I  am  rather  surprised/''  answered  Nigel,  "  that  it  should 
be  attended  by  any  one  at  all — especially  by  you,  Eichie;  for 
you  know  that  we  parted,  and  1  thought  you  had  reached 
Scotland  long  since." 

"  I  crave  your  lordship's  pardon,  but  we  have  not  parted 
yet,  nor  are  soon  likely  so  to  do;  for  there  gang  twa  folks' 
votes  to  the  unmaking  of  a  bargain,  as  to  the  making  of  ane. 
Though  it  was  your  lordship's  pleasure  so  to  conduct  yourself 
that  we  were  like  to  have  parted,  yet  it  was  not,  on  reflection, 
my  will  to  be  gone.  To  be  plain,  if  your  lordship  does  not 
ken  when  you  have  a  good  servant,  I  ken  when  I  have  a  kind 
master;  and  to  say  truth,  you  will  be  easier  served  now  than 
ever,  for  there  is  not  much  chance  of  your  getting  out  of 
bounds." 

"I  am  indeed  bound  over  to  good  behavior,"  said  Lord 
Glenvarloch,  with  a  smile;  ''but  I  hope  you  will  not  take  ad- 
vantage of  my  situation  to  be  too  severe  on  my  follies. 
Richie?" 

''God  forbid,  my  lord— God  forbid!"  replied  Richie,  with 
an  expression  betwixt  a  conceited  consciousness  of  superior 
wisdom  and  real  feeling,  "especially  in  consideration  of  your 
lordship's  having  a  due  sense  of  them.  I  did  indeed  remon- 
strate, as  was  my  humble  duty,  but  I  scorn  to  cast  that  up  to 
your  lordship  now.  Na — na,  I  am  myself  an  erring  creature, 
very  conscious  of  some  small  weaknesses:  there  is  no  perfec- 
tion in  man." 

"But,  Richie,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch,  "although  1  am 
rnuch  obliged  to  you  for  your  proffered  service,  it  can  be  of 
little  use  to  me  here,  and  may  be  of  prejudice  to  yourself.'' 

"  Your  lordship  shall  pardon  me  again,"  said  Richie,  whom 
the  relative  situation  of  the  parties  had  invested  with  ten 
times  his  ordinary  dogmatism;  "but,  as  I  will  manage  the 
matter,  your  lordship  shall  be  greatly  benefited  by  my  serv- 
ice, and  I  myself  no  whit  prejudiced." 

■'  I  see  not  how  that  can  be,  my  friend,"  said  Lord  Glen- 
varloch, "  since  even  as  to  your  pecuniary  affairs " 

"  Touching  my  pecuniars,  my  lord,"  replied  Richie,"  I  am 
indifferently  weel  provided;  and  as  it  chances,  my  living  here 
will  be  no  burden  to  your  lordship  or  distress  to  myself. 
Only  I  crave  permission  to  annex  certain  conditions  to  my 
servitude  with  your  lordship." 

"Annex  what  you  will,"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch,  "for yon 
are  pretty  sure  to  take  your  own  way  whether  you  make  any 

M 


870  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

conditions  or  not.  Since  you  will  not  leave,  which  weie,  I 
think,  your  wisest  course,  you  must,  and  I  suppose  will,  serve 
me  only  on  such  terms  as  you  like  yourself." 

"All  that  I  ask,  my  lord,"  said  Richie,  gravely  and  with  a 
tone  of  great  moderation,  "  is  to  have  the  uninterrupted  com- 
mand of  my  own  motions,  for  certain  important  purposes 
which  I  have  now  in  hand,  always  giving  your  lordship  the 
solace  of  my  company  and  attendance  at  such  times  as  may 
be  at  once  convenient  for  me  and  necessary  for  your  service. '' 

"  Of  which,  I  suppose,  you  constitute  yourself  sole  judge/' 
replied  Nigel,  smiling. 

"Unquestionably,  my  lord,"  answered  Richie,  gravely; 
"  tor  your  lordship  can  only  know  what  yourself  want;  where- 
as I,  who  see  both  sides  of  the  picture,  ken  both  what  is  the 
best  for  your  affairs  and  what  is  the  most  needful  for  my  own. '' 

"  Richie,  my  good  friend,"  said  Nigel,  "  I  fear  this 
arrangement,  which  places  the  master  much  under  the  dis- 
posal of  tlie  servant,  would  scarce  suit  us  if  we  were  both  at 
large;  but  a  prisoner  as  I  am,  I  may  be  as  well  at  your  dis- 
posal as  I  am  at  that  of  so  many  other  persons;  and  so  you 
may  come  and  go  as  you  list,  for  I  suppose  you  will  not  take 
my  advice,  to  return  to  your  own  country  and  leave  me  to  my 
fate." 

"  The  deil  be  in  my  feet  if  I  do,"  said  Moniplies.  "  I  am 
not  the  lad  to  leave  your  lordship  in  foul  weather,  when  I  fol- 
lowed you  and  fed  upon  you  through  the  whole  summer  day. 
And  besides,  there  may  be  brave  days  behind,  for  a'  that  has 
come  and  gane  yet;  for 

"  '  It's  hame,  and  it's  hame,  and  it's  hame  we  fain  would  be, 
Tliough  the  cloud  is  in  the  lift,  and  the  wind  is  on  the  lea; 
For  the  sun  through  the  mirk  blinks  blithe  on  mine  ee. 
Says — "  I'll  shine  on  ye  yet  in  your  ain  countryl"  '" 

Having  sung  this  stanza  in  the  manner  of  a  ballad-singei 
whose  voice  has  been  cracked  by  matching  his  windpipe 
against  the  bugle  of  the  north  blast,  Richie  Moniplies  aided 
Lord  Glenv^arloch  to  rise,  attended  his  toilet  with  every  pos- 
•^ible  mark  ot  the  most  solemn  and  deferential  respect,  then 
waited  upon  him  at  breakfast,  and  finally  withdrew,  pleading 
that  he  had  business  of  importance,  which  would  detain  him 
for  some  hours. 

Although  Lord  Glenvarloch  necessarily  expected  to  be 
occasionally  annoyed  by  the  self-conceit  and  dogmatism  of 
Richie  Moniplies's  character,  yet  he  could  not  but  feel  the 
greatest  pleasure    from  the  firm  and   devoted  attachment 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  371 

which  this  faitliful  follower  had  displayed  in  the  present  in- 
stance, and  indeed  promised  himself  an  alleviation  of  the 
ennui  of  his  imprisonment  in  having  the  advantage  of  his 
services.  It  was,  therefore,  with  pleasure  that  he  learned 
from  the  warder  that  his  servant's  attendance  would  be  al- 
lowed at  all  times  when  the  general  rules  of  the  fortress  per- 
mitted the  entrance  of  strangers. 

In  the  mean  while,  the  magnanimous  Richie  Moniplies  had 
already  reached  Tower  Wharf.  Here,  after  looking  with  con- 
tempt on  several  scullers  by  whom  he  was  plied,  and  whose 
services  he  rejected  with  a  wave  of  his  hand,  he  called  with 
dignity,  "  First  oars!  "  and  stirred  into  activity  several  loung- 
ing tritons  of  the  higher  order,  who  had  not,  on  his  first 
appearance,  thoudit  it  worth  while  to  accost  him  with  prof- 
fers of  service.  He  now  took  possession  of  a  wdierry,  folded 
his  arms  -within  his  ample  cloak,  and  sitting  down  in  the 
stern  with  an  air  of  importance,  commanded  them  to  row  to 
Whitehall  Stairs.  Having  reached  the  palace  in  safety,  he 
demanded  to  see  Master  Linklater,  the  under-clerk  of  his 
Majesty's  kitchen.  The  reply  was,  that  he  was  not  to  be 
spoken  withal,  being  then  employed  in  cooking  a  mess  of 
cock-a-leekie  for  the  King's  own  mouth. 

"Tell  him,"  said  Moniplies,  " that  it  is  a  dear  country- 
man of  his  who  seeks  to  converse  with  Mm  on  matter  of  high 
import." 

"A  dear  countryman !'' said  Linklater,  when  this  press- 
ing message  was  delivered  to  him.  "Well,  let  him  come  in 
and  be  d — d,  that  I  should  say  sae!  This  now  is  some  red- 
headed, long-legged,  gillie-white-foot  frae  the  West  Port, 
that,  hearing  of  my  promotion,  is  come  up  to  be  a  turn-broche 
or  deputy  scullion  through  my  interest.  It  is  a  great  hin- 
drance to  any  man  who  would  rise  in  the  world,  to  have  such 
friends  to  hang  by  his  skirts,  in  hope  of  being  towed  up  along 
with  him.  Ha!  Richie  Moniplies,  man,  is  it  thou?  And 
what  has  brought  ye  her  ?  If  they  should  ken  thee  for  the 
loon  that  scared  tho  horse  the  other  day !" 

"No  more  o' that,  neighbor,"  said  Richie.  "I  am  just 
Iiere  on  the  auld  errand:  I  maun  speak  with  the  King." 

"  The  King!  Ye  are  red-wud,"  said  Linklater;  then  shout- 
ed to  his  assistants  in  the  kitchen,  "  Look  to  the  broches, 
ye  knaves.  Pisces  pur ga.  Salsamenta  fac  macerentur  pul- 
chre.  I  will  make  you  understand  Latin,  ye  knaves,  as 
becomes  the  scullions  of  King  James."  Then  in  a  cautious 
tone,  to  Richie's  private  ear,  he  continued,  "  Know  ye  not 


872  fVAVERLEY  NOVELS 

how  ill  yonr  master  came  oii  tne  other  aay?  i  can  tell  you 
that  job  made  some  folk  shake  for  their  office/' 

"  Weel,  but,  Laurie,  ye  maun  befriend  me  this  time,  and 
get  this  wee  bit  sifflication  slipped  into  his  Majesty's  ain  most 
gracious  hand.  1  promise  you  the  contents  will  be  most 
grateful  to  him." 

"  Richie,"  answered  Linklater,  "  yon  have  certainly  sworn 
to  say  your  prayers  in  the  porter's  lodge,  with  your  back  bare, 
and  twa  grooms,  with  dog-whips,  to  cry  'amen'  to  you." 

"  Na — na,  Laurie,  lad,"  said  Richie,  "1  ken  better  whax 
belangs  to  sifflications  than  I  did  yon  day;  and  ye  will  say 
that  yoursell,  if  ye  will  but  get  that  bit  note  to  the  King's 
hand." 

'•  I  will  have  neither  hand  nor  foot  in  the  matter,'^  said 
the  cautious  clerk  of  the  kitchen;  "  but  there  is  his  Majesty's 
mess  of  cock-a-leekie  just  going  to  be  served  to  him  in  his 
closet;  I  cannot  prevent  you  from  i:)utting  the  letter  between 
the  gilt  bowl  and  the  platter;  his  sacred  Majesty  will  see  it 
when  he  lifts  the  bowl,  for  he  aye  drinks  out  the  broth." 

"  Enough  said,"  replied  Richie,  and  deposited  the  paper 
accordingly,  just  before  a  page  entered  to  carry  away  the 
mess  to  his  Majesty. 

'*  Aweel — aweel,  neighbor,"  said  Laurence,  when  the  mess 
was  taken  away,  "if  ye  have  done  onythingto  bring  yoursell 
to  the  withy  or  the  seourging-i^ost,  it  is  your  ain  wilful  deed." 

"I  will  blame  no  other  for  it,"  said  Richie;  and,  with 
that  undismayed  pertinacity  of  conceit  which  made  a  funda- 
mental part  of  his  character,  he  abode  the  issue,  which  was 
not  long  of  arriving. 

In  a  few  minutes  Maxwell  himself  arrived  in  the  apart- 
ment, and  demanded  hastily  who  had  placed  a  writing  on  the 
King's  trencher.  Linklater  denied  all  knowledge  of  it;  but 
Richie  Moniplies,  stepping  boldly  forth,  pronounced  the  em- 
phatical  confession,  "I  am  the  man." 

"Follow  me,  then,"  said  Maxwell,  after  regarding  him 
with  a  look  of  great  curiosity. 

They  went  up  a  private  staircase — even  that  private  stair- 
case the  privilege  of  which  at  court  is  accounted  a  nearer 
road  to  power  than  the  grcmdes  entrees  themselves.  Arriv- 
ing m  what  Richie  described  as  an  "  ill  redd-up  "  anteroom, 
the  usher  made  a  sign  to  liim  to  stop,  while  he  went  into  the 
King's  closet.  Their  conference  was  short,  and  as  Maxwell 
opened  the  door  to  retire.  Richie  heard  the  conclusion  of  i^". 

"  Ye  are  sure  he  is  not  dangerous?  I  was  caught  once. 
Bide  within  call,  but  not  nearer  the  door  than  within  three 
geometrical  cubits.     If  I  speak  loud,  start  to  me  like  a  tai' 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  878 

con.     If  I  speak  loun,  keep  your  lang  lugs  out  of  ear-shot; 
and  now  let  liim  come  in/' 

Richie  passed  forward  at  Maxwell's  mute  signal,  and  in  a 
moment  found  himself  in  the  presence  of  the  King.  Most 
men  of  Richie's  birth  and  breeding,  and  many  others,  would 
have  been  abashed  at  finding  themselves  alone  with  their  sov- 
ereign. But  Richie  Moniplies  had  an  opinion  of  himself  too 
high  to  be  controlled  by  any  such  ideas ;  and  having  made 
his  stiff  reverence,  he  arose  once  more  into  his  perpendicular 
height,  and  stood  before  James  as  stiff  as  a  hedge-stake, 

"Have  ye  gotten  them,  man? — have  ye  gotten  them?" 
said  the  King,  in  a  fluttered  state,  betwixt  hope  and  eager- 
ness, and  some  touch  of  suspicious  fear.  "  Gie  me  them — 
gie  me  them — ^before  ye  speak  a  word,  I  charge  you,  on  your 
allegiance." 

Richie  took  a  box  from  his  bosom,  and,  stooping  on  one 
knee,  presented  it  to  his  Majesty,  who  hastily  opened  it,  and 
having  ascertained  that  it  contained  a  certain  carcanet  of  ru- 
bies, with  which  the  reader  was  formerly  made  acquainted, 
he  could  not  resist  falling  into  a  sort  of  rapture,  kissing  the 
gems,  as  if  the-y  had  been  capable  of  feeling,  and  repeating 
again  and  again  with  childish  delight,  '''  Onyx  cum  prole,  sil- 
exque — onyx  cum  prole  I  Ah,  my  bright  and  bonny  spark- 
lers, my  heart  loups  light  to  see  you  again."  He  then  turned 
to  Richie,  upon  whose  stoical  countenance  his  Majesty's  de- 
meanor had  excited  something  like  a  grim  smile,  which 
James  interrupted  his  rejoicing  to  reprehend,  saying,  "  Take 
heed,  sir,  you  are  not  to  laugh  at  us:  we  are  your  anointed 
sovereign." 

"'God  forbid  that  I  should  laugh!"  said  Richie,  compos- 
ing his  countenance  into  its  natural  rigidity.  "  I  did  but 
smile,  to  bring  my  visage  into  coincidence  and  conformity 
with  your  Majesty's  physiognomy." 

"Ye  speak  as  a  dutiful  subject  and  an  honest  man,"  said 
the  King;  "but  what  deil's  your  name,  man  ?" 

"  Even  Richie  Moniplies,  the  son  of  auld  Mungo  Moni- 
plies, at  the  West  Port  of  Edinburgh,  who  had  the  honor  to 
supply  your  Majesty's  mother's  royal  table,  as  weel  as  your 
Majesty's,  with  flesh  and  other  vivers,  when  time  was." 

"  Aha  !"  said  the  King,  laughing  ;  for  he  possessed,  as  a 
useful  attribute  of  his  situation,  a  tenacious  memory,  which 
recollected  every  one  with  whom  he  was  brought  into  casual 
contact — "ye  are  the  self- same  traitor  who  had  weel-nigh 
coupit  us  endlang  on  the  causey  of  our  ain  courtyard  ?  But 
we  stuck  by  our  mare.     Equam  memento  reins  in  arduis 


374  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

servare.  "Weel,  be  not  dismayed,  Kichie;  for,  as  many  men 
have  turned  traitors,  it  is  but  fair  that  a  traitor,  now  and 
then,  suld  prove  to  be,  contra  exjjectanda,  a  true  man.  How 
cam  ye  by  our  jewels,  man  ?  cam  ye  on  the  part  of  George 
Heriot?"  ^ 

''  In  no  sort,"  said  Richie.  "  May  it  please  your  Majesty, 
I  come  as  Harry  Wynd  fought,  utterly  for  my  own  hand,  and 
on  no  man's  errand ;  as,  indeed,  I  call  no  one  master,  save 
Him  that  made  me,  your  most  gracious  Majesty  who  governs 
me,  and  the  noble  Nigel  Olifaunt,  Lord  of  Cllenvarloch,  who 
maintained  me  as  lang  as  he  could  maintain  himself,  poor 
nobleman ! " 

" Glenvarlochides  again!'' exclaimed  the  King;  "by  my 
honor,  he  lies  in  ambush  for  us  at  every  corner  !  Maxwell 
knocks  at  the  door.  It  is  George  Heriot  come  to  tell  us  he 
cannot  find  these  jewels.  Get  thee  behind  the  arras,  Richie 
— stand  close,  man — sneeze  not — cough  not — breathe  not! 
Jingling  Geordie  is  so  damnably  ready  with  his  gold-ends  of 
wisdom,  and  sae  accursedly  backward  with  his  gold-ends  of 
siller,  that,  by  our  royal  saul,  we  are  glad  to  get  a  hair  in  his 
neck." 

Richie  got  behind  the  arras,  in  obedience  to  the  com- 
mands of  the  good-natured  King,  while  the  monarch,  who 
never  allowed  his  dignity  to  stand  in  the  way  of  a  frolic, 
having  adjusted,  with  his  own  hand,  the  tapestry  so  as  to 
complete  the  ambush,  commanded  Maxwell  to  tell  him  Avhat 
was  the  matter  without.  Maxwell's  reply  was  so  low  as  to 
be  lost  by  Richie  Moniplies,  the  peculiarity  of  whose  situation 
by  no  means  abated  his  curiosity  and  desire  to  gratify  it  to 
the  uttermost. 

"  Let  Geordie  Heriot  come  in,"  said  the  King;  and,  as 
Richie  could  observe  through  a  slit  in  the  tapestry,  the  honest 
citizen,  if  not  actually  agitated,  was  at  least  discomposed. 
The  King,  whose  talent  for  wit,  or  humor,  was  precisely  of 
a  kind  to  be  gratified  by  such  a  scene  as  ensued,  received  his 
homage  with  coldness,  and  began  to  talk  to  him  with  an  air 
of  serious  dignity,  very  different  from  the  usual  indecorous 
levity  of  his  behavior.  "Master  Heriot,"  he  said,  "if  we 
aright  remember,  we  opignorated  in  your  hands  certain 
Jewels  of  the  crown,  for  a  certain  sum  of  money.  Did  we  or 
did  we  not?" 

"My  most  gracious  sovereign,"  said  Heriot,  "indisputa- 
bly your  Majesty  was  pleased  to  do  so." 

"  The  property  of  which  jewels  and  cwielia  remained  with 
Us,"  continued  the  King,  in  the  same  solemn  tone,  "  subject 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  375 

only  to  your  claim  of  advance  thereupon;  which  advance 
being  repaid  gives  us  right  to  repossession  of  the  thing  opig- 
norated,  or  pledged,  or  laid  in  wad.  Voetius,  Vinnius, 
Groenwegeneus,  Pagenstecherus — all  who  have  treated  de 
contract  It  opignerationis — consent  in  nt  in  eundem — gree  on 
the  same  point.  The  Roman  law,  the  English  common  law, 
and  the  municipal  law  of  our  ain  ancient  kingdom  of  Scot- 
land, thougli  they  split  in  mair  particulars  than  I  could 
desire,  unite  as  strictly  in  this  as  the  three  strands  of  a 
twisted  rope.'' 

"  May  it  please  your  Majesty,"  replied  Heriot,  "  it  re- 
quires not  so  many  learned  authorities  to  prove  to  any  honest 
man  that  his  interest  in  a  pledge  is  determined  when  the 
money  lent  is  restored." 

*'\Yeel,  sir,  I  proffer  restoration  of  the  sum  lent,  and  I 
demand  to  be  repossessed  of  the  jewels  pledged  with  you.  I 
gave  ye  a  hint,  brief  while  since,  that  this  would  be  essential 
to  my  service,  for,  as  approaching  events  are  like  to  call  us 
into  public,  it  would  seem  strange  if  we  did  not  appear  with 
those  ornaments,  which  are  heirlooms  of  the  crown,  and  the 
absence  whereof  is  like  to  place  us  in  contempt  and  suspicion 
witli  our  lie^e  subjects." 

Master  George  Heriot  seemed  much  moved  by  this  ad- 
dress of  his  sovereign,  and  replied  with  emotion,  "  I  call 
Heaven  to  witness,  that  I  am  totally  harmless  in  this  matter, 
and  that  I  would  willingly  lose  the  sum  advanced,  so  that  I 
could  restore  those  jewels,  the  absence  of  which  your  Majesty 
so  justly  laments.  Had  the  jewels  remained  with  me,  the 
account  of  them  would  be  easily  rendered;  but  your  Majesty 
will  do  me  the  justice  to  remember  that,  by  your  express 
order,  I  transferred  them  to  another  person,  who  advanced 
a  large  sum,  just  about  the  time  of  my  departure  for  Paris. 
The  money  Avas  pressingly  wanted,  and  no  other  means  to 
come  by  it  occurred  to  me.  I  told  your  Majesty,  when  I 
brouglit  tlie  needful  supply,  that  the  man  from  whom  the 
monies  were  obtained  was  of  no  good  repute;  and  your  most 
princely  answer  was,  smelling  to  the  gold — 'Non  olet — it 
smells  not  of  the  means  that  liave  gotten  it.' " 

"  Weel,  man,"  said  the  King,  ''but  what  needs  a' this 
din  ?  If  ye  gave  my  jewels  in  pledge  to  such  a  one,  suld  ye 
not,  as  a  liege  subject,  have  taken  care  that  the  redemption 
was  in  our  power  ?  And  we  are  to  suffer  ■'■he  loss  of  our  '^inielia 
by  your  neglect,  besides  being  exposed  to  the  scorn  and 
censure  of  our  lieges  and  of  the  foreign  ambassadors?  " 

"  My  lord  and  liege  king,"  said  Heriot,  "  God  knows  if  my 


37P  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

bearing  blame  or  shame  in  this  matter  would  keep  it  from 
youi  Majesty,  it  were  my  duty  to  endure  botli,  as  a  servant 
grateful  fc  many  benefits  ;  but  when  your  Majesty  considers 
the  violent  deatli  of  the  man  himself,  the  disappearance  of 
hi<*  daughter  and  of  his  wealth,  I  trust  you  will  remembei 
that  I  warned  your  Majesty,  in  humble  duty,  of  the  possibil- 
ity of  such  casualties,  and  prayed  you  not  to  urge  me  to 
deal  with  him  on  your  behalf." 

"  But  you  brought  me  nae  better  means,"  said  the  King — 
"  Geordie,  ye  brought  me  nae  better  means.  I  was  like  a 
deserted  man  ;  what  could  I  do  but  grip  to  the  first  siller 
that  offered,  as  a  drowning  man  grasps  to  the  willoW'-vvand 
that  comes  readiest  ?  And  now,  man,  what  for  have  ye  not 
brought  back  the  jewels  ?  They  are  surely  above  grouhJ,  if 
ye  wad  make  strict--  search." 

"All  strict  search  ha^  been  made,  may  it  please  your 
Majesty,"  replied  the  citizen;  "  hue  and  cry  has  been  se,i't  out 
everywhere,  and  it  has  been  found  impossible  to  recover 
them." 

"Difficult,  ye  mean,  Geordie,  not  impossible,"  replied  the 
King;  "for  that  whilk  is  impossible  is  either  naturally  so, 
exemph'  gratia,  to  make  two  into  three;  or  morally  so,  as  to 
make  what  is  truth  falsehood,  but  what  is  only  difficult 
may  come  to  pass,  with  assistance  of  wisdom  and  patience; 
as,  for  example.  Jingling  Geordie,  look  here!"  And  he  dis- 
played the  recovered  treasure  to  the  eyes  of  the  astonished 
jeweller,  exclaiming,  with  great  triumph,  "What  say  ye  to 
that,  Jingler  ?  By  my  sceptre  and  crown,  the  man  stares  as 
if  he  took  his  native  prince  for  a  warlock!  us  that  are  the 
very  malleus  malificarum,  the  contunding  and  contritu rating 
hammer  of  al'  witches,  sorcerers,  magicians,  and  the  like;  he 
thinks  we  are  taking  a  touch  of  the  black  art  oursells!  But 
gang  thy  way,  honest  Geordie;  thou  art  a  good  plain  man, 
but  nane  of  the  seven  sages  of  Greece — gang  thy  way,  and 
mind  the  soothfast  word  which  you  spoke,  small  time  syne 
that  there  is  one  in  this  land  that  comes  near  to  Solomon, 
King  01  Israel  in  all  his  gifts,  except  in  his  love  tc  strange 
women,  forbye  tlie  daughter  of  Pharaoh." 

If  Heriot  was  surprised  at  seeing  the  jewels  so  unex- 
pectedly produced  at  the  moment  the  King  was  upbraiding 
him  for  the  loss  of  them,  this  allusion  to  the  reflection  which 
had.  escaped  him  while  conversing  with  Lord  Glenvarloch 
altogether  completed  his  astonishment;  and  the  King  was  sc 
delighted  with  the  superiority  which  it  gave  him  at  tht 
moment,  that  he  rubbed  his  hands,  chuckled,  and,  finally, 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  377 

his  sense  of  dignity  giving  way  to  the  full  feeling  of  triumph, 
he  threw  himself  into  his  easy-chair,  and  laughed  with  un- 
constrained violence  till  he  lost  his  breath,  and  the  tears  ran 
plentifully  down  his  cheeks  as  he  strove  to  recover  it. 
Meanwhile,  the  royal  cachinnation  was  echoed  out  by  a  discor- 
dant and  portentous  laugh  from  behind  the  arras,  like  that  of 
one  who,  little  accustomed  to  give  way  to  such  emotions,  feels 
himself  at  some  particular  impulse  unable  either  to  control 
or  to  modify  his  obstreperous  mirth.  Heriot  turned  his  head 
with  new  surprise  towards  the  place  from  which  sounds  so 
unfitting  the  presence  of  a  monarch  seemed  to  burst  with  such 
emphatic  clamor.* 

The  King,  too,  somewhat  sensible  of  the  indecornm,  rose 
up,  wiped  his  eyes,  and  calling,  ''  Tod  Lowrie,  come  out  o'  your 
den,"  lie  produced  from  behind  the  arras  the  length  of  Eicliie 
Moniplies,  still  laughing  with  as  unrestrained  mirth  as  ever 
did  gossip  at  a  country  christening.  "  Whisht,  man — whisht, 
man,"  said  the  King;  "ye  neediia  nicher  that  gait,  like  a 
cusser  at  a  caup  o'  corn,  e'en  though  it  was  a  pleasing  jest, 
and  our  ain  framing.  And  yet  to  see  Jingling  Geordie,  that 
hands  himself  so  much  the  wiser  than  other  folk — to  see  him — 
ha  I  ha!  ha! — in  the  vein  of  Euclic  apud  Plautum,  distressing 
himself  to  recover  what  was  lying  at  his  elbow — 

"Perii,  interii,  occidi — quo  curram?  que  non  curram? — 
Tene,  tene — quem?  quis?  nescio — nihil  video. 

Ah!  Geordie,  your  een  are  sharp  enough  to  look  after  gowd 
and  silver,  gems,  rubies,  and  the  like  of  that,  and  yet  ye 
kenna  how  to  come  by  them  when  they  are  lost.  Ay — ay, 
look  at  them,  man — look  at  them  ;  they  are  a'  right  and 
tight,  sound  and  round,  not  a  doublet  crept  in  among  them.  " 

George  Heriot,  when  Iiis  first  surprise  was  over,  was  too  old 
a  courtier  to  interrupt  the  King's  imaginary  triumph, 
although  he  darted  a  look  of  some  displeasure  at  honest 
Richie,  who  still  continued  on  what  is  usually  termed  the 
broad  grin.  He  quietly  examined  the  stones,  and  finding 
them  all  perfect,  he  honestly  and  sincerely  congratulated  his 
Majesty  on  tlie  recovery  of  a  treasure  which  could  not  have 
been  lost  without  some  dishonor  to  the  crowm;  and  asked  to 
whom  he  himself  was  to  pay  the  sums  for  which  they  had 
been  pledged,  observing,  that  he  had  the  money  by  him  in 
readiness. 

"Ye  are  in  a  dcevil  of  a  hurry,  when  there  is  paying  in 
the  case,  Geordie,  "  said  the  King.  ''  What's  a'  the  haste, 
man?    The  jewels  were  restored  by  an  honest,  kindly  coun- 

*  See  Richie  Moniplies  behind  the  Arras.    Note  40. 


378  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

tryman  of  ours.  There  be  stands,  and  wha  kens  if  he  wants 
the  money  on  the  nail,  oi  if  he  might  not  be  as  Aveel  pleased 
wi'  a  bit  rescript  on  our  treasury  some  six  months  hence?  Ye 
ken  that  our  exchequer  is  even  at  a  low  ebb  Just  now,  and  ye 
cry  'pay — pay — pay, '  as  if  we  had  all  the  mines  of   Ophir." 

"  Please  your  Majesty,"  said  Heriot,  "  if  this  man  has  the 
real  right  to  these  monies,  it  is  doubtless  at  his  will  to  grant 
forbearance,  if  he  will.  But  when  I  remember  the  guise  in 
which  I  first  saw  him,  with  a  tattered  cloak  and  a  broken 
head,  I  can  hardly  conceive  it.  Are  not  you  Eichie  Moniplies, 
with  the  King's  favor?" 

"  Even  sae.  Master  Heriot — of  the  ancient  and  honorable 
house  of  Castle  Collop,  near  to  the  West  Port  of  Edinburgh/' 
answered  Eichie. 

*'  Why,  please  your  Majesty,  he  is  a  poor  serving-man," 
said  Heriot.  "  This  money  can  never  be  honestly  at  his  dis- 
posal." 

"  What  for  no  ?  "  said  the  King.  "  Wad  ye  have  naebody 
spraickle  up  the  brae  but  yoursell,  Geordie?  Your  ain  cloak 
was  thin  enough  when  ye  cam  here,  though  ye  have  lined  it 
gay  and  weel.  And  for  serving-men,  there  has  mony  a  red- 
shank coma  over  tlift  Tweed  wi'  his  master's  wallet  on  his 
shoulders,  that  now  rustles  it  wi'  his  six  followers  behind  him. 
There  stands  the  man  himsell;  speerat  him,  Geordie." 

*'His  may  not  be  the  best  authority  in  the  case,"  answered 
the  cautious  citizen. 

"  Tut — tut,  man,"  said  the  King,  "  ye  are  over  scrupulous. 
The  knave  deer-stealers  have  an  apt  ^h.r2i&Q,'  Non  est  inqui- 
rendum uncle  venit  VE]sriso]sr.'  He  that  brings  ths  gudes  hath 
surely  a  right  to  dispose  of  the  gear.  Hark  ye,  friend,  speak 
the  truth  and  shame  the  deil.  Have  ye  plenary  powers  to 
dispose  on  the  redemption-money  as  to  delay  of  payments  or 
the  like,  ay  or  no  F  " 

"  Full  power,  an  it  like  your  gracious  majesty, "  answered 
Richie  Moniplies;  '^'and  I  am  maist  willing  to  subscrive  to 
whatsoever  may  inony  wise  accommodate  your  Majesty  anent 
the  redemption-money,  trusting  your  Majesty's  grace  will  be 
kind  to  me  in  one  sjna'  favor." 

"Ey,  man,"  said  the  King,  "come  veto  me  there?  I 
thought  ye  Avad  e'en  be  like  the  rest  of  them.  One  would 
think  our  subjects'  lives  and  goods  were  all  our  ain,  and 
holden  of  us  at' our  free  will;  but  when  we  stand  in  need  of  onj 
matter  of  siller  from  them,  which  chances  more  frequently 
than  we  would  it  did.  deil  a  boddle  is  to  be  had,  save  on  the 
auld  tenns  of  giif-gali.     It  is  just  nilfer  for  nifEer,    AweeU 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  379 

neighbci,  what  is  ittliat  yewiiiit — some  monopoly,  I  reckon? 
Or  it  may  be  a  grant  of  kirk  lands  and  teinds,  or  a  knight- 
hood, or  the  like?  Ye  maun  be  reasonable,  unless  you  pro- 
pose tc  advance  more  money  for  our  present  occasions." 

*'  Ky  liege,"  answered  Richie  Moniplies,  "  the  owner  of 
these  monies  places  them  at  your  Majesty's  command,  free  of 
all  pledge  or  usage  as  long  as  it  is  your  royal  pleasure,  pro- 
viding your  Majesty  will  condescend  to  show  some  favor  to 
the  noble  Lord  Glenvarloch,  presently  prisoner  in  your  royal 
Tower  of  London." 

"How,  man — how,  man — how,  man!"  exclaimed  the 
King,  reddening  and  stammering,  but  with  emotions  more 
noble  than  those  by  which  he  was  sometimes  agitated, 
"  What  is  that  you  dare  to  say  to  us?  Sell  our  justice! — sell 
our  mercy!  and  we  a  croAvned  king,  sworn  to  do  justice  to 
our  subjects  in  the  gate,  and  responsible  for  our  steward- 
ship to  Him  that  is  over  all  kings?"  Here  he  reverently 
looked  up,  touched  his  bonnet,  and  continued,  with  some 
sharpness — "  We  dare  not  traffic  in  such  commodities,  sir; 
and,  but  that  ye  are  a  poor  ignorant  creature,  that  have  done 
us  this  day  some  not  unpleasant  service,  we  wad  have  a  red 
iron  driyen  through  your  tongue,  in  terrorem  of  others. 
Awa^  with  him,  Geordie;  pay  him,  plack  and  bawbee,  out  of 
our  monies  in  your  hands,  and  let  them  care  that  come 
ahint." 

Richie,  who  had  counted  with  the  utmost  certainty  upon 
the  success  of  this  master-stroke  of  policy,  was  like  an  archi- 
tect whose  whole  scaiiolding  at  once  gives  way  under  him. 
He  caught,  however,  at  what  he  thought  might  break  his 
fall.  "  JSTot  only  the  sum  for  which  the  jewels  were  pledged," 
he  saidj  "  but  the  double  of  it,  if  required,  should  be  placed 
at  his  Majesty's  command,  and  even  without  hope  or  condition 

of  repayment,  if  only " 

But  the  King  did  not  allow  him  to  complete  the  sentence, 
crying  out  with  greater  vehemence  than  before,  as  if  he 
dreaded  the  stability  of  his  own  good  resolutions — "  A^va' 
wi'  him — swith  awa'  wi'  him!  It  is  time  he  were  gane,  if  he 
doubles  his  bode  that  gate.  And,  for  your  life,  letna  Steenie 
or  ony  of  them  hear  a  word  from  his  mouth  ;  for  wha  kens 
what  trouble  that  might  bring  me  into!  Ne  inducas  in 
tentationem.      Vade  retro,  Salltanas !     Amen." 

In  obedience  to  the  royal  mandate,  George  Ileriot  hurried 
the  abashed  petitioner  out  of  the  presence  and  out  of  the  pal 
ace;  and,  when  they  were  in  the  pnlace-yard.  the  citizen,  re- 
membering with  some  resentment  the  airs  of  equality  which 


880  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

Eichie  had  assumed  towards  him  in  the  commencement  of 
the  scene  which  had  just  taken  place,  could  not  forbear  to 
retaliate,  by  congratulating  him  with  an  ironical  smile  on  his 
favor  at  court,  and  his  improved  grace  in  presenting  a  sup- 
plication. 

"  Never  fash  your  beard  about  that.  Master  George  Her- 
iot,"  said  Richie,  totally  undismayed;  "  but  tell  me  when 
and  where  I  am  to  sifflicate  you  for  eight  hundred  pounds 
sterliiig,  for  which  these  jewels  stood  engaged?'" 

"  The  instant  that  you  bring  with  you  the  real  owner  of 
the  money,"  replied  Heriot;  "  whom  it  is  important  that  I 
should  see  on  more  accounts  than  one." 

"  Then  will  I  back  to  his  Majesty,"  said  Richie  Moniplies, 
stoutly,  "and  get  either  the  money  or  the  pledge  back  again. 
I  am  fully  commissionate  to  act  in  that  matter." 

"It  may  be  so,  Richie,"  said  the  citizen,  "and  perchance 
it  may  not  be  so  neither,  for  your  tales  are  not  all  gospel; 
and,  therefore,  be  assured  I  will  see  that  it  is  so  ere  I  pay  you 
that  large  sum  of  money.  I  shall  give  you  an  acknowledg- 
ment for  it,  and  I  will  keep  it  prestable  at  a  moment's  warn- 
ing. But,  my  good  Richard  Moniplies  of  Castle  Collop,  near 
the  West  Port  of  Edinburgh,  in  the  mean  time  I  am  bound  to 
return  to  his  Majesty  on  matters  of  weight."  So  speaking, 
and  mounting  the  stair  to  re-enter  the  palace,  he  added,  by 
way  of  summing  up  the  whole — "  George  Heriot  is  over  old 
a  cock  to  be  caught  with  chaff." 

Richie  stood  petrified  when  he  beheld  him  re-enter  the 
palace,  and  found  himself,  as  he  supposed,  left  in  the  lurch. 
"  Now,  plague  on  ye,"  he  muttered,  "for  a  cunning  auld 
skinflint!  that,  because  ye  are  an  honest  man  yoursell,  for- 
sooth, must  needs  deal  with  all  the  world  as  if  they  were 
knaves.  But  deil  be  in  me  if  ye  beat  me  yet!  Gude  guide 
ns!  yonder  comes  Laurie  Linklater  next,  and  he  will  be  on 
me  about  the  sifflication.  I  winna  stand  him,  by  St. 
Andrew!" 

So  saying,  and  changing  the  haughty  stride  with  which 
he  had  that  morning  entered  the  precincts  of  the  palace  into 
a  skulking  shamble,  he  retreated  for  his  wherry,  which  was 
in  attendance,  with  speed  which,  to  use  the  approved  phrase 
on  such  occasions,  greatly  resembled  a  flight. 


CHAPTER  XXXII 

Benedict.  This  looks  not  like  a  nuptial. 

Much  Ado  about  Nothing. 

Master  George  Heriot  had  no  sooner  retnrned  to  the 
King's  apartment  than  James  inquired  of  Maxwell  if  the  Earl 
of  Huntinglen  was  in  attendance,  and,  receiving  an  answer  in 
the  afhrmative,  desired  that  he  should  be  admitted.  The  old 
Scottish  lord  having  made  his  reverence  in  the  usual  manner, 
the  King  extended  his  hand  to  be  kissed,  and  then  began  to 
address  him  in  a  tone  of  great  sympathy. 

"  We  told  your  lordship  in  our  secret  epistle  of  this  morn- 
ing, written  with  our  ain  hand,  in  testimony  we  have  neither 
pretermitted  nor  forgotten  your  faithful  service,  that  we  had 
that  to  communicate'to  yon  that  would  require  both  patience 
and  fortitude  to  endure,  and  therefore  exhorted  you  to  peruse 
some  of  the  most  pithy  passages  of  Seneca,  and  of  Boethius, 
De  Consolatione,  that  the  back  may  be,  as  we  say,  fitted  for 
the  burden.  This  we  commend  to  you  from  our  ain  experi- 
ence. 

"  •  Non  ignara  mali,  miseris  succurrere  disco,' 

sayeth  Dido,  and  I  might  say  in  my  own  person,  non  ignarus; 
tut  to  change  the  gender  would  affect  the  prosody,  whereof 
our  southern  subjects  are  tenacious.  So,  my  lord  of  Hunting- 
len, I  trust  you  have  acted  by  our  advice,  and  studied  pa- 
tience before  ye  need  it.  Venienti  occurrite  morlo:  mix  the 
medicament  when  the  disease  is  coming  on."' 

"  May  it  please  your  Majesty,"  answered  Lord  Huntinglen, 
"  I  am  more  of  an  old  soldier  than  a  scholar;  and  if  my  own 
rough  nature  will  not  bear  me  out  in  my  calamity,  I  hope  I 
shall  have  grace  to  try  a  text  of  Scripture  to  boot." 

*'Ay,  man,  are  you  there  with  your  bears? "said  the 
King  ; ''  the  Bible,  man  [touching  his  cap],  is  indeed ;)ri/^n>- 
ium  et  fons  ;  but  it  is  pity  your  lordship  cannot  peruse  it  m 
the  original.  For  although  we  did  ourselves  promote  that 
work  of  translation— since  ye  may  read,  at  the  beginning  of 
?very  Bible,  that,  when  some  palpable  clouds  of  darkness 
were  thought  like  to  have  overshadowed  the  land,  after  the 
setting  of  that  bright  occidental  star.  Queen  Elizabeth;  yet 


883  WAVEELEY  NOVELS 

our  appearance,  like  that  of  the  sun  in  his  strength,  instantly 
dispelled  these  surmised  mists — I  say  that,  although,  as 
therein  mentioned,  we  countenanced  the  preaching  of  the 
Gospel,  and  especially  the  translation  of  the  Scriptures  out 
of  the  original  sacred  tongues;  yet,  nevertheless,  we  our- 
selves confess  to  have  found  a  comfort  in  consulting  them  in 
the  original  Hehrew  whilk  we  do  not  perceive  even  in  the 
Latin  version  of  the  Septuagint,  much  less  in  the  Engiisb 
traduction." 

"  Please  your  Majesty,"  said  Lord  Huntingleri,  "  if  youi 
Majesty  delays  communicating  the  bad  news  \utli  which 
your  honored  letter  threatens  me  until  I  am  capable  to  read 
Hebrew  like  your  Majesty,  I  fear  I  shall  die  in  ignorance  of 
the  misfortune  which  hath  befallen,  or  is  about  to  befaU,  my 
house." 

"You  will  learn  it  but  too  soon,  my  lord,"  replied  tliv" 
King.  "  I  grieve  to  say  it,  but  your  son  Dalgarno,  whom  1 
thought  a  very  saint,  as  he  was  so  much  with  Steenie  an^ 
Baby  Charles,  hath  turned  out  a  very  villain. " 

''Villain!"  repeated  Lord  Huntinglen;  and  though  he 
instantly  checked  himself,  and  added,  "but  it  is  your 
Majesty  speaks  the  word,"  the  effect  of  his  first  tone  made 
the  King  step  back  as  if  he  had  received  a  blow.  He  alsc? 
recovered  himself  again,  and  said  in  the  pettish  way  which 
usually  indicated  his  displeasure — "  Yes,  my  lord,  it  was  we 
that  said  it.  JVon  surdo  ca7iis:  we  are  not  deaf,  we  pray  you 
not  to  raise  your  voice  in  speech  with  us.  There  is  the 
bonny  memorial;  read  and  judge  for  yourself." 

The  King  then  thrust  into  the  old  nobleman's  hand  a 
paper,  containing  the  story  of  the  Lady  Hermione,  with  the 
evidence  by  which  it  was  supported,  detailed  so  briefly  and 
clearly  that  the  infamy  of  Lord  Dalgarno,  the  lover  by  whom 
she  had  been  so  shamefully  deceived,  seemed  undeniable. 

But  a  fatlier  yields  not  up  so  easily  the  cause  of  his  son. 
"  May  it  please  your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "  why  was  this  tale  not 
sooner  told?  This  woman  hath  been  here  for  years;  where- 
fore was  the  claim  on  my  sou  not  made  the  instant  she 
touched  English  ground?" 

"  Tell  liim  how  that  came  about,  Geordie,'*  said  the  King, 
addressing  Heriot. 

"  I  grieve  to  distress  my  Lord  Huntinglen,"  said  Heriot; 
"  but  I  must  speak  the  truth.  For  a  long  time  the  Lady 
Hermione  could  not  brook  the  idea  of  making  her  situation 
public;  and  when  her  mind  became  changed  in  that  partic- 
ular, it  was  necessary  to  recover  the  evidence  of  the  false 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  883 

marriage,  and  letters  and  papers  connected  with  it,  which, 
when  she  came  to  Paris,  and  just  before  1  saw  her,  slie  had 
deposited  with  a  correspondent  of  her  father  in  that  city.  Hs 
became  afterwards  bankrui)t,  and  in  consequence  of  that  mis- 
fortune the  hidj^'s  papers  passed  into  other  hands,  and  it  was 
only  a  few  days  since  I  traced  and  recovered  them.  Without 
these  documents  of  evidence,  it  would  have  been  imprudent 
for  her  to  have  preferred  her  complaint,  favored  as  Lord 
Dalgarno  is  by  powerful  friends." 

"  Ye  are  saucy  to  say  sae,"  said  the  King;  "  I  ken  what  ye 
mean  weel  eneugh:  ye  think  Steenie  wad  hae  putten  the 
weight  of  his  foot  into  the  scales  of  justice,  and  garr'd  tliem 
whomle  the  bucket;  ye  forget,  Geordie,  wha  it  is  whose  hand 
uphaulds  them.  And  ye  do  poor  Steenie  the  mair  wrang,  for 
he  confessed  at  ance  before  us  and  our  privy  council  that  Dal- 
garno would  have  put  the  queen  aff  on  him,  the  puir  simple 
bairn,  making  him  trow  that  she  was  a  light  o'  love;  in  whilk 
mind  he  remained  assured  even  when  he  parted  from  her, 
albeit  Steenie  might  hae  weel  thought  ane  of  thae  cattle 
wadna  hae  resisted  the  like  of  him." 

"  The  Lady  Hermione,"  said  George  Heriot,  "  has  always 
done  the  utmost  justice  to  the  conduct  of  the  Duke,  who, 
although  strongly  possessed  with  prejudice  against  her  char- 
acter, yet  scorned  to  avail  himself  of  her  distress,  and  on  the 
contrary  supplied  her  with  the  means  of  extricating  herself 
from  her  difficulties." 

''It  was  e'en  like  himsell — blessings  on  his  bonny  face!" 
said  the  King;  "and  I  believed  tiiis  lady's  tale  the  mair 
readily,  my  Lord  Huntinglen,  that  she  spake  nae  ill  of 
Steenie;  and  to  make  a  lang  tale  short,  my  lord,  it  is  the 
opinion  of  our  council  and  ourself ,  as  weel  as  of  Baby  Charles 
and  Steenie,  that  your  son  maun  amend  his  wrong  by  wed- 
ding this  lady,  or  undergo  such  disgrace  and  countenance  as 
we  can  bestow." 

The  person  to  whom  he  spoke  was  incapable  of  answering 
him.  He  stood  before  the  King  motionless,  and  glaring  with 
eyes  of  which  even  the  lids  seemed  immovable,  as  if  suddenly 
sonverted  into  an  ancient  statue  of  the  times  of  chivalry,  so 
instantly  had  his  hard  features  and  strong  limbs  been  arrested 
into  rigidity  by  the  blow  he  had  received.  And  in  a  second 
afterwards,  like  the  same  statue  Avheu  the  lightning  breaks 
ujion  it,  he  sank  at  once  to  the  ground  with  a  heavy  groan. 

The  King  Avas  in  the  utmost  alarm,  called  upon  Ileriot  and 
Maxwell  for  help,  and,  ])resence  of  mind  not  being  his  forte, 
ran  to  and  fro  in  his  cabinet,  exclaiming — "  My  ancient  and 


884  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

beloved  servant — who  saved  our  anointed  self!  Vae  atqut 
dolor!  My  Lord  of  lluntinglen,  look  up — look  up,  man,  and 
your  son  may  marry  the  Queen  of  Slieba  if  he  will/'' 

By  this  time  Maxwell  and  Heriot  had  raised  the  old  noble- 
man and  placed  him  on  a  chair;  while  the  King,  observing  that 
he  began  to  recover  himself,  continued  his  consolations  more 
methodically. 

"  Hand  up  your  head — ^haud  up  your  head,  and  listen  to 
your  ain  kind  native  prince.  If  there  is  shame,  man,  it 
comesna  empty-handed:  there  is  siller  to  gild  it^a  gude 
tocher,  and  no  that  bad  a  pedigree;  if  she  has  been  a  loon,  it 
was  your  son  made  her  sae,  and  he  can  make  her  an  honest 
woman  again." 

These  suggestions,  however  reasonable  in  the  common  case, 
gave  no  comfort  to  Lord  Huntinglen,  if  indeed  he  fully  com- 
prehended them;  biit  the  blubbering  of  his  good-natured  old 
master,  which  began  to  accompany  and  interrupt  his  royal 
speech,  produced  more  rapid  effect.  The  large  tear  gushed 
reluctantly  from  his  eye,  as  he  kissed  the  withered  hands, 
which  the  King,  weeping  with  less  dignity  and  restraint, 
abandoned  to  him,  first  alternately  and  then  both  together, 
until  the  feelings  of  the  man  getting  entirely  the  better  of 
the  sovereign's  sense  of  dignity,  he  grasped  and  shook  Lord 
Huntinglen's  hands  Avith  the  sympathy  of  an  equal  and 
a  familiar  friend. 

"  Compone  lachrymas,"  said  the  monarch — "  be  patient, 
man — be  patient.  The  council,  and  Baby  Charles,  and 
Steenie  may  a'  gang  to  the  deevil;  he  shall  not  marry  her  since 
it  moves  you  so  deeply." 

''He  SHALL  marry  her,  by  God!"  answered  the  earl, 
drawing  himself  up,  dashing  the  tears  from  his  eyes,  and  en- 
deavoring to  recover  his  con>posure.  "  I  pray  your  Majesty's 
pardon,  but  he  shall  marry  her,  with  her  dishonor  for  her 
dowry,  were  she  tlie  veriest  courtesan  in  all  Spain.  If  he 
gave  his  word,  he  shall  make  his  word  good,  were  it  to  the 
meanest  creature  that  haunts  the  streets;  he  shall  do  it,  or  my 
own  dagger  shall  take  the  life  that  I  gave  him.  If  he  could 
stoop  to  use  so  base  a  fraud,  though  to  deceive  infamy,  let 
him  wed  infamy," 

"No — no!"  the  monarch  continued  to  insinuate,  "things 
are  not  so  bad  as  that:  Steenie  himself  never  thought  of  her 
being  a  street-Avalker,  even  when  he  thought  the  worst  of  her.'" 

"  If  it  can  at  all  console  my  Lord  of  Huntinglen,''  said  the 
citizen,  "I  can  assure  him  of  this  lady's  good  birth  and 
most  fair  and  unspotted  fame." 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  385 

"I  am  sorry  for  it,"  said  Huntiugleu;  then  interrupting 
himself,  he  said—''  Heaven  forgive  me  for  being  ungrateful 
for  such  comfort!  but  1  am  well-nigh  sorry  she  should  be  as 
you  represent  her — so  much  better  than  the  villain  deserves. 
To  be  condemned  to  wed  beauty  and  innocence  and  honest 
birth " 

"  A.y,  and  wealth,  my  lord— wealth,"  insinuated  the 
King—"  is  a  better   sentence  than  his  perfidy  has  deserved." 

"  It  is  long/'  said  the  embittered  father,  "  since  I  saw  he 
was  selfish  and  hard-hearted;  but  to  be  a  perjured  liar— I 
never  dreaded  that  such  a  blot  would  have  fallen  on  my  race! 
I  will  never  look  on  him  again/' 

••  Hoot  ay,  my  lord— hoot  ay,"  said  the  King;  "ye  maun 
tak  him  to  task  roundly.  I  grant  you  should  speak  more  in 
the  vein  of  Demea  than  Mitio,  vi  nempe  et  via  pervulrjuta 
patniinj  but  as  for  not  seeing  him  again,  and  he  your  only 
son,  that  is  altogether  out  of  reason.  I  tell  ye,  man— but  I 
would  not  for  a  boddle  that  Baby  Charles  heard  me — that  lie 
might  gie  the  glaiks  to  half  tlie  lasses  of  Lonnun,  ere  I  could 
find  in  my  heart  to  speak  such  harsh  words  as  you  have  said 
of  this  deil  of  a  Dalgarno  of  yours." 

"May  it  please  your  Majesty  to  permit  me  to  retire," 
said  Lord  Hiintingleu,  "  and  dispose  of  the  case  according  to 
your  own  royal  sense  of  justice,  for  I  desire  no  favor  for 
him." 

'•'  Aweel,  my  lord,  so  be  it ;  and  if  your  lordship  can  think," 
added  the  monarch,  "  of  anything  in  our  power  which  might 
comfort  you " 

"Your  Majesty's  gracious  sympathy,"  said  Lord  Hunt- 
inglen,  "has  already  comforted  me  as  far  as  earth  can;  the 
rest  must  be  be  from  the  King  of  kings." 

"  To  Him  I  commend  you,  my  auld  and  faithful  servant," 
said  James  with  emotion,  as  the  earl  withdrew  from  his  pres- 
ence. The  King  remained  fixed  in  thought  for  some  time, 
and  then  said  to^Heriot,  "  Jingling  Geordie,  ye  ken  all  the 
privy  doings  of  our  court  and  have  dune  so  these  thirty  years, 
though,  like  a  wise  man,  ye  hear,  and  see,  and  say  nothing. 
Xow,  there  is  a  thing  I  fain  wad  ken,  in  the  way  of  philosoph- 
ical inquiry:  Did  you  ever  hear  of  tlie  umquhile  Lady  Hunt- 
iugleu, the  departed  countess  of  this  noble  earl,  ganging  a 
wee  bii"  gleed  in  her  walk  through  the  world;  I  mean  in  the 
way  of  slipping  a  foot,  casting  a  leglin-girth*  or  the  like,  ye 
understand  me  ?" 

"  On  my  word  as  an   honest  man,"  said  George   Heriot 

♦  See  Not©  41. 
28 


3«6  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

somewhat  surprised  at  the  question,  "  1  never  heard  hei 
wronged  by  the  slightest  breatli  of  sus})icion.  She  was  a 
worthy  lady,  very  circumspect  in  her  walk,  and  lived  in  great- 
concord  with  her  husband,  save  that  the  good  countess  was 
something  of  a  Puritan,  and  kept  more  company  with  minis- 
ters than  was  altogether  agreeable  to  Lord  Huntinglen,  who 
is,  as  your  Majesty  well  knows,  a  man  of  the  old  rough  world, 
that  will  drink  and  swear." 

"  0  Geordiel"  exclaimed  the  King,  ''these  are  auld-warld 
frailties,  of  wliilk  we  dare  not  pronounce  even  ourselves  abso- 
lutely free.  But  the  warld  grows  worse  from  day  to  day, 
Geordie.  The  juveniles  of  this  age  may  weel  say  with  the 
poet — 

" '  ^tas  parentum,  pejor  avis,  tulit 
Nos  nequiores ' 

This  Dalgarno  dos  not  drink  so  much  or  swear  so  much  as 
his  father;  but  he  wenches,  Geordie,  and  he  breaks  his  word 
and  oath  baith.  As  to  what  you  say  of  the  leddy  and  the 
ministers,  we  are  a'  fallible  creatures,  Geordie,  priests  and 
kings,  as  weel  as  others;  and  Avlia  kens  but  what  that  may 
account  for  the  difference  between  this  Dalgarno  and  his  father  ? 
TJie  earl  is  the  vera  soul  of  honor,  and  cares  nae  mair  for 
v.'arld's  gear  than  a  noble  hound  for  the  quest  of  a  foulmart: 
but  as  for  his  son,  he  was  like  to  brazen  us  a'  out — ourselves, 
Steenie,  Baby  Charles,  and  our  council — till  he  heard  of  the 
tocher,  and  then,  by  my  kingly  crown,  he  lap  like  a  cock  at  a 
grossart!  These  are  disrepancies  betwixt  parent  and  son  not 
to  be  accounted  for  naturally,  according  to  Baptista  Porta, 
Michael  Scott,  De  secretis,  and  others.  Ah,  Jingling  Geordie, 
if  your  clouting  the  caldron,  and  jingling  on  pots,  pans,  and 
veshels  of  all  manner  of  metal,  hadna  jingled  a'  your  grammar 
out  of  your  head,  I  could  have  touched  on  that  matter  to  you 
at  mair  length.'' 

Heriot  was  too  plain-spoken  to  express  much  concern  for 
the  loss  of  his  grammar  learning  on  this  occasion;  but  after 
modestly  hinting  that  he  liad  seen  many  men  who  could  not 
fill  their  father's  bonnet,  though  no  one  had  been  suspected  of 
wearing  their  fathers  night-cap.  he  inquired  "  whether  Loid 
Dalgarno  had  consented  to  do  the  Lady  Hermione  justice." 

"  Troth,  man,  I  have  small  doubt  that  he  will/'  quoth  the 
King.  "  I  gave  him  the  schedule  of  her  w^orldiy  substance, 
which  you  delivered  to  us  in  the  council,  and  we  allowed  him 
half  an  hour  to  chew  the  cud  upon  that.  It  is  rare  reading 
for  bringing  him  to  reason.  I  left  Baby  Charles  and  Steenie 
laying  his  duty  before  him;  and  if  he   cnn   resist  doing  what 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  887 

they  desire  him — why,  I  wish  he  would  teach  me  the  gate  of  it. 
0  Geordie — Jingling  Geordie,  it  was  grand  to  hear  Bab} 
tJharles  laying  down  the  guilt  of  dissimulation,  and  Steenie 
lecturing  on  the  turpitude  of  incontinence! '' 

*'  I  am  afraid,"  said  George  Heriot,  more  hastily  than  pru- 
dently, "  I  might  have  thought  of  the  old  proverb  of  Satan  le- 
ju'oving  sin." 

"Deil  hae  our  saul,  neighbor,"  said  the  King,  reddening, 
"  but  ye  are  not  blate!  I  gie  ye  license  to  speak  freely,  and, 
by  our  saul,  ye  do  not  let  tha  privilege  become  lost  7ion 
iitendo;  it  will  suffer  no  negative  prescription  in  your  hands. 
Is  it  fit,  think  ye,  that  Baby  Charles  should  let  his  thoughts 
be  jjublicly  seen.''  No — no,  princes'  thoughts  are  arcana 
imperii.  Qui  nescit  dissimidare  nescit  regnare.  Every  liege 
subject  is  bound  to  speak  the  whole  truth  to  the  king,  but 
there  is  nae  reciprocity  of  obligation.  And  for  Steenie  hav- 
ing been  whiles  a  dike-louper  at  a  time,  is  it  for  you,  who 
are  his  goldsmith,  and  to  Avhom,  I  doubt,  he  awes  an  un- 
comeatable  sum,  to  cast  that  up  to  him?" 

Heriot  did  not  feel  himself  called  on  to  play  the  part  of 
Zeno,  and  sacrifice  himself  for  upholding  the  cause  of  moral 
truth;  he  did  not  desert  it,  however,  by  disavowing  his 
words,  but  simply  expressed  sorrow  for  having  offended  his 
Majesty,  with  which  the  placable  king  was  sufficiently  satis- 
fied. 

"And  now,  Geordie,  man,"  quoth  he,  "we  will  to  this 
culprit,  and  hear  what  he  has  to  say  for  himself,  for  I  will 
see  the  job  cleared  this  blessed  day.  Ye  maun  come  wi' 
me,  for  your  evidence  may  be  wanted." 

The  King  led  the  way.  accordingly,  into  a  larger  apart- 
ment, where  the  Prince,  the  Duke  of  Buckingham,  and  one 
or  two  privy  councillors  were  seated  at  a  table,  before  which 
stood  Lord  Dalgarno,  in  an  attitude  of  as  much  elegant  ease 
and  indift'erence  as  could  be  expressed,  considering  the  stiff 
dress  and  manners  of  the  times. 

All  rose  and  bowed  reverently,  while  the  King,  to  use  a 
north-country  word  expressive  of  his  mode  of  locomotion, 
"  toddled"  to  his  chair  or  throne,  making  a  sign  to  Heriot 
to  stand  behind  him. 

"  We  hope,"  said  his  Majesty,  "  that  Lord  Dalgarno 
stands  prepared  to  do  justice  to  this  unfortunate  lady  and  to 
his  own  character  and  honor?" 

"May  I  humbly  inquire  the  penalty,"  said  Lord  Dal- 
garno, "in  case  I  should  unhappily  find  compliance  wi^): 
your  Majes',j's  demands  impossible?" 


688  iVAVERLBY  NOVELS 

"  Banisliment  frae  our  court,  my  lord,"  said  the  King — 
''frae  our  court  and  our  countenance." 

"  Unhappy  exile  that  I  may  be! "  said  Lord  Dalgarno,  in 
a  tone  of  subdued  irony,  ''I  will  at  least  carry  your  Majesty's 
picture  with  me,  for  I  shall  never  see  such  another  king." 

"And  banishment,  my  lord,"  said  the  Prince,  sternly, 
•'from  these  our  dominions." 

"  That  must  be  by  form  of  law,  please  your  Royal  Higli- 
ness,"  said  Dalgarno,  with  an  affectation  of  deep  respect; 
"and  I  have  not  heard  that  there  is  a  statute  comj)elling  us, 
under  such  penalty,  to  marry  every  woman  we  may  play  the 
fool  with.     Perhaps  his  Grace  of  Buckingham  can  tell  me." 

"  You  are  a  villain,  Dalgarno,"  said  the  haughty  and 
vehement  favorite. 

"  Fie,  my  lord — fie!  to  a  prisoner,  and  in  presence  of  your 
royal  and  paternal  gossij)  1 "  said  Lord  Dalgarno.  "But  I 
will  cut  this  deliberation  short.  I  have  looked  over  this  sched- 
ule of  the  goods  and  effects  of  Errainia  Pauletti,  daughter  of 
the  late  noble — yes,  he  is  called  the  noble,  or  I  read  wrong — 
Giovanni  Pauletti,  of  the  house  of  Sansovino,  in  Genoa,  and  of 
the  no  less  noble  Lady  Maud  Olifaunt,  of  the  house  of  Glen- 
varloch.  Well,  I  declare  that  I  was  pre-contracted  in  Spain  to 
this  noble  lady,  and  there  has  passed  betwixt  us  some  certain 
lircelihatio  matrimonii;  and  now,  what  more  does  this  grave 
assembly  require  of  me?" 

"That  you  should  repair  the  gross  and  infamous  wrong 
you  have  done  the  lady  by  marrying  her  within  this  hour," 
said  the  Prince. 

"0,  may  it  please  your  Eoyal  Highness,"  answered  Dal- 
garno, "'  I  have  a  trifling  relationship  with  an  old  earl,  who 
calls  himself  my  father,  who  may  claim  some  vote  in  the  mat- 
ter. Alas  1  every  son  is  not  blessed  with  an  obedient  parent ! " 
He  hazarded  a  slight  glance  towards  the  throne,  to  give  mean- 
ing to  his  last  Avords. 

"  We  have  spoken  ourselves  with  Lord  Huntinglen,"  said 
the  King,  "'and  are  authorized  to  consent  in  his  name." 

"I  could  never  have  expected  this  intervention  of  a. prox- 
eyieta,  which  tlie  vulgar  translate  blackfoot,  of  such  eminent 
dignity,"  said  Dalgarno,  scarce  concealing  a  sneer.  "And 
my  father  hath  consented?  He  was  wont  to  say,  ere  we  left 
Scotland,  that  the  blood  of  Huntinglen  and  of  Glenvarloch 
would  not  mingle,  Avere  they  poured  into  the  same  basin. 
Perhaps  he  has  a  mind  to  try  the  experiment?" 

"  My  lord,"  said  James,  "  Ave  Avill  not  be  longer  trifled 
with  Will  you  instantly,  and  sine  mora,  take  this  lady  to 
your  Avif e  in  our  chapel  ?  " 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  389 

"  Statim  atque  m^tanter,"  answered  Lord  Dalgarno; 
"  for  I  perceive  by  doing  so  I  shall  obtain  power  to  render 
great  services  to  the  commonwealth:  I  shall  have  acquired 
wealth  to  supply  the  wants  of  your  Majesty,  and  a  fair  wife 
to  be  at  the  command  of  his  Grace  of  Buckingham/' 

The  duke  rose,  passed  to  the  end  of  the  table  where  Lord 
Dalgarno  was  standing,  and  whis2')ered  in  his  ear,  "  You 
have  placed  a  fair  sister  at  my  command  ere  now." 

This  taunt  cut  deep  through  Lord  Dalgarno's  assumed 
composure.  He  started  as  if  an  adder  had  stung  him,  but 
instantly  composed  himself,  and,  fixing  on  the  duke's  still 
smiling  countenance  an  eye  which  spoke  unutterable  hatred, 
he  pointed  the  forefinger  of  his  left  hand  to  the  hilt  of  his 
sword,  but  in  a  manner  which  could  scarce  be  observed  by  any 
one  save  Buckingham.  The  duke  gave  him  another  smile 
of  bitter  scorn,  and  returned  to  his  seat,  in  obedience  to  the 
commands  of  the  King,  who  continued  calling  out,  "  Sit 
down,  Steenie — sit  down,  I  command  ye;  we  will  hae  nae 
barns-breaking  here." 

"  Your  Majesty  needs  not  fear  my  patience,"  said  Lord 
Dalgarno;  ''and  that  I  may  keep  it  the  better,  I  will  not 
utter  another  word  in  this  presence,  save  those  enjoined  to 
me  in  that  happy  portion  of  the  Prayer  Book  which  begins 
with  '  Dearly  Beloved,'  and  ends  with  '  amazement.'  " 

"■  You  are  a  hardened  villain,  Dalgarno,"  said  the  King; 
"and  were  I  the  lass,  by  my  father's  saul,  I  would  rather 
brook  the  stain  of  having  been  your  concubine  than  run  the 
risk  of  becoming  your  wife.  But  she  shall  be  under  our 
special  protection.  Come,  my  lords,  we  will  ourselves  see 
this  blithesome  bridal."  He  gave  the  signal  by  rising,  and 
moved  towards  the  door,  followed  by  the  train.  Lord  Dal- 
garno attended,  speaking  to  none,  and  spoken  to  by  no  one, 
yet  seeming  as  easy  and  unembarrassed  in  his  gait  and  manner 
as  if  in  reality  a  happy  bridegroom. 

They  reached  the  chapel  by  a  private  entrance,  which 
communicated  from  the  royal  apartment.  The  Bishop  of 
Winchester,  in  his  pontifical  dress,  stood  beside  the  altar;  on 
the  other  side,  supported  by  Monna  Paula,  the  colorless, 
faded,  half-lifeless  form  of  the  Lady  Hermione,  or  Erminia 
Pauletti.  Lord  Dalgarno  bowed  profoundly  to  her,  and  the 
Prince,  observing  tlie  horror  with  which  she  regarded  him^ 
walked  up  and  said  to  her,  with  much  dignity,  "  Madam^ 
ere  you  put  yourself  under  the  authority  of  this  man,  let  me 
inform  you  he  liath  in  the  fullest  degree  vindicated  your 
lionor,  so  far  as  concerns  your  former  intercourse.     It  ia 


390  WAVE  RLE  Y  NOVELS 

for  joix  to  consider  whether  you  will  put  your  fortune  and 
liappiness  into  the  liands  of  one  who  has  shown  himself  un- 
wortliy  of  all  trust/' 

The  lady,  with  much  difficulty,  found  words  to  make  re- 
ply. "I  o\ye  to  his  Majesty's  goodness/'  she  said,  ''the 
care  of  providing  me  some  reservation  out  of  my  own  fortune 
for  my  decent  sustenance.  The  rest  cannot  be  better  dis- 
posed than  in  buying  back  the  fair  fame  of  which  I  am  de- 
prived, and  the  liberty  of  ending  my  life  in  peace  and 
seclusion.'' 

"  The  contract  has  been  drawn  up,"  said  the  King,  "  un- 
der our  own  eye,  specially  discharging  the  potestas  maritalis, 
and  agreeing  they  shall  live  separate.  So  buckle  them,  my 
lord  bishop,  as  fast  as  you  can,  that  they  may  sunder  again 
the  sooner." 

The  bishop  accordingly  opened  his  book  and  commenced 
the  marriage  ceremony,  under  circumstances  so  novel  and  so 
inauspicious.  The  responses  of  the  bride  were  only  expressed 
by  inclinations  of  the  head  and  body;  while  those  of  the 
bridegroom  were  spoken  boldly  and  distinctly,  with  a  tone 
resembling  levity,  if  not  scorn.  When  it  was  concluded, 
Lord  Dalgarno  advanced  as  if  to  salute  the  bride,  but  seeing 
that  she  drew  back  in  fear  and  abhorrence,  he  contented 
himself  with  making  her  a  low  bow.  He  then  drew  up  his 
form  to  its  height,  and  stretched  himself  as  if  examining  the 
power  of  his  limbs,  but  elegantly,  and  without  any  forcible 
change  of  attitude.  "  I  could  caper  yet,"  he  said,  "  though 
I  am  in  fetters;  but  they  are  of  gold,  and  lightly  worn. 
Well,  I  see  all  eyes  look  cold  on  me,  and  it  is  time  I  should 
withdraw.  The  sun  shines  elsewhere  than  in  England!  But 
first  I  must  ask  how  this  fair  Lady  Dalgarno  is  to  be  be- 
stowed. Methinks  it  is  but  decent  I  should  know.  '  Is  she 
to  be  sent  to  the  harem  of  my  lord  duke?  Or  is  this  worthy 
citizen,  as  before " 

''Hold  thy  base  ribald  tongue!  "said  his  father.  Lord 
Huntinglen,  who  had  kept  in  the  background  during  the 
ceremony,  and  now  stepping  suddenly  forward,  caught  the 
lady  by  the  arm,  and  confronted  her  unworthy  husband. 
"  The  Lady  Dalgarno,"  he  continued,  "  shall  remain  as  a 
widow  in  my  house.  A  widow  I  esteem  her,  as  much  as  if 
the  grave  had  closed  over  her  dishonored  husband." 

Lord  Dalgarno  exhibited  momentary  symptoms  of  extreme 

confusion,  and  said,  in  a  submissive  tone,  "  If  you,  my  lord, 

can  wish  me  dead,  I  cannot,  though  your  heir,  return  the 

mpliment.     Few  of  the  first-born  of  Israel,"  he  added. 


THE  FORTUNES   OF  NIGEL  S91 

recovering  himself  from  the  single  touch  of  emotion  he  had 
displayed,  "  can  say  so  much  with  truth.  But  I  will  con- 
vince you  ere  I  go  that  I  am  a  true  descendant  of  a  house 
famed  for  its  memory  of  injuries/' 

"I  marvel  your  Majesty  will  listen  to  him  longer/' said 
Prince  Ciiarles.  "  Methinks  we  have  heard  enough  of  his 
daring  insolence." 

But  James,  who  took  the  interest  of  a  true  gossip  in  such 
a  scene  as  was  now  passing,  could  not  bear  to  cut  the  con- 
troversy short,  but  imposed  silence  on  his  son  with,  "  Whisht, 
Baby  Charles — there  is  a  good  bairn,  whisht !  I  want  to  hear 
what  the  frontless  loon  can  say." 

"  Only,  sir,"  said  Dalgarno,  "  that  but  for  one  single 
line  in  this  schedule,  all  else  that  it  contains  could  not  have 
bribed  me  to  take  that  woman's  hand  into  mine." 

"  That  line  maun  have  been  the  summa  totalis,"  said  the 
King. 

"  Not  so,  sire,"  replied  Dalgarno.  "  The  sum  total 
might  indeed  have  been  an  object  for  consideration  even  to  a 
Scottish  king,  at  no  very  distant  period;  but  it  would  have 
had  little  charms  for  me,  save  that  I  see  here  an  entry  which 
gives  me  the  power  of  vengeance  over  the  family  of  Glenvar- 
loch;  and  learn  rrom  it  that  yonder  pale  bride,  when  she  put 
the  wedding-torch  into  my  hand,  gave  me  the  power  of  burn- 
ing her  mother's  house  to  ashes!" 

'*' How  is  that?"  said  the  King.  "What  is  he  speaking 
about.  Jingling  Geordie?" 

"  This  friendly  citizen,  my  liege,"  said  Lord  Dalgarno, 
"hath  expended  a  sum  belonging  to  my  lady,  and  now,  I 
thank  Heaven,  to  me,  in  acquiring  a  certain  mortgage,  or 
wadset,  over  the  estate  of  Glenvarloch,  which,  if  it  be  not 
redeemed  before  to-morrow  at  noon,  will  put  me  in  possession 
of  tlie  fair  demesnes  of  those  who  once  called  themselves  our 
h(»nse's  rivals." 

"  Can  this  be  true?'"'  said  the  King. 

"  It  is  even  but  too  true,  please  your  Majesty,"  answered 
the  citizen.  "  The  Lady  Hermione  having  advanced  the 
money  for  the  original  creditor,  I  was  obliged,  in  honor  and 
honesty,  to  take  the  rights  to  her;  and,  doubtless,  they  pass 
to  her  husband." 

''But  the  warrant,  man,"  said  tlie  King — ''the  warrant 
on  our  exchequer.  Couldna  that  supply  the  lad  wi'  the  means 
of  redemption?" 

"  Unliappily,  my  liege,  he  has  lost  it,  or  disposed  of  it. 
It  is  not  to  be  found.     He  is  the  most  unlucky  youth! " 


393  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

"'This  is  a  proper  spot  of  work!"  said  the  King,  beffin- 
ning  to  ambic  about  and  phiy  with  tlie  points  of  his  doublet 
and  hose,  in  expression  of  dismay.  "  We  cannot  aid  him 
without  paying  our  debts  twice  over,  and  we  have,  in  tlie 
present  state  of  our  exchequer,  scarce  the  means  of  paying 
them  once." 

"You  have  told  me  news,"  said  Lord  Dalgarno,  "but  I 
■will  take  no  advantage." 

"  Do  not,"  said  his  father.  "  Be  a  bold  villain,  since 
thou  must  be  one,  and  seek  revenge  with  arms,  and  not  with 
the  usurer's  weapons." 

"Pardon  me,  my  lord,"  said  Lord  Dalgarno.  "  Pen  and 
ink  are  now  my  surest  means  of  vengeance;  and  more  land 
is  won  by  the  lawyer  with  the  ram-skin  than  by  the  Andrea 
Ferrara  with  his  sheep's-head  handle.  But,  as  I  said  before, 
I  will  take  no  advantage.  I  will  await  in  town  to-morrow, 
near  Covent  Garden;  if  any  one  will  pay  the  redemption- 
money  to  my  scrivener,  with  whom  the  deeds  lie,  the  better 
for  Lord  Glenvarloch;  if  not,  I  will  go  forward  on  the  next 
day,  and  travel  with  all  dispatch  to  the  North,  to  take  pos- 
session." 

"Take  a  father's  malison  with  you,  unhappy  wretch ! " 
said  Lord  Huntinglen. 

"And  a  King's,  who  l&^jafer ]Jcttri(B,"  said  James. 

"I  trust  to  bear  both  lightly,"  said  Lord  Dalgarno,  and 
bowing  around  him,  he  withdrew;  while  all  present,  op- 
pressed, and,  as  it  Avere,  overawed,  by  his  determined  effront- 
ery, found  they  could  draw  breath  more  freely  when  he  at 
length  relieved  them  of  his  society.  Lord  Huntinglen,  apply- 
ing himself  to  comfort  his  new  daughter-in-law,  withdrew 
with  her  also;  and  the  King,  with  his  privy  council,  whom 
he  had  not  dismissed,  again  returned  to  his  council-chamber, 
though  the  hour  was  unusually  late.  Heriot's  attendan^'-e 
was  still  commanded,  but  for  what  reason  was  not  expUin*>d 
to  him. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII 

I'll  play  the  eavesdropper. 

Richard  III.  Act  V.  Scene  8. 

James  had  no  sooner  resumed  his  seat  at  the  council-board 
than  he  began  to  hitch  in  his  cliair,  cough,  use  his  handker- 
chief, and  make  other  intimations  that  he  meditated  a  long 
speech.  The  council  composed  themselves  to  the  beseeming 
degree  of  attention.  Charles,  as  strict  in  his  notions  of 
decorum  as  his  father  was  indifferent  to  it,  fixed  himself  in 
an  attitude  of  rigid  and  respectful  attention,  while  the 
haughty  favorite,  conscious  of  his  power  over  both  father  and 
son,  stretched  himself  more  easily  on  his  seat,  and,  in  assum- 
ing an  appearance  of  listening,  seemed  to  pay  a  debt  to 
ceremonial  rather  than  to  duty. 

'•  I  doubt  not,  my  lords,"  said  the  monarch,  "  that  some 
of  you  may  be  thinking  the  hour  of  refection  is  past,  and  that 
it  is  time  to  ask  with  the  slave  in  the  comedy — Quid  de 
symholo?  Nevertheless,  to  do  justice  and  exercise  judgment 
is  our  meat  and  drink;  and  now  we  are  to  pray  your  wisdom 
to  consider  the  case  of  this  unhappy  youth.  Lord  Glenvarloch, 
and  see  whether,  consistently  with  our  honor,  anything  can 
be  done  in  his  favor." 

"  I  am  surprised  at  your  Majesty's  wisdom  making  the 
inquiry,"  said  the  duke;  "it  is  plain  this  Dalgarno  hath 
proved  one  of  the  most  insolent  villains  on  earth,  and  it  must 
therefore  be  clear  that,  if  Lord  Glenvarloch  had  run  him 
through  the  body,  there  would  but  have  been  out  of  the 
world  a  knave  who  had  lived  in  it  too  long.  I  think  Lord 
Glenvarloch  hath  had  much  wrong;  and  I  regret  that,  by  the 
persuasions  of  this  false  fellow,  I  have  mvself  had  some  hand 
in  it." 

"Ye  speak  like  a  child.  Steenie — I  mean  my  Lord  of 
Buckingham,"  answered  the  King,  "  and  as  one  that  does  not 
understand  the  logic  of  the  schools;  for  an  action  may  be 
inconsequential  or  even  meritorious  quoad  hominem,  that  is, 
as  touching  him  upon  wlinm  it  is  acted;  and  yet  most  crim- 
inal quoad  locum,  or  considering  the  place  wherein  it  is  done,  . 
as  a  man  may  lawfully  dance  Chrighty  Beardie  or  any  other 
dance  in  a   tavern,  but  not  inter  parietes  ecclesicBj  so   that. 


394  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

though  it  may  have  been  a  good  deed  to  have  sticked  Lord 
Dalgarno,  being  such  as  he  has  shown  himself,  anywhere  else, 
yet  it  fell  under  the  plain  statute  when  violence  was  offered 
within  the  verge  of  the  court.  For,  let  me  tell  you,  my  lords, 
the  statute  against  striking  would  be  of  small  use  in  our 
court,  if  it  could  be  eluded  by  justifying  the  person  stricken 
to  be  a  knave.  It  is  much  to  be  lamented  that  I  ken  nae 
court  in  Christendom  where  knaves  are  not  to  be  found;  and 
if  men  are  to  break  the  peace  under  pretence  of  beating  them, 
why,  it  Avill  rain  Jeddart  staves*  in  our  very  antechamber." 

"What  your  Majesty  says,"  replied  Prince  Charles,  "is 
marked  with  your  usual  wisdom;  the  precincts  of  palaces 
must  be  sacred  as  well  as  the  persons  of  kings,  which  are 
respected  even  in  the  most  barbarous  nations,  as  being  one 
step  only  beneath  their  divinities.  But  your  Majesty's  will 
can  control  the  severity  of  this  and  every  other  law,  and  it  is 
in  your  power,  on  consideration  of  his  case,  to  grant  this 
rash  young  man  a  free  pardon." 

"  Rem  acu  tetigisti,  Carole,  mi  pueruU,"  answered  the 
King;  "and  know,  my  lords,  that  we  have,  by  a  shrewd  de- 
vice and  gift  of  our  own,  already  sounded  the  very  dejith  of 
this  Lord  Glenvarloch's  disposition.  I  trow  there  be  among 
you  some  that  remember  my  handling  in  the  curious  case  of 
my  Lady  Lake,f  and  how  I  trimmed  them  about  the  story 
of  barkening  behind  the  arras.  Now  this  put  me  to  cogita- 
tion, and  I  remembered  me  of  having  read  that  Dionysius, 
King  of  Syracuse,  whom  historians  call  xupavvo'^^  which  signi- 
fieth  not  in  the  Greek  tongue,  as  in  ours,  a  truculent  usurper, 
but  a  royal  king  who  governs,  it  may  be,  something  moro 
strictly  than  we  and  other  lawful  monarchs,  whom  the  an- 
cients termed  ^aatlziQ.  Now  this  Dionysius  of  Syracuse 
caused  cunning  workmen  to  build  for  himself  a  '  lu gg.^  D'ye 
ken  what  that  is,  my  lord  bishop  ?  " 

"  A  cathedral,  I  presume  to  guess,"  answered  the  bishop. 

"  What  the  deil,  man — I  crave  your  lordship's  pardon  for 
swearing — but  it  was  no  cathedral,  only  a  lurking-place  called 
the  king's  '  lugg,^  or  '  ear,'  where  he  could  sit  undescried  and 
hear  the  converse  of  his  prisoners.  Now,  sirs,  in  imitation 
of  this  Dionysius,  whom  I  took  for  my  pattern,  the  rather 
that  he  was  a  great  linguist  and  grammarian,  and  taught  a 
school  with  good  applause  after  his  abdication — either  he  or 
his  successor  of  the  same  name;  it  matters  not  whilk — I  have 
caused  them  to  make  a  '  lugg '  up  at  the  state  prison  of  the 

♦The  old-fashioned  weapon  called  the  Jeddart  staff  was  a  species  of  battle-axe. 
Of  a  very  great  tempest,  it  is  said,  in  the  south  of  Soctland,  that  it  rains  Jeddart 
staffs,  as  in  Eugland  the  common  people  talk  of  its  raining  cats  and  dogs. 

•^  °-- Note  42. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  395 

Tower  3'on(ier — more  like  a  pulpit  than  a  cathedral,  my  lord 
bishop — and  communicating  with  the  arras  beliind  the  lieu- 
tenant's chamber,  where  he  may  sit  and  privily  hear  the  dis- 
course of  such  prisoners  as  are  pent  up  there  for  state 
offences,  and  so  creep  into  the  very  secrets  of  our  enemies." 

Tiie  Prince  cast  a  glance  towards  the  Duke,  expressive  of 
great  vexation  and  disgust.  Buckingham  shrugged  his  shoul- 
ders, but  the  motion  was  so  slight  as  to  be  almost  impercep- 
tible. 

"■  Weel,  my  lords,  ye  ken  the  fray  at  the  hunting  this 
morning — I  shall  not  get  out  of  the  trembling  exies  until  I 
have  a  sound  night's  sleep — just  after  that,  tney  bring  ye  in 
a  pretty  page  that  had  been  found  in  the  Park.  We  were 
warned  against  examining  him  ourselves  by  the  anxious  care 
of  tliose  around  us;  nevertheless,  holding  our  life  ever  at  the 
service  of  these  kingdoms,  Ave  commanded  all  to  avoid  the 
room,  the  rather  that  we  suspected  this  boy  to  be  a  girl. 
What  think  ye,  my  lords?  Few  of  you  would  have  thought 
I  had  a  hawk's  eye  for  sic  gear;  but  we  thank  God  that, 
though  we  are  old,  we  know  so  much  of  such  toys  as  may  be- 
seem a  man  of  decent  gravity,  Weel,  my  lords,  we  ques- 
tioned this  maiden  in  male  attire  ourselves,  and  I  profess  it 
was  a  very  pretty  interrogatory,  and  well  followed.  For, 
though  she  at  first  professed  that  she  assumed  this  disguise  in 
order  to  countenance  the  woman  who  should  present  us  with 
the  Lady  Hermione's  petition,  for  whom  she  professed  entire 
affection;  yet  when  we,  suspecting  angnis  in  lierha,  did  put 
her  to  the  very  question,  she  was  compelled  to  own  a  virtuous 
attachment  for  Glenvarlochides,  in  such  a  pretty  passion  of 
shame  and  fear,  that  we  had  much  ado  to  keep  our  own  eyes 
from  keeping  company  with  hers  in  weeping.  Also,  she  laid 
before  us  the  false  practices  of  this  Dalgarno  towards  Glen- 
varlochides, inveigling  him  into  houses  of  ill  resort,  and  giv- 
ing him  evil  counsel  under  pretext  of  sincere  friendship, 
whereby  the  inexperienced  lad  was  led  to  do  what  was  preju- 
dicial to  himself  and  offensive  to  us.  But,  however  prettily 
she  told  her  tale,  we  determined  not  altogether  to  trust  to  her 
narration,  but  rather  to  try  the  experiment  whilk  we  had  de- 
vised for  such  occasions.  And  having  ourselves  speedily 
passed  from  Greenwich  to  the  Tower,  we  constituted  ourselves 
eavesdropper,  as  it  is  called,  to  observe  what  should  pass  be- 
tween Glenvarlochides  and  this  page,  whom  we  caused  to  be 
admitted  to  his  apartment,  well  judging  that  if  they  were  of 
counsel  together  to  deceive  us,  it  could  not  be  but  something 
of  it  would  spunk  out.     And  wh?"-  think  ye  we  saw,  my  lords? 


396  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

Nae thing  for  you  to  sniggle  and  laugh  at,  Steenie;  for  I  ques- 
tion if  you  could  have  j)layed  the  temperate  and  Christian- 
like part  of  this  poor  lad  Glenvarloch.  He  might  be  a  father 
of  the  church  in  comparison  of  you,  man.  And  then,  to  try 
his  patience  yet  farther,  we  loosed  on  him  a  courtier  and  a 
citizen,  that  is.  Sir  Mungo  Malagrowther  and  our  servant 
George  Heriot  here,  wha  dang  the  poor  lad  about,  and  didna 
greatly  spare  our  royal  selves.  You  mind,  Geordie,  what  you 
said  about  tlie  wives  and  concubines?  but  I  forgie  ye,  man — 
nae  need  of  kneeling,  I  forgie  ye~the  readier  that  it  regards 
a  certain  particular  whilk,  as  it  aided  not  much  to  Solo- 
mon's credit,  the  lack  of  it  cannot  be  said  to  impinge  on 
ours.  Aweel,  my  lords,  for  all  temptation  of  sore  distress 
and  evil  ensample,  this  poor  lad  never  loosed  his  tongue  on 
us  to  say  one  unbecoming  word;  which  inclines  us  the  rather, 
acting  always  by  your  wise  advice,  to  treat  this  affair  of  the 
Park  as  a  thing  done  in  the  heat  of  blood,  and  under  strong 
provocation,  and  therefore  to  confer  our  free  pardon  on  Lord 
Glenvarloch." 

"  I  am  happy  your  gracious  Majesty,"  said  the  Duke  of 
Buckingham,  "  has  arrived  at  that  conclusion,  though  I 
could  never  have  guessed  at  the  road  by  which  you  attained 
it." 

"  I  trust,"  said  Prince  Charles,  "  that  it  is  not  a  path 
which  your  Majesty  will  think  it  consistent  with  your  high 
dignity  to  tread  frequently." 

"  Kever  while  I  live  again,  Baby  Charles,  that  I  give  you 
my  royal  word  on.  They  say  that  hearkeners  hear  ill  tales  of 
themselves:  by  my  saul,  my  very  ears  are  tingling  wi'  that 
auld  sorrow  Sir  Mungo's  sarcasms.  He  called  us  close-fisted, 
Steenie;  I  am  sure  you  can  contradict  that.  But  it  is  mere 
envy  in  the  auld  mutilated  sinner,  because  he  himself  has 
neither  a  noble  to  hold  in  his  loof  nor  fingers  to  close  on  it  if 
he  had."  Here  the  King  lost  recollection  of  Sir  Mungo's 
irreverence  in  chuckling  over  his  own  Avit,  and  only  farther 
alluded  to  it  by  saying — "  We  must  give  the  old  maunderer  has 
in  linguam — something  to  stop  his  mouth,  or  he  will  rail  at 
us  from  Dan  to  Beersheba.  And  now,  my  lords,  let  our 
warrant  of  mercy  to  Lord  Glenvarloch  be  presently  expedited, 
and  he  put  to  his  freedom;  and  as  his  estate  is  likely  to  go  so 
sleeveless  a  gate,  we  will  consider  what  means  of  favor  we  can 
show  him.  My  lords,  I  wish  you  an  appetite  to  an  early  sup- 
per; for  our  labors  have  approached  that  term.  Baby 
Charles  and  Steenie,  you  will  remain  till  our  couchee.  My 
lord  bishop,  you  will  be  pleased  to  stay  to  bless  our  meat. 
Geordie  Heriot,  a  word  with  you  apart." 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGFL  3S7 

His  Majesty  then  dreAv  tlie  citizen  into  a  corner,  while  the 
councillors,  those  excepted  who  had  been  commanded  to 
remain,  made  their  obeisance  and  withdrew.  "  Geordie," 
said  the  King,  "my  good  and  trusty  servant  [here  he  busied 
his  fingers  much  with  the  points  and  ribbons  of  his  dress], 
ye  see  that  we  have  granted,  from  our  own  ixatural  sense  of 
right  and  justice,  that  which  yon  long-backed  fallow — Mon- 
iplies,  I  think  they  ca'  him — proffered  to  purchase  from  us 
with  a  mighty  bribe;  whilk  we  refused  as  being  a  crowned 
king,  who  wad  neither  sell  our  justice  nor  our  mercy  for 
pecuniar  consideration.  Kow,  what  think  ye  should  be  the 
upshot  of  this.^" 

•'  My  Lord  Glenvarloch's  freedom,  and  his  restoration  to 
your  Majesty's  favor,"  said  Heriot. 

"  I  ken  that,"  said  the  King,  peevishly.  "Yf^.  are  very 
dull  to-day.  I  mean,  what  do  you  think  thir  fall  nv  Moni- 
plies  should  think  about  the  matter?" 

"  Surely  that  your  Majesty  is  a  most  good  and  gracious 
sovereign,"  answered  Heriot. 

"  We  had  need  to  be  gude  and  gracious  baith,'  said  the 
King,  still  more  pettishly,  "'  that  have  idiots  about  us  that 
cannot  understand  what  we  mint  at,  unless  we  speab  it  out 
in  braid  Lowlands.  See  this  chield  Moniplies,  sir,  and  tell 
him  what  we  have  done  for  Lord  Glenvarloch,  in  whom  he 
takes  such  part,  out  of  our  own  gracious  motion,  though  we 
refused  to  do  it  on  ony  proffer  of  private  advantage.  ISTow, 
you  may  put  it  till  him,  as  if  of  your  own  mind,  whether  it 
will  be  a  gracious  or  a  dutiful  part  in  him  to  press  us  for 
present  payment  of  the  two  or  three  hundred  miserable 
pounds  for  whilk  we  were  obliged  to  opignorate  our  jeAvels: 
Indeed,  mony  men  may  think  ye  wad  do  the  part  of  a  good 
citizen  if  you  took  it  on  yourself  to  refuse  him  payment  see- 
ing he  hath  had  what  he  professed  to  esteem  full  satisfaction, 
and  considering,  moreover,  that  it  is  evident  he  hath  no 
pressing  need  of  the  monev,  whereof  we  have  much  neces- 
sity." 

George  Heriot  sighed  internally.  "  0  my  master," 
thought  he — ''my  dear  master,  is  it  then  fated  you  are  never 
to  indulge  any  kingly  or  noble  sentiment  without  its  being 
sullied  by  some  afterthought  of  interested  selfishness!  " 

The  King  troubled  himself  not  about  what  he  thought, 
but,  taking  him  by  the  collar,  said,  "  Ye  ken  my  meaning 
now,  Jingler;  awa'wi'ye.  You  are  a  wise  man;  manage  it 
your  ain  gate,  but  forget  not  our  present  straits." 

The  citizen  made  his  obeisance  and  withdrew. 


m  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

*'  And  now,  bairns,"  said  the  King,  "  what  do  you  look 
upon  each  other  for;  and  what  have  you  got  to  ask  of  your 
dear  dad  and  gossip  ?  " 

"  Only,"  said  the  Prince,  "  that  it  would  please  your 
Majesty  to  connnand  the  lurking-place  at  the  prison  to  be 
presently  built  up;  the  groans  of  a  captive  should  not  be 
brought  in  evidence  against  him." 

"  What!  build  up  my  lugg.  Baby  Charles?  And  yet, 
better  deaf  than  hear  ill  tales  of  one's  self.  So  let  them  build 
it  up,  hard  and  fast,  without  delay,  the  rather  that  my  back 
is  sair  with  sitting  in  it  for  a  whole  hour.  And  now  let  us 
see  what  the  cooks  have  been  doing  for  us,  bonny  bairns." 


CHAPTER  XXXIV 

To  this  brave  man  the  knight  repairs 
For  counsel  in  his  law  affairs; 
And  found  him  mounted  in  his  pew, 
With  books  and  money  placed  for  show, 
Like  nest-eggs  to  make  clients  lay, 
And  for  his  false  opinion  pay. 

Hudtbraa, 

Our  readers  may  recollect  a  certain  smooth-tongued,  lank- 
haired,  buckram-suited,  Scottish  scrivener,  who,  in  the  fifth 
chapter  of  this  history,  appeared  in  the  character  of  a  pi'otege 
of  George  Heriot.  It  is  to  liis  house  we  are  about  to  remove; 
but  times  have  changed  with  him.  The  petty  booth  hath 
become  a  chamber  of  importance;  the  buckram  suit  is  changed 
into  black  velvet;  and  although  the  wearer  retains  his 
Puritanical  humility  and  politeness  to  clients  of  consequence, 
he  can  now  look  others  broad  in  the  face,  and  treat  them 
with  a  full  allowance  of  superior  opulence,  and  the  insolence 
arising  from  it.  It  was  but  a  short  period  that  had  achieved 
these  alterations,  nor  was  tlie  party  himself  as  yet  entirely 
accustomed  to  them,  but  the  change  was  becoming  less  em- 
barr  issing  to  him  ^vitll  every  day's  practice.  Among  other 
acquisitions  of  wealth,  you  may  see  one  of  Davie  Eamsay's 
best  timepieces  on  the  table,  and  his  eye  is  frequently  observ- 
ing its  revolutions,  while  a  boy,  whom  he  employs  as  a  scribe, 
is  occasionally  sent  out  to  compare  its  progress  with  the  clock 
of  St.  Dunstan. 

The  scrivener  himself  seemed  considerably  agitated.  He 
took  from  a  strong-box  a  bundle  of  parchments,  and  read 
passages  of  them  with  great  attention,  then  began  to  solilo- 
quize— "  There  is  no  outlet  Avhich  law  can  suggest — no  back- 
door of  evasion — none:  if  the  lands  of  Glenvarloch  are  not 
redeemed  before  it  rings  noon.  Lord  Dalgarno  has  them  a 
cheap  pennyworth.  Strange,  that  he  should  have  been  at 
l.ist  able  to  set  his  patron  at  defiance,  and  achieve  for  himself 
the  fair  estate,  with  tlie  prospect  of  which  he  so  long  flattered 
the  powerful  Buckingham.  Might  not  Andrew  Skurlie- 
whitter  nick  him  as  neatly?  He  hath  been  my  patron,  true — 
not  more  than  Buckingham  was  his;  and  he  can  be  so  no 
more,  for  he  departs  presently  for  Scotland.      I  am  glad  of 


400  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

it;  I  hate  him,  and  I  fear  ]iim.  He  knows  too  many  of  my 
secrets;  I  know  too  many  of  his.  But,  no — no — no-^I  need 
never  attempt  it,  there  are  no  means  of  over-reaching  him. 
Well,  Willie,  what  o'clock?" 

''Ele'en  hours  just  chappit,  sir.'' 

"  Go  to  your  desk  without,  child,"  said  the  scrivener. 
"  What  to  do  next?  I  shall  lose  the  old  earPs  fair  business, 
and,  what  is  worse,  his  son's  foul  practice.  Old  Heriot  looks 
too  close  into  business  to  permit  me  more  than  the  paltry  and 
ordinary  due-^.  The  Whitefriars  business  was  profitable,  but 
it  has  become  unsafe  ever  since — pah!  Avhat  brought  that 
in  my  head  just  now?  I  can  hardly  hold  my  pen  ;  if  men 
should  see  me  in  this  way!  Willie  [calling aloud  to  the  boy], 
a  cup  of  distilled  waters.     Soh!  now  I  could  face  the  devil." 

He  spoke  the  last  words  aloud,  and  close  by  the  door  of 
tlie  apartment,  which  was  suddenly  openod  by  Richie  Moni- 
plies,  followed  by  two  gentlemen,  and  attended  by  two  por- 
ters bearing  money-bags.  "  If  ye  can  faco  the  devil,  Maister 
Skurliewhitter,"  said  Richie,  "  ye  will  be  the  less  likely  to 
tarn  your  back  on  a  sack  or  twa  o'  siller,  whicii  I  have  ta'en 
the  freedom  to  bring  you.  Sathanas  and  Mammon  ?.re  near 
akin."  The  porters,  at  the  same  time,  ranged  their  load  on 
the  floor. 

'*  I — -I,"  stammered  the  surprised  scrivener — ''I  cannot 
guess  what  you  mean,  sir." 

'•'  Only  that  I  have  brought  you  the  redemption-money  on 
the  part  of  Lord  Glenvarloch,  in  discharge  of  a  certain  mort- 
gage over  his  family  inheritance.  And  here,  in  good  time, 
comes  Master  Reginald  Lowestoffe  and  another  honorable 
gentleman  of  the  Temple,  to  be  witnesses  to  the  transac- 
tion." 

"1 — I  incline  to  think,"  said  the  scrivener,  ''that  the 
term  is  expired." 

"  You  will  pardon  us.  Master  Scrivener,"  said  Lowestoffe. 
"  You  will  not  baffle  us  ;  it  wants  three-quarters  of  noon  bj 
every  clock  in  the  city." 

"  I  must  have  time,  gentlemen,'*  said  Andrew,  "  to  ex- 
amine the  gold  by  tale  and  weight." 

"Do  so  at  your  leisure.  Master  Scrivener,"  replied  Lowe- 
stoffe  again.  "  We  have  already  seen  the  contents  of  each 
sick  told  and  weighed,  and  we  have  put  our  seals  on  them. 
There  they  stand  in  a  row,  twenty  in  number,  each  contain- 
ing three  hundred  yellow-hammers ;  we  are  witnesses  to  the 
lawful  tender." 

'*  Gentlemen,"  said  the  scrivener,  "  this  security  now  be- 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  401 

toiigs  to  a  miglity  lord.  I  pray  you,  abate  your  haste,  and 
let  me  send  for  Lord  Dalgarno-^r  rather  I  will  run  for  him 
myself/' 

So  saying,  he  took  up  his  hat;  but  Lowestoffe  called  out 
— "  Friend  Moniplies,  keep  the  door  fast,  an  thou  be'st  a 
man!  he  seeks  but  to  put  off  the  time.  In  plain  terms, 
Andrew,  you  may  send  for  the  devil,  if  you  will,  who  is  the 
mightiest  lord  of  my  acquaintance,  but  *^from  hence  you  stir 
not  till  you  have  answered  our  proposition,  by  rejecting  or 
accepting  the  redemption-money  fairly  tendered';  there  it 
lies — take  it  or  leave  it  as  you  will.  I  have  skill  enough  to 
know  that  the  law  is  mightier  than  any  lord  in  Britain:  I 
have  learned  so  much  at  the  Temple,  if  I  have  learned  noth- 
ing else.  And  see  that  you  trifle  not  with  it,  lest  it  make 
vour  long  ears  an  inch  shorter.  Master  Skurliewhitter." 

"  Xay,  gentlemen,  if  you  threaten  me/'  said  the  scrivener, 
•'I  cannot  resist  compulsion." 

"  Xo  threats — no  threats  at  all,  my  little  Andrew,"  said 
Lowestolfe;  *'a  little  friendly  advice  only;  forget  not,  honest 
Andrew,  I  have  seen  you  in  Aisatia." 

Without  answering  a  single  word,  the  scrivener  sat  down 
and  drew  in  proper  form  a  full  receipt  for  the  money  prof- 
fered. 

*'I  take  it  on  your  report,  Master  Lowestoffe,"  he  said; 
'•'I  hope  you  will  remember  I  have  insisted  neither  upon 
weight  nor  tale — I  have  been  civil;  if  there  is  deficiency  I 
shall  come  to  loss." 

"■  Fillip  his  nose  with  a  gold-piece,  Richie,"  quoth  the 
Templar.  "  Take  up  the  papers,  and  now  wend  we  merrily 
to  dine  thou  wot'st  where." 

"If  I  might  choose,"  said  Richie,  ''it  would  not  be  at 
yonder  roguish  ordinary;  but  as  it  is  your  pleasure,  gentle- 
men, the  treat  shall  be  given  wheresoever  you  will  have  it. " 
'•'  At  the  ordinary,"  said  one  Templar. 
"  At  Beaujeu's,"  said  the  other;  "  it  is  the  only  house 
in  London   for   neat  wines,  nimble  drawers,   choice   dishes. 

and " 

''  And  high  charges,"  quoth  Richie  Moniplies.  "  But,  as 
I  said  before,  gentlemen,  ye  have  a  right  to  command  me  in 
this  thing,  having  so  frankly  rendered  me  your  service  in 
this  small  matter  of  business,  without  other  stipulation  than 
that  of  a  slight  banquet." 

The  latter  part  of  this  discourse  passed  in  the  street, 
where,  immediately  afterwards,  they  met  Lord  Dalgarno.  He 
appeared  in  haste,  touched  his  hat  slightly  to  Master  Lowe- 


402  WAVER^£Y  NOVELS 

stoffe,  who  returned  his  reverence  Avith  the  same  negligence 
and  walked  slowly  on  with  his  companion,  while  Lord  Dah 
garno  stopped  Richie  Moniplies  with  a  commanding  sign, 
which  the  instinct  of  education  compelled  Moniplies,  though 
indignant,  to  obey. 

"  Whom  do  you  now  follow,  sirrah?" demanded  the  noble. 

"  Whomsoever  goeth  before  me,  my  lord,"  answered 
Moniplies. 

"  No  sauciness,  you  knave  ;  I  desire  to  know  if  yon  still 
serve  Nigel  Olifaunt?"  said  Dalgarno. 

"  I  am  friend  to  the  noble  Lord  Glenvarloch/'  answered 
Moniplies,  with  dignity. 

"  True,"  replied  Lord  Dalgarno,  ''  that  noble  lord  has 
sunk  to  seek  friends  among  lackeys.  Nevertheless — hark 
thee  hither — nevertheless,  if  he  be  of  the  same  mind  as  when 
we  last  met,  thou  mayst  show  him  that,  on  to-morrow,  at 
four  afternoon,  I  shall  pass  northward  by  Enfield  Chase. 
I  will  be  slenderly  attended,  as  I  design  to  send  my  train 
through  Barnet.  It  is  my  purpose  to  ride  an  easy  pace 
through  the  forest,  and  to  linger  awhile  by  Camlet  Moat;  he 
knows  the  place,  and,  if  he  be  naught  but  an  Alsatian  bully, 
will  think  it  fitter  for  some  purposes  than  the  Park.  He  is, 
I  understand,  at  liberty,  or  shortly  to  be  so.  If  he  fail  me 
at  the  place  nominated,  he  must  seek  me  in  Scotland,  where 
he  will  find  me  possessed  of  his  father's  estate  and  lands." 

"Humph!"  muttered  Richie,  "there  go  twa  words  to 
that  bargain."  He  even  meditated  a  joke  on  the  means 
which  he  was  conscious  he  possessed  of  baffling  Lord  Dal- 
garno's  expectations;  but  there  was  something  of  keen  and 
dangerous  excitement  in  the  eyes  of  the  young  nobleman 
which  prompted  his  discretion  for  once  to  rule  his  wit,  and 
he  only  answered — "  God  grant  your  lordship  may  well  brook 
your  new  conquest — when  you  get  it.  I  shall  do  your  errand 
to  my  lord;  whilk  is  to  say,"  he  added  internally,  "  he  shall 
never  hear  a  word  of  it  from  Richie.  I  am  not  the  lad  to 
put  him  in  such  hazard." 

Lord  Dalgarno  looked  at  him  sharply  for  a  moment,  as  if 
to  penetrate  the  meaning  of  the  dry,  ironical  tone  which,  in 
spite  of  Richie's  awe,  mingled  with  his  answer,  and  then 
waved  his  hand,  in  signal  he  should  pass  on.  He  himself 
walked  slowly  till  the  trio  were  out  of  sight,  then  turned  back 
with  hasty  steps  to  the  door  of  the  scrivener,  which  he  had 
passed  in  his  progress,  knocked,  and  was  admitted. 

Lord  Dalgarno  found  the  man  of  law  with  the  money-bags 
still  standing  before  him;  and  it  escaped  not  his  penetrating 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  403 

glance  that  Skurliewliitter  was  disconcerted  and  alarmed  at 
His  approach. 

"  How  now,  nian,'^  he  said;  "  what!  hast  thou  not  a  word 
of  oily  compliment  to  me  on  my  happy  marriage?  not  a  word 
of  most  philosophical  consolation  on  my  disgrace  at  court? 
Or  has  my  mien,  as  a  wittol  and  discarded  favorite,  the  proper- 
ties of  the  Gorgon's  head,  the  turhatce  Palladis  arma,  as 
Majesty  might  say?" 

"My  lord,  I  am  glad — my  lord,  lam  sorry,''  answered  the 
trembling  scrivener,  who,  aware  of  the  vivacity  of  Lord  Dal- 
garno's  temper,  dreaded  the  consequence  of  the  communication 
he  hatl  to  make  to  him. 

'''Glad  and  sorry! '' answered  Lord  Dalgarno.  "That  is 
blowing  liot  and  cold,  with  a  witness.  Hark  ye,  you  picture 
of  petty-larceny  personified,  if  you  are  sorry  I  am  a  cuckold, 
remember  I  am  only  mine  own,  you  knave:  there  is  too  little 
blood  in  her  cheeks  to  have  sent  her  astray  elsewhere.  Well, 
I  will  bear  mine  an  tiered  honors  as  I  may — gold  shall  giJd 
them;  and  for  my  disgrace,  revenge  shall  sweeten  it.  Ay, 
revenge!  and  there  strikes  the  happy  hour." 

The  hour  of  noon  was  accordingly  heard  to  peal  from  St. 
Dunstan's.  "  Well  banged,  brave  hammers!"  taid  Lord  Dal- 
garno, in  triumph.  "  The  estate  and  lands  of  Glenvarloch 
are  crushed  beneath  these  clanging  blows.  If  my  steel  to-mor- 
row prove  but  as  true  as  your  iron  maces  to-day,  the  poor  land- 
less lord  will  little  miss  what  your  peal  hath  cut  him  out  f  re  m. 
Tb.e  papers — the  joapers,  thou  varlet!  I  am  to-morrow  north- 
ward ho!  At  four,  afternoon,  I  am  bound  to  be  at  Camlet 
Moat,  in  the  Enfield  Chase.  To-night  most  of  my  retinue 
set  forward.     The  papers!     Come,  dispatch." 

"  My  lord,  the — the  papers  of  the  Glenvarloch  mortgage — 
I — I  have  them  not." 

"  Have  them  not!  "  echoed  Lord  Dalgarno.  "  Hast  thou 
sent  them  to  my  lodging,  thou  varlet?  Did  I  not  say  I  was 
eoming  hither?  What  mean  you  by  pointing  to  that  money  ? 
What  villany  have  you  done  for  it.''  It  is  too  large  to  be 
come  honestly  by." 

"  Your  lordship  knows  best,"'  answered  the  scrivener,  in 
great  perturbation.  "  The  gold  is  your  own.  It  is — it 
is " 

"  ISTot  the  redemption-money  of  the  Glenvarloch  estate?'' 
said  Dalgarno.  "  Dare  not  say  it  is,  or  I  will,  upon  the 
spot,  divorce  your  pettifogging  soul  from  your  carrion  car- 
cass!" So  saying,  he  seized  the  scrivener  by  the  collar  and 
shook  him  so  vehemently  that  he  tore  it  from  the  cassock. 


404  WAVE  RLE  Y  NOVELS 

"  My  lord,  I  must  call  for  help/'  said  the  trembling 
caitiff,  who  felt  at  that  moment  all  the  bitterness  of  the 
mortal  agony.  ''It  was  the  law's  act,  not  mine.  What 
could  I  do?" 

"Dost  ask?  Why,  thou  snivelling  driblet  of  damnation, 
were  all  thy  oatlis,  tricks,  and  lies  spent?  or  do  you  hold 
yourself  too  good  to  utter  them  in  my  service?  Thou 
shouldst  have  lied,  cozened,  outsworn  truth  itself,  rather 
than  stood  betwixt  me  and  my  revenge!  But  mark  me," 
he  continued;  "1  know  more  of  your  pranks  than  would 
hang  thee.  A  line  from  me  to  the  Attorney- General,  and 
thou  art  sped." 

"What  would  you  have  me  to  do,  my  lord?"  said  the 
scrivener.  "All  that  art  and  law  can  accomplish,  I  will 
try." 

"Ah,  are  you  converted?  Do  so,  or  pity  of  your  life!" 
said  the  lord;  "and  remember  I  never  fail  my  word.  Then 
keep  that  accursed  gold,"  he  continued.  "  Or,  stay,  I  will 
not  trust  you;  send  me  this  gold  home  presently  to  my  lodg- 
ing. I  will  still  forward  to  Scotland,  and  it  shall  go  hard 
but  that  I  hold  out  Glenvarloch  Castle  against  the  owner,  by 
means  of  the  ammunition  he  has  himself  furnished.  Thou 
art  ready  to  serve  me  ? "  The  scrivener  professed  the  most 
implicit  obedience. 

"  Then'  remember,  the  hour  was  past  ere  payment  was 
tendered;  and  see  thou  hast  wituessess  of  trusty  memory  to 
prove  that  point." 

"  Tush,  my  lord,  I  will  do  more,"  said  Andrew,  reviving: 
"  I  will  prove  that  Lord  Glenvarloch's  friends  threatened, 
swaggered,  and  drew  swords  on  me.  Did  your  lordship  think 
I  was  ungrateful  enough  to  have  suffered  them  to  prejudice 
your  lordship,  save  that  the)-  had  bare  swords  at  my  throat  ?  " 

"Enough  said,"  replied  Dalgarno;  "you  are  perfect. 
ilind  that  you  continue  so,  as  you  would  avoid  my  fury.  I 
leave  my  page  below;  get  porters,  and  let  them  follow  me 
instantly  with  the  gold." 

So  saying,  Lord  Dalgarno  left  the  scrivener's  habitation. 

Skurliewhitter,  having  dispatched  his  boy  to  get  porters  of 
trust  for  transporting  the  money,  remained  alone  and  in  dis- 
may, meditating  by  what  means  he  could  shake  himself  free 
of  the  vindictive  and  ferocious  nobleman,  who  possessed  at 
once  a  dangerous  knowledge  of  his  character  and  the  power  of 
exposing  him  where  exposure  would  be  ruin.  He  had  indeed 
acquiesced  in  the  plan,  rapidly  sketched,  for  obtaining  posses- 
sion of  the  ransomed  estate,    but  his  experience  foresaw  that 


TBE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  405 

this  would  be  impossible;  while,  on  the  other  hand,  he  could 
not  anticipate  the  various  consequences  of  Lord  Dalgarno's 
resentment  without  fears  from  which  his  sordid  soul  recoiled. 
To  be  in  the  power,  and  subject  both  to  the  humors  and  the 
extortions,  of  a  spendthrift  young  lord,  just  when  his  industry- 
had  shaped  out  the  means  of  fortune — it  was  the  most  cruel 
trick  which  fate  could  have  played  the  incipient  usurer. 

While  the  scrivener  was  in  this  fit  of  anxious  anticipation, 
one  knocked  at  the  door  of  the  apartment,  and,  being  desired 
to  enter,  appeared  in  the  coarse  riding-cloak  of  uncut  Wiltshire 
cloth;  fastened  by  a  broad  leather  belt  and  brass  buckle, 
which  was  then  generally  worn  by  graziers  and  countrymen, 
Skurliewhitter,  believing  he  saw  in  his  visitor  a  country  client 
who  might  prove  profitable,  had  opened  his  mouth  to  request 
him  to  be  seated,  when  the  stranger,  throwing  back  his  frieze 
hood  which  he  had  drawn  over  his  face,  showed  the  scrivener 
features  well  imprinted  in  his  recollection,  but  which  he  never 
saw  without  a  disposition  to  swoon. 

''  Is  it  you?"  he  said,  faintly,  as  the  stranger  replaced  the 
hood  which  concealed  his  features, 

"  Who  else  should  it  be  ?  "  said  his  visitor. 

**  ♦  Thou  son  of  parchment,  got  betwixt  the  ink-horn 
And  the  stuff  'd  process-bag,  that  mayest  call 
The  pen  thy  father,  and  the  ink  thy  mother, 
The  wax  thy  brother,  and  the  sand  thy  sister. 
And  the  good  pillory  thy  cousin  allied — 
Rise,  and  do  reverence  unto  me,  thy  better! '  " 

''Not  yet  down  to  the  country,"  said  the  scrivener,  "  after 
every  warning?  Do  not  think  your  grazier's  cloak  will  bear 
you  out,  captain — no,  nor  your  scraps  of  stage-plays." 

"  Why,  what  would  you  have  me  to  do?  "  said  the  captain. 
"Would  you  have  me  starve?  If  I  am  to  fly,  you  must 
«ke  my  wings  with  a  few  feathers.  You  can  spare  them,  I 
think." 

"  You  had  means  already:  you  have  had  ten  pieces.  What 
is  become  of  them  ?  " 

"  Gone,"  answered  Captain  Colepepper — "  gone,  no  matter 
where;  I  had  a  mind  to  bite,  and  I  was  bitten,  that's  all.  I 
think  my  liand  shook  at  the  thought  of  t'other  night's  work, 
for  I  trowled  the  doctors  like  a  very  baby." 

"And  you  have  lost  all,  then?  AVell,  take  this  and  bp 
gone,"  said  the  scrivener. 

"  What,  two  poor  smelts!  Marry,  plague  of  your  bounty! 
But  remember  you  are  as  deep  in  as  I." 

"Xot   so,  by  Heaven!"  answered  the  scrivener:  "I  only 


406  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

tliouglit  of  easing  the  old  man  of  some  paj^ers  and  a  trifle  of 
his  gold,  and  you  took  his  life." 

"  \Yere  he  living/'  answered  Colepepper,  "lie  would  rather 
have  lost  it  than  his  money.  But  that  is  not  the  question. 
Master  Skurliewhitter.  Yon  undid  the  private  bolts  of  the 
window  when  you  visited  him  about  some  affairs  on  the  day 
ere  he  died;  so  satisfy  yourself  that,  if  lam  taken,  I  will  not 
swing  alone.  Pity  Jack  Hempsfield  is  dead,  it  spoils  the  old 
catch — 

"  '  And  three  merry  men,  and  three  merry  men. 
And  three  merry  men  are  we, 
As  ever  did  sing  three  parts  in  a  string. 
All  under  the  triple  tree.'" 

"  For  God's  sake,  speak  lower,"  sf.id  the  scrivener;  "  is 
this  a  place  or  time  to  make  your  midnight  catches  heard? 
But  how  much  will  serve  your  turn?  I  tell  you,  I  am  but  ill 
provided." 

"  You  tell  me  a  lie  then,-"  said  the  bull}^ — "  a  most  palpa- 
ble and  gross  lie.  How  much,  d'ye  say,  will  serve  my  turn? 
Why,  one  of  these  bags  will  do  for  the  present." 

"  I  swear  to  you  that  these  bags  of  money  are  not  at  my 
disposal.'' 

"  Not  honestly  perhaps,"  said  the  captain,  ''  but  that  makes 
little  difference  betwixt  us." 

"I  swear  to  you,"  continued  the  scrivener,  "they  are  in 
no  way  at  my  disposal:  they  have  been  delivered  to  me  by 
tale;  I  am  to  pay  them  over  to  Lord  Dalgarno,  whose  boy 
waits  for  them,  and  I  could  not  skelder  one  piece  out  of  them 
without  risk  of  hue  and  cry." 

"Can  you  not  put  off  the  delivery?"  said  the  bravo,  his 
huge  hand  still  fumbling  with  one  of  the  bags,  as  if  his  fin- 
gers longed  to  close  on  it. 

"  Impossible !"  said  the  scrivener,  *'he  sets  forward  to 
Scotland  to-morrow." 

"Ay!  "said  the  bully,  after  a  moment's  thought. 
"  Travels  he  tlie  North  road  with  such  a  charge?" 

"He  is  well  accompanied," added  the  scrivener;  "but 
yet " 

"  But  yet — but  what?  "said  the  bravo. 

"  Nay,  I  meant  nothing,"  said  the  scrivener. 

"  Thou  didst — thou  hadst  the  wind  of  some  good  thing,'' 
replied  Coiepepper;  "  I  saw  thee  pause  like  a  setting  dog. 
Thou  wilt  say  as  little,  and  make  assure  a  sign,  as  a  well-bred 
spaniel." 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  407 

"All  I  meant  to  say,  captain,  was  that  liis  servants  go  by 
Barnet,  and  he  himself,  with  his  page,  passes  thr.i^h  Enfield 
Chase;  and  he  spoke  to  me  yesterday  of  riding ^-^  soft  pace. 

"Aha!     Comest  thon  to  me  there,  my  boy?" 

"  A-i^  of  resting,"  continued  the  scrivener— "  resting  a 
space  at  Camlet  Moat." 

"  Wny,  this  is  better  than  cock-fighting!"  said  the  cap- 
tair  .    ^, 

1  see  not  how  it  can  advantage  you,  captam,  said  the 
scnvener.  "  But,  however,  thej  cannot  ride  fast,  for  his 
page  rides  the  sumpter-horse,  which  carries  all  that  weight,' 
pointing  to  the  money  on  the  table.  "  Lord  Dalgarno  looks 
sharp  to  the  world's  gear." 

"  That  horse  will  be  obliged  to  those  Avho  may  ease  him 
of  his  burden,"  said  the  bravo;  "and,  egad,  he  may  be  met 
with.  lie  hath  still  that  page— that  same  Lutin— that  goblm  ? 
Well,  the  boy  hath  set  game  for  me  ere  now.  I  will  be 
revenged,  too,  for  I  owe  him  a  grudge  for  an  old  score  at  the 
ordinary.  Let  me  see— Black  Feltham  and  Dick  Shakebag— 
WQ  shall  want  a  fourth.  I  love  to  make  sure,  and  the  booty 
will  stand  parting,  besides  Avhat  I  can  bucket  them  out  of. 
Well,  scrivener,  lend  me  two  pieces.  Bravely  done-— nobly 
imparted!  Give  ye  god-den."  And  wrapping  his  disguise 
closer  around  him,  away  he  went. 

When  he  had  left  the  room,  the  scrivener  wrung  his  hands 
and  exclaimed,  ' '  More  blood — more  blood !  I  thought  to  have 
had  done  with  it;  but  this  time  there  was  no  fault  with  me— 
none — and  then  I  shall  have  all  the  advantage.  If  this  ruf- 
fian falls,  there  is  truce  with  his  tugs  at  my  purse-strings;  and 
if  Lord  Dalgarno  dies — as  is  most  likely,  for,  though  as  much 
afraid  of  cold  steel  as  a  debtor  of  a  dun,  this  fellow  is  a  deadly 
shot  from  behind  a  bush — then  am  I  in  a  thousand  ways  safe — 
safe — safe." 

We  willingly  drop  the  curtain  over  him  and  his  reflectiona. 


CHAPTER  XXXV 

We  are  not  worst  at  once  ;  the  course  of  evil 
Begins  so  slowly,  and  from  such  slight  source, 
An  infant's  hand  might  stem  its  breach  with  clay. 
But  let  the  stream  get  deeper,  and  philosophy — 
Ay,  and  religion  too — shall  strive  in  vain 
To  turn  the  headlong  torrent. 

Old  Play. 

The  Templars  had  been  regaled  by  our  friend  Eicliie  Moni- 
plies  in  a  private  chamber  at  Beaujeu's,  where  he  miglit  be 
considered  as  good  company;  for  he  had  exchanged  his 
serving-man's  cloak  and  Jerkin  for  a  grave  yet  handsome  suit 
of  clothes,  in  the  fashion  of  the  times,  but  such  as  might 
have  befitted  an  older  man  than  himself.  He  had  positively 
declined  presenting  himself  at  the  ordinary — a  point  to 
which  his  companions  were  very  desirous  to  have  brought 
him,  for  it  will  be  easily  believed  that  such  wags  as  Lowe- 
stoffe  and  his  companion  were  not  indisposed  to  a  little 
merriment  at  the  expense  of  the  raw  and  pedantic  Scotsman, 
besides  the  chance  of  easing  him  of  a  few  pieces,  of  which  he 
appeared  to  have  acquired  considerable  command.  But  not 
even  a  succession  of  measures  of  sparkling  sack,  in  which  the 
•little  brilliant  atoms  circulated  like  motes  in  the  sun's  rays^ 
had  the  least  effect  on  Richie's  sense  of  decorum.  He  re- 
tained the  gravity  of  a  judge,  even  while  he  drank  like  a 
fish,  partly  from  his  own  natural  inclination  to  good  liquor, 
partly  in  the  way  of  good  fellowship  towards  his  guests. 
When  the  wine  began  to  make  some  innovation  on  their 
heads.  Master  Lowestoffe,  tired,  perhaps,  of  the  humors  of 
Richie,  who  began  to  become  yet  more  stoically  contradictory 
and  dogmatical  than  even  in  the  earlier  part  of  the  enter- 
tainment, proposed  to  his  friend  to  break  up  their  debauch 
and  join  the  gamesters. 

The  drawer  was  called  accordingly,  and  Richie  dis- 
charged the  reckoning  of  the  party,  with  a  generous  re- 
muneration to  the  attendants,  which  Avas  received  with  cap 
and  knee,  and  many  assurances  of — '•'  Kindly  welcome,  gen- 
tlemen." 

"  I  grieve  we  should  part  so  soon,  gentlemen,"  said  Richie 
to  his  companions;  "and  I  would  you  had  cracked  another 


TBE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  409 

quart  ere  you  went,  or  stayed  to  take  some  slight  matter  of 
supper  and  a  glass  of  Rhenish.  I  thank  you,  however,  for 
having  graced  my  poor  collation  thus  far;  and  I  commend 
you  to  fortune,  in  your  oAvn  courses,  for  the  ordinary  neither 
was,  is,  nor  shall  be  an  element  of  mine." 

"Fare  thee  well,  then,"  said  Lowestoffe, ''most  sapient 
and  sententious  Master  Moniplies.  May  you  soon  have  an- 
other mortgage  to  redeem,  and  may  I  be  there  to  witness  it; 
and  may  you  play  the  good  fellow  as  heartily  as  you  have 
done  this  day." 

"  Xay,  gentlemen,  it  is  merely  of  your  grace  to  say  so. 
but,  if  you  would  but  hear  me  speak  a  few  words  of  admoni- 
tion respecting  this  wicked  ordinary " 

"  Reserve  the  lesson,  most  honorable  Richie,"  said  Lowe 
stoffe,  "  until  I  have  lost  all  my  money,"  showing,  at  th« 
same  time,  a  purse  indifferently  well  provided,  "and  thei? 
the  lecture  is  likely  to  have  some  weight." 

"  And  keep  my  share  of  it,  Richie,"  said  the  other  Tem- 
plar, showing  an  almost  empty  purse  in  his  turn,  "  till  this 
be  full  again,  and  then  I  will  promise  to  hear  you  with  some 
patience." 

"  Ay — ay,  gallants,*'  said  Richie,  ''the full  and  the  emptj/ 
gang  a'  ae  gate,  and  that  is  a  gray  one;  but  the  time  will 
come." 

" Xay,  it  is  come  already,"  said  Lowestoffe:  "they  have 
set  out  the  hazard  table.  Since  you  will  peremptorily  not  go 
with  us,  why,  farewell,  Richie." 

"And  farewell,  gentlemen,"  said  Richie,  and  left  the 
house,  into  which  they  had  returned. 

Moniplies  was  not  many  steps  from  the  door,  when  a  per- 
son whom,  lost  in  his  reflections  on  gaming,  ordinaries,  and 
the  manners  of  the  age,  he  had  not  observed,  and  who  had 
jeen  as  negligent  on  his  part,  ran  full  against  him;  and, 
when  Richie  desired  to  know  whether  he  meant  "ony  in- 
civility," replied  by  a  curse  on  Scotland  and  all  that  be- 
longed to  it.  A  less  round  reflection  on  his  country  would, 
at  any  time,  have  provoked  Richie,  but  more  especially  when 
he  had  a  double  quart  of  Canary  and  better  in  his  pate.  He 
Avas  about  to  give  a  very  rough  answer,  and  to  second  his 
word  by  action,  when  a  closer  view  of  his  antagonist  changed 
his  purpose. 

"  You  are  the  vera  lad  in  the  warld,"  said  Richie,  "whom 
I  most  wished  to  meet." 

"  And  you,"  answered  the  stranger,  "  or  any  of  your  beg- 
garly countrymen,  are  the  last  sight  I  should  ever  wish  to 


410  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

see.  You  Scots  are  ever  fair  and  false,  and  an  honest  maBt 
cannot  thrive  within  eye-shot  of  you." 

"  As  to  our  poverty,  friend,  "  replied  Richie,  "  that  ia  as 
Heaven  pleases;  but  touching  our  falset,  I'll  prove  to  you  that 
a  Scotsman  bears  as  leal  and  true  a  heart  to  his  friend  as  ever 
beat  in  English  doublet.''^ 

"  I  care  not  whether  he  does  or  not,"  said  the  gallant. 
**  Let  me  go;  why  keep  you  hold  of  my  cloak?  Let  me  go,  or 
I  will  thrust  you  into  the  kennel." 

"  I  believe  I  could  f orgie  ye,  for  you  did  me  a  good  turn 
once,  in  plucking  me  out  of  it,"  said  the  Scot. 

''Beshrew  my  fingers,  then,  if  they  did  so,"  replied  the 
stranger.  "  I  would  your  whole  country  lay  there,  along  Avitb 
you;  and  Heaven's  curse  blight  the  hand  that  helped  to  raise 
them!     Why  do  you  stop  my  way?"  he  added,  fiercely. 

"  Because  it  is  a  bad  one.  Master  Jenkin,"  said  Eichie. 
''Nay,  never  start  about  it,  man;  you  see  you  are  known. 
Alack-a-day  !  that  an  honest  man's  son  should  live  to  start 
at  hearing  himself  called  by  his  own  name!  " 

Jenkin  struck  his  brow  violently  with  his  clinched  fist. 

"  Come — come,"  said  Richie,  "  this  passion  availeth  noth- 
ing.    Tell  me  what  gate  go  you?" 

*'  To  the  devil!  "  answered  Jin  Vin. 

"  That  is  a  black  gate,  if  you  speak  according  to  the 
letter,"  answered  Richie;  "^but  if  metaphorically,  there  are 
worse  places  in  this  great  city  than  the  Devil  Tavern ;  and  I  care 
not  if  I  go  thither  with  you,  and  bestow  a  pottle  of  burnt  sacfe 
on  you;  it  will  correct  the  crudities  of  my  stomach,  and  form 
a  gentle  preparative  for  the  leg  of  a  cold  pullet." 

"  I  pray  you,  in  good  fashion,  to  let  me  go,"  said  Jenkin. 
**  You  may  mean  me  kindly,  and  I  wish  you  to  have  no  wrong 
»t  my  hand;  but  I  am  in  the  humor  to  be  dangerous  to  my- 
self or  any  one." 

"I  will  abide  the  risk,"  said  the  Scot,  ''if  you  will  but 
come  with  me;  and  here  is  a  place  convenient,  a  howflf  nearer 
than  the  Devil,  whilk  is  but  an  ill-omened,  drouthy  name  for 
a  tavern.  This  other  of  the  St.  Andrew  is  a  quiet  place, 
where  I  have  ta'en  my  whetter  now  and  then  when  I  lodged 
in  the  neighboihood  of  the  Temple  with  Lord  Grlenvarloch. 
What  the  deil's  the  matter  wi'  the  man,  garr'd  him  gie  sic  a 
spang  as  that,  and  almaist  brought  himself  and  me  on  the 
causeway?" 

"Do  not  name  that  false  Scot's  name  to  me,"  said  Jin 
Vin,  "if  you  would  not  have  me  go  mad!  I  was  happy  be- 
fore I  saw  him;  he  has  been  the  cause  of  all  the  ill  that 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  411 

has  befallen  me;    he  lias  made  a  knave  and  a  madman  of 


me! 


}» 


'•If  yon  are  a  knave/'  said  Eichie,  "yon  have  met  an 
officer;  if  yon  are  daft,  yon  have  met  a  keeper;  but  a  gentle 
officer  and  a  kind  keeper.  Look  you,  my  gude  friend,  there 
has  been  twenty  things  said  about  this  same  lord  in  which 
there  is  no  more  truth  than  in  the  leasings  of  Mahound.  The 
warst  they  can  say  of  him  is,  that  he  is  not  always  so  amen- 
able to  good  advice  as  I  would  pray  him,  you,  and  every 
young  man  to  be.  Come  wi'  me — Just  come  ye  wi'  me;  and, 
if  a  little  spell  of  siller  and  a  great  deal  of  excellent  counsel 
can  relieve  your  occasions,  all  I  can  say  is,  you  have  had  the 
luck  to  meet  one  capable  of  giving  you  both,  and  maist  will- 
ing to  bestow  them/' 

The  pertinacity  of  the  Scot  prevailed  over  the  sullenness 
of  Vincent,  who  w^as  indeed  in  a  state  of  agitation  and  inca- 
pacity to  think  for  himself,  which  led  him  to  yield  the  more 
readily  to  the  suggestions  of  another.  •  He  suffered  himself 
to  be  dragged  into  the  small  tavern  which  Eichie  recom- 
mended, and  where  they  soon  found  themselves  seated  in  a 
snug  niche,  with  a  reeking  pottle  of  burnt  sack  and  a  paper 
of  sugar  betwixt  them.  Pipes  and  tobacco  were  also  provided, 
but  were  only  used  by  Eichie,  w^ho  had  adopted  the  custom 
of  late,  as  adding  considerably  to  the  gravity  and  importance 
of  his  manner,  and  affording,  as  it  were,  a  bland  and  pleas- 
ant accompaniment  to  the  words  of  wisdom  w^hich  flowed 
from  his  tongue.  After  they  had  filled  their  glasses  and 
drunk  them  in  silence,  Eichie  repeated  the  question,  whither 
his  guest  was  going  when  they  met  so  fortunately. 

"  I  told  you,"  said  Jenkin,  "  I  w^as  going  to  destruction — 
I  mean  to  the  gaming-house.  I  am  resolved  to  hazard 
these  two  or  three  pieces,  to  get  as  much  as  will  pay  for  a 
passage  with  Captain  Sharker,  whose  ship  lies  at  Gravesend, 
bound  for  America;  and  so  eastward  ho!  I  met  one  devil 
in  the  way  already,  who  would  have  tempted  me  from  my 
purpose,  but  I  spurned  him  from  me;  you  maybe  another 
for  what  I  know.  What  degree  of  damnation  do  you  propose 
for  me,"  he  added  wildly,  "  and  what  is  the  price  of  it?" 

"I  would  have  you  to  know,"  answered  Eichie,  "that  I 
deal  in  no  such  commodities,  whether  as  buyer  or  seller.  But 
if  you  will  tell  me  honestly  the  cause  of  your  distress,  I  will 
do  what  is  in  my  power  to  help  yon  out  of  it — not  being, 
however,  prodigal  of  promises  until  I  know  the  case,  as  a 
learned  physician  only  gives  advice  when  he  has  observed  the 
diagnostics." 


412  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

"  No  one  has  anything  to  do  with  my  affairs/'  said  the 
poor  hid;  and  fokling  his  arms  on  the  table,  he  laid  his  head 
upon  tliem,  with  the  sullen  dejection  of  the  overburdened 
lama,  when  it  throws  itself  down  to  die  in  desperation. 

Richie  Moniplies,  like  most  folk  who  have  a  good  opinion  of 
themselves,  was  fond  of  the  task  of  consolation,  which  at 
once  displaj^ed  his  superiority  (for  the  consoler  is  necessarily, 
for  the  time  at  least,  superior  to  the  afflicted  person)  and  in- 
dulged his  love  of  talking.  He  inflicted  on  the  poor  penitent 
a  harangue  of  pitiless  length,  stuffed  full  of  the  usual  topics 
of  the  mutability  of  human  affairs,  the  eminent  advantages 
of  patience  under  affliction,  the  folly  of  grieving  for  what  hath 
no  remedy,  the  necessity  of  taking  more  care  for  the  future, 
and  some  gentle  rebukes  on  account  of  the  past,  which  acid 
he  threw  in  to  assist  in  subduing  the  jjatient's  obstinacy,  as 
Hannibal  used  vinegar  in  cutting  his  way  through  rocks.  It 
was  not  in  human  nature  to  endure  this  flood  of  commonplace 
eloquence  in  silence;  and  Jin  Yin,  whether  desirous  of  stop- 
ping the  flow  of  words  crammed  thus  into  his  ear,  "  against 
the  stomach  of  his  sense,"  or  whether  confiding  in  Eichie's 
protestations  of  friendship,  which  the  wretched,  says  Fielding, 
are  ever  so  ready  to  believe,  or  whether  merely  to  give  his  sor- 
rows vent  in  words,  raised  his  head,  and  turning  his  red  and 
swollen  eyes  to  Eichie — 

"  Cocksbones,  man,  only  hold  thy  tongue  and  thou  shalt 
know  all  about  it;  and  then  all  I  ask  of  thee  is  to  shake 
hands  and  part.  This  Margaret  Eamsay — you  have  seen  her, 
man?'* 

"  Once,"  said  Eichie — ''once,  at  Master  George  Heriot's, 
in  Lombard  Street,     I  was  in  the  room  when  they  dined." 

"Ay,  you  helped  to  shift  their  trenchers,  I  remember," 
said  Jin  Vin.  ''  Well,  that  same  pretty  girl — and  I  will  up- 
hold her  the  prettiest  betwixt  Paul's  and  the  Bar — she  is  to 
be  wedded  to  your  Lord  Glenvarloch,  with  a  pestilence  on  him ! " 

"  That  is  impossible,"  said  Eichie — "  it  is  raving  non- 
sense, man;  they  make  April  gouks  of  you  cockneys  every 
montk  in  the  year.  The  Lord  Glenvarloch  marry  the  daugh- 
ter of  a  Lonnun  mechanic!  I  would  as  soon  believe  the 
great  Prester  John  would  marry  the  daughter  of  a  Jew  pack- 
man." 

"  Hark  ye,  brother,"  said  Jin  Vin,  "  I  will  allow  no  one  to 
speak  disregardfully  of  the  city,  for  all  I  am  in  trouble." 

"  I  crave  your  pardon,  man — I  meant  no  offence,"  said 
"^ehie  ;  ''but  as  to  the  marriage,  it  is  a  thing  simply  impos- 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  413 

''It  is  a  tiling  that  will  take  place,  though,  for  the  Duke 
and  the  Priuce,  and  all  of  them,  have  a  finger  in  it ;  and  es- 
pecially the  old  fool  of  a  King,  that  makes  her  out  to  be  some 
great  woman  in  her  own  country,  as  all  the  Scots  pretend  to 
be,  you  know." 

"  Master  Vincent,  but  that  you  are  under  afQiction,"  said 
the  consoler,  offended  on  his  part,  "  I  would  hear  no  na- 
tional reflections." 

The  afflicted  youth  apologized  in  his  turn,  but  asserted, 
*'  It  was  true  that  the  King  said  Peg-a-Ramsay  was  some  far- 
off  sort  of  noblewoman;  and  that  he  had  taken  interest  in 
the  match,  and  had  run  about  like  an  old  gander,  cackling 
about  Peggie  ever  since  he  had  seen  her  in  hose  and  doublet 
— and  no  wonder,"  added  poor  Vin,  with  a  deep  sigh. 

"  This  may  be  all  true,"  said  Richie,  "  though  it  sounds 
strange  in  my  ears;  but,  man,  you  should  not  speak  evil  of 
dignities.  Curse  not  the  King,  Jenkin,  not  even  in  thy  bed- 
chamber: stone  walls  have  ears,  no  one  has  a  right  to  know 
that  better  than  I." 

"  I  do  not  curse  the  foolish  old  man,'*  said  Jenkin;  "  but 
I  would  have  them  carry  things  a  peg  lower.  If  they  were 
to  see  on  a  plain  field  thirty  thousand  such  pikes  as  I  have 
seen  in  the  artillery  gardens,  it  would  not  be  their  long- 
haired courtiers  would  help  them,  I  trow."* 

"  Hout  tout,  man,"  said  Richie,  ''mind  where  the  Stu- 
arts come  frae,  and  never  think  they  would  want  spears  or 
claymores  either;  but  leaving  sic  matters,  whilk  are  perilous 
to  speak  on,  I  say  once  more,  what  is  your  concern  in  all  this 
matter?" 

"What  is  it?"  said  Jenkin;  ''why,  have  I  not  fixed  on 
Peg-a-Ramsay  to  be  my  true  love,  from  the  day  I  came  to 
her  old  father's  shop?  And  have  I  not  carried  her  pattens 
and  her  chopines  for  three  years,  and  borne  her  prayer-book  to 
cliurch,  and  brushed  the  cushion  for  her  to  kneel  down  upon; 
and  did  she  ever  say  me  nay?" 

"I  see  no  cause  she  had,"  said  Richie,  "if  the  like  of 
such  small  services  were  all  that  ye  proffered.  Ah,  man! 
there  are  few — very  few,  either  of  fools  or  of  wise  men,  ken 
how  to  guide  a  woman." 

"Why,  did  I  not  serve  her  at  the  risk  of  my  freedom,  and 
Tery  nigh  at  the  risk  of  my  neck?  Did  she  not — no,  it  was 
not  her  neither,  but  that  accursed  beldam  whom  she  caused 
to  work  upon  me — persuade  me  like  a  fool  to  turn  myself 
into  a   waterman  to  help  my  lord,  and  a  plague  to  him!  down 

♦  See  JVIilitary  Traininjf  of  Londoners.    Note  43. 


414  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

to  Scotland?  And  instead  of  going  peaceably  down  to  the 
ship  at  Gravesend,  did  not  he  rant  and  bully,  and  show  his 
pistols,  and  make  me  land  him  at  Greenwich,  where  he  played 
some  swaggering  pranks,  that  helped  both  him  and  me  into 
the  Tower?" 

"Aha!"  said  Eichie,  throwing  more  than  his  usual  wis- 
dom into  his  looks,  "  so  you  were  the  green-jacketed  water- 
man that  rowed  Lord  Glenvarloch  down  the  river?" 

"  The  more  fool  I,  that  did  not  souse  him  in  the  Thames," 
said  Jenkin;  ''and  I  was  the  lad  that  would  not  confess  one 
word  of  who  or  what  I  was,  though  they  threatened  to  make 
me  hug  the  Duke  of  Exeter's  daughter." 

"  Wha  is  she,  man?"  said  Richie;  ''she  must  be  an  ill- 
fashioned  piece,  if  you're  so  much  afraid  of  her,  and  she 
come  of  such  high  kin." 

"  I  mean  the  rack — the  rack,  man,"  said  Jenkin. 
*'  Where  were  you  bred  that  never  heard  of  the  Duke  of 
Exeter's  daughter?  But  all  the  dukes  and  duchesses  in  Eng- 
land could  have  got  nothing  out  of  me;  so  the  truth  came 
out  some  other  way,  and  I  was  set  free.  Home  I  ran,  think- 
ing myself  one  of  the  cleverest  and  happiest  fellows  in  the 
ward.  And  she — she — she  wanted  to  pay  me  with  money  for 
all  my  true  service!  and  she  spoke  so  sweetly  and  so  coldly  at 
the  same  time,  I  wished  myself  in  the  deepest  dungeon  of  the 
Tower.  I  wish  they  had  racked  me  to  death  before  I  heard 
this  Scottishman  was  to  chouse  me  out  of  my  sweetheart!" 

"But  are  ye  sure  ye  have  lost  her?"  said  Eichie.  "It 
sounds  strange  in  my  ears  that  my  Lord  Glenvarloch  should 
marry  the  daughter  of  a  dealer;  though  there  are  uncouth 
marriages  made  in  London,  I'll  allow  that." 

"  Why,  I  tell  you  this  lord  was  no  sooner  clear  of  the 
Tower  than  he  and  Master  George  Heriot  comes  to  make 
proposals  for  her,  with  the  King's  assent,  and  what  not;  and 
fine  fair-day  prospects  of  court  favor  for  this  lord,  for  he 
hath  not  an  acre  of  land." 

'*  Well,  and  what  said  the  auld  watch-maker?"  said 
Eichie;  "  was  he  not,  as  might  weel  beseem  him,  ready  to 
loup  out  of  his  skin-case  for  very  joy?" 

"  He  multiplied  six  figures  progressively,  and  reported  the 
product;  then  gave  his  consent." 

"And  what  did  you  do?" 

"  I  rushed  into  the  streets,"  said  the  poor  lad,  "  with 
a  burning  heart  and  a  bloodshot  eye;  and  where  did  I  first 
find  myself,  but  with  that  beldam.  Mother  Suddlechop;  and 
what  did  she  propose  to  me,  but  to  take  the  road?  " 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  418 

"  Take  the  road,  man!   in  what  sense?  "  said  Richie. 

"  Even  as  a  clerk  to  St.  iS'ichohis — as  a  highwayman,  like 
Poins  and  Peto,  and  the  good  fellows  in  the  play.  And  who 
think  you  was  to  be  my  captain? — for  she  had  the  whole  out 
ere  I  could  speak  to  her;  I  fancy  she  took  silence  for  con- 
sent,  and  thought  me  damned  too  unutterably  to  have  one 
thought  left  that  savored  of  redemption — who  was  to  be  mj 
captain,  but  the  knave  that  you  saw  me  cudgel  at  the  ordi- 
nary when  you  waited  on  Lord  Glenvarloch — a  cowardly, 
sharking,  thievish  bully  about  town  here  whom  they  call  Cole- 
pepper."" 

"  Colepepper — umpli — I  know  somewhat  of  that  smaik," 
said  Richie;  "  ken  ye  by  ony  chance  where  he  may  be  heard 
of.  Master  Jenkin?  ye  wad  do  me  a  sincere  service  to  tell 
me."" 

"  Why,  he  lives  something  obscurely,""  answered  the  ap- 
prentice, "  on  account  of  suspicion  of  some  villany — I  believe 
that  horrid  murder  in  Whitef  riars,  or  some  such  matter.  But 
I  might  have  heard  all  about  him  from  Dame  Suddlechop, 
for  she  spoke  of  my  meeting  him  at  Enfield  Chase,  with  some 
other  good  fellows,  to  do  a  robbery  on  one  that  goes  north- 
ward with  a  store  of  treasure."" 

''And  you  did  not  agree  to  this  fine  project?""  said 
Moniplies. 

"  I  cursed  her  for  a  hag,  and  came  away  about  my  busi- 
ness,"' answered  Jenkin. 

"  Ay,  and  what  said  she  to  that,  man?  That  would 
startle  her,""  said  Richie. 

"'  Not  a  whit.  She  laughed,  and  said,  she  was  in  jest,"" 
answered  Jenkin;  ''but  I  know  the  she-devil's  jest  from  her 
earnest  too  well  to  be  taken  in  that  way.  But  she  knows  I 
would  never  betray  her."" 

"Betray  her!  No,"  replied  Richie;  "but  are  ye  in  any 
shape  bound  to  this  birkie  Pepi^ercull,  or  Colepepper,  or 
whatever  they  call  him,  that  ye  suld  let  him  do  a  robbery  on 
the  honest  gentleman  that  is  travelling  to  the  North,  and 
maybe  a  kindly  Scot  for  what  we  know?" 

"Ay — going  home  with  a  load  of  English  money,"  said 
Jenkin.  "  But  be  he  who  he  will,  they  may  rob  the  whole 
world  an  they  list,  for  I  am  robbed  and  ruined."" 

Richie  filled  up  his  friend's  cup  to  the  brim,  and  insisted 
that  he  should  drink  what  he  called  "  clean  caup  out."  "This 
love,"  he  said,  "  is  but  a  bairnly  matter  for  a  brisk  young 
fellow  like  yourself,  ]\Iaster  Jenkin.  And  if  ye  must  needs 
have  a  whimsy,  though  I  think  it  would  be  safer  to  venture 


416  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

on  a  staid  -womanly  body,  why,  here  be  as  bonny  lasses  in 
London  as  this  Peg-a-Eamsay.  Ye  need  not  sigh  sae  deeply, 
for  it  is  very  true:  there  is  as  good  fish  in  the  sea  as  ever 
came  out  of  it.  Now  wherefore  should  you,  who  are  as  brisk 
and  trig  a  young  fellow  of  your  inches  as  the  sun  needs  tc 
shine  on — wherefore  need  you  sit  moj^ing  this  way,  and  not 
try  some  bold  way  to  better  your  fortune  ?  " 

''  I  tell  you.  Master  Moniplies,''  said  Jenkin,  "  I  am  as 
poor  as  any  Scot  among  you;  J  have  broke  my  indenture, 
and  I  think  of  running  my  country/^ 

**  A-well-a-day!"  said  Eicliie,  "but  that  maunnabe,  man. 
I  ken  weel,  by  sad  experience,  that  poortith  takes  away  pith, 
and  the  man  sits  full  still  that  has  a  rent  in  his  breeks.* 
But  courage,  man  ;  you  have  served  me  heretofore,  and  I  will 
serve  you  now.  If  you  will  but  bring  me  to  speech  of  this 
same  captain,  it  shall  be  the  best  day's  work  you  ever  did.''' 

"  I  guess  where  you  are.  Master  Eichard:  you  would  save 
your  countryman's  long  purse,"  said  Jenkin.  "  I  cannot  see 
how  that  should  advantage  me,  but  I  reck  not  if  I  should  bear 
a  hand.  I  hate  that  braggart,  that  bloody-minded,  cowardly 
bully.  If  you  can  get  me  mounted,  I  care  not  if  I  show  you 
where  the  dame  told  me  I  should  meet  him;  but  you  must 
stand  to  the  risk,  for  though  he  is  a  coward  himself,  I  know 
he  will  have  more  than  one  stout  fellow  with  him." 

"  We'll  have  a  warrant,  man,"  said  Eichie,  "  and  the  hue 
and  cry  to  boot." 

"  We  will  have  no  such  thing,"  said  Jenkin,  "if  I  am  to 
go  with  you.  I  am  not  the  lad  to  betray  any  one  to  the  har- 
man-beck.  You  must  do  it  by  manhood  if  I  am  to  go  with 
you.  I  am  sworn  to  cutter's  law,  and  will  sell  no  man's 
blood." 

"  Aweel,"  said  Eichie,  "a  wilful  man  must  have  his  way; 
ye  must  think  that  I  was  born  and  bred  where  cracked  crowns 
were  plentier  than  whole  ones.  Besides,  I  have  two  noble 
friends  here.  Master  Lowestoffe  of  the  Temple  and  his  cousin 
Master  Eingwood,  that  will  blithely  be  of  so  gallant  a 
party." 

"  Lowestoffe  and  Eingwood!"  said  Jenkin;  "they  are 
both  brave  gallants,  they  will  be  sure  company.  Know  you 
where  they  are  to  be  found?" 

"  Ay,  marry  do  I,"  replied  Eichie.  "  They  are  fast  at  the 
cards  and  dice,  till  the  sma'  hours,  I  warrant  them." 

*  This  elegant  speech  was  made  by  the  Earl  of  Douglas,  called  Tineman,  aftef 
being  wounded  and  made  prisoner  at  the  battle  of  Shrewsbury,  where 

His  well  laboring  sword 
Had  three  times  slain  the  semblance  of  the  king. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  417 

"  They  are  gentlemen  of  trust  and  honor/'  said  Jenkin, 
''and,  if  they  advise  it,  I  will  try  the  adventure.  Go,  try  if 
you  can  bring  them  hither,  since  you  have  so  much  to  say 
with  them.  We  must  not  be  seen  abroad  together.  _  I  know 
not  how  it  is,  Master  Mouiplies,"  continued  he,  as  his  coun- 
tenance brightened  up,  and  while,  in  his  turn,  he  filled  the 
cups,  "  but  I  feel  my  heart  something  lighter  since  I  have 
thought  of  this  matter." 

-■'Thus  it  is  to  have  counsellors.  Master  Jenkin,"  said 
Richie;  ''and  truly  I  hope  to  hear  you  say  that  your  heart  is  as 
light  as  a  lavrock's,  and  tliat  before  you  are  many  days  aulder. 
Never  smile  and  shake  your  head,  but  mind  what  I  tell  you; 
and  bide  here  in  the  mean  while,  till  I  go  to  seek  these  gal- 
lants. I  warrant  you,  cart-ropes  would  not  hold  them  back 
from  such  a  ploy  as  I  shall  propose  to  them/' 


CHAPTER  XXXVI 

The  thieves  have  bound  the  true  men.  Now,  could  thou  and  1 
wob  the  thieves,  and  go  merrily  to  London. 

Henry  IV.  Part  I. 

rHE  sun  was  high  npon  the  glades  of  Enfield  Chase,  and 
the  deer,  with  wliich  it  then  abounded,  were  seen  sporting  in 
picturesque  groups  among  the  ancient  oaks  of  the  forest, 
when  a  cavalier  and  a  lady,  on  foot,  although  in  riding- 
apparel,  sauntered  slowly  up  one  of  the  long  alleys  which 
were  cut  through  the  park  for  the  convenience  of  the 
hunters.  Their  only  attendant  was  a  page,  who,  riding  a 
Spanish  jennet,  which  seemed  to  bear  a  heavy  cloak-bag,  fol- 
lowed them  at  a  respectful  distance.  The  female,  attired  in  all 
the  fantastic  finery  of  the  period,  with  more  than  the  usual 
quantity  of  bugles,  flounces,  and  trimmings,  and  holding  her 
fan  of  ostrich  feathers  in  one  hand  and  her  riding-mask  of 
black  velvet  in  the  other,  seemed  anxious,  by  all  the  little 
coquetry  practised  on  such  occasions,  to  secure  the  notice  of 
her  companion,  who  sometimes  heard  her  prattle  without 
seeming  to  attend  to  it,  and  at  other  times  interrupted  his 
train  of  graver  reflections  to  reply  to  her. 

"  Nay,  but,  my  lord — my  lord,  you  walk  so  fast,  you  will 
leave  me  behind  you.  Nay,  I  will  have  hold  of  your  arm; 
but  how  to  manage  with  my  mask  and  my  fan?  Why  would 
you  not  let  me  bring  my  waiting-gentlewoman  to  follow  us, 
and  hold  my  things?  But  see,  I  will  put  my  fan  in  my 
girdle,  soh!  and  now  that  I  have  a  hand  to  hold  you  with, 
you  shall  not  run  away  from  me."*' 

''Come  on,  then,"'  answered  the  gallant,  "and  let  us 
walk  apace,  since  you  would  not  be  persuaded  to  stay  with 
your  gentlewoman,  as  you  call  her,  and  with  the  rest  of  the 
baggage.  You  may  perhaps  see  tliat,  though,  you  will  not 
like  to  see.'" 

She  took  hold  of  his  arm  accordingly;  but,  as  he  contin- 
ued to  walk  at  the  same  pace,  she  shortly  let  go  her  hold,  ex- 
claiming that  he  had  hurt  her  hand.  The  cavalier  stojiped  and 
looked  at  the  pretty  hand  and  arm  Avhicli  she  showed  him, 
with  exclamations  against  his  cruelty.  "I  dare  say,"  she 
said,  baring  her  wrist  and  a  part  of  her  arm,  "it  is  all  black 
and  blue  to  the  very  elbow." 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  419 

-'I  dare  s?7  yon  ar?  a  silly  little  fool,"  said  the  cavalier/' 
carelessly  kissing  the  aggrieved  arm;  "it  is  only  a  pretty 
incarnate  which  sets  off  the  blue  veins." 

-^.^'i^S  my  lord,  now  it  ^.s  you  are  silly,"  answered  the 
dame;  "  but  I  am  glad  I  zdu  make  you  speak  and  laugh  on 
any  terms  this  morning.  I  am  sure,  if  I  did  insist  on  follow- 
ing you  into  the  forest,  it  was  all  for  the  sake  of  diverting 
you.  1  am  better  company  than  your  page,  I  trow.  And 
ncWj  t3i\  me,  these  pretty  things  with  horns,  be  they  not 
deer?" 

'^Even  such  they  be,  Nelly,"  answered  her  neglectf ul  at- 
te~d2nt. 

*•'  And  what  can  the  great  folk  do  with  so  many  of  them, 
forsooth  ?  " 

"  They  send  them  to  the  city,  Nell,  where  wise  men  make 
venison  pasties  of  their  flesh,  and  wear  their  horns  for 
trophies,"  answered  Lord  Dalgarno,  whom  our  reader  has  al- 
ready recognized. 

"Nay,  now  yon  laugh  at  me,  my  lord,"  answered  his 
companion;  "but  I  know  all  about  venison,  whatever  you 
may  think.  I  always  tasted  it  once  a  year  when  we  dined 
with  Mr.  Deputy,"  she  continued,  sadly,  as  a  sense  of  her 
degradation  stole  across  a  mind  bewildered  with  vanity  and 
folly,  "  though  he  would  not  speak  to  me  now,  if  we  met 
together  in  the  narrowest  lane  in  the  ward!" 

"I  warrant  he  would  not,"  said  Lord  Dalgarno,  "because 
thou,  Nell,  wouldst  dash  him  with  a  single  look;  for  I  trust 
thou  hast  more  spirit  than  to  throw  away  words  on  such  a 
fellow  as  he?" 

"  Who,  I!"  said  Dame  Nelly.  "Nay,  I  scorn  the  proud 
princox  too  much  for  that.  Do  you  know,  he  made  all  the 
folk  in  the  ward  stand  cap  in  hand  to  him,  my  poor  old  John 
Christie  and  all?"  Here  her  recollection  began  to  overflow 
at  her  eyes. 

"A  plague  on  your  whimpering,"  said  Dalgarno,  some- 
what harshly.  "Nay,  never  look  pale  for  the  matter,  Nell. 
I  am  not  angry  with  you,  you  simple  fool.  But  what  would 
you  have  me  think,  when  you  are  eternally  looking  back 
upon  your  dungeon  yonder  by  the  river,  which  smelt  of  pitch 
and  old  cheese  worse  than  a  Welshman  does  of  onions,  and 
all  this  when  I  am  taking  yon  down  to  a  castle  as  fine  as  is  in 
Fairyland!" 

"  Shall  we  be  there  to-night,  my  lord?"  said  Nelly,  dry- 
ing her  tears. 

"  To-night,  Nelly!  no,  nor  this  night  fortnight.*' 


430  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

"Now,  the  Lord  be  with  us  and  keep  us!  But  shall  we 
not  go  by  sea,  my  lord?  I  thought  everybody  came  from 
Scotland  by  sea.  I  am  sure  Lord  Glenvarloch  and  Richie 
Moniplies  came  up  by  sea." 

"There  is  a  wide  difference  between  coming  up  and  go- 
ing down,  Nelly,"  answered  Lord  Dalgarno. 

"  And  so  there  is,  for  certain,"  said  his  simple  companion. 
'•'  But  yet  I  tliink  I  heard  people  speaking  of  going  down  to 
Scotland  by  sea,  as  well  as  coming  up.  Are  you  well  avised 
of  the  way  ?  Do  you  think  it  possible  we  can  go  by  land,  my 
sweet  lord?" 

"It  is  but  trying,  my  sweet  lady,"  said  Lord  Dalgarno. 
^^  Men  say  England  and  Scotland  are  in  the  same  island,  so 
one  would  hope  there  may  be  some  road  betwixt  them  bv 
land." 

"I  shall  never  be  able  to  ride  so  far,"  said  the  lady. 

"  We  will  have  your  saddle  stuffed  softer,"  said  the  lord. 
•'  I  tell  you  that  you  shall  mew  your  city  slough,  and  change 
from  the  caterpillar  of  a  paltry  lane  into  the  butterfly  of  a 
prince's  garden.  You  shall  have  as  many  tires  as  there  are 
a  ours  in  the  day — as  many  handmaidens  as  there  are  days  in 
the  week — as  many  menials  as  there  are  weeks  in  the  year — 
and  you  shall  ride  a-hunting  and  hawking  with  a  lord,  instead 
of  waiting  upon  an  old  ship-chandler,  who  could  do  nothing 
but  hawk  and  spit." 

"  Ay,  but  will  you  make  me  your  lady?  "  said  Dame  Nelly. 

"Ay,  surely — what  else?"  replied  the  lord.  "My  lady- 
love." 

"Ay,  but  I  mean  your  lady-wife,"  said  Nelly. 

"  Truly,  Nell,  in  that  I  cannot  promise  to  oblige  you.  A 
lady-wife,"  continued  Dalgarno,  "is  a  very  different  thing 
from  a  lady-love." 

"I  heard  from  Mrs.  Suddlechop,  whom  you  lodged  me 
.vith  since  I  left  poor  old  John  Christie,  that  Lord  Glenvar- 
loch is  to  marry  David  Ramsay  the  clockmaker's  daughter?" 

"  There  is  much  betwixt  the  cup  and  the  lip,  Nelly.  I 
wear  something  about  me  may  break  the  banns  of  that  hope- 
ful alliance,  before  the  day  is  much  older,"  answered  Lord 
1  )algarno. 

"Well,  but  my  father  was  as  good  a  man  as  old  Davie 
Ramsay,  and  as  well  to  pass  in  the  world,  my  lord;  and, 
therefore,  why  should  you  not  marry  me?  You  have  done 
me  harm  enough,  I  trow;  wherefore  should  you  not  do  me 
this  justice?  " 

"  For  two  good  reasons,  Nelly.     Fate  put  a  husband  on 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  421 

/ou,  and  the  King  passed  a  wife  upon  me,"  answered  Lord 
Dalgarno. 

'■Ay,  my  lord,"  said  Nelly,  "but  they  remain  in  Eng- 
land, and  we  go  to  Scotland." 

"  Thy  argument  is  better  than  thou  art  aware  of,"  said 
Lord  Dalgarno.  "^I  have  heard  Scottish  lawyers  say  the 
matrimonial  tie  may  be  unclasped  in  our  happy  country  by 
the  gentle  hand  of  the  ordinary  course  of  law,  whereas  in 
England  it  can  only  be  burst  by  an  act  of  Parliament.  Well, 
Xelly,  we  will  look  Into  that  matter;  and  whether  we  get  mar- 
ried again  or  no,  we  will  at  least  do  our  best  to  get  unmar- 
ried." 

'•'  Shall  we  indeed,  my  honey-sweet  lord?  And  then  I  will 
think  less  about  John  Christie,  for  he  will  marry  again,  I  war- 
rant you,  for  he  is  well  to  pass;  and  I  would  be  glad  to  think 
he  had  somebody  to  take  care  of  him,  as  I  used  to  do,  poor 
loving  old  man!  He  was  a  kind  man,  though  he  was  a  score 
of  years  older  than  I;  and  I  hope  and  pray  he  will  never  let  a 
young  lord  cross  his  honest  threshold  again!" 

Here  the  dame  was  once  more  much  inclined  to  give  way 
to  a  passion  of  tears;  but  Lord  Dalgarno  conjured  down  the 
emotion  by  sapng,  with  some  asperity — "'  I  am  weary  of  these 
April  passions,  my  pretty  mistress,  and  I  think  you  will  do 
well  to  preserve  your  tears  for  some  more  pressing  occasion. 
Who  knows  what  turn  of  fortune  may  in  a  few  minutes  call 
for  more  of  them  than  you  can  render?" 

*'  Goodness,  my  lord!  what  mean  you  by  such  expressions? 
John  Christie,  the  kind  heart!  used  to  keep  no  secrets  from 
me,  and  I  hope  your  lordship  will  not  hide  your  counsel  from 
me?" 

"  Sit  down  beside  me  on  this  bank,"  said  the  nobleman; 
'*  I  am  bound  to  remain  here  for  a  short  space,  and  if  you  can 
be  but  silent,  I  should  like  to  spend  a  part  of  it  in  considering 
how  far  I  can,  on  the  present  occasion,  follow  the  respectable 
example  which  you  recommend  to  me." 

The  place  at  which  he  stopped  was  at  that  time  little 
more  tlian  a  mound,  partly  surrounded  by  a  ditch,  from 
which  it  derived  the  name  of  Camlet  Moat.  A  few  hewn 
stones  there  were,  which  had  escaped  the  fate  of  many  others 
that  had  been  used  in  building  different  lodges  in  the  forest 
for  the  royal  keepers.  These  vestiges,  just  sufficient  to  show 
that  ''here  in  former  times  the  hand  of  man  had  been," 
marked  the  ruins  of  the  abode  of  a  once  illustrious  but  long- 
forgotten  family,  the  Mandevilles,  Earls  of  Essex,  to  whom 
Enfield  Chase  and  the  extensive  domains  adjacent  had  be- 


433  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

longed  in  elder  days.  A  wild  woodland  prospect  led  the  eye 
at  various  points  through  broad  and  seemingly  interminable 
alleys,  which,  meeting  at  this  point  as  at  a  common  centre, 
diverged  from  each  other  as  they  receded,  and  had,  there- 
fore^ been  selected  by  Lord  Dalgarno  as  the  rendezvous  for 
the  combat,  which,  througli  the  medium  of  Eichie  Moniplies, 
he  had  olfered  to  his  injured  friend.  Lord  Glenvarloch. 

"  He  will  surely  come?"  he  said  to  himself.  "  Cowardice 
was  not  wont  to  be  his  fault;  at  least  he  was  bold  enough  in 
the  Park.  Perhaps  yonder  churl  may  not  have  carried  my 
message?  But  no — he  is  a  sturdy  knave,  one  of  those  would 
prize  their  master's  honor  above  their  life.  Look  to  the  pal- 
frey, Lutin,  and  see  thou  let  him  not  loose,  and  cast  thy 
falcon  glance  down  every  avenue  to  mark  if  any  one  comes. 
Buckingham  has  undergone  my  challenge,  but  the  proud 
minion  pleads  the  King's  paltry  commands  for  refusing  to 
answer  me.  If  I  can  baffle  this  Glenvarloch,  or  slay  him — i:^ 
I  can  spoil  him  of  his  honor  or  his  life,  I  shall  go  down  to 
Scotland  with  credit  sufficient  to  gild  over  past  mischances. 
I  know  my  dear  countrymen;  they  never  quarrel  with  any 
one  wlio  brings  them  home  either  gold  or  martial  glory,  much 
more  if  he  has  both  gold  and  laurels." 

As  he  thus  reflected,  and  called  to  mind  the  disgrace  which 
he  had  suffered,  as  well  as  the  causes  he  imagined  for  hating 
Lord  Glenvarloch,  his  countenance  altered  under  the  influence 
of  his  contending  emotions,  to  the  terror  of  Nelly,  who,  sitting 
unnoticed  at  his  feet,  and  looking  anxiously  in  his  face,  beheld 
the  cheek  kindle,  the  moutli  become  compressed,  the  eye  di- 
lated, and  the  whole  countenance  express  the  desperate  and 
deadly  resolution  of  one  wlio  awaits  an  instant  and  decisive 
encounter  with  a  mortal  enemy.  The  loneliness  of  the  place, 
the  scenery  so  different  from  that  to  which  alone  slie  had  been 
accustomed,  the  dark  and  sombre  air  which  crej)t  so  suddenly 
over  the  countenance  of  her  seducer,  liis  command  imposing 
silence  upon  her,  and  the  apparent  strangeness  of  his  conduct 
in  idling  away  so  much  time  without  any  obvious  cause,  when 
a  journey  of  such  length  lay  before  them,  brought  strange 
thoughts  into  her  weak  brain.  She  had  read  of  women,  se- 
duced from  their  matrimonial  duties  by  sorcerers  allied  to  the 
hellish  powers^  nay,  by  the  Father  of  Evil  liimself ,  who,  after 
conveying  his  victim  into  some  desert  remote  from  human 
kind,  exchanged  tlie  pleasing  shape  in  which  he  gained  her 
affections  for  all  his  natural  horrors.  She  chased  this  wild 
idea  away  as  it  crowded  itself  upon  her  weak  and  bewildered 
imagination;  yet  she  might  have  lived  to  see  it  realized  aile- 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  ^       423 

gorically,  if  not  literally,  but  for  the  accident  which  presently 
followed. 

The  page,  whose  eyes  were  remarkably  acute,  at  length 
called  out  to  his  master,  pointing  with  his  finger  at  the  same 
time  down  one  of  the  alleys,  that  horsemen  were  advancing  in 
that  direction.  Lord  Dalgarno  started  up,  and  shading  his 
eyes  with  his  hand,  gazed  eagerly  down  the  alley;  when,  at  the 
same  instant,  he  received  a  shot,  which,  grazing  his  hand, 
passed  right  through  his  brain,  and  laid  him  a  lifeless  corpse 
at  the  feet,  or  rather  across  the  lap,  of  the  unfortunate  victim 
of  his  profligacy.  The  countenance,  whose  varied  expression 
she  had  been  watching  for  the  last  five  minutes,  was  convulsed 
for  an  instant,  and  then  stiffened  into  rigidity  forever.  Three 
rufiians  rushed  from  the  brake  from  which  the  shot  had  been 
fired,  ere  the  smoke  was  dispersed.  One,  with  many  impre- 
cations, seized  on  the  page;  another  on  the  female,  upon 
whose  cries  he  strove  by  the  most  violent  threats  to  impose 
silence;  while  the  third  began  to  undo  the  burden  from  the 
page's  horse.  But  an  instant  rescue  prevented  their  availing 
themselves  of  the  advantage  they  had  obtained. 

It  may  easily  be  supposed  that  Richie  Moniplies,  having 
secured  the  assistance  of  the  two  Templars,  ready  enough  to 
join  in  anything  which  promised  a  fray,  with  Jin  Yin  to  act  as 
their  guide,  had  set  off,  gallantly  mounted  and  well  armed, 
under  the  belief  that  they  would  reach  Camlet  Moat  before  the 
robbers,  and  apprehend  them  in  the  fact.  They  had  not  calcu- 
lated that,  according  to  the  custom  of  robbers  in  other  coun- 
tries, but  contrary  to  that  of  the  English  highwaj-mtn  of  those 
days,  they  meant  to  insure  robbery  by  previous  murder.  An 
accident  also  happened  to  delay  them  a  little  while  on  the  road. 
In  riding  through  one  of  the  glades  of  the  forest  they  found  a 
man  dismounted  and  sitting  under  a  tree,  groaning  with  such 
bitterness  of  spirit  that  Lowestoffe  could  not  forbear  asking  if 
he  was  hurt.  In  answer,  he  said  he  was  an  unhappy  man  in 
pursuit  of  his  \niQ,  who  had  been  carried  off  by  a  villain;  and 
as  he  raised  his  countenance,  the  eyes  of  Eichie,  to  his  great 
astonishment,  encountered  the  visage  of  John  Christie. 

"  For  the  Almighty's  sake,  help  me.  Master  Moniplies!  "he 
said;  "  I  have  learned  my  wife  is  but  a  short  mile  before,  with 
that  black  villain  Lord  Dalgarno." 

" Have  him  forward  by  all  means," said  Lowestoffe — ''a 
second  Orpheus  seeking  his  Eurydicel  Have  him  forward;  we 
will  save  Lord  Dalgarno's  purse  and  ease  him  of  his  mistress. 
Have  him  with  us,  were  it  but  for  the  variety  of  the  adven- 
ture. I  owe  his  lordship  u  grudge  for  rooking  me.  Weha^ve 
ten  minutes  good." 


424  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

But  it  is  dangerous  to  calculate  closely  in  matters  of  life 
and  death.  In  all  probability  the  minute  or  two  whicli  was 
lost  in  mounting  John  Christie  behind  one  of  their  party  might 
hav^  sr.ved  Lord  Dalgarno  from  his  fate.  Thus  his  criminal 
amoiir  became  the  indirect  cause  of  his  losing  his  life;  and 
thus  ''  our  pleasant  vices  are  made  the  whips  to  scourge  us.'' 

The  riders  arrived  on  the  field  at  full  gallop  the  moment 
•ifter  the  shot  was  fired;  and  Eichie,  who  had  his  own  reasons 
for  attaching  himself  to  Colepepper,  who  was  bustling  to  untie 
the  jiortmanteau  from  the  jjage's  saddle,  pushed  against  him 
with  such  violence  as  to  overthrow  him,  his  own  horse  at  the 
same  time  stumbling  and  dismounting  his  rider,  who  was  none 
of  the  first  equestrians.  The  undaunted  Eichie  immediately 
arose,  however,  and  grappled  with  the  ruffian  with  such  good 
will  that,  though  a  strong  fellow,  and  though  a  coward  now 
rendered  desperate,  Moniplies  got  him  under,  wrenched  a  long 
knife  from  his  hand,  dealt  him  a  desperate  stab  with  his  own 
weapon,  and  leaped  on  his  feet;  and,  as  the  wounded  man 
struggled  to  follow  his  example,  he  struck  him  upon  the  head 
with  the  butt-end  of  a  musketoon,  which  last  blow  proved  fatal. 

"Bravo,  Eichie!"  cried  Lowestoffe,  who  had  himself 
engaged  at  sword-point  with  one  of  the  ruffians,  and  soon  put 
him  to  flight.  ''Bravo!  why,  man,  there  lies  sin,  struck 
down  like  an  ox,  and  iniquity's  throat  cut  like  a  calf." 

"  I  know  not  why  you  should  upbraid  me  with  my  up- 
bringing. Master  Lowestoffe,"  answered  Eichie,  with  great 
composure;  "  but  I  can  tell  you  the  shambles  is  not  a  bad 
place  for  training  one  to  this  work." 

The  other  Temi^lar  now  shouted  loudly  to  them — "  If  je 
be  men,  come  hither;  here  lies  Lord  Dalgarno,  murdered!'' 

Lowestoffe  and  Eichie  ran  to  the  spot,  and  the  page  took 
the  opportunity,  finding  himself  now  neglected  on  all  hands, 
to  ride  off  in  a  different  direction;  and  neither  he  nor  the 
considerable  sum  with  which  his  horse  was  burdened  were  ever 
heard  of  from  that  moment. 

The  third  ruffian  had  not  waited  the  attack  of  the 
Templar  and  Jin  Vin,  the  latter  of  whom  had  ]}nt  down  old 
Christie  from  behind  him  that  he  might  ride  the  lighter;  and 
the  whole  five  now  stood  gazing  with  horror  on  the  bloody 
corpse  of  the  young  nobleman,  and  the  wild  sorrow  of  the 
female,  who  tore  her  hair  and  shrieked  in  the  most  disconso- 
late manner,  until  her  agony  was  at  once  checked,  or  rather 
received  a  new  direction,  by  tlie  sudden  and  unexpected  ap- 
pearance of  her  husbaud,  who,  fixing  on  lier  a  ooJd  and 
severe  look,  said,  lu   a  tone    suited  to  his    manner — "Aj, 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  425 

woman!  tliou  takest  on  sadly  for  tlie  loss  of  thy  paramour," 
Then  looking  on  the  bloody  corpse  of  him  from  wliom  he 
had  received  so  deep  an  injury,  he  repeated  the  solemn  words 
of  Scripture,  "  '  Vengeance  is  mine,  saith  the  Lord,  and  I 
will  repay  it/  I,  whom  thou  hast  injured,  will  be  first  to 
render  thee  the  decent  offices  due  to  the  dead." 

So  saying,  he  covered  the  dead  body  with  his  cloak,  and 
then  looking  on  it  for  a  moment,  seemed  to  reflect  on  what 
he  had  next  to  perform.  As  the  eye  of  the  injured  man 
slowly  passed  from  the  body  of  the  seducer  to  the  partner 
and  victim  of  his  crime,  who  had  sunk  down  to  his  feet, 
which  she  clasped  without  venturing  to  look  up,  his  features, 
naturally  coarse  and  saturnine,  assumed  a  dignity  of  expres- 
sion which  overawed  the  young  Templars,  and  repulsed  the 
officious  forwardness  of  Eichie  Moniplies,  who  was  at  first 
eager  to  have  thrust  in  his  advice  and  opinion.  "  Kneel  not 
tome,  woman,  "  he  said,  "but  kneel  to  the  God  thou  hast 
offended  more  than  thou  couldst  offend  such  another  worm  as 
thyself.  How  often  have  I  told  thee,  when  thou  wert  at  the 
gayest  and  the  lightest,  that  pride  goeth  before  destruction, 
and  a  haughty  spirit  before  a  fall?  Vanity  brought  folly, 
and  folly  brought  sin,  and  sin  hath  brought  death,  his 
original  companion.  Thou  must  needs  leave  duty,  and 
decency,  and  domestic  love,  to  revel  itgayly  with  the  wald 
and  with  the  wicked ;  and  there  thou  liest,  like  a  crushed 
worm,  writhing  beside  the  lifeless  body  of  thy  paramour. 
Thou  hast  done  me  much  wrong — dishonored  me  among 
friends — driven  credit  from  my  house,  and  peace  from  my 
fireside.  But  thou  wert  my  first  and  only  love,  and  I  will 
not  see  thee  an  utter  castaway,  if  it  lies  with  me  to  prevent 
it.  Gentlemen,  I  render  ye  such  thanks  as  a  broken-hearted 
man  can  give.  Richard,  commend  me  to  your  honorable 
master.  I  added  gall  to  the  bitterness  of  his  affliction,  but 
I  was  deluded.     Else  up,  woman,  and  follow  me." 

He  raised  her  up  by  the  arm,  while,  Avith  streaming  eyes 
and  bitter  sobs,  she  endeavored  to  express  her  penitence. 
She  kept  her  hands  spread  over  her  face,  yet  suffered  him  to 
lead  her  away;  and  it  was  only  as  they  turned  around  a  brake 
which  concealed  the  scene  they  had  left,  that  she  turned 
back,  and  casting  one  wild  and^  hurried  glance  towards  the 
corpse  of  Dalgarno,  uttered  a  shriek,  and  clinging  to  her 
husband's  arm,  exclaimed  wildly,  ''Save  me! — save  me! 
They  have  miirdered  him!" 

Lowestoffe  Avas  much  moved  by  what  he  had  witnessed; 
but  he  was  ashamed,  as  a  town  gallant,  of  his  own  unfashion- 


426  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

able  emotion,  and  did  a  force  to  his  feelings  when  he 
exclaimed,  "Ay,  let  them  go — the  kind-hearted,  believing, 
forgiving  husband — the  liberal,  accommodating  spouse.  0 
what  a  generous  creature  is  your  true  London  husband! 
Ilorus  hath  he,  but,  tame  as  a  fatted  ox,  he  goreth  not.  I 
should  like  to  see  her  when  she  hath  exchanged  her  mask 
and  riding-beaver  for  her  peaked  hat  and  muffler.  We  will 
visit  them  at  Paul's  Wharf,  coz;  it  will  be  a  convenient 
acquaintance." 

''  You  had  better  think  of  catching  the  gypsey  thief, 
Lutin,"  said  Richie  Moniplies,  "  for,  by  my  faith,  he  is  off 
with  his  master's  baggage  and  the  siller." 

A  keeper,  with  his  assistants  and  several  other  persons,  had 
now  come  to  the  spot,  and  made  hue  and  cry  after  Lutin,  but 
in  vain.  To  their  custody  the  Templars  surrendered  the  dead 
bodies,  and  after  going  through  some  formal  investigation, 
they  returned,  with  Eichard  and  Vincent,  to  London,  where 
they  received  great  applause  for  their  gallantry.  Vincent's 
errors  were  easily  expiated  in  consideration  of  his  having  been 
the  means  of  breaking  up  this  band  of  villains;  and  there  is 
some  reason  to  think  that  what  would  have  diminished  the 
credit  of  the  action  in  other  instances  rather  added  to  it  in 
the  actual  circumstances,  namely,  that  they  came  too  late  to 
save  Lord  Dalgarno. 

George  Heriot,  who  suspected  how  matters  stood  with 
Vincent,  requested  and  obtained  permission  from  his  master 
to  send  the  poor  young  fellow  on  an  important  piece  of  busi- 
ness to  Paris.  We  are  unable  to  trace  his  fate  farther,  but 
believe  it  was  prosperous,  and  that  he  entered  into  an  advan- 
tageous partnership  with  his  fellow-apprentice,  upon  old 
Davie  Ramsay  retiring  from  business,  in  consequence  of  his 
daughter's  marriage.  That  eminent  antiquary.  Dr.  Dryas- 
dust, is  possessed  of  an  antique  watch,  with  a  silver  dial-plate, 
the  mainspring  being  a  piece  of  catgut  instead  of  a  chain, 
wiiich  bears  the  names  of  "  Vincent  and  Tunstall,  memory- 
monitors." 

Master  Lowestoffe  failed  not  to  vindicate  his  character  as  a 
man  of  gayety  by  inquiring  after  John  Christie  and  Dame 
Nelly;  but,  greatly  to  his  surprise,  indeed  to  his  loss,  for  he 
had  wagered  ten  pieces  that  he  would  domesticate  himself  in 
the  family,  he  found  the  good- will,  as  it  was  called,  of  the 
shop  was  sold,  the  stock  auctioned,  and  the  late  proprietor 
and  his  wife  gone,  no  one  knew  whither.  The  prevailing 
belief  was  that  they  had  emigrated  to  one  of  the  new  settle- 
ments in  America. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  4SSJ 

Lady  Dalgarno  received  the  news  of  her  unworthy  hns- 
band's  death  with  a  variety  of  emotions,  among  which  horror 
that  he  should  have  been  cut  off  in  the  middle  career  of  his 
profligacy  was  the  most  prominent.  Tiie  incident  greatly 
deepened  her  melancholy,  and  injured  her  health,  already 
shaken  by  previous  circumstances.  Eepossessed  of  her  own  for- 
tune by  her  husband's  death,  she  was  anxious  to  do  justice  to 
Lord  Glenvarloch  by  treating  for  the  recovery  of  the  mort- 
gage. But  the  scrivener,  having  taken  fright  at  the  late 
events,  had  left  the  city  and  absconded,  so  that  it  was  impos- 
sible to  discover  into  whose  hands  the  papers  had  now  passed. 
Eichard  Moniplies  was  silent  for  his  own  reasons;  the  Tem- 
plars, Avho  had  witnessed  the  transaction,  kept  the  secret  at 
his  request;  and  it  was  universally  believed  that  the  scrivener 
had  carried  off  the  writings  along  Avith  him.  We  may  here 
observe,  that  fears  similar  to  those  of  Skurliewhitter  freed 
London  forever  from  the  presence  of  Dame  Suddlechop,  who 
ended  her  career  in  the  rasp-haus  (viz.  bridewell)  of  Amster- 
dam. 

The  stout  old  Lord  Huntinglen,  with  a  haughty  carriage 
and  unmoistened  eye,  accompanied  the  funeral  procession  of 
his  only  son  to  its  last  abode;  and  perhaps  the  single  tear 
which  fell  at  length  upon  the  coffin  was  given  less  to  the  fate 
of  the  individual  than  to  the  extinction  of  the  last  male  of 
his  ancient  race. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII 

Jacques.  There  is,  sure,  another  flood  toward,  and  these  couples 
are  coming  to  the  arlc  1    Here  comes  a  pair  of  very  strange  beasts. 

As  You  Like  It. 

The  fashion  of  such  narratives  as  the  present  changes  like 
other  earthly  things.  Time  was  that  the  tale-teller  was  obliged 
to  wind  up  his  story  by  a  circumstantial  description  of  the 
wedding,  bedding,  and  throwing  the  stocking,  as  the  grand 
catastrophe  to  which,  through  so  many  circumstances  of  doubt 
and  difficulty,  he  had  at  length  happily  conducted  his  hero 
and  heroine.  Not  a  circumstance  was  then  omitted,  from  the 
manly  ardor  of  the  bridegroom  and  the  modest  blushes  of 
the  bride  to  the  parson^s  new  surplice  and  the  silk  tabinet 
mantua  of  the  bridesmaid.  But  such  descriptions  are  now 
discarded,  for  the  same  reason,  I  suppose,  that  public  mar- 
riages are  no  longer  fashionable,  and  that,  instead  of  calling  to- 
gether their  friends  to  a  feast  and  a  dance,  the  happy  couple 
elope  in  a  solitary  post-chaise,  as  secretly  as  if  they  meant  to 
go  to  Gretna  Green  or  to  do  worse.  1  am  not  ungrateful  for 
a  change  which  saves  an  author  the  trouble  of  attempting  in 
vain  to  give  a  new  color  to  the  commonplace  description  of 
such  matters;  but,  notwithstanding,  I  find  myself  forced  upon 
it  in  tlie  present  instance,  as  circumstances  sometimes  compel 
a  stranger  to  make  use  of  an  old  road  which  has  been  for 
some  time  shut  up.  The  experienced  reader  may  have  already 
remarked  that  the  last  chapter  was  employed  in  sweeping  out 
of  tlie  way  all  the  unnecessary  and  less  interesting  characters, 
that  I  might  clear  the  floor  for  a  blithe  bridal. 

In  truth,  it  would  be  unpardonable  to  pass  over  slightly 
what  so  deeply  interested  our  principal  personage.  King  James. 
That  learned  and  good-humored  monarch  made  no  great  figure 
in  the  politics  of  Europe;  but  then,  to  make  amends,  he  was 
prodigiously  busy  when  he  could  find  a  fair  opportunity  of 
intermeddling  with  the  private  affairs  of  his  loving  subjects, 
and  the  approaching  marriage  of  Lord  Glenvarloch  was  matter 
of  great  interest  to  him.  He  had  been  much  struck,  tliat  is, 
for  him,  who  was  not  very  accessible  to  such  emotions,  with 
the  beauty  and  embarrassment  of  the  pretty  Peg-a-Ramsay,  as 
he  called  her,  when  he  first  saw  her,  and  he  glorified  himself 
greatly  on  the  acuteness  which  he  had  displayed  in  detecting 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  429 

her  disguise,  and  in  carrying  through  the  whole  inquiry  which 
took  place  in  consequence  of  it. 

He  labored  for  several  weeks,  while  the  courtship  was 
in  progress,  with  his  own  royal  eyes,  so  as  well-uigh  to  wear 
out,  he  declared,  a  pair  of  her  father's  best  barnacles,  iu 
searching  through  old  books  and  documents  for  the  purpose 
of  establishing  the  bride's  pretensions  to  a  noble,  though  re- 
mote, descent,  and  thereby  remove  the  only  objection  which 
envy  might  conceive  against  the  match.  In  his  own  opinion, 
at  least,  he  was  eminently  successful;  for,  when  Sir  Mungo 
Malagrowther  one  day,  in  the  pi'esence-chamber,  took  upon 
him  to  grieve  bitterly  for  the  bride's  lack  of  pedigree,  the 
monarch  cut  him  short  with — ''  Ye  may  save  your  grief  for 
your  ain  next  occasions.  Sir  Mungo;  for,  by  our  royal  saul, 
we  will  uphauld  her  father,  Davie  Eamsay,  to  be  a  gentle- 
man of  nine  descents,  wliase  great  gudesire  came  of  the  aula 
martial  stock  of  the  house  of  Dalwolsey,  than  whom  better 
men  never  did,  and  better  never  will,  draw  sword  for  king 
and  country.  Heard  ye  never  of  Sir  William  Eamsay  of 
Dalwolsey,  man,  of  whom  John  Fordoun  saith,  '  He  was 
hellicosissbnus,  nohiUssimus?'  His  castle  stands  to  witness 
for  itsell,  not  three  miles  from  Dalkeith,  man,  and  within 
a  mile  of  Bannockrig.  Davie  Eamsay  came  of  that  auld  and 
honored  stock,  and  I  trust  he  hath  not  derogated  from  his 
ancestors  by  his  present  craft.  They  all  wrought  wi'  steel, 
man;  only  the  auld  knights  drilled  holes  wi'  their  swords,  in 
their  enemies'  corselets,  and  he  saws  nicks  in  his  brass  wheels. 
And  I  hope  it  is  as  honorable  to  give  eyes  to  the  blind  as  to 
slash  them  out  of  the  head  of  those  that  see;  and  to  show  us 
how  to  value  our  time  as  it  passes,  as  to  fling  it  away  in 
drinking,  brawling,  spear-splintering,  and  such-like  unchris- 
tian doings.  And  you  maun  understand  that  Davie  Eam- 
say is  no  mechanic,  but  follows  a  liberal  art,  which  approach- 
eth  almost  to  the  act  of  creifting  a  living  being,  seeing  it  may 
be  said  of  a  watch,  as  Claudius  saith  of  the  sphere  of  Ar- 
chimedes, the  Syracusan — 

♦ '  Inclusus  variis  famulatur  spiritus  astris, 
Et  vivuin  certis  motibus  urget  opus.'  " 

^'  Your  Majesty  had  best  give  auld  Davie  a  coat  of  arms 
as  well  as  a  pedigree,"  said  Sir  Mungo. 

"It's  done  or  ye  bade.  Sir  Mungo," said  the  King;  "and 
I  trust  we,  who  are  the  fountain  of  all  earthly  honor,  are  free 
to  spirt  a  few  drops  of  it  on  one  so  near  our  person,  without 
offence  to  the  kniglit  of  Castle  Girnigo.     We  have  already 


430  WAVJ^RLEY  NOVELS 

spoken  with  the  learned  men  of  the  Herald's  College,  and  we 
propose  to  grant  him  an  augmented  coat  of  arms,  being  his 
paternal  coat,  charged  with  the  crown- wlieel  of  a  watch  in 
chief,  for  a  difference;  and  we  purpose  to  add  Time  and 
Eternity,  for  supporters,  as  soon  as  tlie  Garter  King-at-Arms 
sliali  be  able  to  devise  how  Eternity  is  to  be  represented/' 

"  I  would  make  him  twice  as  muckle  as  Time,"  *  said 
Archie  Armstrong,  the  court  fool,  who  chanced  to  be  present 
wlien  the  King  stated  this  dilemma. 

"•  Peace,  man — ye  shall  be  whippet,"  said  the  King,  in  re- 
turn for  this  hint;  "  and  you,  my  liege  subjects  of  England, 
may  weel  take  a  hint  from  what  we  have  said,  and  not  be  in 
such  a  hurry  to  laugh  at  our  Scottish  pedigrees,  though  they 
be  somewhat  long  derived  and  difficult  to  be  deduced.  Ye 
see  that  a  man  of  right  gentle  blood  may,  for  a  season,  lay  by 
his  gentry,  and  yet  ken  whare  to  find  it,  when  he  has  occa- 
sion for  it.  It  would  be  as  unseemly  for  a  packman  or  ped- 
dler, as  ye  call  a  travelling-merchant,  whilk  is  a  trade  to  which 
our  native  subjects  of  Scotland  are  specially  addicted,  to  be 
blazing  his  genealogy  in  the  faces  of  those  to  whom  he  sells  a 
bawbee's  worth  of  ribbon,  as  it  would  be  to  him  to  have  a 
beaver  on  his  head  and  a  rapier  by  his  side,  when  the  pack 
was  on  his  shoulders.  Na — na,  he  hings  his  sword  on  the 
cleek,  lays  his  beaver  on  the  shelf,  puts  his  pedigree  into  his 
pocket,  and  gangs  as  doucely  and  cannily  about  his  peddling 
craft  as  if  his  blood  was  nae  better  than  ditch-water;  but  let 
our  peddler  be  transformed,  as  I  have  kenn'd  it  happen  mail 
than  ance,  into  a  bein  thriving  merchant,  then  ye  shall  have 
a  transformation,  my  lords. 

In  nova  fert  animus  mutatas  dicere  formas. 

Out  he  pulls  his  pedigree,  on  he  buckles  his  sword,  gives  his 
beaver  a  brush,  and  cocks  it  in  the  face  of  all  creation.  We 
mention  these  things  at  the  mair  length,  because  we  would 
have  yon  all  to  know  that  it  is  not  without  due  consideration 
of  the  circumstances  of  all  parties  that  we  design,  in  a  small 
and  private  way,  to  honor  with  our  own  royal  presence  the 
marriage  of  Lord  Glenvarloch  with  Margaret  Eanisay,  daugh- 
ter and  heiress  of  David  Eamsay,  our  horologer,  and  a  cadet 
only  thrice  removed  from  the  ancient  house  of  Dalwolsey. 
We  are  grieved  that  we  cannot  have  the  presence  of  the  noble 
chief  of  that  house  at  the  ceremony;  but  where  there  is  honor 

*  Chaucer  says,  there  is  nothing  new  but  what  it  has  been  old.  The  reader  has 
here  the  original  of  an  anecdote  which  has  since  been  fathered  on  a  ScotUsli  chiei 
of  our  own  time. 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  431 

to  be  won  abroad,  the  Lord  Dalwolsey  is  seldom  to  be  found 
at  home.  Sic  fiiit,  est,  et  erit.  Jingling  Geordie,  as  ye 
stand  to  the  cost  of  the  marriage-feast,  we  look  for  good 
cheer/* 

Heriot  bowed,  as  in  duty  bound.  In  fact,  the  King,  who 
was  a  great  politician  about  trifles,  had  manoeuvred  greatly 
on  this  occasion,  and  had  contrived  to  get  the  Prince  and 
Buckingham  dispatched  on  an  expedition  to  jS'ewmarket,  in 
order  that  he  miglit  find  an  opportunity  in  their  absence  of 
indulging  himself  in  his  own  gossiping,  "  coshering'''  habits, 
whicli  were  distasteful  to  Charles,  whose  temper  inclined  to 
formality,  and  with  which  even  the  favorite,  of  late,  had  not 
thought  it  worth  while  to  seem  to  sympathize. 

When  the  levee  was  dismissed,  Sir  Mungo  Malagrowther 
seized  upon  the  worthy  citizen  in  the  courtyard  of  the  palace, 
and  detained  him,  in  spite  of  all  his  efforts,  for  the  purpose 
of  subjecting  him  to  the  following  scrutiny: 

"  This  is  a  sair  job  on  you.  Master  George — the  King 
must  have  had  little  consideration — this  will  cost  you  a  bonny 
penny,  this  wedding-dinner?  *' 

"  It  will  not  break  me.  Sir  Mungo,"  answered  Heriot; 
"  the  King  hath  a  right  to  see  the  table  which  his  bounty 
hath  supplied  for  years  well  covered  for  a  single  day." 

"■  Vera  true — vera  true;  we'll  have  a'  to  pay,  I  doubt,  less 
or  mair;  a  sort  of  penny- Avedding*  it  will  prove,  where  all 
men  contribute  to  the  young  folks'  maintenance,  that  they 
may  not  have  just  four  bare  legs  in  a  bed  thegether.  What  do 
you  purpose  to  give.  Master  George?  we  begin  with  the  city 
when  money  is  in  question." 

"  Only  a  trifle,  Sir  Mungo:  I  give  my  goddaughter  the 
marriage-ring.  It  is  a  curious  jewel — I  bought  it  in  Italy;  it 
belonged  to  Cosmo  de  Medici.  The  bride  will  not  need  my 
help:  she  has  an  estate  which  belonged  to  her  maternal 
grandfather." 

"The  auld  soap-boiler,"  said  Sir  Mungo;  "it  will  need 
some  of  his  suds  to  scour  the  blot  out  of  the  Glenvarloch 
shield.     I  have  heard  that  estate  was  no  great  things." 

"  It  is  as  good  as  some  posts  at  court.  Sir  Mungo,  which 
are  coveted  by  persons  of  high  quality,"  replied  George 
Heriot. 

"Court  favor,  said  ye! — court  favor.  Master  Heriot!" 
replied  Sir  Mungo,  choosing  then  to  use  his  malady  of  mis- 
apprehension.    "  Moonshine  in  water,  poor  thing,  if  that  ia 

•See  Note  44. 


482  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

all  she  is  to  be  tocliered  with.  I  am  truly  solicitous  about 
them." 

"  I  will  let  you  into  a  secret,"  said  the  citizen,  "  which 
will  relieve  your  tender  anxiety.  The  dowager  Lady  Dal- 
garno  gives  a  competent  fortune  to  the  bride,  and  settles  the 
rest  of  her  estate  upon  her  nephew  the  bridegroom." 

"Ay,  say  ye  sae?"  said  Sir  Mungo,  "just  to  show  her 
regard  to  her  husband  that  is  in  the  tomb;  lucky  that  her 
nephew  did  not  send  liim  tliere.  It  was  a  strange  story,  that 
death  of  poor  Lord  Dalgarno;  some  folk  think  the  poor  gen- 
tleman had  much  wrong.  Little  good  comes  of  marrying  the 
daugliter  of  the  liouse  you  are  at  feud  with;  indeed,  it  was 
less  poor  Dulgarno's  fault  tlian  theirs  tliat  forced  the  match 
on  him.  But  I  am  glad  the  young  folk  are  to  have  some- 
thing to  live  on,  come  how  it  like,  whether  by  charity  or 
inheritance.  But  if  the  Lady  Dalgarno  were  to  sell  all  she 
has,  even  to  her  very  wylie-coat,  she  canna  gie  them  back  the 
fair  Castle  of  Glenvarloch:  that  is  lost  and  gane — lost  and 
gane." 

"It  is  but  too  true,"  said  George  Heriot;  "we  cannot 
discover  what  has  become  of  the  villain  Andrew  Skurliewhit- 
ter,  or  what  Lord  Dalgarno  has  done  with  the  mortgage." 

"Assigned  it  away  to  some  one,  that  his  wife  might  not 
get  it  after  he  was  gane;  it  would  have  disturbed  him  in  his 
grave  to  think  Glenvarloch  should  get  that  land  back  again," 
said  Sir  Mungo;  "depend  on  it,  he  will  have  ta'en  sure 
measures  to  keep  that  noble  lordship  out  of  her  gripe  or  her 
nevoy's  either." 

"  Indeed,  it  is  but  too  probable.  Sir  Mungo,"  said  Master 
Heriot;  "but,  as  I  am  obliged  to  go  and  look  after  many 
things  in  consequence  of  this  ceremony,  I  must  leave  you  to 
comfort  yourself  with  the  reflection." 

''  The  bride-day,  you  say,  is  to  be  on  the  thirtieth  of  the 
instant  month?"  said  Sir  Mungo,  hallooing  after  the  citizen. 
"I  will  be  with  you  in  the  hour  of  cause." 

"  The  King  invites  the  guests,"  said  George  Heriot,  with' 
out  turning  back. 

"The  base-born,  ill-bred  mechanic!"  soliloquized  Sir 
Mungo,  "if  it  were  not  the  odd  score  of  pounds  he  lent  me 
last  week,  I  would  teach  him  how  to  bear  himself  to  a  man  of 
quality!  But  I  will  beat  the  bridal  banquet  in  spite  of  him." 

Sir  Mungo  contrived  to  get  invited,  or  commanded,  to 
attend  on  the  bridal  accordingly,  at  which  there  were  but 
few  persons  present;  for  James,  on  such  occasions,  preferred 
a  snug  privacy,  which  gave  him  liberty  to  lay  aside  the 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIOEL  433 

encumbrance,  as  he  felt  it  to  be,  of  liis  regal  dignity.  The 
company  was  very  small,  and  indeed  there  were  at  least  two 
persons  absent  whose  presence  might  have  been  expected. 
The  first  of  these  was  the  Lady  Dalgarno,  the  state  of  whose 
health,  as  well  as  the  recent  death  of  her  husband,  precluded 
her  attendance  on  the  ceremony.  The  other  absentee  was 
Eichie  Moniplies,  whose  conduct  for  some  time  past  had 
been  extremely  mysterious.  Eegulating  his  attendance  on 
Lord  Glenvarloch  entirely  according  to  his  own  will  and 
pleasure,  he  had,  ever  since  the  rencontre  in  Enfield  Chase, 
appeared  regularly  at  his  bedside  in  the  morning  to  assist 
him  to  dress,  and  at  his  wardrobe  in  the  evening.  The  rest 
of  the  day  he  disposed  of  at  his  own  pleasure,  without  control 
from  his  lord,^  who  had  now  a  complete  establishment  of 
attendants.  Yet  he  was  somewhat  curious  to  know  how  the 
fellow  disposed  of  so  much  of  his  time;  but  on  this  subject 
Eichie  showed  no  desire  to  be  communicative. 

On  the  mornijig  of  the  bridal  day,  Eichie  was  particularly 
attentive  in  doing  all  a  valet-de-cliamhre  could,  so  as  to  set  off 
to  advantage  the  very  handsome  figure  of  his  master;  and 
when  he  had  arranged  his  dress  with  the  utmost  exactness, 
and  put  to  his  long  curled  locks  what  he  called  •'  the  finish- 
ing touch  of  the  re:lding-kaim,"  he  gravely  kneeled  down, 
kissed  his  hand,  and  bade  him  farewell,  saying,  that  he  hum- 
bly craved  leave  to  discharge  himself  of  his  lordship's  ser- 
vice. 

"Why,  what  humor  is  this?"  said  Lord  Glenvarloch;  "if 
you  mean  to  discharge  yourself  of  my  service,  Eichie,  I  sup- 
pose you  intend  to  enter  my  wife's?" 

"I  wish  her  good  ladyship  that  shall  soon  be,  and  your 
good  lordship,  the  blessings  of  as  good  a  servant  as  myself, 
in  Heaven's  good  time,"  said  Eichie;  "but  fate  hath  so 
ordained  it  that  I  can  henceforth  only  be  your  servant  in  the 
way  of  friendly  courtesy." 

"  Well,  Eichie,"  said  the  young  lord,  "if  you  are  tired  of 
service,  Ave  will  seek  some  better  provision  for  you;  but  you 
will  wait  on  me  to  the  church,  and  partake  of  the  bridal 
dinner?" 

"  Under  favor,  my  lord,"  answered  Eichie,  "  I  must  remind 
you  of  our  covenant,  having  presently  some  pressing  business 
of  mine  own,  whilk  will  detain  me  during  the  ceremony;  but 
I  will  not  fail  to  prie  Master  George's  good  cheer,  in  respect 
he  has  made  very  costly  fare,  whilk  it  would  be  unthankful 
not  to  partake  of." 

"  Do  as  you  list,"  answered  Lord  Glenyarloch;  and,  having 


434  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

bestowed  a  passing  tliouglit  on  the  wliimsical  find  pragmatical 
disposition  of  his  follower,  he  dismissed  the  subject  for  others 
better  suited  to  the  day. 

The  reader  must  fancy  the  scattered  flowers  which  strewed 
the  path  of  the  happy  coujjle  to  church — the  loud  music  which 
accompanied  the  procession — the  marriage  service  performed 
by  a  bishop — the  King,  who  met  them  at  St.  Paul's,  giving 
away  the  bride,  to  the  great  relief  of  her  father,  who  had  thu^ 
time,  during  the  ceremony,  to  calculate  the  just  quotient  to  be 
laid  on  the  pinion  of  report  in  a  timepiece  which  he  was  then 
putting  together. 

When  the  ceremony  was  finished,  the  company  were  trans- 
ported in  the  royal  carriages  to  George  Heriot's,  where  a 
splendid  collation  was  provided  for  the  marriage  guests  in  the 
Foljambe  apartments.  The  King  no  sooner  found  himself  in 
this  snug  retreat  than,  casting  from  him  his  sword  and  belt 
with  such  haste  as  if  they  burnt  his  fingers,  and  flinging  his 
plumed  hat  on  the  table,  as  who  should  say,  "  Lie  there,  author- 
ity!'^  he  swallowed  a  hearty  cup  of  wine  to  the  happiness  of 
the  married  couple,  and  began  to  amble  about  the  room,  mump- 
ing, laughing,  and  cracking  jests,  neither  the  wittiest  nor  the 
most  delicate,  but  accompanied  and  applauded  by  shouts  of 
his  own  mirth,  in  order  to  encourage  that  of  the  company. 
While  his  Majesty  was  in  the  midst  of  this  gay  humor,  and  a 
call  to  the  banquet  was  anxiously  expected,  a  servant  whis- 
pered Master  Heriot  forth  of  the  apartment.  When  he  re-en- 
tered, he  walked  up  to  the  King,  and,  in  his  turn,  whispered 
something,  at  which  James  started. 

"  He  is  not  wanting  his  siller? ''  said  the  King,  shortly  and 
sharply. 

"  By  no  means,  my  liege,"  answered  Heriot.  ''  It  is  a  sub- 
ject he  states  himself  as  quite  indifferent  about,  so  long  as  it 
can  pleasure  your  Majesty." 

"Body  of  us,  man!"  said  the  King,  ''it  is  the  speech  of 
a  true  man  and  a  loving  subject,  and  we  will  grace  him 
accordingly;  what  though  he  be  but  a  carle — a  twopenny  cat 
may  look  at  a  king.  Swith  man!  have  him — pandite  fores. 
Moniplies!  They  should  have  called  the  chield  Monypennies, 
though  I  sail  warrant  you  English  think  we  have  not  such  a 
name  in  Scotland." 

"  It  is  an  ancient  and  honorable  stock,  the  Monypennies," 
said  Sir  Mungo  Malagrowther;  "the  only  loss  is,  there  are 
sae  few  of  the  name." 

"  The  family  seems  to  increase  among  your  countrymen. 
Sir  Mungo,"  said  Master  Lowestoffe,  whom  Lord  Glenvar- 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  435 

loch  had  invited  to  be  present,  "  since  his  Majesty's  happy 
accession  brought  so  many  of  you  here." 

"  Right,  sir — right/*'  said  Sir  Mungo,  nodding  and  look- 
ing at  George  Heriot;  "there  have  some  of  ourselves  been 
the  better  of  tliat  great  blessing  to  the  English  nation." 

As  he  spoke,  the  door  flew  open,  and  in  entered,  to  the 
astonishment  of  Lord  Glenvarloch.  his  late  serving-man, 
Richie  Moniplies,  now  sumptuously,  nay,  gorgeously,  attired 
in  a  superb  brocaded  suit,  and  leading  in  his  hand  the  tall, 
thin,  withered,  somewhat  distorted  form  of  Martha  Trap- 
bois,  arrayed  in  a  complete  dress  of  black  velvet,  which  suited 
so  strangely  with  the  pallid  and  severe  melancholy  of  her 
countenance,  that  the  King  himself  exclaimed  in  some  per- 
turbation, "What  the  deil  has  the  fallow  brought  us  here? 
Body  of  our  regal  selves !  it  is  a  corpse  that  lias  run  off  with 
the  mort-cloth!" 

"May  I  sifflicate  your  Majesty  to  be  gracious  unto  her?" 
said  Richie;  "  being  that  she  is,  in  respect  of  this  morn- 
ing's wark,  my  ain  wedded  wife,  Mrs.  Martha  Moniplies  by 
name." 

"Saul  of  our  body,  man  I  but  she  looks  wondrous  grim,^' 
answered  King  James.  "Art  thou  sure  she  has  not  been  in 
her  time  maid  of  honor  to  Queen  Mary,  our  kinswoman,  of 
red-hot  memory  ?  " 

"I  am  sure,  an  it  like  your  Majesty,  that  she  has 
brought  me  fifty  thousand  pounds  of  good  siller,  and  better; 
and  that  has  enabled  me  to  pleasure  your  Majesty  and  other 
folk."  ^  ^     ^ 

"Ye  need  have  said  naething  about  that,  man,"  said  the 
King;  "'we  ken  our  obligations  in  that  sma*  matter,  and  we 
are  glad  this  rudas  spouse  of  thine  hath  bestowed  her  treasure 
on  ane  wha  kens  to  put  it  to  the  profit  of  his  King  and  coun- 
try.    But  how  the  deil  did  ye  come  by  her,  man?" 

"In  the  auld  Scottish  fashion,  my  liege.  She  is  the  cap- 
tive of  my  bow  and  my  spear,"  answered  Moniplies.  "  There 
was  a  convention  that  she  should  wed  me  when  I  avenged 
her  father's  death;  so  I  slew  and  took  possession." 

"  It  is  the  daughter  of  old  Trapbois,  who  has  been  missed 
so  long,"  said  Lowestoile.  "  Where  the  devil  could  you  mew 
her  up  so  closely,  friend  Richie?" 

"  Master  Richard,  if  it  be  your  will,"  answered  Richie  ; 
"  or  Master  Richard  Moniplies,  if  yon  like  it  better.  For 
mewing  of  her  up,  I  found  her  a  shelter,  in  all  honor  and 
safety,  under  the  roof  of  an  honest  countryman  of  my  own; 
and  for  secrecy,  it  was  a  point  of  prudence,  when  wantons 
like  yoa  were  abroad.  Master  Lowestoffe.'' 


486  WAVERLEY  NOVELS 

There  was  a  laugh  at  Richie's  raagnanimou'-<  (epiy,  on  the 
part  of  every  one  but  his  bride,  who  made  to  hira  a  signal  of 
impatience,  and  said,  with  her  usual  brevity  and  sternness, 
"Peace — peace — I  pray  you,  peace.  Let  us  do  that  which 
we  came  for."  So  saying,  she  took  out  a  bundle  of  parch- 
ments, and  delivering  them  to  Lord  Glenvarloch,  she  said 
aloud — "  I  take  this  royal  presence,  and  all  here,  to  witness^ 
that  I  restore  the  ransomed  lordship  of  Glenvarloch  to  tht 
right  owner,  as  free  as  ever  it  was  held  by  any  of  his  ances- 
tors.'' 

''I  witnessed  the  redemption  of  the  mortgage,"  said 
Lowestoffe;  "but  I  little  dreamt  by  whom  it  had  been  re- 
deemed." 

"No  need  ye  should,"  said  Richie;  "there  would  have 
been  small  wisdom  in  crying  roast-meat." 

"Peace,"  said  his  bride,  "once  more.  This  paper,"  she 
continued,  delivering  another  to  Lord  Glenvarloch,  "  is  also 
your  property;  take  it,  but  spare  me  the  question  how  it 
came  into  my  custody." 

The  King  had  bustled  forward  beside  Lord  Glenvarloch, 
and  fixing  an  eager  eye  on  the  writing,  exclaimed — "  Body 
of  ourselves,  it  is  our  royal  sign-manual  for  the  money  which 
was  so  long  out  of  sight f     How  came  you  by  it,  Mrs.  Bride?" 

"It  is  a  secret,"  said  Martha,  dryly. 

"A  secret  which  my  tongue  shall  never  utter,"  said 
Richie,  resolutely,  "  unless  the  King  commands  me  on  my 
allegiance." 

"  I  do — I  do  command  you,"  said  James,  trembling  and 
stammering  with  the  impatient  curiosity  of  a  gossip;  while 
Sir  Mungo,  with  more  malicious  anxiety  to  get  at  the  bottom 
of  the  mystery,  stooped  his  long  thin  form  forward  like  a 
bent  fishing-rod,  raised  his  thin  gray  locks  from  his  ear,  and 
curved  his  hand  behind  it  to  collect  every  vibration  of  the  ex- 
pected intelligence.  Martha,  in  the  mean  time,  frowned  most 
ominously  on  Richie,  who  went  on  undauntedly  to  inform  the 
King,  "That  his-  deceased  father-in-law,  a  good  careful  man 
in  the  main,  had  a  touch  of  worldly  wisdom  about  him,  that 
at  times  marred  the  uprightness  of  his  walk;  he  liked  to  dab- 
ble among  his  neighbor's  gear,  and  some  of  it  would  at  times 
stick  to  his  fingers  in  the  handling." 

"  For  shame,  man — for  shame  ! "  said  Martha:  "  since  the 
infamy  of  the  deed  must  be  told,  he  it  at  least  briefly.  Yes, 
my  lord,"  she  added,  addressing  Glenvarloch,  "the  piece  of 
gold  was  not  the  sole  bait  which  brought  the  miserable  old 
mai)  to  jour  chamber  that  dreadful  night:  his  object,  and  he 


TEE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL  487 

accomplished  it,  was  to  purloin  this  paper.  The  wretched 
scrivener  was  with  him  that  morning,  and,  I  doubt  not,  urged 
th:  doting  old  man  to  tliisvillany,  to  offer  another  bar  to  the 
:>-iiSom  of  your  estate.  If  there  was  a  yet  more  powerful  agent 
gt  the  bottom  of  the  conspiracy,  God  forgive  it  to  him  at  this 
moment,  for  he  is  now  where  the  crime  must  be  answered!" 

"  Amen  !  "  said  Lord  Glenvarloch,  and  it  was  echoed  by  all 
present. 

**  For  my  father,"  continued  she,  with  her  stern  features 
twitched  by  an  involuntary  and  convulsive  movement,  "his 
guilt  and  folly  cost  him  his  life;  and  my  belief  is  constant, 
that  the  wretch  who  counselled  him  that  morning  to  purloin 
the  paper  left  open  the  window  for  the  entrance  of  the  mur- 
derers." 

Everybody  was  silent  for  an  instant;  the  King  was  first  to 
speak,  commanding  search  instantly  to  be  made  for  the  guilty 
scrivener.  "I,  lictor,"  he  concluded,  "  coUiga  manus,  caput 
obnuhito,  infelici  suspendite  arhori." 

Lowestone  answered  with  due  respect,  that  the  scrivener 
had  absconded  at  the  time  of  Lord  Dalgarno's  murder,  and 
had  not  been  heard  of  since. 

"  Let  him  be  sought  for,"  said  the  King.  "And  now  let 
us  change  the  discourse;  these  stories  make  one's  very  blood 
grew,  and  are  altogether  unfit  for  bridal  festivity.  Hymen, 
0  Hymenee  !  "  added  he,  snapping  his  fingers.  "  Lord  Glen- 
varloch, what  say  you  to  Mistress  Moniplies,  this  bonny 
bride,  that  has  brought  you  back  your  father's  estate  on  your 
bridal  day  ?  " 

"  Let  him  say  nothing,  my  liege,"  said  Martha;  "  that  will 
best  suit  his  feelings  and  mine." 

"  There  is  redemption-money,  at  the  least,  to  be  repaid," 
said  Lord  Glenvarloch;   "  in  that  I  cannot  remain  debtor." 

"  We  will  speak  of  it  hereafter."  said  Martha;  ''7ny  debtor 
you  cannot  be."  And  she  shut  her  mouth  as  if  determined 
to  say  nothing  more  on  the  subject. 

Sir  Mungo,  however,  resolved  not  to  part  with  the  topic, 
and  availing  himself  of  the  freedom  of  the  moment,  said  to 
Richie — "  A  queer  story  that  of  your  father-in-law,  honest 
man;  methinksyour  bride  thanked  you  little  for  ripping  it 
up." 

"  I  make  it  a  rule.  Sir  Mungo,"  replied  Richie,  "  always 
to  speak  any  evil  I  know  about  my  family  myself,  having  ob- 
served, that  if  I  do  not,  it  is  sure  to  be  told  by  ither  folks." 

"  But,  Richie,"  said  Sir  Mungo,  "  it  seems  to  me  that  this 
bride  of  vours  is  like  to  be  master  and  mair  in  the  conjugal 

gttee«>. 


438  WAVEBLEY  NOVELS 

"  If  she  abides  by  words.  Sir  Mungo/'  answered  Richie, 
"I  thank  Heaven  I  can  be  as  deaf  as  any  one;  and  if  she 
comes  to  dunts,  I  have  twa  hands  to  paik  her  with." 

"  VYeel  said,  Richie,  again,''  said  the  King;  "yon  iiave 
gotten  it  on  baith  haffits.  Sir  Mnngo.  Troth,  Mistress  Bride, 
for  a  fule,  your  gudeman  has  a  pretty  turn  of  wit." 

"  There  are  fools,  sire,"  replied  she,  "  who  have  wit,  and 
fools  who  have  courage — ay,  and  fools  who  have  learning 
and  are  great  fools  notwithstanding.  I  chose  this  man 
because  he  was  my  protector  when  I  was  desolate,  and  neithe_^ 
for  his  wit  nor  his  wisdom.  He  is  truly  honest,  and  has  a 
heiirt  and  hand  that  make  amends  for  some  folly.  Since  I 
was  condemned  to  seek  a  protector  through  the  world,  which 
is  to  me  a  wilderness,  I  may  thank  God  that  I  have  come  by 
no  worse." 

"  And  that  is  sae  sensibly  said,"  replied  the  King,  "  that, 
by  my  saul,  I'll  try  whether  I  canna  make  him  better.  Kneel 
down,  Richie;  somebody  lend  me  a  rapier — yonrs,  Mr.  Lang- 
staff — that's  a  brave  name  for  a  lawyer  !  Ye  need  not  flash 
it  out  that  gate.  Templar  fashion,  as  if  ye  were  about  to  pinV 
abailifE!" 

He  took  the  drawn  sword,  and  with  averted  eyes,  for  i^ 
was  a  sight  he  loved  not  to  look  on,  endeavored  to  lay  it  on 
Richie's  shoulder,  bnt  nearly  stuck  it  into  his  eye.  Richie, 
starting  back,  attempted  to  rise,  bnt  was  held  down  by  Lowe- 
stoffe,  while  Sir  Mungo  guiding  the  royal  weapon,  the  honor- 
bestowing  blow  was  given  and  received.  "  Surge,  cai^nifex. 
Rise  up.  Sir  Richard  Moniplies  of  Castle  Collop!  And.  my 
lords  and  lieges,  let  us  all  to  our  dinner,  for  the  cock-a-leekie 
is  cooling,'* 


J>J^OTES  TO  THE  FORTUNES  OF  NIGEL 

Note  1. — Geokge  Heriot's  Hospital,  p.  vii 

After  Heriot's  death  in  1624,  the  site  originally  designed  for  the  hospital 
at  the  foot  of  G-ray's  Clooe,  Covvgate,  not  far  fi'oiu  the  old  mint,  consisted  of 
houses,  which  belonged  to  Heriot,  and  which  he  bequeathed  to  his  executors 
for  that  purpose.  In  June,  1627,  when  Dr.  Balcauquall,  Dean  of  Rochester, 
came  to  Edinburgh  to  make  arrangements  for  carrying  Heriot's  intentions 
into  effect,  of  foun  liug  "  so  great  a  work,"  it  was  concluded  thatthissite  was 
quite  ineligible  ;  auJ,  tortunately,  the  provost  and  council  agreed  to  transfer 
certain  acres,  which  they  had  recently  purchased,  known  as  the  High  Riggs, 
to  the  south  of  the  Grassmarket,  for  the  proposed  building,  and  William 
Wallace,  the  king's  master-mason,  was  appointed  to  superintend  the  work. 
On  the  1st  of  July,  1628,  after  a  sermon,  the  ground-stone  was  laid.  Wallace 
did  not  lire  to  complete  the  bull  iing,  having  died  in  October,  1631.  That  the 
presentquad.-angular  building  w  is  actually  designed  byhini  is  clear  from  the 
minutes  of  the  Governors,  and  the  various  items  of  the  treasurer's  accounts, 
from  the  day  when  the  usual  drink-money  was  paid  for  laying  the  founda- 
tion to  Wallace  and  his  workmen,  with  the  sums  they  received  from  week 
to  week.  A  good  deal  of  useless  discussion  has  taken  place  in  regard  to  the 
architect:  1  Dean  Balcanquall  on  this  head  is  said  to  have  brought  with 
him  a  design  by  Inigo  Jones  ;  2,  the  dean  himself  has  been  named,  he  having 
furnished,  not  the  pattern  of  the  building,  but  the  statutes,  in  1627,  for  the 
government  of  the  hospital ;  and  3,  William  Aytoun.  junior,  appointed 
master-mason  as  successor  to  Wallace,  1631-32,  has  also  been  lauded,  but 
without  the  slightest  evidence  in  either  of  these  cases  to  deprive  Wallace  of 
the  honor.  The  governors  voted  a  sum  to  Wallace's  widow,  in  consideration 
of  his  extraordinary  pains  at  the  beginning  thereof,  "  upon  the  Modell, 
A\D  Frame  thairof."  Aytoun  was  likewise  expre.ssly  enjoined  "to  prose- 
cute and  follow  forth  the  Modell,  Frame,  axd  Bijilding  of  the  said 
Wark  as  the  same  is  already  begun."  Aytoun,  who  dieil  in  1640,  was  suc- 
ceeded as  ma-ster-mason  by  John  Mylne,  but  the  want  of  funds  prevented 
the  hospital  being  completed  with  a  handsome  spire,  as  exhibited  in  an  old 
engraving  about  1646,  while  the  buiLling  was  still  in  progress.  See  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Steven's  Historii  of  the  Hospital,  edited  by  Dr.  Bedford,  1S59,  and 
extracts  in  a  paper,  "  Who  was  the  Architect  of  Heriot's  Hospital  ?"  in  the 
Transactions  of  the  Architectural  Institute  of  Scotland,  sess.  1851-52, 
p.  13  (Laing). 

Note  2. — Debauchery  of  the  Period,  p.  xi 

Harrington's  Nugce  Antiqua;,  vol.  ii.,  pp.  129,  130  [ed.  1779].  For  the 
gross  debauchery  of  the  period,  too  much  encouraged  by  the  example  of  the 
monarch,  who  was,  in  other  respects,  neither  without  talent  nor  a  good- 
natured  dispositioir,  see  Winwood's  Mpniorials,  Howel's  Letters  and  other 
memorials  of  the  time  ;  but  particularly  consult  the  Private  Letters  and 


440  NOTES 

Correspondence  of  Steenie,  alias  Buckingham,  with  his  reverend  Dad  and 
Gossip,  King  James,  which  abound  with  the  grossest  as  well  as  the  most 
childish  language.  The  learned  Mr.  D'Israeli,  in  an  attempt  to  vindicate  the 
character  of  James,  has  only  succeeded  in  obtaining  for  himself  the  character 
of  a  ski^^"^  and  ingenious  advocate,  without  much  advantage  to  his  royal 


Note  3. — Alsatian  Characters,  p.  xii 

"  Cheatly,  a  rascal,  who,  by  reason  of  debts,  dares  not  stir  out  of  White- 
friars,  but  there  inveigles  young  heirs  in  tail,  and  helps  them  to  goods  and 
money  upon  great  disadvantages,  is  bound  for  them,  and  shares  with  them 
till  he  undoes  them.  A  lewd,  impudent,  debauched  fellow,  very  expert  in 
the  cant  about  the  town. 

"  Shamivell,  cousin  to  the  Belfonds,  an  heir,  who,  being  ruined  by  Cheatly, 
is  made  a  decoy-duck  for  others,  not  daring  to  stir  out  of  Alsatia,  where  he 
lives.  Is  bound  with  Cheatly  for  heirs,  and  lives  upon  them  a  dissolute, 
debauched  life. 

"  Captain  Hackuin,  a  block-headed  bully  of  Alsatia,  a  cowardly,  impu- 
dent, blustering  fellow,  formerly  a  sergeant  in  Flanders,  ran  from  his  colors, 
retreated  into  Whitefriars  for  a  very  small  debt,  where  by  the  Alsatians  he 
is  dubbed  a  captain,  marries  one  that  lets  lodgings,  sells  cherry -brandy,  and 
is  a  bawd. 

'■'■  Scrapeall,  a  hypocritical,  repeating,  praying,  psalm-singing,  precise 
fellow,  pretending  to  great  piety  ;  a  godly  knave,  who  joins  with  Cheatly, 
and  supplies  young  heirs  with  goods  and  money." — Dramatis  Personce  to 
the  Squire  of  Alsatia,  Shadwell's  Works,  vol.  iv. 

Note  4. — David  Ramsay,  p.  2 

David  Ramsay,  watchmaker  and  horologer  to  James  I. ,  was  a  real  person, 
though  the  Author  has  taken  the  liberty  of  pressing  him  into  the  service  of 
fiction.  Although  his  profession  led  him  to  cultivate  the  exact  sciences,  like 
many  of  this  period,  he  mingled  them  with  pursuits  which  were  mystical  and 
fantastic.  The  truth  was,  that  the  boundaries  between  truth  and  falsehood 
in  mathematics,  astronomy,  and  similar  pursuits  were  not  exactly  known, 
and  there  existed  a  sort  of  tei-ra  incogniia  between  them,  in  which  the  wisest 
men  bewildered  themselves.  David  Ramsay  risked  his  money  on  the  success 
of  the  vaticinations  which  his  researches  led  him  to  form,  since  ha  sold  clocks 
and  watches  under  condition  that  their  value  should  not  become  payable  till 
King  James  was  crowned  in  the  Pope's  chair  at  Rome.  Such  wagers  were 
common  in  that  day,  as  may  be  seen  by  looking  at  Jonson's  Every  Man  Out 
of  His  Hmnour. 

David  Ramsay  was  also  an  actor  in  another  singular  scene,  in  which  the 
notorious  astrologer  Lilly  was  a  performer,  and  had  no  small  expectation  on 
the  occasion,  since  he  brought  with  him  a  half-quartern  sack  to  put  the  treas- 
ure in. 

David  Ramsay,  his  Majesty's  clock-maker,  had  been  informed  that  there  was  a 
great  quantity  of  treasure  buried  in  the  cloister  of  Westminster  Abbey.  He  acquaints 
Dean  Williams  therewith,  who  was  also  then  Bishop  of  Lincoln.  The  dean  gave  him 
hberty  to  search  after  it,  with  this  proviso,  that  if  any  was  discovered,  his  church 
should  have  a  share  of  it.  Davy  Ramsay  finds  out  one  John  Scott,  who  pretended 
the  use  of  the  Mosaical  rods,*  to  assist  him  herein.  I  was  desired  to  join  with  him, 
unto  which  I  consented.  One  winter's  night,  Davj'  Ramsay,  with  several  gentlemen, 
myself,  and  Scott,  entered  the  cloisters.  We  played  the  hazel  rod  round  about  the 
cloister.  Upon  the  west  side  of  the  cloisters  the  rods  ttu-ned  one  over  another,  an 
argument  that  the  treasure  was  there.    The  labourers  digged  at  least  six  foot  deep, 

*  The  same  now  called,  I  believe,  the  divining-rod,  and  apphed  to  the  discovery 
of  water  not  obvious  to  the  eye. 


NOTES  441 

and  then  we  met  with  a  coffin  ;  but  [which],  in  regard  it  was  not  heavy,  we  did  not 
open,  which  we  afterwards  much  repente  i. 

From  the  cloisters  we  went  into  the  abljej'  church,  where,  upon  a  sudden  (there 
being  no  wind  wlien  we  begani,  so  fierce,  so  high,  so  blustering  and  loud  a  wind  did 
rise,  that  we  verily  believed  the  west  end  of  the  church  would  haVe  fallen  upon  us. 
Our  rods  would  not  move  at  all ;  ths  candles  and  torches,  all  but  one,  were  extin- 
guished, or  burned  very  dimly.  John  Scott,  my  partner,  was  amazed,  looked  pale, 
knew  nut  what  to  think  or  do.  until  I  gave  directions  and  command  to  dismiss  the 
daemons  ;  which,  when  done,  all  was  quiet  again.  au<l  each  man  returned  unto  his 
lodging  late,  about  twelve  o'clock  at  night.  I  could  never  since  be  induced  to  join 
with  any  in  such  like  actions. 

The  true  miscarriage  of  the  business  was  by  reason  of  so  many  people  bemg 
present  at  the  operation  ;  for  there  was  above  thirty,  some  laughing,  others  deriding 
us  ;  so  that,  if  we  had  not  dismissed  the  daemons.  I  believe  most  part  of  the  abbey 
church  had  been  blown  down.  Secrecy  and  intelligent  operators,  with  a  strong  con- 
fuletice  and  knowledtre  of  what  they  are  doing,  are  best  for  tMs  work.— Lilly's  Life 
and  Times,  pp.  32,  32  [ed.  1715]. 

David  Ramsay  had  a  son  called  William  Ramsay,  who  appears  to  have 
possessed  all  his  father's  credulity.  He  became  an  astrologer,  and  in  1651-52 
published  Vox  Stellar 'im,  an  Introduction  to  the  Judgment  of  Eclipse:^  and 
the  Annual  Revolutions  of  the  World.  The  edition  of  lbo2  is  inscribed  to 
his  father.  It  would  appear,  as  indeed  it  might  be  argued  from  his  mode  of 
dispising  of  his  goods,  that  the  old  horologer  had  omitted  to  make  hay  while 
the  suu  sho  le  ;  for  his  son,  in  his  dedication,  has  this  exception  to  the  paternal 
virtues  :  "  It's  true  your  carelessness  in  laying  up  while  the  sun  shone  for  the 
tempests  of  a  stormy  day  hath  given  occasion  to  some  inferior-spirited  people 
not  to  value  you  according  to  what  you  are  by  nature  and  in  yourself,  for  such 
look  not  to  a  man  longer  than  he  is'in  prosperity,  esteeming  none  but  for  their 
wealth,  not  wisdom,  power,  nor  virtue."  From  these  expressions  it  is  to  be 
apprehemled  that  while  old  David  Ramsay,  a  fdllower  of  the  Stuarts,  sank 
under  the  Parliamentary  government,  his  son,  "William,  had  advanced  from 
being  a  dupe  to  astrology  to  the  dignity  of  being  himself  a  cheat. 


Note  5. — George  Heriot,  p.  23 

This  excellent  person  was  but  little  known  by  his  actions  when  alive,  but 
we  may  well  use,  in  this  particular,  the  striking  phrase  of  Scripture,  "  that 
being  dead  he  yet  speaketh"  We  have  already  mentioned,  in  the  Introduc- 
tion, the  splendid  charity  of  which  he  was  the  founder;  the  few  notices  of  his 
personal  history  are  slight  and  meagre. 

George  Heriot  was  bom  at  Trabroun,  in  the  parish  of  Gladsmuir;  he  was 
the  eMest  son  of  a  goldsmith  in  Edinburgh,  descended  from  a  family  of 
some  consequence  in  East  Lothian.  His  father  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  his 
fellow-citizens,  and  was  their  representative  in  Parliament.  He  was,  be- 
sides, one  of  the  deputies  sent  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  to  propitiate  the 
King,  when  he  had  left  Edinburgh  abruptly,  after  the  riot  of  17th  Decem- 
ber, 15'.)6. 

George  Heriot,  the  son,  pursued  his  father's  occupation  of  a  goldsmith, 
then  peculiarly  lucrative,  and  much  connected  with  that  of  a  money-broker. 
He  enjoyed  the  favor  and  protecticjn  of  James,  and  of  his  consort,  Anne  of 
Denmark.  He  married,  for  his  first  wife,  a  maiden  of  his  own  rank  named 
Christian  Mar  joribanks,  daughter  of  a  respectable  burgess.  This  was  in  1586. 
He  was  afterwards  named  jeweller  to  the  Queen,  whose  account  to  him  for  a 
space  of  ten  years  amounted  to  nearly  £40,000.  George  Heriot,  having  lost 
his  wife,  connected  himself  with  the  distinguished  house  of  Rosebery,  by 
marrying  a  daughter  of  James  Primrose,  clerk  to  the  privy  council.  Of  this 
lady  he  was  deprived  by  her  dying  in  childbirth  in  lt;i2,  before  attaining  her 
twenty-first  year.  A.fter  a  life  spent  in  honorable  and  successful  industry, 
George  Heriot  died  in  London,  to  which  city  he  had  followed  his  royal 
master,  on  the  12th  February,  1(;24,  at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years.  His  pic- 
ture (copied  by  ScougaU  from  a  lost  original) ,  in  which  he  is  represented  in 


443  NOTES  '      -^ 

the  prime  of  life,  is  thus  described:  "His  fair  hair  that  overshades  the 
thoughtful  brow  and  calm  calculating  eye,  with  the  cast  of  humor  on  the 
lower  part  of  the  countenance,  are  all  indicative  of  the  genuine  Scottish 
character,  and  well  distinguish  a  person  fitted  to  move  steadily  and  wisely 
through  the  world,  with  a  strength  of  resolution  to  insure  success  and  a  dis- 
position to  enjoy  it." — Historical  and  DescrijMve  Account  of  HerioVs  Hos- 
pital, with  a  Memoir  of  the  Founder,  by  Messrs.  James  and  John  Johnstone. 
Edinburgh,  1827. 

I  may  add,  as  everything  concerning  George  Heriot  is  interesting,  that 
his  second  wife,  Alison  Primrose,  was  interred  in  St.  Gregory's  church,  from 
the  register  of  which  parish  the  Rev.  Mr.  Barham,  rector,  has,  in  the  kindest 
manner,  sent  me  the  following  extract:  "  Mrs.  Alison,  the  wife  of  Mr.  George 
Heriot,  gentleman,  20th  April,  1612."  St.  Gregory's,  before  the  Great  Fire 
of  London  whii-h  consumed  the  cathedral,  formed  one  of  the  towers  of  old 
St.  Paul's,  and  occupied  the  space  of  ground  now  filled  by  Queen  Anne's 
statue.  In  the  south  aisle  of  the  choir  Mrs.  Heriot  reposed  under  a  handsome 
monument,  bearing  the  following  inscription: 

"  Sanctissimoe  et  charissiniEe  conjugi,  Alison.^;  Heriot,  Jacobi  Primrosii, 
RegifB  Majestatis  in  Sanctiori  Concilio  Regni  Scotice  Amanuensis,  filise,  femi- 
UcB  omnibus  tum  animi  tum  corporis  dotibtis  ac  pio  cultu  instructissimae, 
moestissimus  ipsius  maritus  Georgius  Heriot,  armiger,  Regis,  Reginae, 
Principum  Henrici  et  Carol!  Gemmarius,  bene  merenti,  non  sine  lachrymis, 
hoc  Monumentum  pie  posuit. 

"  Obiit  Mensis  Aprilis  die  16,  anno  salut.  mdcxii,  aetatis  20,  in  ipso  flor© 
juventa3,  et  mihi,  parentibus,  amicis  tristissimum  sui  desiderium  reliquit. 

Hie  Alicis  Primrosa 

Jacet  crudo  obruta  fate, 

Intempestivas 

Ut  rosa  passa  manus. 

Nondum  bis  denos 

Annoi'um  impleverat  orbes, 

Pulchra,  pudica, 

Patrisdeliciumatq:  viri: 

Quum  gravida,  heu !  nunquam 

Mater,  discessit,  et  inde 

Cura  doloi-q:  patri, 

Cura  dolorq :  viro. 

Non  sublata  tamen, 

Tantum  translata,  recessit; 

Nunc  Rosa  prima  Poli 

Quae  fuit  ante  soli." 

The  loss  of  a  young,  beautiful,  and  amiable  partner  at  a  period  so  interest- 
ing was  the  probable  reason  of  her  husband  devoting  his  fortune  to  a  chari- 
table institution.  The  epitaph  occurs  in  Strype's  edition  of  Stow's  Survey  of 
London,  Bookiii.,  p.  2^. 


Note  6. — "Counterblast,"  p.  25 

A  Coimterhlast  to  Tobacco  is  included  in  theworksof  King  James,  Lond., 
1616,  published  by  James  Olontague),  Bishop  of  Winchester.  In  the  Bishop's 
Latin  translation  of  the  King's  Works,  Lond. ,  1619,  the  tract  has  this  pedantic 
title,  Misocapnus,  sive  de  Abiisu  Tobacci,  Lusus  Regius  (Laing). 


Note  7. — James's  Love  of  Flattery,  p.  33 

I  am  certain  this  prudential  advice  is  not  original  on  Mr.  Linklater's  part, 
but  I  am  not  at  present  able  to  produce  my  authiirity.     I  think  it  amounted 


NOTES  443 

to  this,  that  James  flung  down  a  petition  presented  by  some  supplicant  who 
paid  no  compliments  to  his  horse  and  expressed  no  admiration  at  the  splendor 
of  his  furniture,  saying,  -'ahall  a  king  cumber  himself  about  tlie  petition 
of  a  beggar,  while  the  beggar  disregards  the  king's  splendor  ? "  It  is,  I  think, 
Sir  John  Harrington  who  recommends,  as  a  sure  mode  to  the  king's  favor, 
to  praise  the  paces  of  the  royal  palfrey. 

Note  8.— Proclamation  against  the  Scots,  p.  35 

The  English  agreed  in  nothing  more  unanimously  than  in  censuring 
James  on  account  of  the  beggarly  rabble  which  noc  only  attended  the  King 
"at  his  coming  first  out  of  Scotland,  but,"  says  Osborne,  "through  his 
whole  reign,  like  a  fluent  spring,  were  found  still  crossing  the  river  of 
Tweed."  Yet  it  is  certain,  from  the  number  of  proclamatioas  published  by 
the  privy  council  in  Scotland,  and  bearing  marks  of  the  King's  own  diction, 
that  be  was  sensible  of  the  whole  inconvenien -es  and  unpopularity  attending 
the  importunate  crowd  of  disrespectable  suitors,  and  as  desirous  to  get  rid 
of  them  as  his  Southern  subjects  could  be.  But  it  was  in  vain  that  his 
Majesty  argued  with  his  Scottish  subjects  on  the  disrespect  tliey  were  brmg- 
ing  ou  their  native  country  and  sovereign,  by  causing  the  English  to  suppose 
there  were  no  well-nurtured  or  independent  gentry  in  Scotland,  they  who 
presented  themselves  being,  in  the  opinion  and  conceit  of  ail  beholders,  "  but 
idle  rascals,  and  poor  miserable  bodies."  It  was  even  in  vain  that  the  vessels 
which  brought  up  this  unwelcome  cargo  of  petitioners  were  threatened  with 
fine  and  confiscation:  the  undaunted  suitors  continued  to  press  forward, 
and  as  one  of  the  proclamations  says,  many  of  them  under  pretence  of 
requiring  payment  of  "  auld  debts  due  to  them  by  the  King,"  which,  it  is 
observed  with  great  naivett^,  "is,  of  all  kinds  of  importunity,  most  unpleas- 
iug  to  his  Majesty."  The  expressions  in  the  text  are  selected  from  these 
curious  proclamations. 

Note  9.— Gill's  Commentary,  p.  51 

A  biblical  commentary  by  Gill,  which  (if  the  Author's  memory  serves 
him)  occupies  between  five  and  six  hundred  printed  quarto  pages,  and  must 
therefore  have  filled  more  pages  of  manuscript  than  the  number  mentioned 
in  the  text,  has  this  quatrain  at  the  end  of  the  volume — 

With  one  good  pen  I  wrote  this  book. 

Made  of  a  gray  goose  quill; 
A  pen  it  was  when  it  I  took, 

And  a  pen  I  leave  it  still. 

Note  10.— Whitehall,  p.  52 

"Whitehall,  originally  the  residence  of  the  Archbishops  of  York,  was,  on 
the  faU  of  Wolsey,  appropriated  by  King  Henry  VIII.,  who  employed  Hol- 
bein to  make  several  additions  to  the  building. 

A  disastrous  fire,  however,  in  1(591,  and  another  six  years  later,  consumed 
all  but  the  banque ting-house  {Laing). 

Note  11.— King  Jambs,  p.  55 

The  dress  of  this  monarch,  together  with  his  personal  appearance,  is  thus 
described  by  a  contemporary  : 

He  was  of  a  middle  stature,  more  corpulent  through  [i.e.  by  means  of]  his  clothes 
than  in  hia  body,  yet  fat  enough.    ...    His  legs  were  very  weak,  having  had,  as 


444  NOTES 

» 

was  thought,  some  foul  play  in  his  j'outh,  or  rather  before  he  was  born,  that  he  was 
not  able  to  stand  at  seven  years  of  age.  That  weakness  made  him  ever  leaning  ou 
other  men"s  shoulders.     His  walk  was  ever  circular;  his  fingers  ever  in  tliat  walk 

flddlingabout [a  part  of  dress  now  laid  aside].    .    .    .    He  would  make  a  great 

deal  too  bold  with  God  in  his  passion,  both  in  cursing  and  swearing,  and  on  strain 
higher  verging  on  blasphemy  ;  but  would  in  his  better  temper  say,  he  hoped  God 
would  not  impute  them  as  sius,  and  lay  them  to  his  charge,  seeing  they  proceeded 
from  passion.  He  had  need  of  great  assurance,  rather  than  hopes,  that  would 
make  daily  so  bold  with  God. — Dalzell's  Sketches  of  Scottish  History,  pp.  84-87. 

Note  13. — Sir  Mungo  Malagbowther,  p.  74 

It  will  perhaps  be  recognized  by  some  of  my  countrymen,  that  the  caustic 
Scottish  knight,  as  described  in  Chapter  VI.,  borrowed  some  of  his  attributes 
from  a  most  worthy  and  respectable  baronet,  who  was  to  be  met  with  in 
Edinburgh  society  about  tvventy-tive  or  thirty  years  ago.  It  is  not  by  any 
means  to  be  inferred  that  the  living  person  resembled  the  imaginary  one  in 
the  course  of  life  ascribed  to  him,  or  in  his  personal  attributes.  But  his  for- 
tune w  as  little  adequate  to  his  rank  and  the  antiquity  of  his  familj'  ;  and  to 
avenge  himself  of  this  disparity,  the  worthy  baronet  lost  no  opportunity  of 
inakuig  the  more  avowed  sons  of  fortune  feel  the  edge  of  his  satire.  This  he 
had  the  art  of  disguising  under  the  personal  infirmity  of  deafness,  and  usu- 
ally introduced  his  most  severe  things  by  an  affected  mii^take  of  what  was 
said  around  him.  For  example,  at  a  public  meeting  of  a  certain  county,  this 
worthy  gentleman  had  chosen  to  display  a  laced  coat,  of  such  a  pattern  as 
had  not  been  seen  in  society  for  the  better  part  of  a  century.  The  joung 
Tjien  who  were  present  amused  themselves  with  rallying  him  on  his  taste, 
wnen  he  suddenly  singled  out  one  of  the  party — "  Auld  d'ye  think  my  coat — 
jiuld  fashioned  ?  Indeed,  it  caiina  be  new  ;  but  it  was  the  wark  of  a  braw 
tailor,  and  that  wa-;  your  grandfather,  who  was  at  the  head  of  the  tiade  in 
Edinburgh  about  the  beginning  of  last  century."  Upon  another  occasion, 
when  this  type  of  Sir  Muugo  Malagrowther  happened  to  hear  a  nobleman, 
the  high  chief  of  one  of  those  Border  clans  who  were  accused  of  paying  very 
little  attention  in  ancient  times  to  the  distinctions  of  7nt'um  aiid  timui, 
addressing  a  gentl- man  of  the  same  name,  as  if  conjecturing  there  should 
be  some  relationship  between  them,  he  volunteei-ed  to  ascertain  the  nature 
of  the  connection  by  saying,  that  the  "  chief's  ancestors  had  stolen  the  cows, 
and  the  other  gentleman's  ancestois  had  killed  them," — fame  ascribing  the 
wigin  of  the  latter  family  to  a  butcher.  It  may  be  well  imagined  that, 
jiiuoiig  a  people  that  have  been  always  punctilious  about  genealogy,  such  a 
persdii,  who  liad  a  general  acquaintance  with  all  the  flaws  and  specks  in  the 
shields  of  the  proud,  the  pretending,  and  the  iwuveaux  riches,  muat  have  had 
the  same  scope  for  amusement  as  a  monkey  in  a  china  shop. 

Note  13. — Earl  of  Dalwolsey,  p.  93 

The  head  of  the  ancient  and  distinguished  house  of  Ramsay,  and  to 
whom,  as  their  chief,  the  individuals  of  that  name  look  as  their  origin  and 
source  of  gentry.  Allan  Hamsa}',  the  pastoral  poet,  in  the  same  manner, 
makes 

Dalhousie  of  an  auld  descent, 

M ,  chief,  my  stoup,  my  ornament. 

Note  14. — Mrs.  Anne  Turner,  p.  94 

Mrs.  Anne  Turner  was  a  dame  somewhat  of  the  occupation  of  Mrs.  Sud- 
dlechop  in  the  text — that  is,  half-milliner,  half-procm"ess,  and  secret  agent 
in  all  manner  of  proceedings.  She  was  a  trafficker  in  the  poisoning  ol  Sir 
Thomas  Overbury,  for  which  so  many  subordinate  agents  lost  their  lives, 


NOTES  445 

while,  to  the  great  scandal  of  justice,  the  Earl  of  Somerset  and  his  countess 
were  suffered  to  escape,  upon  a  threat  of  Somerset  to  make  public  some 
secret  which  nearly  affected  his  master,  King  James.  Mrs.  Turner  intro- 
duced into  England  a  French  custom  of  using  yeUow^  starch  in  "  getting  up  " 
bands  and  cuffs,  and,  by  Lord  Coke's  orders,  she  appeared  in  that  fashion  at 
the  place  of  execution.  She  was  the  widow  of  a  physician,  and  had  been 
eminently  beautiful,  as  appears  from  the  description  of  her  in  the  poem  called 
Overhurii''i  \'ision.  There  was  produced  in  court  a  parcel  of  dollsor  puppets 
belonging  to  this  lady,  some  naked,  some  dressed,  and  which  siie  used  for 
exhibiting  fashions  upon.  But,  greatly  to  the  horror  of  the  spectators,  who 
accounted  these  figures  to  be  magical  devices,  there  was,  on  their  being 
shown,  "heard  a  crack  from  the  scaffolds,  which  caused  great  fear,  tumult, 
and  confusion  among  the  spectators  and  throughout  the  hall,  every  one  fear- 
ing hurt,  as  if  the  devil  had  been  present,  and  grown  angry  to  have  his  work- 
manship showed  by  such  as  were  not  his  own  scholars."'  Compare  this  curio'is 
passage  in  the  Flistonj  of  King  James  for  the  First  Fourteen  Years.  1G51 
[in  vol  ii.,  p.  3o2.  of  Somers's  Tracts,  ed.  1809],  with  the  Auliciis  Coqninnrius 
of  Dr.  Heylin.  The  latter  is  published  in  the  Secret  History  of  the  Court  of 
James  the  First  [vol.  ii.,  ed.  1811]. 


Note  15.— Lord  Huntinglen,  f.  106 

The  credit  of  having  rescued  James  I.  from  the  dagger  of  Alexander 
Ruthven  is  here  fictitiously  ascribed  to  an  imaginary  Lord  Huntinglen.  In 
reality,  as  may  be  read  in  every  history,  his  preserver  was  John  Ramsay, 
afterwards  created  Earl  of  Holdemess,  who  stabbed  the  younger  Ruthven 
with  his  dagger  while  he  was  struggling  with  the  King.  Sir  Anthony 
Weldon  informs  us  that,  upon  the  annual  return  of  the  day,  the  King's  deliv- 
erance was  commemorated  by  an  anniversary  feast.  The  time  was  the  5th 
of  August,  "  upon  which,"  proceeds  the  satirical  historian,  "  Sir  John  Ram- 
say, for  his  good  service  in  that  preservation,  was  the  principal  guest,  and  so 
did  the  King  grant  him  any  boon  he  would  ask  that  day  ;  but  had  such 
limitations  set  to  his  asking  as  made  his  suit  unprofitable  unto  him  as  that 
he  asked  it  for  was  unserviceable  to  the  King  "  ICourt  of  King  James,  vol. 
ii.,  p.  321]. 

Note  16. — Buckingham,  p.  Ill 

Buckingham,  who  had  a  frankness  in  his  high  and  irascible  ambition,  was 
always  ready  to  bid  defiance  to  those  by  whom  he  was  thwarted  or  opposed. 
He  aspired  to  be  created  Prince  of  Tipperary  in  Ireland,  and  Lord  High  Con- 
stable of  England.  Coventry,  then  Lord  Keeper,  opposed  what  seemed  such 
an  unreasonable  extent  of  power  as  was  annexed  to  the  office  of  constable. 
On  this  opposition,according  to  Sir  Anthony  Weldon,  "  the  Duke  peremptorily 
accosted  Coventry,  '  Who  made  you,  Coventry,  Lord  Keeper  ? '  He  replied, 
'  The  King.'  Buckingham  sur-replied ,  '  It's  false  ;  'twas  I  did  make  you, 
and  you  shall  know  that  I,  who  made  you,  can,  and  will,  unmake  you.' 
Coventry  thus  answered  him,  '  Did  I  conceive  I  held  my  place  by  your 
favor,!  would  presently  unmake  myself  bv  rendering  the  seal  to  his  Majesty.' 
Then  Buckingham,  in  a  scorn  and  fury,  flung  from  him,  saying,  '  You  shall 
not  keep  it  long  ;'  and  surely,  had  not  Felton  prevented  him,  he  had  made 
good  his  word." — Weldon's  Court  of  King  Jam^s  and  Charles  [vol.  ii.,  p.  '62, 
ed.  1811] 

Note  17. — Douglas  Wars,  p.  123 

The  cruel  civil  wars  waged  by  the  Scottish  barons  during  the  minority  :f 
James  VI.  had  this  name  from  the  figure  made  in  them  by  the  celebrated 
James  Douglas,  Earl  of  MortQa,  Both  sides  executed  their  prisoners  without 
mercy  or  favor. 


446  NOTES 

Note  18.— Pages,  p.  131 

About  tbis  time  the  ancient  customs  arising  from  the  long  prevalence  of 
chivalry  began  to  be  grossly  varied  from  the  ciriginal  i)urposesof  the  institu- 
tion. None  was  more  remarkable  than  the  change  which  took  place  in  the 
breeding  and  occupation  of  pages.  This  peculiar  species  of  menial  originally 
consisted  o£  youths  of  noble  birth,  who,  that  they  might  be  trained  to  the 
exercise  of  arms,  were  early  removed  from  their  parental  homes,  where  too 
much  indulgence  might  have  been  expected,  to  be  placed  in  the  family  of 
some  prince  or  man  of  rank  and  military  renown,  where  they  served,  as  it 
were,  an  apprenticeship  to  the  duties  of  chivalry  and  courtesy.  Their  educa- 
tion was  severely  moral,  and  pursued  with  great  strictness  in  respect  to 
useful  exercises,  and  what  were  deemed  elegant  accomplishments.  From 
being  pages,  they  were  advanced  to  the  next  gradation  of  squires  ;  from 
squires,  these  candidates  for  the  honors  of  knighthood  were  frequently  made 
knights. 

But  in  the  sixteenth  century  the  page  had  become,  in  many  instances,  a 
mere  domestic,  who  sometimes,  by  the  splendor  of  his  address  and  appearance, 
was  expected  to  make  up  in  show  for  the  absence  of  a  whole  band  of  retainers 
with  swords  and  bucklers.  We  have  Sir  John's  authority  when  he  cashiers 
part  of  his  train. 

Falstaff  will  learn  the  humour  of  the  age, 

French  thrift,  you  rogues,  myself  and  skirted  page. 

Jonson,  in  a  high  tone  of  raoi-al  indignation,  thus  reprobated  the  change. 
The  host  of  the  New  Inn  replies  to  Lord  Lovel,  who  asks  to  have  his  son  for 
A  page,  that  he  would,  with  his  own  hands,  hang  him  sooner 

Than  damn  him  to  that  desperate  course  of  life. 

Lovel.  Call  you  that  desperate,  which,  by  a  line 
Of  institution,  from  our  ancestors 
Hath  been  derived  down  to  us,  and  I'eceived 
In  a  succession  for  the  noblest  way 
Of  breeding  up  our  youth,  in  letters,  arms, 
Fair  mien,  discourses,  civil  exercise, 
And  all  the  blazon  of  a  gentleman  ? 
Where  can  he  learn  to  vault,  to  ride,  to  fence, 
To  move  his  bodj'  gracefuller,  to  speak 
His  language  purer,  or  to  tune  his  mind 
Or  manners  more  to  the  harmony  of  nature, 
Than  in  these  nurseries  of  nobility  ? 

Host.  Ay,  that  was  when  the  nursery's  self  was  noble, 
And  only  virtue  made  it,  not  the  market, 
That  titles  were  not  vended  at  the  drum 
Or  common  outcry.     Goodness  gave  the  greatness, 
And  greatness  worship.    Every  house  became 
An  academy  of  honour,  and  those  parts 
We  see  departed  in  the  practice  now 
Quite  from  the  institution. 

Lovel.  Why  do  you  say  so, 
Or  think  so  enviously  ?  do  they  not  still 
Learn  there  the  Centaur's  skill,  the  art  of  Thrace, 
To  ride  ?  or  Pollux'  mystery,  to  fence  ? 
The  Pyrrhick  gestures,  both  to  dance  and  spring 
In  armour,  to  be  active  for  the  wars  ; 
To  study  figures,  numbers,  and  pioportions, 
May  yield  them  great  in  counsels  and  the  arts 
Grave  Nestor  and  the  wise  Ulysses  practised, 
To  make  their  English  sweet  upon  their  tongue  ? 
As  reverend  Chaucer  says. 

Host.  Sir,  you  mistake. 
To  play  Sir  Pandarus.  my  copy  hath  it, 
And  carry  messages  to  Madam  Cressid  ; 
Instead  of  backing  the  brave  steed  o'  morningSs 


NOTES  447 


To  [Wss]  the  chambermaid,  and  for  a  leap 

O'  the  vaulting  horse,  to  ply  the  vaulting-house  ; 

For  exercise  of  arms  a  bale  of  dice. 

Or  two  or  three  packs  of  cards  to  show  the  cheat 

And  nimbleness  of  hand  ;  mis-take  a  cloak 

From  my  lord's  back,  and  pawn  it ;  ease  his  pockets 

Of  a  superfluous  watch,  or  geld  a  jewel 

Of  an  odd  stone  or  so  ;  twinge  three  or  four  buttons 

From  off  my  lady's  gown  :— these  are  the  arts, 

Or  seven  hberal  deadly  sciences, 

Of  pagerv,  or  rather  paganism, 

As  the  tides  run  ;   to  which,  if  he  apply  him. 

He  may,  perhaps,  take  a  degree  at  Tyburn 

A  year  the  earlier,  come  to  read  a  lecture 

Upon  Aquinas  at  St.  Thomas-a-Watering's, 

Aud  so  go  forth  a  laureate  in  hemp  circle. 

The  New  Inn,  Act  i.,  ac.  1. 


Note  19.— Lord  Hexry  Howard,  p.  132 

Lord  Henry  Howard  was  the  second  son  of  the  poetical  Earl  of  Surrey, 
and  possessed  considerable  parts  and  learning.  He  wrote,  in  the  year  1583,  a 
b.jok  called  A  Defensatice  [Fresernative'l  against  the  Poison  of  Supposed 
Prophecies.  He  gained  the  favor  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  by  having,  he  says, 
directed  his  battery  against  a  sect  of  prophets  and  pretended  soothsayers, 
whom  he  accounted!  a  fes^i  reqibus,  as  he  expresses  it.  In  the  last  years  of 
the  Queen  he  became  James's  most  ardent  partisan,  and  conducted  vrith  great 
pedantry,  but  much  intrigue,  the  correspondence  betwixt  the  Scottish  king 
and  the  younger  Cecil.  Upon  James's  accession,  he  was  created  Earl  of 
Northampton  and  Lord  Privy  Seal.  Accordmg  to  De  Beaumont,  the  French 
ambassador.  Lord  Henry  Howard  was  one  of  the  greatest  flatterers  and  ca- 
lumniators that  ever  lived. 

Note  20.— Skirmishes  in  the  Public  Streets,  p.  134 

Edinburgh  appears  to  have  been  one  of  the  most  disorderly  towns  in 
Europe  during  the  sixteenth  and  beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century.  The 
Diarii  of  the  honest  citizen  Birrell  repeatedly  records  such  incidents  as  the 
following:  "The  21  of  November  [15G7],  at  two  afternoon,  the  Laird  of 
Airth  an'd  the  Laird  of  Weeins  met  on  theHigli  Gate  of  Edinburgh,  and  they 
andtheir  followers  fought  a  very  bloody  skirmish,  where  there  were  many 
hurt  on  both  sides  with  shot  of  pistol."  These  skirmishes  also  took  place  in 
London  itself.  In  Shadwell's  play  of  The  Scowrers,  an  old  rake  thus  boasts 
of  his  early  exploits  :  "  I  knew  the  Hectors,  aud  before  them  the  Muns,  and 
the  Tityretu's  ;  they  were  brave  fellows  indeed  !  In  those  days  a  man  could 
nat  go  from  the  Rose  Tavern  to  the  Piazza  once,  bat  he  must  venture  his  life 
t.vice,  my  dear  Sir  Willv"  [Act  i.,  sc.  1].  But  it  appears  that  the  affrays, 
^vhich  in  the  Scottish  capital  arose  out  of  here  litary  quarrels  an  I  ancient 
feuds,  were  in  London  the  growth  of  licentiousness  and  arrogance  of  young 
debauchees. 

Note  21.— French  Cookery,  p.  141 

The  exertion  of  French  ingenuity  mentioned  in  the  text  is  noticed  by  some 
authorities  of  the  period  ;  the  siege  of  Leith  was  also  distinguished  by  the 
protracted  obstinacy  of  the  be,4eged,  in  which  was  displayed  all  that  the  age 
possessed  of  defensive  war,  so  that  Brantome  records  that  those  who  wit- 
nessed this  siege  had,  from  that  very  circumstance,  a  degree  of  consequence 
yielded  to  their  persous  and  opinions.  Ho  tolls  a  story  of  Strozzi  himself, 
from  which  it  appears  that  his  j^j-;ts  1  ty  a  good  deal  in  the  line  of  the  cuisine. 
He  caused  a  mule  to  be  stolen  from  one  Brusquet,  on  whom  he  wished  to  play 


us  NOTES 

a  trifk,  and  soi-ved  up  the  flesh  of  that  unclean  animal  so  well  disguised  that 
it  passed  with  Brusquet  for  venison. 


Note  22— Cuckoo's  Nest,  p.  143 

The  quarrel  in  Chapter  XII.  between  the  pretended  captain  and  the  citi- 
zen of  London  is  taken  from  a  burlesque  poem  called  The  Counter  Scuffle, 
that  is,  the  scuffle  in  the  prison  at  Wood  Street,  so  called.  It  is  a  piece  of 
low  humor,  which  had  at  the  time  very  considerable  vogue.  The  prisoners, 
it  seems,  had  fallen  into  a  dispute  among  themselves  "  which  calling  was  of 
most  repute,"  and  a  lawyer  put  in  his  claim  to  be  most  highly  considered. 
\he  man  of  war  repelled  his  pretence  with  much  arrogance  : 

"  Wer't  not  for  us,  thou  swad,"  quoth  he, 
"  Where  wouldst  thou  fog  to  get  a  fee  ? 
But  to  defend  such  things  as  thee 

'Tis  pity  ; 
For  such  as  you  esteem  us  least, 
Who  ever  hare  been  ready  prest 
To  guard  you  and  your  Cuckoo's  nest, 
Your  city." 

The  offence  is  no  sooner  given  than  it  is  caught  up  by  a  gallant  citizen,  a 
goldsmith,  named  Ellis. 

"  Of  London  city  I  am  free, 
And  there  I  first  my  wife  did  see, 
And  for  that  very  cause,"  quoth  he, 

"I  love  it. 
And  he  that  calls  it  cuckoo's  nest. 
Except  he  says  he  speaks  in  jest, 
He  is  a  villain  and  a  beast, — 

I'll  prove  it  I 

"  For  though  I  am  a  man  of  trade. 
And  free  of  London  city  made. 
Yet  can  I  use  gun,  bill,  and  blade, 

In  battle. 
And  citizens,  if  need  require. 
Themselves  can  force  the  foe  retire. 
Whatever  this  Low  Country  squire 

May  prattle." 

The  dispute  terminates  in  the  scuffle,  which  is  the  subject  of  the  poem. 
The  whole  may  be  found  in  the  second  edition  of  Dryden's  Miscellany,  12mo, 
vol.  iii.,  1716. 

Note  2.3. — Burbage,  p.  148 

Burbage,  whom  Camden  terms  another  Roscius,  was  probably  the  orig- 
mal  representative  of  Richard  III.,  and  seems  to  have  been  early  almost 
identified  witli  liis  prototype.  Bishop  Corbet,  in  his  Iter  Boreale,  tells  us 
that  mine  host  of  Market  Bosworth  was  full  of  ale  and  history. 

Hear  him.  "  See  you  yon  wood  ?    There  Richard  lay 

With  his  whole  army.    Look  the  other  way. 

And  lo,  where  Richmond,  in  a  bed  of  gorse, 

Encamp'd  himself  o'er  night  and  all  his  force. 

Upon  this  hill  they  met."    Why,  he  could  tell 

The  inch  where  Riclimond  stood,  where  Richard  fell; 

Besides,  what  of  his  knowledge  he  could  say. 

He  had  authentic  notice  from  the  play. 

Which  I  might  guess  by's  mustering  up  the  ghosts 

And  polici  s  not  incident  to  hosts  ; 

But  chiefly  by  that  one  perspicuous  thing, 


NOTES  449 

Where  he  mistook  a  player  for  a  king, 

For  when  he  would  have  said,  "  Kin^  Richard  died. 

And  caird,  a  horse  !  a  horse  !  "  he  "  Burba^e "'  cried. 

Richard  Corbet's  Poeiits,  edition  1815,  p.  193. 

Note  24. — Mex  of  AVit  and  Talent,  p.  150 

The  condition  of  men  of  wit  and  talents  was  never  more  melancholy  than 
about  this  perit>d.  Their  lives  were  so  irregular,  and  their  means  of  livnng 
so  precarious,  that  they  were  alternately  rioting  in  debauchery  or  encoun- 
tering and  struacgling  with  the  meanest  ne(?essities.  Two  or  three  lost  tlieir 
lives  by  a  surfeit  brought  on  by  that  fat  il  banquet  of  Rhenish  wine  and 
pickled  herrings,  which  is  familiar  to  those  who  study  the  lightest  literature 
of  that  age.  The  whole  history  is  a  most  melancholy  picture  of  genius 
degraded  at  once  by  its  own  debaucheries  and  the  patronage  of  heartless 
rakes  and  profligates. 

Note  2.5. — Ducal  Register  of  Alsatia,  p.  198 

This  curious  register  is  still  in  existence,  being  in  possession  of  that  emi- 
nent antiquary  Dr.  Dryasdust,  who  liberally  offered  the  Author  permission 
to  have  the  autograph  "of  Duke  Hildebrod  engraved  as  an  illustration  of  this 
passage.  Unhappily,  being  rigorous  as  Ritson  himself  in  adhering  to  the  very 
letter  of  his  copy,  the  worthy  doctor  clogged  his  munificence  with  the  con- 
dition that  we  should  adopt  the  duke's  orthography,  and  entitle  the  work 
The  Fortunes  of  Xiggle,  with  which  stipulation  we  did  not  think  it  necessary 
to  cjmply 

Note  26. — Earl  of  Bothwell,  p.  226 

Among  the  original  documents  preserved  among  the  archives  of  the  hos- 
pital, there  are  various  precepts  or  receipts  signed  by  Francis  (Stewart) 
Earl  of  Bothwell,  but  only  one  of  them  dated,  1594,  which  show  that  George 
Heriot  and  he  had  many  transactions.  In  that  year  Bothwell  broke  out  in 
rebellion,  and,  abandoned  by  Queen  Elizabeth,  excommunicated  by  the  church, 
and  deserted  by  his  followers,  he  was  obliged  to  fly  for  safety  to  France, 
and  thence  to  Spain,  where  he  renounced  the  Protestant  faith,  and  lived  for 
many  years  in  obscurity  and  immorality.  Sir  Walter  Scott  of  Buccleuch, 
his  stepson,  succeeded  to  his  large  estates,  which  had  been  conveyed  to  him 
by  the  earl  before  his  treasonable  attempts  and  forfeiture  {Laing). 

Note  27. — The  Sklmmixgton,  p.  241 

A  species  of  triumphal  procession  in  honor  of  female  supremacy,  when  it 
rose  to  such  a  height  as  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  neighborhood.  It  is 
described  at  full  length  in  Hudibras  (Fart  II.,  Canto  ii.).  As  the  procession 
passed  on,  those  who  attended  it  in  an  official  capacity  were  wont  to  sweep 
the  threshold  of  the  houses  in  which  fame  affirmed  the  mistresses  to  exercise 
paramount  autho;-ity,  which  was  given  and  received  as  a  hint  that  their 
inmates  might,  in  their  turn,  be  made  the  subject  of  a  similar  ovation.  The 
Skimmington,  which  in  some  degree  resembled  the  proceedings  of  Mumbo 
Jumbo  in  an  African  village,  has  been  long  discontinued  in  Eua;land,  appar- 
ently because  female  rule  has  become  either  milder  or  less  frequent  than 
among  our  ancestors. 

Note  2S.— The  Marshalsea,  p.  260 

This  penitentiary  was  under  the  control  of  the  Royal  Knight  Marshal, 
whose  jurisdiction  exteuiied  twelve  miles  round  Whitehall,  the  city  of  London 
excepted.     It  stood  near  St.  George's  church  in  the  Borough  (Laing) . 

29 


460  NOTES 

NoTB  29.— "God's  Revenge  agaixst  Murder,"  p.  282 

Only  three  copies  are  known  to  exist ;  one  in  the  library  at  Kennaquhair, 
and  two — one  foxed  and  cropped,  the  other  tall  and  in  good  condition — both 
in  possession  of  an  eminent  member  of  the  Roxburghe  Club. — Note  by  Cap- 
tain Clutterbuck. 

The  work  here  referred  to,  The  Triumphs  of  God's  Revenge  against 
Murder,  expressed  in  Thirty  Tragicall  Histories,  by  John  Reynolds,  passed 
through  several  editions  between  1(W2  and  1753,  besides  abridgments.  Its 
precursor.  The  Theatre  of  Ood\s  Judgemenfs,  by  Thomas  Beard,  flrstappoared 
in  1.597,  4to,  and  is  remarkable  in  containing  "An  Account  of  Christopher 
Marlowe  and  his  Tragical  End."  It  reached  a  fourth  and  enlarged  edition 
in  1648  {Laing). 

Note  30.— Scots'  Dislike  to  Pork,  p.  314 

The  Scots,  till  within  the  last  generation,  disliked  swine's  flesh  as  an  arti- 
cle of  food  as  much  as  the  Highlanders  do  at  present.  It  was  remarked  as 
extraordinary  rapacity,  when  the  Border  depredators  condescended  to  make 
prey  of  the  accursed  race  whom  the  fiend  made  his  habitation.  Ben.  Jonson, 
in  drawing  James's  character,  says,  he  loved  "no  part  of  a  swine."  See  also 
Wave7-ley,  Note  22,  p. 

Note  31. — Mhic-Allastar-More,  p.  324 

This  is  the  Highland  patronymic  of  the  late  gallant  Chief  of  Glengarry. 
The  allusion  in  the  text  is  to  an  unnecessary  alarm  taken  by  some  lady  at  the 
ceremonial  of  the  coronation  of  George  IV.,  at  the  sight  of  the  pistols  which 
the  chief  wore  as  a  part  of  his  Highland  dress.  The  circumstance  produced 
some  confusion,  which  was  talked  of  at  the  time.  All  who  knew  Glengarry, 
and  the  Author  knew  him  well,  were  aware  that  his  principles  were  of 
devoted  loyalty  to  the  person  of  his  sovereign. 

Note  32. — KiXG  James's  Hunting-Bottlb,  p.  325 

Roger  Coke,  in  his  Detection  of  the  Court  and  State  of  England,  London 
1694,  vol.  i.,  p  .  70,  observes  of  James  I.  : 

The  Kin^  was  excessively  addicted  to  hunting  and  drinking,  not  ordinary  French 
and  Spanish  wines,  but  strong  Greek  wines,  and  though  he  would  divide  his  hunting 
from  drinking  these  wines,  yet  he  would  compound  his  hunting  with  drinlcing  these 
wines  ;  and  to  that  purpose,  he  was  attended  with  a  special  officer,  who  was,  as  much 
as  could  be,  always  at  hand  to  fill  the  King's  cup  in  his  hunting  when  he  called  for  it. 
I  have  heard  my  father  say  that,  being  hunting  with  the  King,  after  the  King  had 
drank  of  the  wine,  he  also  drank  of  it ;  and  though  he  was  young,  and  of  a  healthful 
ciinstitution.  it  so  disordered  his  head  that  it  spoiled  his  pleasure  and  disordered  him 
for  three  days  after.  Whether  it  were  the  drinking  these  wines,  or  from  some  other 
cause,  the  King  became  so  lazy  and  unwieldy  that  he  was  treist  [trussed]  on  horse- 
back, and  as  he  was  set,  so  would  he  ride,  without  otherwise  poising  himself  on  hia 
sadiUe  ;  nay,  when  his  hat  was  set  on  his  head,  he  would  not  take  the  trouble  to  alter 
it,  but  it  sate  as  it  was  put  on. 

The  trussing,  for  which  the  demi-pique  saddle  of  the  day  afforded  particu- 
lar facility,  is  alluded  to  in  the  text ;  and  the  Author,  among  other  knick- 
knacks  of  antiquity,  possesses  a  leathern  flask,  like  tliose  carried  by  sportsmen, 
whicli  is  labelled  "  King  James's  Hunting- Bottle,"  with  what  authenticity  is 
uncertain.  Coke  seems  to  have  exaggerated  the  King's  taste  for  the  bottle. 
Weldon  says  James  was  not  intemperate  in  his  drinking  : 

However,  in  his  old  age,  Buckingham's  jovial  suppers,  when  he  had  any  tunj 
to  do  with  him,  made  him  sometimes  overtaken,  which  he  would  the  very  next 


NOTES  451 

Jay  r;.nombpr,  nn'\  repent  with  tears.  It  is  true,  he  drank  very  often,  which  was 
rather  ou;  of  a  custom  than  any  dehght ;  and  his  drinks  were  of  that  kind  for  strength, 
as  Frontiniaclc.  Canary,  hijjli  country  wine,  tent  wine,  and  Scottisli  ale,  tliat  had  he 
not  had  a  very  stron;?  brain,  niijjlit  have  been  daily  overtaken,  although  he  seldom 
drank  at  any  one  time  above  four  spoonfuls,  many  times  not  above  one  or  two. — 
.Secret  History  of  King  James,  vol.  ii.,  p.  3,  Edia.,  1811. 

Note  33. — Scene  in  Greenwich  Park,  p.  327 

I  cannot  here  omit  mentioning,  that  a  painting  of  the  old  school  is  in 
existence,  having  a  remarkable  resemblance  to  the  scene  described  in  Chapter 
XXVII.,  although  it  be  nevertheless  true  that  the  similarity  is  in  all  respects 
casuR  ,  and  that  the  Author  knew  not  of  the  existence  of  the  painting  till  it 
was  sold,  among  others,  v^ith  the  following  description  attached  to  it  in  a 
well-drawn-up  catalogue  : 

Frederigo  Zucchero 

Scene  as  represented  in  the  Fortunes  of  Nigel,  by  Frederigo  Zucchero,  the  King's 

painter. 

This  extraordinary  picture,  which,  independent  of  its  pictorial  merit,  has  been 
esteemed  a  great  literary  curiosity,  represents  most  faithfully  the  meeting  in  Green- 
wich Park,  between  King  James  and  Nigel  Oliphaunt,  as  described  in  the  Fortunes 
of  Nigel,  showing  that  the  Author  must  have  taken  the  anecdote  from  authenticated 
facts.  In  the  centre  of  the  picture  sits  King  James  on  horseback,  very  erect  and 
stiffly.  Between  the  King  and  Prince  Charles,  who  is  on  the  left  of  the  picture,  the 
Duke  of  Buckingham  is  represented  riding  a  black  horse,  and  pointing  eagerly 
towards  the  culprit,  Nigel  OhiJhaunt,  who  is  standing  on  the  right  side  of  the  picture. 
He  grasps  with  his  right  hand  a  g  .n,  or  cross-bow,  and  looks  angrily  towards  the 
King,  who  seems  somewhat  contused  and  alarmed.  Behind  Nigel,  his  servant  is 
restraining  two  dogs  which  are  barking  fiercely.  Nigel  and  his  servant  are  both 
clothed  in  red,  the  livery  of  the  Oliphaunt  family,  in  which,  to  this  day,  the  town 
officers  of  Perth  are  clothed,  there  being  an  old  charter  granting  to  the  Oliphaunt 
family  the  privilege  of  dressing  the  public  officers  of  Perth  in  their  liveri'.  The  Duke 
of  Buckingham  is  in  all  respects  equal  in  magniflceuce  of  dress  to  the  King  or  the 
Prince.  The  only  difference  that  is  marked  between  him  and  royaltj'  is.  that  his  head 
Is  uncovered.  The  King  and  the  Prince  wear  their  hats.  In  Lucy  Aikin's  Memoirs 
of  the  Reign  [Court]  of  King  James  will  be  found  a  letter  from  Sir  Thomas  Howard 
to  Ijord  J.  Harrington,  in  which  he  recommends  the  latter  to  come  to  court,  mention- 
tog  that  his  Majesty  has  spoken  favorably  of  him.  He  then  proceeds  to  give  him 
some  advice,  by  which  he  is  likely  to  find  favor  in  the  King's  eyes.  He  tells  him  to 
wear  a  bushy  ruff,  well  starched  ;  and  after  various  other  directions  as  to  his  dress, 
he  concludes,  "  iDut,  above  all  things,  fail  not  to  praise  the  roan  jennet  whereon  the 
King  doth  daily  ride."  In  this  picture  King  James  is  represented  on  the  identical 
roan  jennet,  in  the  background  of  the  picture  are  seen  two  or  three  supicious-look- 
Ing  figures,  as  if  watching  the  success  or  some  plot.  These  may  have  been  put  in  by 
the  painter  to  flatter  the  King,  by  making  it  be  supposed  that  he  had  actuallj'  escaped, 
or  successfully  combated,  some  serious  plot.  The  King  is  attended  by  a  numerous 
band  oi  courtiers  and  attendants,  all  o.*"  wnom  seem  moving  forward  to  arrest  the 
defaulter.  The  painting  of  this  picture  is  extremely  good,  but  the  drawing  is  very 
Gtothic,  and  there  is  no  attempt  at  the  keeping  of  perspective.  The  pictui-e  is  very 
dark  and  obscure,  which  considerably  adds  to  the  interest  of  the  scene. 


Note  34.— King  James's  Timidity,  p.  327 

The  fears  of  James  for  his  personal  safety  were  often  excited  without 
serious  grounds.  On  one  occasion,  having  been  induced  to  visit  a  coal-pit  on 
the  coast  of  Fife,  he  was  conducted  a  little  way  under  the  sea,  and  brought 
to  daylight  again  on  a  small  island,  or  what  was  such  at  full  tide,  down 
which  a  shaft  had  been  sunk.  James,  who  conceived  his  life  or  liberty  aimed 
at,  when  he  found  himself  on  an  islet  surrounded  by  the  sea,  instead  ol 
admiring,  as  his  cicerone  hoped,  the  unexpected  change  of  scene,  cried 
"  Treason  "  with  all  his  might,  and  could  not  be  pacified  until  he  was  rowed 
ashore.  At  Lochmaben  he  took  an  equally  causeless  alarm  from  a  still 
slighter  circmrstance.     Some  vendisses,  a  fish  i)eculiar  to  the  loch,  were  pre- 


462  NOTES 

tented  to  the  royal  table  as  a  delisaoy  ;  but  the  King,  who  was  not  familiar 
with  their  appearance,  concluded  they  were  poisoned,  and  broke  up  the  ban- 
quet "  with  most  admired  disorder." 

Note  35. — Traitor's  Gate,  p.  329 

Traitor's  Gate,  which  opens  from  the  Tower  of  London  to  the  Thames, 
was,  as  its  name  implies,  that  by  which  persons  accused  of  state  offences 
were  conveyed  to  their  prison.  When  the  tide  is  making,  and  the  ancient 
gate  is  beheld  from  within  the  buildings,  it  used  to  be  a  most  striking  part  of 
the  old  fortress;  but  it  is  now  much  injured  in  appearance,  being  half  built 
up  with  masonry  to  support  a  steam-engine,  or  something  of  that  sort, 

Note  36.— Memorials  of  Illustrious  Criminals,  p.  331 

These  memorials  of  illustrious  criminals,  or  of  innocent  persons  who  had 
the  fate  of  such,  are  still  preserved,  though  at  one  time,  in  the  course  of  re- 
pairing the  rooms,  they  were  in  some  danger  of  being  whitewashed.  They 
&re  preserved  at  present  with  l)ecoming  respect,  and  have  most  of  them  been 
engraved.     See  Bay  ley's  History  and  Antiquities  of  the  Toiver  of  London 

Note  37. — James  I.'s  Dislike  to  Arms,  p.  361 

Wilson  informs  us  that  when  Colonel  Grey,  a  Scotsman  who  affected  the 
buff  dress  even  in  the  time  of  peace,  appeared  in  that  military  garb  at  court, 
the  King,  seeing  hi  in  with  a  case  of  pistols  at  his  girlie,  which  he  never 
greatly  likeil,  told  him,  merrily,  "  He  was  now  so  fortifled  that,  if  lie  wers 
but  well  victualled,  he  would  be  impregnable"  (Wilson's  Life  and  Reign  of 
James  VI.,  apud  Kennet's  History  of  England,  vol.  ii.,  p.  789).  In  1(512, 
the  tenth  year  of  James's  reign,  there  was  a  rumor  abroad  that  a  shipload 
of  pocket-pistols  had  been  exported  from  Spain,  with  a  view  to  a  general 
massacre  of  the  Protestants.  Proclamations  were  of  consequence  set  forth, 
prohibiting  all  persoiis  from  carrying  pistols  under  a  foot  long  in  the  bariel 
llbid.,  p.  690). 

Note  38. — Punishment  of  Stubbs  by  Mutilation,  p.  362 

This  execution,  which  so  captivated  the  imagination  of  Sir  Mungo  Mala- 
growther,  was  really  a  striking  one.  The  criminal,  a  furious  and  bigoted 
Puritan,  had  published  a  book*  in  very  violent  terms  again-t  the  m  itch  of 
Elizabeth  with  ihe  Duke  ot  Alengon,  which  he  termed  a  union  of  a  daughter 
of  God  with  a  son  of  Anti-chrisr.  Queen  Elizabeth  was  gi-eatly  incensed  at 
the  freedom  assumed  in  this  work,  and  caused  the  author  Stubbs,  with  Page 
the  publisher,  and  one  Singleton  the  printer,  to  be  tried  on  an  Act  passed  by 
Philip  and  Mary  against  the  writers  and  dispersers  of  seditious  publications. 
They  were  convicted,  and  although  there  was  an  opinion  strongly  entertained 
by  lawyers,  that  the  act  was  only  temporary,  and  expired  witii  Queen  Mary, 
Stubbs  and  Page  received  sentence  to  have  their  right  hands  struck  off. 
They  accordingly  suffered  the  punishment,  the  wrist  being  divided  by  a 
cleaver  driven  through  the  joint  by  force  of  a  mallet.  The  printer  was  ])ar- 
doned.  "  I  remember,"  says  the  historian  Camden,  "being  then  pi'esent, 
that  Stubbs,  when  his  right  hand  was  cut  off,  plucked  off  his  hat  with  the 
left,  and  said,  with  a  loud  voice,  '  God  save  the  Queen  ! '    The  multitude 

*  Thp  Disroverie  of  a  Gaping  Gnlph,  ivhereinto  England  is  like  to  he  swalloived 
by  anotlier  French  Marriage,  if  tiie  Lord  forbid  not  the  Banes,  by  letting  her 
Majestie  see  the  Sin  and  Punishment  tliereuf  (1579). 


NOTES  453 

standing  about  was  deeply  silent,  either  out  of  horror  of  this  new  and  un 
wonted  kind  of  punishment,  or  out  of  commiseration  towards  the  man,  as 
being  of  an  honest  and  unblamable  repute,  or  else  out  of  hatred  to  the  mar- 
riage, which  most  men  presaged  would  be  the  overthrow  of  religion." — 
Camden's  Annuls  for  the  Year  1581. 


Note  39. — Assassination  of  James  I.  of  Scotland,  p.  366 

James  I.  of  Scotland  was  barbarously  murdered  at  Perth,  on  the  20th 
February,  1437.  Several  of  the  ladies  were  hurt,  and,  according  to  most  of 
our  historians,  Catherine  Douglas,  one  of  the  Queen's  attendants,  had  her 
arm  broken,  by  thrusting  it  into  the  staple  in  place  of  a  bolt  {Laing). 


Note  40. — Richie  Moniplies  behind  the  Arras,  p.  377 

The  practical  jest  of  Richie  Moniplies  going  behind  the  arras  to  get  an 
opportunity  of  teasing  Heriot  was  a  pleasantry  such  as  James  might  be 
supposed  to  approve  of.  It  was  customary  for  those  who  knew  his  humor  to 
contrive  jests  of  this  kind  for  his  amusement.  The  celebrated  Archie  Arm- 
strong, and  another  jester  called  Drummond,  mounted  on  other  people's 
backs,  used  to  charge  each  other  like  knights  in  the  tilt-yard,  to  the  monarch's 
great  amusement.  The  following  is  an  instance  of  the  same  kind,  taken 
from  Webster,  Displaying  of  Supposed  Witchcraft  (p.  124).  The  author  is 
speaking  of  the  faculty  caiJed  ventriloquism. 

But  to  make  this  more  plain  and  certain,  we  shall  add  a  story  of  a  notable  im- 
postor, or  ventriloquist,  from  tlie  testimony  of  Mr.  Ady,  which  we  have  had  confirmed 
from  the  mouth  of  some  courtiers,  that  both  saw  and  knew  him,  and  is  this :  It 
hath  been,  saith  he,  credibly  reported,  that  there  was  a  man  in  the  court  in  King 
James  his  days  chat  could  act  tlus  imposture  so  lively,  that  he  could  call  the  Kinjcby 
name,  and  cause  the  King  to  look  round  about  him.  wondering  who  it  was  that  called 
him.  whereas  he  that  called  him  stood  before  him  in  his  presence,  with  his  face 
towards  him.  But  after  this  imposture  was  known,  the  King,  in  his  merriment, 
would  sometimes  take  occasional  by  this  impostor  to  make  sport  upon  some  of  his 
courtiers,  as.  for  instance  : 

There  was  a  knight  belonging  to  the  court,  whom  the  King  caused  to  come  before 
him  in  his  private  room,  where  no  man  was  but  the  King  and  this  knight  and  the 
impostor,  and  feigned  some  occasion  of  serious  discourse  with  the  knight ;  but  when 
the  King  began  to  speak,  and  the  knight  bending  his  attention  to  the  King,  suddenly 
there  came  a  voice  as  out  of  another  room,  calling  the  kniglit  by  name,  "  Sir  John 
— Sir  John  ;  come  away.  Sir  John  ;  "  at  which  the  King  [knight]  began  to  frown  that 
any  man  should  be  so  unmannerly  as  to  molest  the  King  and  him  ;  and  still  listening 
to  the  King's  discourse,  the  voice  came  again,  "Sir  John — Sir  John,  come  away  and 
drink  off  your  sack.''  At  that  Sir  John  began  to  swell  with  anger,  and  looked  into 
the  next  rooms  to  see  who  it  was  that  dared  to  call  him  so  importunately,  and  could 
not  find  out  who  it  was,  and  having  chid  with  whomsoever  he  found,  he  returned 
again  to  the  King.  The  King  had  no  sooner  begun  to  speak  as  formerly,  but  the 
*oice  came  again,  'Sir  John,  come  away,  your  sack  stayeth  for  you.  "  At  that  Sir 
John  beiran  to  stamp  with  madness,  and  looked  out  and  returned  several  times  to 
the  King,  but  could  not  be  quiet  in  his  discourse  with  the  King,  because  of  the  voice 
that  so  often  troubled  turn,  till  the  King  had  sported  enough. 

Note  41. — Leglin-girth,  p.  385 

A  leglin-girth  is  the  lowest  hoop  upon  a  leglin,  or  milk-pail.  Allan  Rani' 
say  applies  the  phreise  in  the  same  metaphorical  sense. 

Or  bairns  can  read,  they  first  maun  spell, 

I  leam'd  this  f  rae  my  mammy, 
And  cast  a  leglin-girth  mj'sell 
/  T'Mig  ere  I  married  Tammy. 

Qbaasft  Kirk  on  the  Oreen. 


464  NOTES 


Note  42.— Lady  Lake,  p.  394 

Whether  out  of  a  meddling  propensity  common  to  all  who  have  a  gossip- 
ing disposition,  or  from  the  lc5ve  of  justice,  which  ought  to  make  part  of  a 
prince's  character,  Ja^iies  was  very  foud  of  inquiring  personally  into  the 
causes  ci'lebres  which  occurred  during  his  reign.  In  the  imposture  of  the 
Boy  of  Bilson,  who  pretended  to  be  possessed,  and  of  one  Richard  Hay  dock, 
a  poor  scholar,  who  pretended  to  preach  during  his  sleep,  the  King,  to  use 
the  historian  Wilson's  expression,  took  delight  in  sounding  with  the  line  of 
his  understanding  the  depth  of  these  brutish  impositions,  and  in  doing  so, 
showed  the  acuteuess  with  which  he  was  endowed  by  nature.  Lady  Lake's 
story  consisted  in  a  clamorous  complaint  against  the  Countess  of  "Exeter, 
wbom  she  accused  of  a  purpose  to  put  to  death  Lady  Lake  herself,  and  her 
daughter,  Lady  Ross,  the  wife  of  the  countess's  own  son-in-law,  Lord  Ross  ; 
and  a  forged  letter  was  produced,  in  which  Lady  Exeter  was  made  to 
acknowle(l4'e  s'lch  a  purpose.  The  account  given  of  the  occasion  of  obtain- 
ing this  letter  was,  tbat  it  had  been  written  by  the  countess  at  Wimbledon, 
in  presence  of  Lady  Lake  and  her  daughter.  Lady  Ross,  being  designed  to 
procure  ttieir  forgiveness  for  her  mischievous  intention.  The  King  re- 
mained still  unsatisfied,  the  writing,  in  his  opinion,  bearing  strong  marks 
of  forgery.  Lady  Lake  and  her  daughter  then  alleged  that,  besides  their 
own  attestation  and  that  of  a  confidential  domestic,  named  Diego,  in  whose 
presence  Lady  Exeter  had  written  tlie  confession,  their  story  might  also  be 
supported  by  the  oath  of  their  waiting-maid,  Sarah  Swarton  or  Wharton, 
who  had  been  placed  behind  the  hangings  at  thetiine  the  letter  was  written, 
and  heard  the  Countess  of  Exeter  read  over  the  confessinn  afters-he  had 
signed  it.  Determined  to  be  at  the  bottom  of  this  accusation,  James,  while 
hunting  one  day  near  Wimbledon,  the  scene  of  the  alleged  confession,  sud- 
denly left  his  sport,  and,  galloping  hastily  to  Wimbledon,  in  order  to 
examine  personally  the  room,  discovered,  from  the  size  of  the  apartment, 
that  the  alleged  conversation  could  not  have  taken  place  in  the  manner 
sworn  to  ;  and  that  the  tapestry  of  the  chamber,  which  had  remained  in 
the  same  state  for  thirty  years,  was  too  short  by  two  feet,  and,  therefore, 
could  not  have  concealed  any  one  behind  it.  This  matter  was  accounted  an 
exclusive  discovery  of  the  King  by  his  own  spirit  of  shrewd  investigation. 
The  parties  were  punished  in  the  Star  Chamber  by  fine  and  imprisonment. 


Note  43. — Military  Training  of  Londoners,  p.  413 

Clarendon  remarks,  that  the  importance  of  the  military  exercise  of  the 
citizens  was  severely  felt  by  the  Cavaliers  during  the  Civil  War,  notwith- 
standing the  ridicule  that  had  been  showered  upon  it  by  the  dramatic  poets 
of  the  day.  Nothing  less  than  habitual  practice  could,  at  the  battle  of 
Newbury  and  elsewhere,  have  enabled  the  Londoners  to  keep  their  ranks  as 
pikemen,  in  spite  of  the  repeated  charge  of  fiery  Prince  Rupert  and  his 
gallant  Cavaliers. 


Note  44.— Penny-Wedding,  p.  431 

The  penny-wedding  of  the  Scots,  now  disused  even  among  the  lowest 
ranks,  was  a  peculiar  species  of  merry-making,  at  which,  if  the  wedded 
pair  were  popular,  the  guests  who  convened  contributed  considerable  sums 
under  pretence  of  paying  for  the  bridal  festivity,  but  in  reahty  to  set  the 
married  folk  afioat  in  the  world.  See  Burt's  Letters  from,  the  North  of 
Scotland,  Letter  xi. 


GLOSSARY 

OF 

WORDS,    PHRASES,   AND   ALLUSIONS 


''  A  BASTARD  TO  THE 
TIME,"  etc.  (p.  147), 
from  King  John.  Act  i., 
sc.  i. 

Abve,  suffer  for 

AcciDENS,  nuliments  of 
grainiiiar 

A.CC0MPT,  coMPT,  account 

a.DOLESCENS,  etc  (p.  104), 
a  youth  of  a  comely 
countenance  and  be- 
coming modesty 

"vEtas  parentum,"  etc. 
(p.  S86),  the  age  of  our 
parents,  worse  than 
that  of  our  ancestors, 
has  brought  us  forth 
worse  than  them. 

A.H,     HA  1      TRfes   HONORfi, 

etc.  (p.  139),  Oh  yes, 
greatly  honored.  I  re- 
member—yes. I  used 
to  know  a  Lord  Glen- 
varloch  in  Scotland 
,  .  .  my  lord's  father 
presumably  ?  .  .  . 
.be  was  a  much  better 
player  than  I  was. 
How  clever  he  was  at 
the  back-handed 
strokes  ! 

AiGRE,  tart,  sour 

Ai.v,  own  ;  AiN  GATE,  own 
way 

AiRT,  direction,  instruc- 
tion 

Althea,  gave  birth  to 
Meleager ;  when  the 
boy  was  seven  days  old 
the  Fates  declared  that 
he  would  die  as  soon  as 
a  fire-brand  then  burn- 
ing on  the  hearth 
should  be  burnt  away. 
To  prevent  this,  his 
motherputout  thefire- 
brand  and  kept  it  hid- 
den in  a  chest 


Alumnus,  pupil 

Amadis  and  Oriana,  the 
liero  and  heroine  of  the 
romance  of  chivalry, 
Amadis  of  Gaul 

Ama  ST,  almost 

Andiamos,  or  andemos, 
let's  to  work 

Andrew,  or  Andrea, 
FERRARA,a  Scottish 
broadsword 

Ane,  one 

Ane^t,  opposite  to 

A  New  Way  to  Pay  Old 
Debts,  the  title  of  a 
comedy  by  Philip  Mas- 
singer  U633) 

Angel,  a  gold  coin  = 
about  10s. 

Anglis  in  herba,  a  snake 
in  the  grass,  something 
in  the  background 

Another-guess,  another 
sort  of 

A-peak,  said  of  an  an- 
chor when  the  ship 
rides  immediately  over 
it  with  a  taut  cable 

APPELLATIOAD  CffilSA- 

REM,  an  appeal  to 
Cifsar 

Appened,  happened 

Apud  Metamorphoseos, 
in  the  Metamorphoses, 
a  worlv  by  the  Roman 
poet  Ovid 

Ayi'A  mirabilis,  wonder- 
ful water,  a  cordial 
made  of  spirit  of  wine 
and  spices 

Arcana  imperii,  etc.  (p. 
387),  imperial  secrets ; 
he  wlio  knows  not  how 
to  diss('inl)le  knows  not 
how  ti)  govern 

Archik  Armstrong, 
court  jester  or  fool  to 
James  I.  of  England 


"Arripiens  geminas.' 
etc.  (p.  129),  seizing 
them  twain  as  the 
banks  receded  away 

Asinus  fortis,  etc.  (p. 
388),  a  strong  ass 
couching  down  be- 
tween the    sheepfolda 

Association  op  gentle- 
men mentioned  by 
Goldsmith  (p.  xxrvii). 
See  his  Essays,  No.  ix., 
'"Specimen  of  a  Maga- 
zine in  Miniature  " 

Atoma,  a  skeleton 

Aught,  to  owe  :  eight 

AuLD.  old ;  Auld  Reekie, 
Edinburgh 

AvisED,  advised  ;  avme- 
MENT,  advice 

Awes,  owes 

AwMous,  alms,  gift 

Axylus,  atreeless, 
waterless  region  in  the 
middle  of  Asia  Minor 

Babington,  Anthony, 
executed  in  1586,  at  the 
age  of  twenty -five,  for 
conspiring  the  murder 
of  Elizabeth  and  the 
liberation  of  Mary 
Queen  of  Scots 

Back  sword,  a  sword 
with  one  sharp  edge 

Balas  ruby,  a  rose-red 
variety  of  ruby 

Bale  of  dice,  a  set  of 
dice,  usually  three 

Balloon,  a  game  in 
which  a  large  inflated 
ball,  covered  with  stout 
leather,  was  struck  to 
and  fro  by  the  arm 

Bandello,  Mathieu,  an 
Italian  novelist  (1480- 
15»j'2),  author  of  famous 
Novelle  or  short  tales 


456 


GLOSSARY 


Bankside,  the  somudii 
bank  of  the  Thames, 
between  Soutliwaik 
and  B  1  a  c  k  f  r  i  a  r  s 
Bridges,  where  were 
the  Globe  and  other 
theatres,  also  Paris 
Garden  (q.v.) 

Barford's,  or  Bear- 
ford's,  Park,  now 
George  Street,  Edin- 
burgh 

Barns-breaking,  frolic, 
escapade 

Barns,  or  Barnes,  Elms, 
a  hamlet  of  Surrey, 
close  to  London 

Basilicon  Doron,  a  work 
written  (1598;  by  King 
James  as  a  guide  for 
his  eldest  son  Henry, 
when  he  should  suc- 
ceed himself  as  king 

Basta,  enough  !  tliere  ! 

Bastard,  a  sweet  Span- 
ish wine,  resembhng 
Muscadel 

Bawbee,  halfpenny 

Baxter,  baker 

Bayes,  a  name  given  to 
Dryden  in  the  second 
Duke  of  Buckingham's 
farce.  The  Rehearsal 
(1672) 

Bear  bannock,  a  cake  of 
barley-meal 

Bears,  ark  you  there 
WITH  y'our,  are  you 
harping  on  that  string 
again?  See  further 
Glossary  to  The  Abbot 

Beati  PACIFIC!,  blessed 
are  the  peacemakers 

Beccafico,  a  small  bird 
of  the  warbler  species, 
esteemed  a  delicacy 
for  the  table 

Becking,  courtesying 

Be  IN,  well-to-do 

Bel  ai>d  the  Dragon. 
See  the  Apocryphal 
book  w-ith  that  title 

Belive,  by  and  by 

Bellicosissimus  nobil- 
issiMus,  most  warlike, 
most  noble 

Ben,  stout  old,  Ben 
Jonson,  the  poet  and 
dramatist 

Benevolence,  a  forced 
loan  or  contribution 
illegally  levied  by  the 
kings  of  England 

Ben  Jonson  on  James  I. 
(p.  450).  The  phrase 
occurs  in  the  mask 
entitled  The  Metamor- 
phosed Gipsies. 

Bf.NNASKAK.  See  Jew- 
eller of  Delhi 

"Bestrew'd  all  with 
aicH  ARRAY,"  etc,  CP- 


xxviii),  from  Faerie 
Queene,  Bk.  III.,  canto 
iv.,  St.  18 

Bicker,  a  bowl  for 
liquor,  usually  of  wood 

Bide,  to  remain,  con- 
tinue ;  keep  ;  wait 

Bieldy,  sheltered 

Biennium,  dicis,  etc.  (p. 
IW),  Two  years,  do  you 
say  ■?  well,  well,  it  was 
very  well  done.  Not  in 
a  day,  as  they  say — 
understand  you,  Lord 
of  Glenvarloch  ? 

Biggin,  a  linen  cap  for  a 
young  child 

Bigging,  building 

Bilbo,  or  bilboe,  a  Bil- 
boa  (Spanish)  sword 

Billies,  boon  compan- 
ions 

Bilson,  boy  of,  an  ac- 
count of  his  imposture 
will  be  found  in  Ken- 
net's  History  of  Eng- 
land, vol.  ii.,  pp.  709, 
710 

Bing  avast,  stop,  stay, 
hold  ;  bing  off,  go 
away,  off 

BiRKiE,  a  smart  young 
fellow,  a  mettlesome 
blade 

B:  ACK,  David,  of  North 
Leith,  a  zealous  and 
distinguished  Presby- 
terian in  ibe  reign  of 
James  VL 

Black  Bull,  meant  for 
Red  Bull,  a  theatre  in 
St.  John's  Street, 
Smithfield;  or  possibly 
for  the  Bull  (g.v.) 

Blackfiim,  a  match- 
maker, go-between 

Blackmore,  Sir  Rich- 
ard, a  dull  poet  satir- 
ized by  Dryden.  Steele. 
Dennis,  and  other 
writers  of  that  period 

Black  ox  tread  o.\  your 
foot,  to  know  what 
sorrow  or  adversitj^  is 

Black  ward  tenure,  the 
condition  of  servitude 
lo  a  servant 

Blatk,  bashful 

Blethering,  jabbering 

Blowselinda,  or  Blouze- 
linda,  an  ignorant, 
frolicsome  country 
wench  in  Gay's  Shej}- 
herd's  Week,  intended 
to  ridicule  the  pastoral 
Delias,  Chlorises,  and 
the  like 

Blue-band ers,  royal 
guards  or  attendants 

Boddle.  a  Scotch  copp>er 
coin,  worth  1-Gth  penny 
English 


Bode,  wha.  Is  oidden, 
an  offer 

BoNA-aoEA,  a  showy 
wanton 

Bos  IN  linguam,  more 
correctly  bos  in  lin- 
gua, literallj'  'an  ox 
on  the  tongue,"  hence 
a  bribe.  The  phrase 
was  current  in  ancient 
Athens,  which  had 
coins  bearing  the  fig- 
ure of  an  ox  (60s)  on 
one  side 

Bow-hand,  left  hand,  the 
wrong  side 

Braid  Lowlands,  in 
plain  broad  Scotch 

Braw,  well-dressed, 
handsome 

Brewis.  the  scum  that 
rises  to  the  top  of 
water  in  which  meat  is 
being  boiled 

Bristles,  dice  in  which 
bristles  were  fixed,  so 
as  to  bias  them 

Broche,  a  spit 

Brose,  oatmeal  over 
which  boiling  water 
has  been  poured 

Brown  baker,  a  baker 
of  brown  bread 

Brownie,  a  benevolent 
spirit,  supposed  to 
haunt  old  houses 

Buchanan,  GEORGE,tutor 
to  James  I. 

Bucket  (them  out  of), 
diddle,  cheat 

Bucking-basket,  basket 
for  carrying  linen  in, 
to  be  washed  and 
bleached  by  an  old 
process  called  "  buck- 
ing " 

Buckle-  beggar.  See 
Hedge-parson 

Bull,  a  theatre  in  Bish- 
opsgate  Street,  where 
Burbage  acted 

Bum-bailey,  an  under- 
bailiff 

Bunemost,  uppermost 

Burrows-town,  or  bor- 
Rows-TOUN,  a  royal 
borough 

Buss,  to  kiss 

Ca.  call,  move 

Cadger,  packman,  huck- 
ster 

Caduca,  or  rather  Cadua, 
an  allusion  to  Dryden's 
play.  The  Wild  Gal- 
lant, Act  i  ,  sc.  2 

Calf-ward,  place  where 
calves  are  kept 

Callan',  gallant,  a  lad 

(Jampsie  Linn,  a  cataract 
in  the  river  Tay  in 
Perthshire 


GLOSSARY 


^'i 


Campvere,  a  seaport  on 
the  island  of  Walcher- 
en,  Holland,  where 
from  1444  to  1795  the 
Scots  enjoyed  special 
trading?  privileges.  The 
merchants  were  under 
Scottish  law,  adminis- 
tered by  the  Lord  Con- 
servator 

Canny,  cautious,  pru- 
dent; CANNILY,  skil- 
fully, knowingly 

Cantabit  vacuus,  being 
free  from  care  he  will 
sing 

Cantle,  crown  of  the 
head 

Capias,  writ  of,  a  writ 
for  arresting  a  person 

Oapin.  capon,  goose 

Caracco,  you  decrepit 
old  scamp,  a  Spanish 
exclamation 

Carcanet,  a  necklace, 
chain 

Carle,  fellow 

Carle-hemp,  the  female 
hemp,  which,  because 
it  was  the  stronger  and 
coarser,  was  long  erro- 
neously believed  to  be 
the  male  (carle) 

Carsifex.  executioner  ; 
carnificial,  making 
flesh,  killing 

Caroche.  a  17th  century 
carriage 

Carry  coals,  not  suffer 
an  injury  unavenged 

Carwitchet  or  carri- 
witchet,  a  pun,  puz- 
zling question 

Cast  doublets,  play  at 
doublets,  a  game  with 
dice,  somewhat  like 
backgammon 

Catalan:  Angelica,  a 
great  Italian  singer  of 
the  beginning  of  the 
19th  century 

Catchpoll,  sheriff's  of- 
ficer 

Cauff.  chaff 

Cauldrife,  cold,  chilly 

Caup,  cup,  wooden  bowl; 

CLEAN  CAUP  OUT,  tO  the 

bottom  at  one  draught 
CENsfe,  reputed,  consid- 
ered 
Chai.mer,  chamber 
Change  HOUSE,  ale-house 
Chappit.    struck     (ot   a 

clock) 
Cheek  forchowl,  cheek 
by  jowl,  close  together 
Chen'/.ie  mail,  chain  mail 
Cher  MiLoR.my  dear  lord 
Cs'-'il'.  or  CHIELD,  fellow, 

young  man 
Chitty,    childish,  baby- 
like 


Chopins,  chopines,  high 
pattens  formerly 
worn  by  ladies.  See 
Kenihvorth.  Note  14, 
p.  :;J95 

Chouse,  cheat,  swindle 

Chucks,  chuck-stones, 
marbles 

CiMELiA,  treasures 

Clary,  a  mixture  of 
wine,  honey,  and  spices 

Claudius  Claudianus, 
the  last  of  the  classic 
Roman  poets,  died 
early  in  the  5th  cen- 
tury 

Claught,  a  clutch, knock 

Claver,  to  talk  foolishly 

Cleek.  or  CLEiK,  hook 

Cloot,  hoof 

Clour,  stroke,  blow 

Clouted,  patched, 
mended 

Cock-a-leekie,  leek  soup 
in  which  a  cock  has 
been  boiled 

CouK  Lane,  in  Stockwell, 
London,  where  in  1772 
mysterious  knockings 
were  asserted  to  be 
caused  by  the  ghost  of 
a  murdered  woman — a 
vulgar  imposture 

CocKSBONES,  Cocks- 
nails.  Cock  and  Pie, 
corruptions  of  God's 
bones,  etc..  oaths 

Coif,  covering  for  a 
woman's  head  ;  a  wig 

CoisTRiL,  cowardly ;  a 
low  varlet 

Collins,  William,  an 
18th  century  poet. 
The  lines  quoted  (p.  xv) 
are  from  An  Ode  on 
the  Popular  Sujiersti- 
tions  of  the  Highlands 
of  Scotland 

CoLLoPS,  coLLOP,  minced 

meat,  slice  of  meat 
Communis  lingua,  a  com- 
mon language 

C  O  M  P  O  N  E     LACHRYMAS, 

dry  your  tears 

Confess,  and  ,  com- 
pleted by  "be  hanged" 

Contra  expectanda, 
contrary  to  expecta- 
tion 

CoNY-CATCHER,  a  sharper 

C  o  R  D  o  v  A  N,  S  p  a  n  i  s  h 
leather,  so  called  from 
the  town  of  Cordova 

CoRNPicKLE,  a  grain  of 
corn 

Corporal  oath,  an  oath 
strengthened  by 
touching  a  sacred  ob- 
ject, as  the  corporal  or 
iineii  altar-cloth  u.sed 
at  the  celebration  of 
the  Eucharist 


CosHEh..*JG,  familiar, 
hospitable 

CossiKK  PKACTiCE,  alge- 
bra 

Coted,  outstripped 

CoucHEK,  evening  recep- 
tion of  some  great  per- 
son before  retiring  to 
sleep 

Coup,  tumble,  fall , 
coupit  ower,  overset  ; 

COUP  THE  GRANS,  tO  be 

overturned,  upset, 
come  to  grief 

Coup  de  MAf  tre,  master- 
stroke, master-piece 

Court  of  Requests,  a 
court  of  equity,  for  the 
relief  of  those  who  ad- 
dressed the  king  by 
supplication 

Cracked  within  the 
ring.  See  Ring, 
cracked  within  the 

Craig,  neck  ;  crag,  rock 

Cramp  speech,  cramping 
(the  bailiff's)  challenge 
that  ends  in  confine- 
ment 

Crasso  in  aere.  What  a 
dense  atmosphere 

Craw'd  sab  crouse, 
talked  so  loudly 

Cross  and  pile,  an  old 
game  of  chance  with 
money,  a  cross  mark- 
ing the  obverse  of  the 
com,  while  the  reverse 
was  called  the  pile 

Crush  a  cup  of  wine, 
drink  a  cup  of  wine. 
Comp.  Crack  a  bottle 

Crying  roast-meat,  pro- 
claiming publicly  one's 
good  fortune 

CuLLioNLY,  mean,  base 

Cully,  one  meanly  de- 
ceived, a  dupe 

CuRN,  a  grain 

Cusser,  a  stallion 

Cutter's  law,  the  rules 
of  comradeship 
among  thieves 

Cutty-qukan,  a  worth- 
less woman 

Daft,  crazy 

Daikering,  strolling 

Dang,  knocked 

Davie  Lindsay,  the  pop- 
ular name  of  Sir  David 
Lvnilsay  of  the  Mount, 
a  favorite  16th  century 
Scottish  poet 

Dk  contractu,  etc.  (p. 
375),  on  contract  of 
pledge ;  all  agree  on 
this  point 

Dkcus,  a  crown-piece 

De  la  MoTTE,the  Marquis 
de  la  Mothe-F6neIon, 
French  ambassador  at 


to8 


GLOSSARY 


Elizabeth's  court,  pro- 
ceeded to  Edinburgh 
iu  1582 

Dependence,  an  affair  in 
which  a  man's  honor 
was  in  question,  a  duel- 
list's term 

Despardikux,  etc.  (p. 
141),  ye  gods,  what  a 
fine  fellow  he  was  1 

Deutkroscopy,  second 
sight 

Devi  I.  looks  over  Lin- 
coln, an  expression 
to  indicate  malignant 
envy,  aue  to  the  devil's 
hatred  of  the  beautiful 
cathedral  at  Lincoln. 
For  other  explanations 
of  the  phrase,  see  Glos- 
sary to  Kenilworth 

Dbvil's  bones,  dice 

Dkvil's  Tavern,  situ- 
ated near  Temple  Bar 
in  Fleet  Street 

Diet-loaf,  a  sort  of  del- 
icate sweet  cake 

DiKU  ME  damme,  God 
damn  me  ! 

DiNO,  to  drive,  beat, 
strike. 

DiONVSIUS  OP  SVRACUSE. 

It  was  the  Younger 
who,  at'er  his  st^cond 
expulsioa  in  343  B.C.,  is 
said  to  have  kept  a 
school  at  Corinth.  The 
story  of  the  'lugg" 
accords  with  the  suspi- 
cious character  of  the 
Elder 

DiRDUM,  commotion,  stir 

Dirk,  a  dagger 

DiviNiTus  EVASiT,  provi- 
dentially escaped 

Doctors,  doctored,  i.e. 
false  dice 

Don  Diego,  a  Spanish 
like  bravo  or  bully. 
Richie  flloniplies,  who 
is  alluded  to,  has  been 
already  (p. 309)  likened 
to  a  Spaniard  in  a  pas 
sion 

DONNARD,  StupicK 

DoNNERiT,  stunned 

Dooms,  absolutely,  posi- 
tively 

Dor,  giving  the,  making 
a  fool  of.  gulling 

Doublet,  a  counterfeit 
gem,  consisting  of  two 
pieces  of  crystal,  with 
a  layer  of  color  be- 
tween them ;  doub- 
lets, two  dice  showing 
faces  with  exactly  the 
same  number  of  spots 
or  points 

OoucE,  sensible,  respect- 
able, quiet 

l)ovER,  stun,  stupor 


Dow  cot.  dovecot 

Downa,  do  not 

DraI'M^-pock,  a  sack  for 
grains  or  refuse  malt 

Drumble,  to  be  sluggish, 
delay 

Dud,  rag 

Dudgeon  dagger,  knife, 
a  large  knife  or  dagger, 
generally  with  an  or- 
namental haft 

Duke  of  Lennox,  Lodo- 
wick  Stuart,  Duke  of 
Lennox  and  Rich- 
mond, and  cousin  to 
James  I. 

DuLK-WEEDS,  mourning 

DuNT,  knock 

Eard-hunger,  hunger 
for  land 

Earl  of  Warwick  (p. 
18),  the  mythical  Guy 
of  Warwick,  the  hero 
of  a  m  e  d  i  as  V  a  1  ro- 
mance, who  slew  a 
fierce  Dun  Cow  near 
Warwick 

Eastward  ho  (p.  411), 
America  is  so  indicated 
geographically  in  an 
old  play  of  the  period 

Een,  eyes 

Eichstadius,  Lauren- 
Tius,  a  doctor  of  Stet- 
tin, who  wrote  Prog- 
nosticon  Conjunc- 
tione  magna  Saturni 
et  Jovis  (162-2),  and 
other  works  on  astrol- 
ogy 

Elritch,  unearthly,  hor- 
rid 

Enow,  enough 

Equam  memento,  etc.  (p. 
373),  remember  to  stick 
to  your  mare  in  diffi- 
culties 

Esprit  follkt,  goblin, 
,>-prite 

Ethnic,  heathen 

Et  quid.  etc.  (p.  104), 
And  what  is  spoken  of 
in  Leyden  to  day.— 
your  Vossius,  has  he 
written  nothing  new  ? 
Certainly  nothing,  1  re- 
gret, which  has  recent- 
ly appeared  in  type 

EucLio  apud  Plautum. 
See  Plautus,  Aulula- 
ria,  Act  iv.,  sc.  9 

Euqe  !  belle  !  optime ! 
well  done  !  excellent  ! 
first-rate  ! 

Evited.  shunned, avoided 

Exempli  gratia,  for  ex- 
ample 

ExiES,  hysterics 

Ex  nihilo  nihil  fit, 
from  nothing,  nothing 
comes 


Expiry  of  the  legal, 
expiration  of  the  peri- 
od in  which  an  estate 
that  has  been  pledged 
for  debt  may  be  re- 
deemed 

Ex  PRoposiTO,  on  pur- 
pose 

Facilis  descensus  Aver- 
Ni,  the  easy  descent  to 
the  infernal  regions 

Falkland,  an  ancient 
royal  palace  in  Fife- 
shire 

Falset,  falsehood;  false 

Fanfaron,  a  swaggerer, 
boaster 

Fash,  trouble,  concern; 
PASHious,  troublesome 

Fatal  banquet,  etc.  (p. 
449).  an  allusion  to  the 
cause  of  death  of  Rob- 
ert Greene,  the  drama- 
tist and  poet 

Fause,  false,  stupid 

Fautor,  patron,  favorer 

Fence-louper,  fence- 
leaper,  appUed  to 
sheep 

Fico,  a  fig 

Fit,  foot 

Fleeching,  flattering 

Flesher,  butcher 

Flos  sulphur,  etc.,  sul- 
phur ointment 

F  L  o  X  -  s  I L  K,  floss  silk, 
downy  silk 

Fog,  to  seek  gain  by  pet- 
tifogging practices 

Forfeit,  offence,  tres- 
pass 

FoRPiT,  a  measure  ^ 
quarter  of  a  peck 

Fortune,  a  theatre  in 
Aldersgate,  London 

Fouat,  the  house-leek 

FOULMART,     or    FOUMART. 

a  polecat 

Four  hours'  nunchion.  a 
luncheon  or  light  re- 
past taken  four  hours 
after  a  principal  meal 

Fore  quarters,  hands 
and  feet,  efficient  help 

Francis  of  France,  was 
defeated  and  taken 
prisoner  at  Pavia  in 
1525  by  the  Emperor 
Charles  V. 

Friar's  chicken,  chick- 
en broth  boiled  with 
eggs  beaten  up  and 
dropped  into  it 

Frontiniack,  or  Fron- 
iiGNAN,  a  sweet  mus- 
cat wine  made  at  Fron- 
tignan,  dept.  H6rault, 
France 

Frontless,  shameless 

FuLHAM  AND  GOURD,  dif- 
ferent kinds  of  false 
dice 


GLOSSARY 


455) 


Galloway,  a  small 
stroiiK  tiag.bred  in  Gul- 
lowa)',  the  south-west 
extremity  of  Scotland 

Hang,  go  ;  ganis,  gone 

Gar,  cause,  make,  com- 
pel 

Gaknish,  a  fee  paid  by  a 
prisoner  to  his  fellow- 
prisoners  on  first  join- 
ing them  in  confine- 
ment 

Gate,  gait,  way.  man- 
ner, kind  of  ;  out  op 
THE  gate,  uncommon, 
unexceptional; 

TO  GANG  A   GRAY   GATE, 

see Giay  gate 

Gawdy,  GAUDY,  festivity 

Gay  and  weel,  excep- 
tionally well 

Gear,  goods,  money ; 
affair,  business 

Gemevre,  gin 

Gexius  loci,  genius  of 
the  place 

George-a-Gbeen,  a  reso- 
lute pinder  or  pound- 
keeper  of  Wakefield, 
who  single-handed  re- 
sisted Robin  Hood, 
Little  John,  and  Will 
Scarlett 

Ghittern,  a  guitar 

liiK.  give  ;  GiEN,  given 

GiFF-GAFF,  mutual  obli- 
gation, I  will  serve  you 
if  you  will  serve  me 

Gillie-  white-foot,  a 
messenger,  errand-boy 

Gii.RAVAGER,  a  wanton 
fellow 

Gin,  if 

GiP,  a  college  servant  at 
Cambridge 

GiRNED,  grmned 

Glaiks,  glamor,  daz- 
zling reflection ;  gie 
THE  GLAIKS,  to  deceive, 
jilt 

Gleed,  ganging,  gomg 
awry,  astray 

GuD-DHN,  good-evening 

Golden  ass  of  Apuleius, 
a  young  man  named 
Lucian,  m  e  t  a  m  o  r  - 
phosed  into  an  ass, 
whose  adventures  are 
described  in  an  an- 
cient Greek  romance 
by  Apuleius 

Gr)ODYKAR,  goodjere,  or 

GOUJEERS,  WHAT  THE.  a 

coarse   expletive,    the 
pox  ! 

Go  OVER  THE  water  TO 
THE    GARDKN,  Cl'OSS   the 

Thames  to  Paris  Gp.r- 

den  (g.-u.) 
GouK.  a  fool 
( lowD.  gold 
Go  wooLWARP   vsar  un- 


comfortable clothinjr, 
wool  next  the  skin 

Graff,  gi-ave 

Grande  entree,  open  or 
official  access  to  court 

Grannam.  grandmother 

GuASSMARKET,  an  open 
space  in  Edinburgh 
where  markets  were 
held 

Grat,  wept 

Gray  (gate),  to  gang  a, 
to  go  a  bad  road,  come 
to  an  evil  end 

Green,  or  Greene,  Rob- 
ert, a  witty  dramatist 
and  poet  of  the  end  of 
the  16th  century.  See 
also  Fatal  banquet,etc. 

Greet,  weep 

Grew,  to  curdle,  thrill 

Grisk INS.  the  small  bones 
taken  out  of  a  flitch  of 
bacon 

Grit,  great 

Groaning  cheese.  Com- 
pare Cuy  Mannerincj, 
'''Groaning  Cheese," 
Note  1,  p.  17 

Groenwegenius,  or 
Groenwkgen,  Simon 
VAN  DER  Made,  a  Dutch 
jurist  nG13~52).  town 
clerk  of  Delft,  and 
editor  of  Grotius 

G  R  O  S  A  R  T,        GROSSART, 

gooseberry 

Guided,  managed,  di- 
rected ;  GUIDING,  man- 
agement 

Gully,  large  knife 

Gusedub,  the  goose- 
pond,  duck-pond  of  the 
town 

Gusty,  savory 

Gutter- BLOOD,  one  of 
mean  birth 


HaCHIAS,     or    HAGGIS,    a 

Scotch  pudding  of 
minced  meat,  mixed 
with  oatmeal,  suet, 
onions,  etc.,  boiled  in 
a  skin  bag 

Haet,  the  smallest  thing 
imaginable 

Haffits.  cheeks 

Hafflins.  a  hobblede- 
hoy, youth 

Haill,  whole,  entire 

Hair  in  his  neck,  some- 
thing that  will  give  one 
an  advantage  over  or  a 
pretext  for  twitting 
another 

Hale,  whole 

Hallyaru.s,  an  old  man- 
sion of  Fit'eshire  be- 
longing to  the  Skene 
family 

Hame  sucKi  n,  assaulting 


a  person  in  his  own 
house 
Hamilton,  Count  An- 
thony, wrote  the  Me- 
moirs of  his  brother- 
in-law.  Count  do  Grani- 
mont,  giving  a  lively 
picture  of  the  court  of 
Charles  H.  of  England 
Hanked,  made  fui'ious, 

baited 
Harle,  to  drag 
Harry  Wynd  fought,  an 
allusion    to   the  smith 
who     volunteered     to 
fight  with  a  Highland 
clan  at  Perth  for  the 
mere  love  of  fighting. 
See    Fair     Maid     of 
Perth 
Haet  of  grease,  a  hart 

in  best  condition 
Hatch-door,  a  half-door 
Haud,  hold 
Havings,  manners 
Hawk,  to  cough  violent- 
ly for  the  purpose  of 
bringing  up  phlegm 
Haydock,   Richard,    an 
account  of  his  impos- 
ture will  be  found  in 
Kennefs     History    of 
England,  vol.  ii..  p.  711 
Hays,  an   old-fashioned 

country-dance 
Hazard,  a  dice  game 
"  Heartless   oft,"  etc. 
(p.  xv),  from  CoUins's 
Ode   on    the   Popular 
Supei-stitions    of    the 
Highlands  of  Scotland 
II  e  A  utontimoeumenos  ; 
or,  The  Self-Torment- 
or, a  comedy  by  Ter- 
ence 
Heben-wood,  ebony 
Heck  and  manger,  prod- 
igal and  unconcerned 
Hedge-parson,  a  clergy- 
man   who    performed 
irregular  marriages 
Hermit  of  Parnell.  the 
subject  of  a  poem  by 
Dr.  Thomas  Parnell.  a 
minor  poet  of    Queen 
Anne's     reign.       The 
lines   in   the   text  (p. 
xxiii)  parody  the  orig- 
inal 
Het.  hot 

Heugh.  dell  ;  crag 
Hidalgo,  a  Spanish  no- 
bleman 
High    Dutch,    German. 
The      German      woi'd 
gram    means    sorrow, 
affliction,  tribulation 
IIiNNV.  honey,  darling 

HlRDIEGIRilE,      topsy 

turvy 
Hikpling,  hobbling 
Hirsel,  a  flock 


460 


GLOSSARY 


Hit,  a  move  in  backj^am- 
mon,  by  which  a  plaj'er 
compels  his  adversary 
to  begin  over  again 

HoLBORN,  RIDE  UP.  See 
Ride  lip  Holborn 

Horn-mad,  starli  mad, 
outrageous 

Horse  GRAiTH,  trap- 
pings, harness 

HowFF,  a  haunt 

Huff,  swaggerer,  blus- 
terer, one  swollen  with 
pride  or  arrogance 

Humming,  strong.  Me- 
theglin  (and  so  beer) 
was  said  to  make  the 
head  hum  like  the  hive 
from  which  the  honey 
was  taken,  of  which  it 
was  made 

HuNGERFoRD  STAIRS,  be- 
side the  Thames,  on 
the  spot  where  Charing 
Cross  railway  bridge 
now  crosses  the  river 

Hustle-cap.  pitching 
halfpence  at  a  mark, 
and  selecting  from  the 
whole  of  the  coins  such 
as  fall  head  upwards, 
according  to  tlie  sev- 
eral players'  nearness 
to  the  mark 

Ignoto,  unknown 
I  LicTOB,  etc.  (p.  437),  Go, 
lictor,  bind  his  hands, 
cover  his  head,   hang 
him  on  the   accursed 
tree 
Ilka,  ilk,  each,  every 
III  REDD-UP,  very  untidy 
Ill-willy,  ill-natured 
iMo  Kex,  etc.    (p.   104), 
Yes.  your  most  august 
Majesty,   I  stayed   al- 
most two  years  among 
the  people  of  Leyden 
•'Inclusus  varus,"  etc. 
(p.   429),    an    inclosed 
spirit      attends       the 
various      stars,      and 
ui^es   on    the    living 
work   with    regulated 
motion.  (Claudian, 
Epigrams,  No.  68) 
In  cuerpo,  without  a 
cloak, naked,  a  Spanish 
phrase 
Incumbite     remis     for- 
TFTER,      Apply     your- 
selves  strenuously   to 
the  oars 
Infandum,  etc.  (p.  154), 
to  renew  the  unspeak- 
able pain 
Infksti    regibus,    dan- 
gerous to  kings 
Inqine,  intuition,  genius 
iNjrRED  Thales  of  the 
MORALIST.    See   Dr. 


Johnson's   satirical 

poem,  London 
Inkle,  a  kind  of  crewel 

or  embroidery  in  wool 
In  malam  PAitTEM,  in  ill 

part 
In    meditatione    fvom, 

meditating  flight 
"In     nova     fert"   (pp. 

193  and  430),  My  mind 

leads    me     again     to 

speak    of    changed 

forms 
Inter      parietes      ec- 

CLESi.a:,      within      the 

walls  of  a  church 
In  terrorem,  as  a  terror 

to  evil-doers 
In  verbo  regis,  by  the 

king's  word 
Iris,   in   Greek    mythol- 
ogy, the  messenger  of 

the  gods,  represented 

by  the  rainbow 
"It's     hame,    and    it's 

hame,"    etc.    (p.    3"0), 

from  a  song  by  Allan 

Cunningham 

Jacobus,  gold  coin  =■  25s. 

J  ACTA  est  alea.  the  die 
is  cast ;  he  has  made 
his  choice 

James  with  the  Fiery 
Face,  James  II.  of 
Scotland 

Jaud,  jade 

Jeweller  of  Delhi,  etc. 
(p.  XV).  See  "History 
of  Mahoud,"  in  We- 
ber's Tales  of  the  East, 
vol.  iii.,  p.  479,  etc. 

JiLL-FLIRT.Or  gill-flirt, 

a  thoughtless,  giddy 
girl 

JippKR,  to  jeopard,  peril 

Joannes  Barclaius, 
John  Barclay,  author 
of  Argents,  enjoyed  the 
favor  of  James  I. 

John  Taylor,  the  poet, 
a  Thames  waterman, 
usually  styled  the 
Water-poet  (1580-1664) 

Jolter-pate,  blockhead 

JOUK    AND    LET   THE    JAW 

gae  by.  Stoop  and  let 
the  wave  go  by,  bend 
to  the  storm 
Jowl,  toll  of  a  bell 
Justus  et  tenax  pro- 
posTi,  a  just  man,  and 
tenacious  of  his  pur- 
pose 

Kaiser,  emperor 

Kemp,  to  strive  for  vic- 
tory ;  kkmping,  strife, 
struggle 

K;EN,know;KENNED, 
1       known;  kenning, 


reach,   range ;     know!. 
t'dgc 
Kennel,  street-gutter 
Kersey,  a  kind  of  coarse 
woollen    cloth,    gener- 
ally ribbed 
KiMMER,  a  gossip 

Kino  Cambysess  vein,  r- 
ranting  character  in  an 
old  play  by  Thomas 
Preston,  entitled  Com- 
byses.  King  of  Persia. 
There  is  another  Vfr- 
sion  by  Elkanah  Settle 
(1671) 

King  Lud,  a  mythical 
king  of  ancient  Britain, 
whose  name  is  said  tr, 
survive  in  Ludgate, 
London 

Kirk  and  miln,  make  a. 
Make  what  you  will  ot 
it,  do  whatever  you 
please  with  it 

Kirkcaldy,  extends 
about  four  miles  along 
the  north  shore  of  tlie 
Firth  of  Forth,  and  in 
nicknamed  the  Long 
Town 

KisT,  chest,  trunk 

Kittle,  ticklish,  diffi- 
cult :  to  tirkle 

Knapping,  stealing 

Kraemes,  or  Crames, 
shops  in  a  passage  be- 
tween the  old  Lucken- 
booths  of  the  High 
Street  of  Edinburgh 
and  St.  Giles'  Cathe- 
dral 

Kythed,  caused,  made 
to  show 

Laberius,  a  Roman 
"  knight,"whom  Cassar 
constrained  (45  B.C. )  to 
take  part  in  a  trial  of 
extemporaneous  farce 
against  a  celebrated 
"mime,"  Fublius  Syrus 

Lady  Chris tabel,  a.i 
allusion  to  Coleridge's 
poem 

Laid  up  in  lavender,  in 
prison,  confinement 

Laigh,  low 

Lair,  learning 

Lambmas,  or  Lammas 
Day,  the  first  day  of 
August 

Landlouper,  adventurer 

Lap,  jumped 

Latten.  a  kind  of  brass 

Lavrock,  the  lark 

Lay  leaguer,  was  in  gar- 
rison 

Leasing,  lying;  leasing- 
making,  treason 

Lb  fanfaron,  etc.  (p. 
339),  the  boaster  of 
vices  whioh  he  had  not 


GLOSSARY 


461 


Le  petit  Leyth,  i.e. 
Leith,  which  was  held 
by  Mary  of  Lorraine, 
the  queen  regent,  and 
the  Catholic  paity,sup- 
ported  by  French 
troops,  and  besieged 
by  the  Scottish  Protes- 
tants, the  Ijords  of  the 
Congregation,  in  156u 

Leugh.  laughed 

Lief.  dear,  beloved  ;  as 
LIEF,  as  soon,  gladly 

Lift,  sky 

Lingua  franca,  a  com- 
mon language;  gen- 
erally a  corrupt  Ital- 
ian ;  but  the  word 
quoted  on  p.  89  is 
Spanish 

LiTHER,  lazy,  supple 

LooF,  i>alm  of  the  hand 

LooN,  fellow,  rascal ; 
strumpet 

Lord  Sanquhar,  after 
having  his  eye  put  out 
by  John  Turner,  a 
fencing-master,  during 
a  friendly  trial,  caused 
Turner  to  b e  m u r - 
dered  ;    but    being    a 

Eeer  of  Scotland  only, 
e  was  denied  the  priv- 
ilege of  trial  by  bis 
peers,  and  was  execut- 
ed at  Westminster 

LouN,  LouND,  low,  calm 

LoupiN',  leaping 

Lucio.  in  Shakespeare's 
Measure  for  Measure, 
Act  v.,  sc.  1 

Ltjckie,  dame,  a  title 
given  to  old  women 

Lully's  philosophy. 
Raymond  Lullius,  or 
Luily,  invented  in  the 
13th  century  a  sort  of 
mechanical  system  of 
philosophy  for  convert- 
ing the  Moslems  to 
Christianity  ;  he  also 
practised  alchemy 

Lustre,  a  period  of  five 
years 

Mabre,  marble 

Maelstrom,  a  formid- 
able whirlpool  at  the 
south  extremity  of  the 
Lofoten  Islands,  off  the 
west  coast  of  Norway 

Maggot,  whim,  fancy 

Mahound,  the  name 
given  in  the  medi;eval 
mystery  plays  to  a  de- 
mon intended  to  repre- 
sent the  prophet  Ma- 
homet 

Mail,  baggage 

Main,  throw  a,  take  a 
hand  at  dice 

Mair,  more 


Mair  tint  on  Flodden 
Edge,  a  proverbial 
expression  meaning. 
There  was  more  lost  in 
the  battle  of  Flodden. 
i.e.  Things  might  have 
been  worse 

Maist,  most ;  "maibt,  al- 
most 

Malleus  malificarum, 
the  liammer  to  break 
to  pieces  the  malefac- 
tor, an  allusion  to  a 
work  (148?)  bearing 
that  title,  by  Sprenger 
and  Kramer,  describ- 
ing the  processes  to  be 
followed  against 
witches 

Man  of  Uz,  Job  of  the 
Old  Testament 

MarSchal  Strozzi 
(Philip),  French  gener- 
al (1541-82),  distin- 
guished himself  In  the 
reign  of  Francis  II. 

Marle.  marvel,  wonder 

Marmite,  porridge  pot, 
iron  pot  for  cooking 

Marmozet,  a  small  mon  • 
key 

Marry  guep,  corruption 
of  Marry  go  up  !  an 
exclamation  of  scorn 
or  contempt 

Master  of  Glamis,  one 
of  the  participants  in 
the  Raid  iq.v.)  of 
Ruthven 

Master  Puff,  in  Sheri- 
dan's Critic,  Act.  iii., 
sc.  1 

Maun,  must 

Maze  in  Tothill Fields. 
a  favorite  resort  of 
Londoners  in  the  16th 
century,  situated  near 
the  Westminster  and 
Vauxhall  Bridge  Road 

Melancholy  Jaccjues. 
See  Shakespeare's  As 
You  Like  It,  Act.  ii., 
sc.  1 

Meliora  spero,  I  expect 
better  things 

Mell  with,  meddle  with 

Mbnseful,  discreet,  ma- 
ture 

Merk,  an  old  Scotch  sil- 
ver coin  =  Is.  1  l-3d. 

Mermaid,  a  tavern  be- 
tween Broad  Street 
and  Friday  Street, 
Cheapside,  where  Sir 
Walter  Kaleigh  found- 
ed a  club  of  wits,  and 
where  Ben  Jon  son 
used  to  frequent 

Mew,  to  moult,  shed 
(feathers,  etc.) 

Michael  Scott,  De 
Secretis,  an  alternative 


title  for  the  magician'.s 
best  known  work  on 
generation,  De  Ph  i.n- 
ognomia  et  Hominis 
Procreatione  (ed. 
Frankfort,  161.5) 

Miching,  mean,  c  o  w- 
ardly,  skulking 

Mickle,  large,  much 

Mighty  Mightinesses, 
meani  for  High  and 
Mighty,  a  mode  em- 
ployed in  addressing 
the  States-General  of 
the  Netherlands 

Mint,  to  hint,  aim  at 

Mirk, dark 

Miscawed,  abused 

Misleard,  vinmannerly 

Mobility,  the  common 
people,  rabble 

Montero,  huntsman's 
cap 

Moralist.  See  Injured 
Thales  of  the  moralist 

Mort-cloth,  a  funeral 
pall 

Mother  Redcap  of 
Hungerford  Stairs. 
the  name  is  borrowed 
from  a  notorious  shrew 
of  Kentish  Town, called 
Mother  Redcap  or 
Mother  Damnable 

Motion  of  the  poor 
noble,  the  puppet- 
show  of  the  poor  noble 

Mournival,  all  four  aces, 
or  kings,  etc.,  in  gleek 

MoYLE,  or  moil,  mule 

MucKLE,  much 

MuN,  dissolute  young 
spark  of  the  reign  of 
Queen  Anne 

"  My  lord,  beware  of 
JEALOUSY,'"  etc.  (p.  128), 
from  Othello,  Act  iii., 
sc.  3  ;  but  for  "  make  " 
read  "mock" 

Nab,  not ;  naething, 
nothing 

Namesake  of  Smith- 
field  MEMORY,  Queen 
Mary  of  England,  in 
whose  reign  so  many 
Protestants  were 
burned  at  Smithfleld 

Nappy  (ale),  strong, 
heady 

Nash,  Thomas,  a  merry 
but  unfortunate  satir- 
ist of  the  end  of  Eliza- 
beth's reign 

Needsna,  needs  not 

Ne  inducas,  etc.  (p.  .379), 
Lead  ns  not  into  temp- 
tation; get  thee  behind 
me,  Satan 

Nicher,  neigh,  giggle 

Nick,  to  defeet,  cozen, 
deceive 


462 


GLOSSARY 


NicoTiA,  tobacco 

NiFFER     FOR     N'IFFKR,      a 

fiiir  excliange 

Night-rail,  a  night- 
go  wu 

NiP»KRKtN,  a  small 
measure  of  ale,  etc. 

Noble,  a  gold  coiu  =  Cs. 
8d. 

NON      EST     INQUIRENDUM, 

etc.  {p.  378).  Ko  ques- 
tions must  be  aslced  as 
to  where  the  venison 
comes  from,  i.e.  wnat 
the  word  "  venison  "'  is 
etymologically  derived 
from 

"  NON  IGNARA  MALI,"  etC. 

(p.  881).  Not  ignorant 
of  evil,  I  learn  to  suc- 
cor the  wretched  (Vir- 
gil, ^^neid,  i.,  63-1) 

NON  MEA  RENIDET,  etC.Cp. 

60),  There  was  no  ceil- 
ing in  my  house 
NoN  OLET,   it   does   not 
smell 

NoN      OMNIS      MORIAR,      I 

shall  notal together  die 

NoN    SURDO     CANIS,     YoU 

sing  not  to  one  who  is 
deaf 

NoN  UTENDO,  for  lack  of 
using 

Nooning,  a  repast  at 
noon 

Norland  stots,  north- 
ern folk  ;  literally, 
young  bullocks 

Nor'  Loch,  a  small  lake 
or  swamp  in  Edin- 
burgh, where  the 
Princes  Street  Gardens 
now  are 

Nowte.  black  cattle 

NuLLiFiDiAN,  of  no  faith, 
a  disbeliever 

NuNCHioN.  See  Four 
hours'  nunchion 

Oaken  towel,  oak 
cudgel 

Old  Truepenny,  the 
name  Hamlet  applies 
to  his  father's  ghost  in 
Act  i.,  sc.  5 

Onyx  cum  prole,  etc.  (p. 
373),  The  ony.^c  and  its 
child,  the  pebble,  the 
onyx  and  its  child 

Opignorate,  or  oppig- 
norate,  to  pledge 

Oranienburgh,  or 
Uranienborg,  the  ob- 
servatory built  by 
Tycho  Brahfi  on  the 
Danish  island  of  Hven 
in  the  Sound 

Orpheus  seeking  his 
EuRYDicE.  Eurydice, 
wife  of  Orpheus,  was 
killed    and    taken    to 


Hades  on  her  wedding 
night ;  her  husband 
went  down  to  the  in- 
fernal regions  to  seek 
for  her 

Osborne,  Francis,  mas- 
ter of  horse  to  the  Earl 
of  Pembroke,  the  au- 
thor of  Traditional 
Memoirs  of  the  Heign.'i 
of  Queen  Elizabeth 
and  James  I.,  printed 
in  Secret  History  of 
the  Court  of  Jaine.t  I., 
edited  by  Sir  Walter 
Scott,  2  vols.  (Edin- 
burgh. 1811) 

Other  g.'^te,  other  sort 
of,  kind  of 

Out  taken,  except 

OwcHE,  or  OUCH,  an  or- 
namental brooch  or 
clasp 

Ox,  BLACK,  HAS  NOT  TROD 

ON  YOU,  misfortune  has 
not  come  to  you 

Pagenstech erus,  or 
Pagenstecher,  J.  F. 
G.,  a  Dutch  jurist 
(1080-1740),  lectured  on 
law  at  Steinf ort  and  at 
Harderwyk 

Paik,  beat,  chastise 

P  A  N  D  I  T  E   PORES,  thrOW 

open  the  doors 

Paned,  variegated, 
striped 

Panged,  crammed, 
pressed 

Paris  Garden,  a  bear 
garden  in  Bankside 
(5  r.),  one  having  been 
kept  on  the  Thames 
bank  by  Robert  de 
Paris  in  the  reign  of 
Pvichard  II. 

Par  voye  du  fait,  by  the 
rough  hand,  violence 

Pasquinado,  a  lampoon 

PASs.iGE,  game  of  dice 

Pater  patri.e,  father  of 
the  country 

Paul's  Chain,  a  chain 
drawn  across  the  car- 
riage-way of  St.  Paul's 
churchyard  during 
time  of  divine  service 

Pavia.  See  Francis  of 
France 

Pease-bogle,  scarecrow 

Peddler's  French,  vag- 
abonds' cant,  jargon 

Peery,  knowing,  cun- 
ning 

Peg-a- Ramsay,  the  title 
of  an  ob.-cene  old  song ; 
see  Shakespeare's 
Twelfth  Night,  Act  ii., 
sc.  3 

Penetralia,  inner  re- 
cesses 


Penneech,  an  old  card 

game 

Penny  Scots  —  l-12tli  of 
English  penny 

Per  aquam  refectionis, 
by  refi'eshing  waters 

Per  aversionem,  in  the 
gross 

Perdu,  in  concealment 

"Peru  interii."  etc.  (p. 
377),  lam  lost,  ruined, 
undone  ;  whither  can  I 
run  ?  whither  not  run? 
Hold,  hold;-  Whom? 
who  am  I  to  hold  ?  I  do 
not  know  I  see  noth 
ing,  Plautus,  Aulula- 
ria.  Act  iv  ,  sc.  9 

Petits  plats  exqu  is,  ex- 
quisite little  dishes 

Piazza,  the  open  arcade 
running  along  the 
north  and  east  sides 
of  old  Covent  Garden 
market 

Pickthank,  an  officious 
fellow,  toady 

Pig,  an  earthen  vessel, 
jar 

Pineal  gland,  a  part  of 
bi'ain  supposed  by  the 
philosopher  Descartes 
to  be  the  seat  of  the 
soul 

Pisces  purga,  etc.  (p. 
371),  clean  the  fish. 
See  that  the  salt  fish  is 
well  steeped 

PiSTOLET,  a  little  pistol 

Pit  up.  put  up,  lodge 

Place  de  carrousel, 

Elace  for  showing  off 
orses  in  chariot-rac- 
ing and  similar  exer- 
cises 

Placet,  petition 

Plack,  a  copper  coin  = 
l-3d.  sterling  ;  plack 
and  bawbee,  to  the 
full 

Play  rex,  domineer  over, 
act  despotically 
towards 

Pleached,  plashed  and 
woven  together  (said 
of  branches  of  a  ti-ee 
or  hedge) 

Ploy,  frolic,  entertain- 
ment 

Pock,  poke,  a  bag,  purse 

Pock-pudding,  a  Scots- 
man's term  of  con- 
tempt for  an  English- 
man 

POINS     ANDPETO,in, 

Shakespeare's    Henry 

IV. 
Point-device,    in    every 

particular,    with     the 

greatest  exactitude 
Poortith,  poverty 
Port,  town-gate 


GLOSSARY 


463 


P  O  R  T  A,  B  A  P  T  I  S  T  A.  or 
GlAMBATTISTA  DELLA,  a 

Neapol  ican  natural 

)'hilosopher,who  wrote 

De  Humana  Physiog- 

iiomonia     (1591)     and 

otber  scientific  works 

Portugal  piece  =  4s  ,  a 

silver    coin    worth    8 

reals,   and   sometimes 

called  a  piece  of  eight 

Pot,  a  soldier's  steel  cap 

Potestas  maritalis,  the 

rights  of  a  hiisl)and 
Pottle,  pot  or  tankard 
Pound    Scots  —  is.    8d. 

English 
Pouther,  gunpowder 
Pow    BuR.v,  a    ditch   in 
Newington.  a  southern 
suburb  of  Edinburgh 
Powdered    (beef), 
sprinkled    with     salt, 
etc  ,  pickled 
Pr^libatio  matrimonii, 

foretaste  of  marriage 
Prestable,  pa.vable 
pRESTER  John,   a  fabu- 
lous Christian  king  of 
distant  Asia  (or  Abys- 
sinia), reputed   to    be 
possessed  of  immense 
wealth 
Prie.  to  taste 

Pi^INCIPIUM        ET        FONS, 

head  and  source 
Princox.  a  coxcomb 
Propera  pedem,  hasten 

away 
PROSENETA.a  negotiator, 

agent 
Prunella,  a  kind  of  last- 
ing of  which  clergy- 
men's gowns  were  for- 
merly made 
PuBLius  Terentius,  or 
Terence,  the  Roman 
comedy-writer,  was  a 
native  of  Carthage  in 
Africa,  and  was  taken 
to  Rome  a  clave 

PULCHRA    SANE     PDELLA, 

truly  a  beautifvil  girl 
Punchinello,  a  puppet- 
showman 


Q'j^MARiBus.  etc., which 
are  attributed  only  to 
males 

QuAioH,  a  smajl  drink- 
ing-cup 

Ql'AM  BONUM  ET  9UAM 
JUCL-NDUM.     how     good 

and  how  pleasant 
QuARRfcE,      or      curSe, 

quany.  killed  game 
Quarry  Holes,  a  depres- 
sion at  the  fo'»t  of  Cal- 
ton  Hill, near  Holyrood 
Palace,  where  duels 
were  fought,  and   fe- 


male crimin  als 
drowned 

QpEEN.  a  woman,  wench 

Ql'eered,  ridiculed,  de- 
rided 

Qi;"est-ce,  etc.  (p.  140), 
What  have  we  to  do 
with  the  past  ? 

Quid  de  symbolo  ?  What 
of  the  sign  ? 

Quis  desiderio.  etc.  (p. 
:W5),  What  shame  or 
limit  can  there  be  to 
the  affection  borne  for 
so  dear  a  person  1 

Q  u  o  A  D  A  N  o  L  o  s,  as  re- 
gards the  English 

Quoad  hominem,  locum, 
as  regards  the  man, 
the  place 


Rabble,  to  mob,  assault 
in  a  riotous  fashion 

Raid  of  Ruthven,  a  con- 
spiracy of  Scottish 
nobles  in  1.582,  to  free 
James  VI.  (I.),  then  a 
boy.  from  the  faction 
of  "Lennox  and  Arran 

Rampalxian,  rascal,  vil- 
lain 

Rasp-haus,  more  cor- 
rectly rasp-huis,  a 
house  of  correction, 
prison 

Rax,  to  stretch 

Redding-kaim,  unravel- 
ling comb 

Redd  the  gate,  cleared, 
prepared  the  way ; 
redd  up,  put  in  order 

Redriffe.  the  popular 
pronunciation  of  Roth- 
erhithe 

Red-shank.  bare-legged 
person,  a  Highlander 

Red  Tod  of  St.  An- 
drews. King  James  V. 
(  f  .Scotland ;  he  had  red 
hair 

Red-wud.  stark  mad 

Reformado,  an  officer 
deprived  of  his  com- 
mand, but  retaining 
his  rank  and  pay 

Regis  ad  exemplar,  etc. 
(p.  317),  the  whole 
world  is. irranged after 
the  exam  pleof  the  king 

Reird,  clamor,  noise 

Rem  Acn.  etc.  (p.  304), 
}0U  have  hit  the  nail 
on  the  head,  Baby 
Charles 

Remeid.  remedy,  redress 

Res  angustadomi. strait- 
ened circumstances  at 
home 

Rf.x.  plat.    See  Play  rex 

Ride  up  Holborn  (Hill), 
in    the    executioner's 


cart,  on  the  way  to  be 
hanged  at  Tyburn 

Ring,  cracked  within 
THE,  faulty  in  sound 
(ring),  not  good 

RiTsoN,  Joseph,  a  learn- 
ed but  eccentric  18th 
century  antiquary, 
animated  by  a  passion 
for  strict  and  literal 
accuracy 

Roast-meat,  crying. 
See  Crying  roast-meat 

R  o  L  L  o  c  K .  Robert,  the 
first  professor  of  the 
University  of  Edin- 
burgh, founded  in  1582 

Rook,  defraud,  clear  out 

RoopiT,  croaking,  hoarse 

Rosa  soli  s,  a  cordial, 
made  of  spirits,  fla- 
vored 'vith  cinnamon, 
orange-flower,  etc. 

Rose-noble,  noble  bear- 
ing representation  of 
a  rose,  first  coined  un 
der  Edward  VI.,  and 
worth  10s. 

Rose  Tavern,  in  Russell 
Street.  Covent  Garden 

RoTi  des  plus  excel 
lens,  a  most  excellent 
roast 

Rounding,  whispering ; 
roundly,  bluntly, 
frankly 

Row,  roU ;  bowls  row 
w  R  A  N  G,  things  go 
amiss 

RowT,  roar,  bellow 

RuDAS,  bold,  masculini 
woman 

Rummer  glasses,  large 
drinking-glasses 

RuNDLET,  a  small  barrel, 
holding  18  l-;i  gallons 

Ruthvens,  William  Earl 
of  Gowrie  and  his  asso- 
ciates. See  Raid  c" 
Ruthven 

Saam,  same 

Sackless,  innocent 

Sae,  so 

St.  Barnaby  was  ten 
YEARS,  ten  years  ago 
last  St.  Barnabas  Day, 
i.e.  11th  June 

St.  T h o m a s-a-Water- 
ING,  a  church  on  the 
Old  Kent  Road,  South- 
wark,  so  called  from  a 
brook  dedicated  to  St. 
Thomas-a-Becket 

Sair,  sore 

Salt  eel,  an  eel  or  eel's 
skin  prepared  for  use 
as  a  whip  ;  a  flogging, 
beating 

Salve  bis,  etc.  (p.  104), 
Twice  hail,  and  four 
times,  our  Glenvar- 


464 


GLOSSARY 


loch!  TTnvo  you  not 
lately  returned  to 
Britain  from  Li'Viien  y 
Salve  magne  parens, 
Hail,  great  parent 

S  A  N  C  HO  "  S  SUPPRESSED 

WITTICISMS,  In  Don 
Qttixote,  Pt.  I.,  bk.  iii., 
chap.  xxi. 
Sara,  the  daughter  of 
Ragukl.  See  the  Book 
of  Tobit,  iii.,  2,  3,  iu 
Apocrypha 

SCANDAALUM  MAGNAA- 

tum,  an  offence  against 
those  in  authority 

Scantling,  a  smattering, 
modicum 

ScAUDiNG,  scolding;  also 
scalding 

Scaur,  scare,  frighten 

Scotch  mile  =■  9  fur- 
longs 

ScouGALL.  a  Scottish  por- 
trait-painter of  the 
time  of  Charles  II. 

Scout,  a  college  servant 
at  Oxford 

Secundum  artem,  ac- 
cording to  rule 

Sed  skmel  insanivimus 
OMNEs,  we  have  all 
been  mad  at  one  time 
or  another 

Skmi-reducta  Venus, 
half-reclining  Venus 

Series  patkfacti,  etc. 
(p.  327),  the  series  of  the 
murder  providentially 
revealeil 

S  H  A  -  B  L  E,  a  crooked 
sword,  or  hanger 

Shoon,  shoes 

Shot  op,  shut  of,  free 
from 

Shouthi  ;,  shoulder 

Shule,  shovel 

Sib,  related 

Sic,  such 

Sic  fuit,  est,  erit,  thus 
it  was,  is,  and  will  be 

Sicker,  sure,  certain 

SiFFLiCATioN,  supplica- 
tion, petition 

Simmieand  his  brother, 
two  begging  friars, 
whose  rogueries  maice 
the  subject  of  an  old 
satirical  ballad ;  see 
David  Laing's  Select 
Remains  of  Ancient 
Popular  Poetry  (1822) 

Sinciput,  the  upper  part 
of  the  skull ;  forehead 

Sine  mora,  without  de- 
lay 

Skeigh,  skittish 

Skelder,  to  swindle, 
cheat 

Skene,  skeen,  a  High- 
lander's knife 

Sksnk,  Sir  John,  a  great 


lawyer  and  scholar, 
whom  in  1589  it  had 
been  suggested  to  send 
to  Denmark  to  arrange 
for  James  I.'s  mar- 
riage with  Princess 
Anne  of  that  country 

Sleeveless  gate,  a 
fruitless  errand 

Slops,  breeches ;  huge- 
paned  slops,  breeches 
with  large  stripes  or 
variegations 

Slurring,  a  particular 
way  of  sliding  or  slip- 
ping dice 

Smaik,  rascal,  contempt- 
ible fellow 

Smelt,  half-guinea 

Snap-haunce,  a  lirelock 

Snigger,  sniggle,  to 
giggle 

Soldado,  a  soldier 

Soldan,  sultan 

Spangs,  springs,  leaps 

Spanish  ambassador's 
time,  in  1603-8,  when 
Don  Pedro  de  Cuniga 
was  Spanish  ambassa- 
dor at  the  court  of 
James  I. 

Speer,  to  inquire,  ask  ; 
speerings,  inquiries 

Spolia  opima,  the  rich- 
est booty 

Spondanus,  or  Henri  de 
Sponde  (1568-1643), 
bishop  of  Pamiers  in 
France,  wrote  several 
historical  works 

Spraickle,  clamber 

Springald,  a  stripling 

Spunkie.  will  o'  the  wisp, 
ignis  fatuus 

Spunk  out,  leak  out 

Stabbing,  using  a  box  so 
narrow  at  the  bottom 
that  the  dice  fall  out 
with  those  faces  upper- 
most which  were  put 
in  looking  downwards 

Stand  buff,  confront 
boldly,  without  fear 

Standish,  inkstand 

STATIU     ATQUE    INSTANT- 

er,  instantly  and  at 
once 

Steekit,  shut,  closed 

Steenie,  the  nickname 
James  I.  gave  to 
George  Villiers,  Duke 
of  Buckingham,  owing 
to  some  fancied  resem- 
blance he  bore  to  the 
martyr  Stephen 

Stock-fish,  dried  cod  or 
ling 

Stocking,  putting  in  the 
stocks 

Stot,  bullock 

S  T  U  A  ND-SCOURINQ,  gllt- 

ter-huuting 


Strapping  up.  being 
hanged 

Styptic,  a  remedy  to 
check  the  flow  of  blood 

S  u  B  s  c  R I  ve,  subscribe, 
sign 

Succory -WATER,  chicory 
water 

Sully,  Maximilien  de 
Bethune,  Duke  of,  min- 
ister of  Henry  IV.  of 
France,  and  author  of 
famous  Memoires  (163-1 
and  1662) 

Summa  TOTALIS,  the  sum 
total 

Surge  carnifex,  rise  up, 
butcher 

Susanna  and  the  Eld- 
ers. See  The  History 
of  Susanna  iu  the 
Apocrypha 

SwAD,  a  silly,  coarse  per- 
son, country  bumpkin 

Swaddled,  beat,  cud- 
gelled 

Swan  of  Avon,  Shake- 
speare, so  called  by 
Ben  Jonson 

Swith,  instantly 

Syllabub,  or  sillibub, 
wine,  ale,  or  cider, 
mixed  with  cream  or 
milk,  then  sweetened 
and  flavored  with 
lemon-juice,  rose- 
water,  etc. 

Syrus,  philosophical,  a 
Syrian  slave,  known  as 
Publius,  under  whose 
name  a  collection  of 
pithy  proverbs  was 
long  current  in  Rome 


Tabinet,  a  texture  of 
silk  and  wool,  with  a 
watered  surface 

Tae,  the  one 

Ta'en,  taken 

Tait  of  woo',  a  lock  or 
small  portion  of  wool 

Tanquam  in  speculo, 
etc.  (p.  317),  I  order  you 
to  look  into  the  dishes 
as  into  a  mirror 

Tawse,  a  strap  cut  into 
narrow  thongs,  for 
whipping  boys 

Tecum  certasse,  to  have 
contended  with  you 

Tedworth,  drum  of, 
beaten,  it  was  believed, 
by  the  ghost  of  a 
drummer-b  o  y,  m  u  r- 
dered  under  circum- 
stances similar  to 
those  narrated  of  Jar- 
vis  Matchamin  Scott's 
Demono  logy  and 
Witchcraft,  Letter  x. 

TsiKDS,  tithes 


GLOSSARY 


465 


Templars,  law-students 
of  the  Temple 

T  E  M  P  O  R  A     MUTANTUR, 

times  are  changed 

1  E  N  E  Z  ,  MONSIEUR,  StC. 

(p.  14e),  There  you  are; 
ic'syou  I  mean 
IrsT  -WINE,  a  deep  red 
wine  made   near  Mal- 
aga in  Spain 
Test?:r,    an    old    silver 

coin  =  6d. 
Tewhesbury     mustard, 
was  formerly    sent  in 
litile    balls     all    over 
Eii,'land.    Comp.  Hen. 
JT'.,Part  n..  Act  ii.,so.4 
TiiALES,     INJURED.      See 
Injured  Thales  of  the 
moralist 
"The  devil  damn  thee 
BLACK,"  etc.   (p.  llS). 
Ste   Macbeth,  Act  v., 
SC.3 
•'  The  hallow'd    soil." 
etc.    (p.    31-').    Qaeen 
Elizabeth  was  bom  in 
Greenwich  Palace 
Theobalds,  a  roj'al  seat 
of  Jiimes  I.  near  Che- 
shunt,  in  Hertshire 
The    stalk    of   carle- 
hemp,  etc.  (p.  313),  used 
in    Burns's   Poem    To 
Blacklock.     See    also 
Carle-hemp 
Third    kight    (of  play- 
wright).  The  proceeds 
of  the  third  night  after 
a  new  play  was  put  on 
the  stage  went  to  the 
author 
"Those  lyric  feasts," 
etc.  (p.  1-18).  from  Her- 
i-ick"s  Hfsijerides 
T  h  R  o  r  o  h-stake.s.  flat 

gravestones 
Tib,   ace   of   trumps  in 

gleek,  counted  1.5 
Tiddy.  iour  of  tiamips  in 

gleek,  counted  4 
Tilt,  an  awning 
Tint,  lost 

TiTYRETu's,  town  sparks 
of  the  end  of  the  17th 
cen  tu  ry— name  bor- 
rowed    from     Virgil's 
Eclogue,  i..  1 
Tocher,  dowry 
Tod  Lowrie.  equivalent 
to  Reynard  the  Fox,  a 
crafty  person 
TooM,  empty 
Topping,  was  when  only 
oue  die  was  dropped  in 
the     box.     the     other 
Ijeing  held,  concealed, 
between  the  fnij^eis  at 
the  top  of  the  bi^x 
Tout,  or  toot,  a  blast  of 
a    horn  ;     fit    of     ill- 
humor  or  ill-health 


TowsER,  five  of  trumps 
in  gleek,  which 
counted  5,  not  15,  «  the 
game 

Trankum,  gimcrack,  a 
trumpery  thing 

Treen,  wooden 

Trepan,  or  trapan,  a 
snare,  trap 

Tr£s  box  gentilhomme 
pouRTA>-T,  a  very  ex- 
cellent gentleman, 
nevertheless 

Trowl,  to  throw,  roll, 
drive  about 

Truepenny.  See  Old 
Truepenny 

Trunnion,  a  stake,  tree- 
trunk,  tnmcheon 

TURBAT^   FALLADIS 

A  R  m  A.  a  r  in  s  of  the 
troubled  Pallas 
(.\theue\  who  made 
the  Gorgon  so  hideous 
that  whoever  looked 
upon  her  was  turned 
into  stone 

Turn-broche,  a  turnspit 

TwA,  two 

Twelve  kaisers,  first 
twelve  Ca?sars.  or  em 
perors,of  •ncient  Rome 

TwiRiNG,  making  eyes, 
taking  sly  glances 

Tyke,  a  cur 

Umquhile.  the  late 

Unce.  ounce 

Under  the  rose,  sub 
rosa,  to  tell  you  in  con- 
fidence 

Un  vrai  diablk  Dfi- 
chaine.  a  very  un- 
chained devil 

Usque  ad  mutilationem, 
even  to  dismember- 
ment 

V^  atque  dolor,  grief 
and  pain 

Valeat  cjuantum,  may  it 
avail  much 

Valet  quidem,  etc.  (p. 
104).  Vossi  IS  is  indeed 
well,  gracious  king, 
but  is  a  most  venerable 
old  man,  if  I  am  not 
mistaken,  in  his  seven- 
tieth j-ear 

Vapor  one  the  huff, 
to  assume  a  bullying 
style;  v.vpons  you 
the  go-by,  treats  you 
with  neglect,  indiffer- 
ence 

Vendisses,  or  vendace, 
a  choice  kind  of  white- 
fish,  found  only  in  one 
or  two  places  in  Eng- 
land, Scotland,  and 
Sweden 

VgMIENTI  OOCCBRITK 


MORBo,  meet  the  com- 
ing disease 

Vennel,  a  steep  street  on 
the  si)uth  side  of  the 
Grassmarket,  Ed- 
inburgh 

Ventre  St.  Gris,  an 
oath,  meaning  prob- 
ably, "  Ry  the  body  of 
St.  Christ"' 

Verquere,  an  old  Dutch 
game,  something  re- 
sembUng  b  a  c  k  g  am- 
mon 

Vessail,  vessels,  plate 

Vie,  away 

Viditerram,  etc.  (p.328), 
I  saw  the  land  that  it 
was  very  good,  and  I 
bent  my  shoulder  to 
carry,  and  am  become 
a  servant  under  tribute 

Vied  th£  ruff  and  re- 
vied,  staked  and 
staked  again  on  the 
trump — terms  used  in 
gleek 

Vi  nempe,  etc.  (p.  385), 
doubtless  by  force,  and 
in  a  way  common  to 
fathers 

ViN-NIUS,  or  ViNNEN,   AR- 
NOLD,  a  Dutch   jurist, 
rector  of  a  college  at 
the  Hague,  and  after- 
wards    CI  633-5?)     law 
professor  at  Leyden 
Vintry,    a    portion    of 
Thames    Street,  be- 
tween     London     and 
Black  friars  Bridges, 
where    the    wine-mer- 
chants unshipped  their 
cargoes 
Viretot,  on  the,  on  the 
trudge,  on  the  tramp — 
a  phrase  used  in  Chau- 
cer's Mill-  r's  Tale 
ViRUM    mehercle,    etc. 
(p.  104),    So   help   me, 
Hercules,  I  had  scarce- 
ly thought  him  so  old 
a  man  ;  and  that  Vors- 
tius,  the   successor  as 
well  as  adherent  of  the 
reprobate    Arminius — 
is  that  hero,  as  I  may 
say  with  Homer,  still 
alive   and    seeing   the 
light  on  earth  ? 
ViVERS,  victuals 
VivuM   quidem,   etc.   (p. 
10-5),   It    is    not   long 
since  I  saw  tlie  man, 
alive,  indeed  ;  but  who 
can  say  he  flourishes 
who     has    long     lain 
prone    and     prostrate 
under  the  bolts  of  your 
eloquence,  great  king 
VoKTius.    There  are  two 
celebrated  Dutch 


466 


GLOSSARY 


jurists  of  this  name — 
Paul  Voet  (1619-77),  a 
professor  at  Utrecht, 
and  his  son  John  (1647- 
1714),  who  practised  at 
Utrecht  anil  at  Leyden 

VoRSTius,  or  Voorst, 
Conrad,  succeeded 
Arminius  as  teacher  in 
Leyden  in  1010.  James 
I.  wrote  a  tract  against 
him 

Vossius,  Gerard  John, 
a  very  learned  Dutch- 
man, educated  at  Ley- 
den, and  some  time 
(1622-30)  professor 
there 


Wad,  laid  in,  pledged, 
mortgaged 

Wadset,  a  mortgage 

Waistcoatekr,  wearer 
of  a  waistcoat,  prosti- 
tute 

Waiter,  keeper  of  a 
town-gate  in  Edin- 
burgh 

Wanion,  with  a,  with  a 
vengeance,  the  devil  ! 

Wap  and  win,  an  ob- 
scene expression,  to  go 
in  and  win 

Warlock,  wizard 

Wastrifk,  wasteful 


Water  of  Leith,  a  nar- 
row stream  that  passes 
along  the  no  th  side  of 
Edinburgh  to  the  Firth 
of  Forih  at  Leith 

Waur,  worse 

Well-a-day,  or  weli.- 
AWAY,  an  ejaculation 
of  sorrow  or  grief 

Welsh  main,  in  cock- 
fighting,  was  when  the 
wmners  in  each  bout 
fought  against  one 
another  till  only  one 
bird  remained 

Westward  ho,  to  the 
west,  an  old  cry  of  the 
London  watermen 
soliciting  passengers 
going  west 

Wheen,  a  few 

"  Where  as  she  look'd 
ABOUT,"  etc.  (p.  xxviii), 
from  Spenser's  Faerie 
Qiieene,  Bk.  IIL,  canto 
xi.,  St.  ,54 

Whigmaleery.  or  whig- 
meleerie,  whimsical 

Whimsy,  a  whim 

Whinger,  a  large  knife, 
usually  worn  at  the 
belt 

Whinyard,  a  short 
sword,  hanger 

Whomle,  turn  over 

Whunstane,  whinstone 


Wimpled,  clothed  with  a 

wimple,  a  voluminous 

covering  for  the  head, 

worn  by  women 
WiNNA,  will  not 
Withy,  widdie.  a  halter, 

the  gallows 
AVoNNOT,  won't,  will  not 
WooLWARD,to  go  dressed 

in  wool  only,  worn  next 

the  skin 
Wot,    know  ;   w  o  t  n  a. 

know  not 
WussiNG,  wishing 
Wylie-coat,  under-v3st. 

under-petticoat 
Wyte,  blame 

Yellow-hammer,  gold 
coin 

Yestate,  estate 

"Yet,  certes,  by  her 
face,"  etc.  (p.  XV), 
from  Faerie  Queene, 
Bk.  VII.,  canto  vii.,  st.5 

Zeno,  the  Eleatic,  the 
favorite  disciple  of 
Parmenides,  is  said  to 
have  ventured  his  life 
to  free  his  native  coun- 
try (unknown)  from  a 
tyrant ;  or  perhaps 
Zeno  the  Stoic  ia 
meant 


INDEX 


AnoLPH0S,  J.  L.,  Letters .  ..on  the  Wav- 

erly  Novels,  xx 
Alsatia.    See  Whitefriars 
Apprentices  of  London,  'i 
Armstrong,  Archie,  jester,  359,  430 
Author,   his    Introduction,   vii ;    inter- 
viewed by  Captain  Clutterbuck,  xv  ; 
on  soHloquy,  257 

Barber's   shop,   London,  iZy ;    Green- 
wich, 314 
Barnes.  Betty,  xxiii 
Beaujeu,  Chevalier  de,  136,  138 
Betterton,  the  actor,  148 
Blackchester,  Countess  of,  1.50 
Bothwell.  Francis.  Earl  of,  226,  449 
Buckingham.  Duke  of,  110  :  his  charac- 
ter, 111,  445  ;  in  St.  James's  Park,  175  ; 
at  tlie  Greenwich  hunt,  324 ;   scorns 
Dalyarno,  388 
Burbaije.  actoi-,  148,  448 
"  By  spigot  and  barrel,"  201 

Camlet  3Ioat,  Enfield  Chase,  421 
CharinR  Cross,  time  of  James  I.,  53 
Charles.  Prince  of  Wales,  175  ;  at  the 
Greenwich  hunting,  325  ;  in  judgment 
on  Dalgarno,  388 
Christie,  Dame  Nelly,  24  ;  resents  Her- 
iofs  advice,  47  ;  regret  at  Nigel's  de- 
parture, 157  ;    elopement,  336  ;    with 
Dalg.irno  in  Enfield  Chase,  418  ;  taken 
back  by  her  husband,  425 
Christie.  John.  24  ;  quarrel  with  Moni- 

Slies.  304 ;    demands  his    wife    from 
igel.  336  :  recovers  her,  425 
Clutterbuck,  Captain,  his  Introductory 

Epistle,  xiii 
Coke.  Roger.  Court  and  State  of  Eng- 

land,  quot(vl.  450 
Colepppper,  Captain,  at  the  ordinary, 
142;  intrudes  upon  Nigel,  262;   mur- 
ders Trapbois.  285  ;    interview  with 
the  scrivener,  405  ;  killed  by  Moniplies, 
42;i 
Cookery,  French,  141,  447 
Corbet,  Iter  Borenle,  quoted,  448 
Counterblast  to  Tobacco,  King  James's, 

25,442 
Counter  Scuffle,  quoted,  448 
Cuckoo's  nest,  i.e.  London,  143,  448 
Cunningham,  Allan,  xxiv 


Dalqarno,  Lord,  introduced  to  Nigel, 
115  ;   surprises  him  in  his  lodgings,  I 
127  ;  sentiments  regarding  his  father,  I 

467 


133 ;  takes  Nigel  to  the  ordinary,  189 ; 

dissuades  him  from  going  to  court, 
153  ;  shuns  Nigel's  glance,  175  ;  struck 
by  him,  182  ;  effrontery  before  the 
council,  388  ;  married  to  Hermione. 
390 ;  his  message  to  Nigel  through 
Moniplies,  402  ;  rage  at  the  scrivener, 
403 ;  with  Dame  Christie  in  Enfield 
Chase,  418  ;  his  death,  423 

Dalwolsey,  Earl  of,  94,  444 

Dalzell,  Sketches  of  Scottish  History, 
quoted,  444 

Deborah,  charwoman,  279 

Dionysius  of  Syracuse,  394 

Douglas,  Earl  of,  Tineman,  416 

Douglas  wars,  123,  445 

Duke  of  Exeter's  daughter,  414 

Enfield  Chase,  418 

English,  their  jealousy  of  the  Scotch,  T 

Fleet  Street,  London,  2,  10 

Foljambe,  Lady,  207 

Fortunes  of  Nigel,  the  novel,  vil 

Fortune  theatre,  London,  148 

French  cookery,  141,  447 

"  From  the  touch  of  the  tip,"  301 

Gaming,  136, 171, 188 

Gill,  Commentary,  51,  443 

Glamis,  Master  of,  61 

Glengarry,  Chief  of,  450 

Glenvarloch,  Lord.    See  Nigel 

Glenvarloch,  Randal  or  Ochtred,  61 

Glossary,  455 

God's  Revenge  against  Murder,  282,  450 

Grahame,  punning  on  name,  195 

Green-Jacket,  waterman.    See  Vincent, 

Jenkin 
Greenwich  Park,  scene  in,  327,  451 

Haldimund,  Sir  Ewes,  180 
Heriot,  Alison,  epitaph  to,  442 
Heriot,  George,  in  Ramsay's  shop,  12 ; 
questions  Moniplies,  17  ;  visits  Nigel, 
36  ;    questions  Moniplies    again,  39  ; 
invites  Davie  Ramsay  to  dinner,  49  ;  . 
carries  the  piece  of  plate  to  the  King, 
SI;  presents  Nigel's  petition.  59;  ac- 
companies him  to  court,  98  ;  discusses 
his  affairs,  113 ;  the  Foljambe  apart- 
ments in  his  house,  207  ;  visit  to  the 
Tower.  .344  ;  discovers  Margaret  Ram- 
say, 351  ;  interview  with  Sir  E.   and 
Lady  Mansel,  3.57 ;   the  King's  trick 
upon  him,  874 ;  tells  the  story  of  Dal- 


468 


WA  VERLEY  NO  VEL S 


garno  and  Hermione,  383  ;  snubs  Sir 
Mungo,    432 ;    the    historical    person 
441,  vii 
Heriot,  Judith,  67,  71  ;  her  relations  with 

Margaret  Ramsay,  305 
Heriot's  Hospital,  Edinburgh,  vii,  439 
Hermione,    Lady,  7U ;    Moniplies's  ac- 
count of,  82 ;  brought  home  by  Heriot, 
208 ;    listens    to  Margaret  Ramsay's 
tale,  215  ;  her  own  story,  226  ;  connec- 
tion with  Dalgarno,  383  ;  her  case  be- 
fore the  King,  388 ;  married  to  Dal- 
garno, 390  ;  hears  of  his  death,  427 
Hiklebrod,  Duke,  191,  196  ;  visits  Nigel, 

269  ;  acts  the  sheriff,  2yO 
Howard,  Lord  Henry,  133,  455 
Huntinglen,  Lord,  102  ;  claims  his  boon 
of  the  King,  107  ;  succeeds  with  Ni- 
gel's petition,  109 ;  discusses  Nigel's 
affairs,  113  ;  counsels  him,  153  ;  indig- 
nation at  his  son,  391  ;  at  his  son's 
funeral,  427 ;  historical  prototype,  445 

Introductory  Epistle,  Captain  Clut- 
terbuck's  xiii 

James  I.  of  England,  state  of  society  in 
his  reign,  ix,  134,  439,  447  ;  his  Counter- 
blast, 35,  442  ;  love  of  flattery,  33,  443  ; 
description  of,  54,  443  ;  surprised  by 
the  petition,  59  ;  court  reception,  103  ; 
converses  with  Nigel  in  Latin,  104  ; 
grants  his  petition,  109 ;  hunting  in 
Greenwich  Park,  321  ;  alarmed  by  Ni- 
gel, 333  ;  his  hunting-bottle,  335,  450  ; 
his  timidity,  327,  451  ;  dislike  to  fire- 
arms, 361,452;  delight  at  recovering 
the  rubies,  373  ;  hides  Moniplies  be- 
hind the  arras,  374,  453  ;  rebukes  him, 
379  ;  tells  Lord  Huntinglen  of  his  son's 
villainy,  381  ;  orders  Dalgarno  to  wed 
Hermione,  388  ;  exculpates  Nigel  in 
council,  393  ;  his  '  lugg '  in  the  Tower, 
394  ;  interest  in  Nigel's  marriage,  428; 
finds  a  pedigree  for  Margaret  Ramsay, 
428  ;  at  the  marriage,  434  ;  reception 
of  Martha  Trapbois,  435  ;  knights  Mo- 
noplies,  438 

James  I.  of  Scotland,  assassination  of, 
360,  453 

Jeddart  staff,  394 

Jenny,  Scots  laundress,  87 

Jim,  Lowestoffe's  boy,  189 

Jin  Vin.    See  Vincent,  Jenkin 

Jock  of  Milch,  60 

Jonson,  Ben,  Xeio  Inn,  quoted,  446 

Kilderkin,  Ned,  innkeeper,  316 
Knighton,  Buckingham's  groom,  73 

Lake  Lady,  394 

Latin  pronunciation,  105 

Leglin-girth,  386,  453 

I^eith,  siege  of,  143,  447 

Lilly,  Life  and  Times,  quoted,  440 

Linkboys  of  London,  78 

Linklater,  Laurie,  32  ;  recognizes  Nigel 
at  Greenwich,  317 ;  furthers  Moni- 
plies's second  "sifflication."  371 

London,  apprentices.  3  ;  shops,  2  ;  Fleet 
Street,  3,  10  ;  St.  Dunstan's  church, 
30 :   Strand.  53 ;    Whitehall,  58,  ^8  ;  1 


linkboys,  78  ;  Thames,  98 ;  St.  James's 
Park,  168;  3Iarshalsea,  260,  449; 
Thames  watermen,  299,  371  ;  Tower, 
339,  453  ;  military  training  of  citizens, 
413,  454.     See  alsu  Whitefriars 

Lowestoffe,  Reginald,  185  ;  speaks  for 
Nigel,  200 ;  witue.ss  to  repayment  of 
redemption-money,  400  ;  entertained 
by  Moniplies,  408  ;  in  Enfield  Chase, 
423 

Lutin,  Dalgarno's  page,  130  ;  in  Enfleld 
Chase,  417,  433 

MaCoul,  Jem,  xix 

Malagrowther,  Sir  Mungo,  65  ;  at  Her- 
lot's  dinner-party,  67  ;  reminded  of 
his  debt,  74  ;  quarrel  with  the  usher, 
100  ;  dines  at  Lord  Huntinglen's,  134  ; 
fastens  himself  upon  Nigel,  169  ;  at 
Sir  E.  Mansel's,  358  ;  condoles  with 
Nigel,  361  ;  pretends  concern  for  Ni- 
gel's poverty,  432  ;  prototype  of,  444 

Mansel,  Lady,  357 

Hansel,  Sir  Edward,  357 

Marshalsea,  London,  260,  449 

Maxwell,  the  usher,  53 ;  quarrel  with 
Sir  Mungo,  100  ;  stops  Nigel,  103 

Mhic-Allastar-More,  325,  450 

Monastery,  The,  criticism  on,  xvi 

Moniplies,  Richie,  in  Fleet  Street,  10; 
carried  to  Ramsay's,  14  ;  refuses  to 
part  from  his  cloak,  16 ;  questioned 
by  Heriot,  17  ;  account  of  his  adven- 
tures, 29  ;  cross-questioned  by  Heriot, 
39,  gossips  in  liquor,  78  ;  expostulates 
with  Nigel,  159  ;  quits  his  service,  165; 
quarrels  with  Christie,  304 ;  takes 
charge  of  Martha  Trapbois,  307  ;  joins 
Nigel  in  the  Tower,  368  ;  asks  a  second 
favor  of  Linklater,  371  ;  returns  the 
rubies  to  the  King,  .373  ;  hidden  behind 
the  arras,  374  ;  rebuked  by  the  King, 
379  ;  brings  the  redemption-money  to 
Skurliewhitter,  400  ;  encounter  with 
Lord  Dalgarno,  403 ;  entertains  the 
Templars,  408  ;  his  arrangement  with 
Jin  Vin,  410  ;  dispatches  Colepepper, 
433 ;  his  mysterious  behavior,  433 ; 
knighted,  438 

Monna  Paula,  Hermione's  maid,  208, 
214  ;  her  devotion  to  her  mistress,  232. 
236 

Murray,  Regent,  tomb  of,  125 

Nelly,  Dame.  See  Christie,  Dame  Nelly 
Nigel,  Lord  Glenvarloch,  34  ;  indigna- 
tion at  the  proclamation,  34  ;  visited 
by  Heriot,  36  ;  the  mortgage,  43,  61  ; 
accepts  Heriot's  assistance,  39 ;  at 
his  dinner-party,  69  ;  sounds  Moniplies 
about  Hermione,  81  ;  attends  court. 
98  ;  stopped  by  Maxwell,  102 ;  con- 
verses with  the  King  in  Latin,  104  , 
Lord  Huntinglen's  successfu  media- 
tion, 109  ;  meeting  with  Buckingham, 
111  ;  surprised  by  Lord  Dalgarno.  127; 
his  scruples  about  gaming,  136 ;  pat- 
ronized by  Countess  of  Blackchester. 
150;  hisgaylife,  152  ;  leaves  Christie's 
house,  1,57;  reproved  by  Moniplies, 
159 ;  hears  unwelcome  tidings,  161  ; 
receives  a  warning,  167 ;  meets  Sir 


:kdex 


439 


Mungo  in  the  Park,  169  ;  cut  by  the 
Prince,  176  ;  striijes  Dalgarno,  18a  : 
befriended  by  Lowestoffe,  185 ;  seeks 
refuge  in  Whitefriars,  194  ;  entered  in 
Duki  Hildebrod's  book,  198  ;  in  Trap- 
bois's  house,  251  ;  soliloquizes,  258 ; 
intruded  upon  by  Captain  Colepepper, 
862  ;  ov  Duke  Hildebrod,  2(59  ;  shoots 
the  murderer,  286  :  leaves  Alsatia,  299; 
put  ashore  at  Greenwich,  311  ;  at  the 
barber's  314  ;  at  Ned  Kilderkin's,  316  ; 
recognized  by  Linklater,  318  ;  accosts 
the  King  when  hunting,  323 ;  lodged 
in  the  Tower,  330  ;  joined  by  JIargaret 
Ramsay,  331;  visited  by  John  Christie, 
336;  giiesses  Margaret's  sex.  342;  in- 
terrogated by  Heriot,  344  ;  discovers 
loss  of  royal  warrant,  350  ;  condolence 
from  Sir  Mungo,  361  :  is  surprised  by 
Moniplies,  368  ;  pardoned  by  the  Kmg, 
393  ;  his  marriage,  434  ;  recovers  the 
royal  warrant,  437 

Ordinary,  in  17th  century,  135 

Pages,  in  17th  century,  131,  446 
Penny  wedding,  431,  454 
Playhouses,  London,  146 
Pork,  Scotch  dislike  to,  315,  450 

Ramsay,  David,  2;  his  irritableness, 
12  ;  invited  by  Heriot  to  dinner,  49  ; 
at  Heriot's  68  ;  the  historical  person, 
450 

Ramsay,  Margaret,  at  Heriot's,  69 ;  m- 
terview,  with  Dame  Ursula,  89;  con- 
fides her  love-secret  to  her,  93  ;  her 
note  to  Nigel,  167  ;  goes  to  Heriot's 
house,  205  ;  her  character,  210  ;  asks 
Hermione  to  help  her,  215  ;  brought 
into  the  Tower,  331  ;  tells  Nigel  her 
dream,  342 ;  discovered  by  Heriot, 
.351  ;  her  story,  354  ;  a  pedigree  found 
for  her,  428  ;  marriage,  434 

Ramsav,  Sir  John,  445 

Ramsay,  William,  son  of  David,  441 

Raredrench,  the  apothecary,  15 

Regent  Murray,  tomb  of,  125 

Register  of  Alsatia.  198,  449 

Ringwood,  Mr.,  400;  entertained  by 
Jlouiplies,  408 

Roberts,  Heriot's  cash  -  keeper,  73  ; 
bafiBes  Sir  Mungo,  74 

St.  Dunstan's  church  in  Fleet  Street, 
;i0. 

St.  James's  Park,  1G8 

St.  Roque's,  abbess  of,  208 

Scots,  disliked  by  English.  1 ;  proclama- 
tion against,  35,  443 ;  their  dislike  to 
pork,  315 ;  450 

Scrivener.    See  Skurliewhitter,  Andrew 

Shadwell,  Squire  of  Alsatia,  xii;  quoted, 
440  ;  his  Scou-rers,  447 

Shops,  London,  time  of  James  L,  8 

Simmons ;  Widow,  7 


Skimmington,  riding  the.  242,  449 
Skurliewhitter,  Andrew,  scrivener,  51 ; 
at  Lord  Huntinglen's  118;  soliloquizes, 
399  ;  compelled  to  accept  the  redemp- 
tion-money, 400  ;  interview  with  Lord 
Dalgarno,  403  ;  with  Colepepper,  405 
Society,  English,  time  of  James  I.,  ix, 

134,  4:39,  447 
Soliloquy   Author  on,  257 
Strand,  London,  52 

Street-fighting,  in  17th  century,  134,447 
Stubbs,  mutilation  of,  363,  452 
Suddloehop,  Benjeniin.  84,  2;i7 
Suddlechop,  Dame  Ursula,  84  :  called  in 
to  see  Margaret  Ramsay,  b~  ;  advises 
with  Jin  Vin,  239 

Temple  Bar,  time  of  James  I.,  52 

Terry,  Daniel,  xxiv 

Thaiiies.  time  of  James,  I.,  98 ;  water- 
men of,  299,  371 

Tineman.    See  Douglas,  Earl  of 

Tower,  London.  330;  Traitor's  Gate,  329, 
452 ;  memorials  of  illustrious  pris- 
oners. 331.  452 

Trapbois,  Martha,  203,  254 ;  lectures 
Nigel,  266  ;  Duke  Hildebrod's  proposal 
regarding  her,  273  ;  interferes  with 
her  father,  278.  284  ;  lamentation  over 
his  death,  288,  297;  leaves  Alsatia,  299  ; 
set  ashore  at  Paul's  Wharf.  303  ;  taken 
charge  of  by  Moniplies,  307  ;  before 
the  King,  .436 

Trapbois,  the  miser,  202 ;  his  house  in 
Alsatia,  251  ;  his  avarice,  255,  277.  283; 
steals  in  upon  Nigel,  283  ;  murder  of, 
286  ;  hiding-place  of  his  treasure,  296 

Tunstall,  Frank,  5 

Turner,  Mrs.  Anne,  85,  94,  444 

Ursley,  Dame.    See  Suddlechop,  Dame 

Ursula 
Ventriloquism,  James  I.'s  use  of,  453 
Vincent,  Jenkin,  4  ;  sells  the  barnacles, 
8  ;  accosts  Moniplies.  10  ;  encounter 
with  Colepepper,  143;  interview  with 
Dame  Ursula,  239  ;  fetches  Nigel  from 
Whitefriars,  299  ;  puts  Nigel  ashore  at 
Greenwich.  311  ;  talk  with  Moniplies, 
410  ;  with  the  rescue  party,  423  ;  sub- 
sequent history,  426 

Wallace,  William,  architect  of  Heriot's 

Hospital,  447 
Watermen,  Thames,  299,  371 
Webster,  Uj-imi  Tr/fc/icra/(,  quoted,  453 
WhitefMars,  London,  ix,  184  ;  sanctuary 

of,  194  ;  characters  in  440 
Whitehall,  time  of  James.  I.,  53,  448 
Winchester,  Bishop  of,  390 
Wits,  time  of  James  I.,  1.50,  449 

"  Your  suppliant  by  name,"  196 

Zdcchero,  Frederigo,  451 


•J^-' 


The  pi  rat 

e;    The  forti^es 

1 

.      1 

JAN  2  4  194; 

'  PmrS^fff  BO'5  1940 

M29090 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


Jm 


,«r»^ 


'^. 


/' 


i^_. 


